Student Grievances

Contacts for Student Grievances and Concerns

Students who wish to bring a grievance or concern pertaining to University policies, procedures, or operations are encouraged to address their concern to the appropriate department head or official who oversees that area of University operations. Students with disabilities who need assistance in addressing a grievance or concern should contact the Title IX Coordinator and Director of Disability Resources. If a student has any doubt as to whom to direct a concern, the following officials may be contacted.

Student Life Concerns

• Housing concerns (including assignments, roommate issues, and residence hall maintenance concerns): Chris Reid, Assistant Dean and Director of Housing and Residence Life
• Financial Aid concerns: James Kaster, Director of Financial Aid
• Financial Charges/Payments concerns: Irma Bailey, Associate Treasurer and Controller
• Harassment/Discrimination and Disability Accommodations concerns: Lauren Kozak, Title IX Coordinator and Director of Disability Resources
• Student Employee concerns: Kim Austin, Deputy Director of Human Resources and Director of Benefits
• All other non-academic concerns (including student conduct, public safety, and other campus life issues): Alex Miller, Vice President for Student Affairs

Academic Concerns

• Grade Appeals: Undergraduate Students – Head of the Academic Department (for the particular course)
• Grading, Academic Course Policy, and Fair Treatment by Faculty – Concerns about grading, academic course policy, and fair treatment by faculty should be addressed to the department head of the department in question, and/or to the academic dean who supervises that division:
  • College: Paul Youngman, Interim Dean of the College
  • Williams School: Rob Straughan, Dean of the Williams School
  • Law School: Melanie Wilson, Dean of the Law School
  • Concerns can also be conveyed to the Provost of the University, Lena Hill
• Distance Learning: Concerns relating to distance education covered by the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) should be addressed to the Provost of the University, Lena Hill.  If all available internal grievance procedures have been exhausted, complaints regarding distance education covered by SARA may be filed with the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia (SCHEV). View the Virginia SARA contact information.

Any concerns or inquiries regarding general academic policies should be addressed to the appropriate academic dean and/or to the University Registrar, Melissa Neal.