Academic Ombudsman

The Academic Ombudsman, a faculty member to whom students may bring complaints about teaching, operates under the following conditions. The Ombudsman will have a purely communicative function. If, after discussing the complaint with the Ombudsman, the student desires, the Ombudsman shall communicate the nature of the complaint to the instructor involved. Then, if the student thinks an insufficient corrective effort has been made, the student may discuss the matter with the Ombudsman and request that the complaint be forwarded to the instructor’s department chair. The Ombudsman shall regard all information received by virtue of the position as absolutely confidential, except as provided in this statement. Students who do not choose to use the services of the Ombudsman can use the process of administrative appeal, starting first with the instructor, then the instructor’s department chair, the dean, and finally the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Complaints should be resolved at the lowest level.