Louisiana State University and A&M College

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  2. COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATION
  3. PART 1. Signatures Attesting to Compliance
  4. PART 2. List of Substantive Changes Approved Since the Last Reaffirmation
  5. PART 3. Institutional Assessment of Compliance
    1. Section 2: Core Requirements
      1. 2.1 Degree-granting Authority
      2. 2.2 Governing Board
      3. 2.3 Chief Executive Officer
      4. 2.4 Institutional Mission
      5. 2.5 Institutional Effectiveness
        1. 2.5 Institutional Effectiveness (Continued)
      6. 2.6 Continuous Operation
      7. 2.7.1 Program Length
        1. 2.7.1 Program Length (Continued)
      8. 2.7.2 Program Content
      9. 2.7.3 General Education
      10. 2.7.4 Course work for Degrees
      11. 2.8 Faculty
      12. 2.9 Learning Resources and Services
      13. 2.10 Student Support Services
        1. 2.10 Student Support Services (Continued)
      14. 2.11.1 Financial Resources
      15. 2.11.2 Physical Resources
    2. Section 3: Comprehensive Standards
      1. 3.1.1 Mission
      2. 3.2.1 CEO evaluation/selection
      3. 3.2.2 Governing board control
      4. 3.2.3 Board conflict of interest
      5. 3.2.4 External Influence
      6. 3.2.5 Board dismissal
      7. 3.2.6 Board/administration distinction
      8. 3.2.7 Organizational structure
      9. 3.2.8 Qualified administrative/academic officers
      10. 3.2.9 Personnel appointment
      11. 3.2.10 Administrative staff evaluations
      12. 3.2.11 Control of intercollegiate athletics
      13. 3.2.12 Fund-raising activities
      14. 3.2.13 Institution-related entities
      15. 3.2.14 Intellectual property rights
      16. 3.3.1 Institutional Effectiveness
        1. 3.3.1.1
          1. 3.3.1.1 (Continued)
        2. 3.3.1.2
        3. 3.3.1.3
          1. 3.3.1.3 (Continued)
        4. 3.3.1.4
          1. 3.3.1.4 (Continued)
        5. 3.3.1.5
          1. 3.3.1.5 (Continued)
      17. 3.4.1 Academic program approval
      18. 3.4.2 Continuing education/service programs
      19. 3.4.3 Admissions policies
      20. 3.4.4 Acceptance of academic credit
      21. 3.4.5 Academic policies
      22. 3.4.6 Practices for awarding credit
      23. 3.4.7 Consortial relationships/contractual agreements
      24. 3.4.8 Noncredit to credit
      25. 3.4.9 Academic support services
        1. 3.4.9 (Continued)
        2. 3.4.9 (Continued - 2)
      26. 3.4.10 Responsibility for curriculum
      27. 3.4.11 Academic program coordination
      28. 3.4.12 Technology use
      29. 3.5.1 General education competencies
      30. 3.5.2 Institutional credits for a degree
      31. 3.5.3 Undergraduate program requirements
      32. 3.5.4 Terminal degrees of faculty
      33. 3.6.1 Post-baccalaureate program rigor
        1. 3.6.1 Post-baccalaureate program rigor (Continued)
      34. 3.6.2 Graduate curriculum
      35. 3.6.3 Institutional credits for a graduate degree
      36. 3.6.4 Post-baccalaureate program requirements
      37. 3.7.1 Faculty competence
      38. 3.7.2 Faculty evaluation
      39. 3.7.3 Faculty development
      40. 3.7.4 Academic freedom
      41. 3.7.5 Faculty role in governance
      42. 3.8.1 Learning/information resources
      43. 3.8.2 Instruction of library use
      44. 3.8.3 Qualified staff
      45. 3.9.1 Student rights
      46. 3.9.2 Student records
      47. 3.9.3 Qualified staff
      48. 3.10.1 Financial Stability
      49. 3.10.2 Financial aid audits
      50. 3.10.3 Control of finances
      51. 3.10.4 Control of sponsored research/external funds
      52. 3.11.1 Control of physical resources
      53. 3.11.2 Institutional environment
      54. 3.11.3 Physical facilities
      55. 3.12.1 Substantive change
      56. 3.13 Policy compliance
        1. 3.13.1 "Accrediting Decisions of Other Agencies"
        2. 3.13.2. "Collaborative Academic Arrangements: Policy and Procedures"
        3. 3.13.3. "Complaint Procedures Against the Commission or Its Accredited Institutions"
        4. 3.13.4. "Reaffirmation of Accreditation and Subsequent Reports"
          1. 3.13.4.a.
          2. 3.13.4.b.
      57. 3.14.1 Publication of accreditation status
      58. 3.13.5. "Separate Accreditation for Units of a Member Institution"
        1. 3.13.5.a.
        2. 3.13.5.b.
    3. Section 4: Federal Requirements
      1. 4.1 Student Achievement
      2. 4.2 Program curriculum
        1. 4.2 Program curriculum (Continued)
      3. 4.3 Publication of policies
      4. 4.4 Program length
        1. 4.4 Program length (Continued)
      5. 4.5 Student complaints
      6. 4.6 Recruitment materials
      7. 4.7 Title IV program responsibilities
      8. 4.8 Distance and correspondence education
        1. 4.8.1
        2. 4.8.2
        3. 4.8.3
      9. 4.9 Definition of credit hours
  6. PART 4. Institutional Summary Form Prepared for Commission Reviews
  7. FOCUSED REPORT
  8. QUALITY ENHANCEMENT PLAN (QEP)
Home > PART 3. Institutional Assessment of Compliance > Section 3: Comprehensive Standards > 3.13 Policy compliance > 3.13.3. "Complaint Procedures Against the Commission or Its Accredited Institutions"

