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SECTION E: COMPLAINT PROCESSES

1. Complaints/Grievances

Texas Tech University has various procedures for addressing written student

complaints/grievances. Students may seek assistance from the Office of the Dean of Students

as they go through a written complaint/grievance process. The Office of the Dean of

Students helps students understand all of the steps of the process as well as what information

they may want to include in their written complaint/grievance.

2. Academic Status Complaints

Policies and processes related to academic status are found in the Undergraduate/Graduate

Academic Catalog as well as in Operating Policy 34.07 Undergraduate Academic Status,

Operating Policy 34.15 Grade Replacement Policy, and Operating Policy 64.04 Academic

Probation and Suspension of Graduate Students.

3. Complaints against Faculty (Non-Grading and Non-Discrimination) Conduct of

University Faculty is outlined in Operating Policy 32.04 Conduct of University Faculty.

The processes for complaints against faculty are outlined in the policy and in the

Undergraduate/Graduate Academic Catalog. Students should direct complaints to the

supervisor of the department or organization housing the faculty member, typically the

department chair.

4. Conduct Complaints against Other Students and Student Organizations The

Code of Student Conduct Part I, Section C and Section D of the TTU Student

Handbook outlines the process for filing a conduct complaint against a student or

student organization.

5. Disability-Related Complaints

Complaints related to disabilities are guided by Operating Policy 40.04 Access for

Individuals with Disabilities and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) and

Operating Policy 34.22 Establishing Reasonable Accommodation for Students with

Disabilities.

Any students seeking remedy on the basis of a disability must register as a disabled

student with Student Disability Services and must provide all required documentation of

a disability. Students who are denied services or denied a specific accommodation

request by a Student Disability Services counselor may appeal the decision to the

Managing Director of Student Disability Services. The ADA Campus Coordinator for

Students is the Managing Director of Student Disability Services, 335 West Hall, (806)

742-2405.

Students who wish to appeal the decision beyond the Managing Director of Student

Disability Services can appeal to the Vice Provost for Student Affairs. The Vice Provost

for Student Affairs will be the final decision.

6. Student Record Complaints & FERPA

Guidelines governing student access to personal records and the procedures for challenging

information in these records are contained in the student records policy that is detailed in the

Student Handbook Part II, section P. The Registrar’s Office provides oversight for student

records and student record complaints.

7. Disciplinary Action

The University disciplinary appeals process is outlined in the Student Handbook Part I, section

C. Conduct Procedures relating to the School of Law Honor Code violations are contained in the

Honor Code of the School of Law. School of Law Students are also subject to the code of

student conduct. Procedures relating to the School of Medicine, School of Nursing and the

School of Health Professions are contained in the School of Medicine Student Handbooks,

School of Nursing Student Handbook, and the School of Health Professions Student Handbooks.

8. Employment

A student wishing to pursue a grievance concerning employment with the University and who

has not found satisfaction or resolution with their immediate supervisor or the person in charge

of that department may contact Human Resources or the Office of Equal Employment

Opportunity in accordance with the grievance procedures outlined in the University Operating

Policy 70.10 Non-Faculty Employee Complaint Procedures and Operating Policy 40.02

(formerly 70.28) Anti-Discrimination Policy and Grievance Procedure for Violations of

Employment and Other Laws.

9. Grades

The instructor assigned to a course has the responsibility for determining a grade and for judging

the quality of academic performance. A grade can be formally appealed only when there is

demonstrable evidence that prejudice, arbitrary or capricious action on the part of the instructor

has influenced the grade. The burden of proof that such an unfair influence has affected a grade

rests with the student who appeals the grade. The complete student grade appeal policy and

procedure is listed in Operating Policy 34.03 Student Grade Appeal. A copy of the grade appeal

procedures may be obtained from any academic college dean’s office or from the Office of the

Provost. Also, refer to the Student Handbook Part I, section B.1 (Academic Misconduct).

10. Parking Citations

Students may appeal a campus parking citation online at www.parking.ttu.edu.

Transportation & Parking Services rules and a description of the three-tiered appeals

process is described in the Traffic and Parking Regulations available online at

http://www.depts.ttu.edu/parking/PDFsandDocuments/rulesandregs.pdf.

11. Graduate School Requirements

Graduate student complaints related to academic standing and performance follow

processes outlined in Operating Policy 64.07 Graduate Student Appeals. Such matters

include, but are not limited to, disputes concerning comprehensive and qualifying

examinations, theses and dissertations, academic probation and suspension, and graduate

assistantships.

Appeals of course grades are made through the dean of the college in which the course

is offered and are guided by process in Operating Policy 34.03 Student Grade Appeal.

12. Housing Complaints

Housing regulations and processes are provided annually in the University Student Housing

Contract Guide, on the University Student Housing website. University Student Housing

oversees the resolution of complaints related to student housing.

13. Online and Distance Student Complaints

Students enrolled in distance learning courses utilize the same complaint procedures as

students enrolled in traditional courses. In accordance with the Higher Education

Opportunities Act of 2008, Texas Tech University provides a website related to enrollment

in distributed education courses or programs and complaint processes for filing with the

accrediting agency and other appropriate state agencies at

http://www.depts.ttu.edu/elearning/complaint-process/.

14. Tuition, Fee, and Financial Aid Complaints

Tuition, fee, and financial aid complaints are guided by Student Business Services and

Student Financial Aid processes. Information is available on both department websites.

Students with complaints related to tuition, fee, and financial aid may submit concerns

through an online system.