Stevenson University strives at all times to provide the highest quality of service and the best student experience possible, in keeping with our core values. In the event that you believe you have a serious complaint against the University, we wish to make you aware of the appropriate processes to follow.
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University Complaint Processes
This process is for students who wish to contest the finding and/or sanction in an academic misconduct case. Click here to review the policy. Contact the Academic Integrity Officer at aio@stevenson.edu to obtain the applicable appeal form within the required time frame.
For academic complaints that are NOT related to grades, for example, an issue involving a faculty member.
a) Informal: The student should first try to resolve the issue directly with the faculty member involved.
b) Complaint: When a complaint is filed, the report will be sent to the faculty member’s immediate supervisor. The supervisor will respond with a decision via email within ten (10) business days. Please click here to file a Complaint.
c) Appeal: If an appeal is filed, it will be routed to the Dean of the faculty member in question for review. The Dean will respond with a decision via email within (10) ten business days. The decision of the Dean will be the final decision of the University on the matter. Please click here to file an Appeal.
Stevenson holds its coaches, administrators, and players in the Athletics Department to the highest standards. To report a complaint regarding unsafe playing or practicing environments, improper treatment of injuries, bullying or hazing, inadequate or unsafe equipment, or any other athletic concern, please see the University’s policy here. The policy contains a link for reporting concerns.
For complaints related to disability accommodations, and other concerns related to the Office of Disability Services.
a) Informal: The student should first meet with the Director of Disability Services to discuss the concern.
b) Complaint: When a complaint is filed, the report will be sent to the Associate Vice President (AVP) of Student Success. The AVP of Student Success will respond with a decision via email within ten (10) business days. Please click here to file a Complaint.
c) Appeal: If an appeal is filed, it will be routed to the Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs (EVPAA) for review. The EVPAA will respond with a decision via email within ten (10) business days. The decision of the EVPAA will be the final decision of the University on the matter. Please click here to file an Appeal.
This process is for concerns regarding discrimination, harassment, and bias related to an individual’s gender, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other belief or demographic category. The University’s policy can be found here. To learn more about Diversity and Inclusion at Stevenson and/or to report a complaint, please visit /about/diversity-inclusion/.
If you have a complaint not covered by the other categories under “Stevenson University Student Complaint Resolution.” The process for resolving your complaint can be found here.
- If you have already tried to resolve your concern informally and wish to submit a formal Complaint please click here. Please click here to if you have already submitted a Complaint and would like to submit an Appeal in response to the outcome.
This process is for students who wish to contest the grade assigned by a faculty member. Click here to review the policy. To access the Grade Appeal Form I – STUDENT, login to WebXpress, under the Students heading select Registrar’s Office Forms.
Concerns regarding residence life (noise violations, roommate issues, changing rooms, etc.) are managed by the Resident Advisors and Resident Directors in each Residence Hall.
a) Informal: The student should first meet with their Resident assistant to resolve the matter.
b) Complaint: When a complaint is filed, the report will be sent to the Resident Director of the building. The Resident Director will respond with a decision via email within ten (10) business days. Please click here to submit a Complaint.
c) Appeal: If an appeal is filed, it will be routed to the Assistant Vice President (AVP) for Residence Life, or their designee, for review. The AVP, or designee, will respond with a decision via email within ten (10) business days. The decision of the AVP, or designee, will be the final decision of the University on the matter. Please click here to submit an Appeal.
To report a Sexual Misconduct incident, or to learn more about the University’s Sexual Misconduct policy and resources, please click here. Sexual Misconduct includes sexual harassment, dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, rape, stalking, and any other non-consensual sexual activity.
This process is for students who have been issued sanctions for student conduct violations and wish to appeal the decision by the hearing officer. Please review the “Disciplinary Procedures and Sanctions for Conduct Violations” which can be found here.
Use this online tool to submit a complaint to Stevenson’s Student Government Association (SGA). This is for non-academic, non-emergency campus life concerns (consistently late shuttles, dining options closed early, etc.). Click here.
External Complaint Processes
Many external agencies require that all institutional procedures be followed before a concern will be considered. Before contacting one of these agencies, Stevenson University encourages students to inform the University of the complaint first via the appropriate process listed above. We are eager to listen and assist in resolving any issues you may have with the University.
If you are unable to resolve your concerns within the University processes, you may file a complaint with the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC)—which authorizes the University to offer undergraduate and graduate level certificates, baccalaureate, and master’s degrees—or with your home state’s regulatory agency. For a list of stage agencies, click here.
Stevenson University is a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). Membership allows institutions providing distance learning education programs across multiple states to be authorized to grant degrees in at least one NC-SARA member state. Students enrolled in distance learning educational programs who live in another member state may engage in the NC-SARA complaint process. For a map of NC-SARA Member States click here. Complaints through NC-SARA are managed by each state’s regulatory agency. For Stevenson University the state portal entity is MHEC. Details for the NC-SARA complaint process can be found here.
The NC-SARA process is for students who have first exhausted the member institution’s internal processes for handling complaints, and continue to be dissatisfied with the outcome. The NC-SARA process does not affect grading policies, or conduct violation appeals. For more information about NC-SARA, click here.
Students living in a non-NC-SARA member state who are engaged in a University distance learning program should contact their home state’s educational agency for information on how to file a complaint. For a listing of non-NC-SARA Member states and their respective education agencies, please click here.
If, after exhausting all other avenues of complaint, including institutional, MHEC, and NC-SARA processes, your concerns have not been addressed, then you may wish to contact the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Before filing a complaint it is strongly recommended that you read the Commission’s complaints policy. The MSCHE website indicates “To file a complaint, The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is obligated by federal regulations to review complaints it receives regarding member and candidate institutions. However, the Commission’s complaints policy prevents the Commission from intervening in disputes between individuals and institutions, whether these disputes involve students, faculty, administrators, or members of other groups.” For additional information on MSCHE, click here.
To contact MSCHE directly:
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
3624 Market Street, 2nd Floor West
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: 267-284-5000
Email: info@msche.org
Spanish: espanolinfo@msche.org