Student Complaint Policy
UIC Law is committed to treating its students fairly and with respect, so the Law School has adopted the following policies and procedures to resolve issues and complaints.
Academic Concerns Heading link
Students are encouraged to contact their professors to seek advice about any academic concerns. If a student is unable to resolve an issue or complaint with the professor, the student should send a written complaint to the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs. You may send your complaint via email or typed letter. Examples of complaints addressed by this process include, but are not limited to, grade disputes, academic standing issues, and disputes with professors. These procedures do not apply to decisions made under the Student Code of Conduct.
Complaints Involving the Student Code of Conduct Heading link
Any member of the faculty, administration, staff, or student body may initiate a discipline proceeding against a student or former student by filing a charge with the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs. The charge shall identify the parties involved in the complaint and state in plain language and with reasonable particularity the date, place, and relevant facts. If possible, the student should also identify the standard of conduct which has been violated. This charge can be sent via email or typed letter.
The Student Code of Conduct is available on the Institutional Policies page.
Complaints Related to the Protection from Discrimination & Harassment Policy Heading link
UIC does not tolerate discrimination in admissions, employment, access to and treatment in University programs and activities. Unlawful discrimination, bias, and harassment can consist of words or conduct. Although freedom of expression is vital to the educational process, it does not excuse unlawful discrimination, bias, and harassment targeted at specific persons or groups.This policy applies to all aspects of employment and the educational environment including educational programs, services, and extracurricular activities. For more information, please see the Law School Nondiscrimination Policy. If you believe you have been subjected to unlawful discrimination, bias, or harassment of any kind, please report it.
Any student, employee, or faculty member may submit a complaint or report of alleged discrimination or harassment by:
- Calling Ethics Line, the University’s confidential reporting line, at (866) 758-2146;
- Contacting one of the resources listed on the University’s Office for Access and Equity website;
- Completing the online Discrimination/Bias Incident Reporting Form;
- Contacting the Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, any dean or faculty member.
Complaints Related to the Protection from Sexual Harassment & Sexual Misconduct Policy Heading link
UIC does not tolerate sex discrimination, sexual harassment, or other sexual misconduct of any kind (including sexual assault, sexual violence, or sexual abuse) against faculty, staff, or students. Prohibited behaviors can be words or conduct. Examples of prohibited verbal behaviors include, but are not limited to, unwelcome sexual innuendo, gender stereotyping, sexual propositions, and comments, insults, threats, and jokes about gender-specific traits including when communicated through electronic media. For more information, please see UIC’s Sexual Misconduct Policy If you believe you have been subjected to sexual harassment of any kind, please report it.
Any student, employee, or faculty member may submit a complaint or report of alleged sexual harassment or misconduct by:
- Calling Ethics Line, the University’s confidential reporting line, at (866) 758-2146;
- Contacting one of the resources listed on the University’s Office for Access and Equity website;
- Completing the online Sexual Harassment Reporting Form;
- Contacting any dean or faculty member.
All employees are considered to be “Responsible Employees” with the authority and responsibility to report sexual misconduct. Thus, any employee who knows or has reason to believe that a violation of this policy has occurred has an obligation to report the matter whether or not the victim has made a formal complaint.
Protection Against Retaliation Heading link
We encourage you to report. UIC does not tolerate retaliation. Any person who retaliates against someone who makes or participates in an investigation will face appropriate disciplinary action up to and including suspension, employee termination, or student dismissal. Any form of retaliation should be promptly reported immediately to the Office of Access and Equity.
Complaints to the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association Heading link
UIC Law is accredited by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association. Any student with complaints, questions, or concerns that directly implicate the Law School’s compliance with the ABA’s Accreditation Standards can file a complaint using the Student Complaints – Compliance with ABA Accreditation Standards Form. Your complaint must identify the specific ABA Accreditation Standard at issue. The ABA standards can be reviewed online. Your complaint should describe in detail the behavior, program, process, or other matter that is the subject of your complaint.
Complaints to The Higher Learning Commission Heading link
UIC Law is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. The Higher Learning Commission has established a clear distinction between individual grievances and complaints that appear to involve broad institutional practices. Where a complaint to the HLC raises issues regarding the institution’s ongoing ability to meet the Criteria of Accreditation, the Commission forwards the complaint to the institution and requests a formal response.
The Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, Illinois 60604-1411
Complaint Procedure for Online Students Heading link
Illinois is a member of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), an agreement that establishes standards for postsecondary distance education among member states. Each SARA state designates a state agency to serve as the state’s portal agency, the point of contact for SARA questions, complaints and other communications. The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) acts as the SARA portal agency for Illinois.
As a participant in SARA, UIC Law follows the SARA Student Complaint Resolution Process in addressing the complaints of distance education students from SARA member states (see below). If unsatisfied with the outcome of the law school’s internal complaint process, a student may appeal to the IBHE through its online complaint system. Disputes regarding grades and student conduct violations fall outside the SARA complaint process and are governed entirely by the law school’s policy and Illinois law.
SARA Member States: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Distance education students from states that are not members of SARA are encouraged to seek resolution of complaints through the law school’s internal complaint processes. For unresolved complaints, they should contact their home states’ agencies:
California
California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education
PO Box 980818
W. Sacramento, CA 95798-0818
bppe@dca.ca.gov
www.bppe.ca.gov/enforcement/complaint.shtml
www.bppe.ca.gov/forms_pubs/complaint.pdf
Procedures for Other Student Complaints Heading link
Resolving the Complaint: When a formal written complaint has been made, the Assistant Dean for Student Life & Leadership shall investigate and attempt to resolve the complaint as soon as possible. The Assistant Dean for Student Life & Leadership shall respond to the complaint no later than 30 days after the filing of the written complaint. Upon completing the investigation of the complaint, the Law School shall communicate its findings and, if appropriate, its intended actions to the complaint.
Appeal Process: If a complainant is dissatisfied with the response or outcome, that individual has the right to appeal the decision. The complainant should submit a written appeal to the Dean no later than 7 days from the date of the original response. The Dean shall respond to the appeal no later than 21 days after the filing of the written appeal. The Dean’s decision shall be final.
Maintaining a Written Record of the Complaint: A copy of all complaints and a summary of the resolution of the complaint shall be maintained in the Office of Student Life and Leadership for up to eight years from the date of final resolution of the complaint.
Other Complaints: This policy does not alter other complaint procedures which the law school provides for in other policy statements and procedures. You may find them in the Institutional Policies.
These procedures were adopted on November 22, 2011.