3.13.3. "Complaint Procedures Against the Commission or Its Accredited Institutions"

*3.13.3. “Complaint Procedures Against the Commission or Its Accredited Institutions”

Applicable Policy Statement. Each institution is required to have in place student complaint policies and procedures that are reasonable, fairly administered, and well-publicized. (See FR 4.5). The Commission also requires, in accord with federal regulations, that each institution maintains a record of complaints received by the institution. This record is made available to the Commission upon request. This record will be reviewed and evaluated by the Commission as part of the institution’s decennial evaluation.

Documentation: When addressing this policy statement, the institution should provide information to the Commission describing how the institution maintains its record and also include the following: (1) individuals/offices responsible for the maintenance of the record(s), (2) elements of a complaint review that are included in the record, and (3) where the record(s) is located (centralized or decentralized). The record itself will be reviewed during the on-site evaluation of the institution.

Compliance Status

Louisiana State University and A&M College is in compliance with this principle.

Narrative

Louisiana State University and A&M (LSU) complies with the policy of SACSCOC as it applies to “complaint procedures against the commission or its accredited institutions.” LSU has established procedures for addressing written student complaints.  As noted in Federal Requirement 4.5, LSU has student complaint and appeals policies and procedures that are reasonable, equitably administered, and well publicized. LSU addresses formal student complaints through processes that allow for complaints to be filed and addressed at the lowest possible administrative level. In an effort to assist students to know and understand how concerns can be addressed, staff members have the authority to act definitively and as quickly as practicable. LSU maintains records of the complaints and appeals received by the institution.

It is important that students understand the types of complaints and appeals that can be filed and how to file them.  Recognizing that students have a great deal of information and policy to know and navigate, LSU has made an effort to provide a Web-based format, first made available in 2011, for complaints and appeals on the Website of  the Office of the Dean of Students. The dean’s Website is the logical focal point for a process designed to assist students throughout their tenure at LSU [1].  In spring 2013, the Student Complaint and Appeals submission option was added to the Division of Student Life and Enrollment Website to allow for an additional point of entry and exposure for students to submit information regarding complaint or appeal procedures [2]. The Website clearly lists types of complaints and appeals and details specifically how and where to file them.  The Student Complaints/Student Appeals link on LSU A-Z on the main LSU Website also will lead students to the Website of the Office of the Dean of Students.  The dean’s Website or LSU A-Z can also be used to access Policy Statement 48 (PS-48):  Student Appeal Procedures [3].  The Website also has the Student Code of Conduct [4] and a Student Bookshelf to help them understand LSU’s policies [5].

LSU operates a decentralized process, as complaints of an academic nature are handled through academic departments and colleges at the initial level; depending on the type and resolution of the complaint, these can go higher—to the level of the Office of the Dean of Students or to the Office of Academic Affairs. Complaints and appeals that are non-academic in nature are handled by the office/unit that oversees these services, although the portals into these other units are readily found at the Student Complaint and Appeals Web page of the Division of Student Life and Enrollment Website. Questions regarding individual student records are directed to the appropriate location. Table 1 shows the various locations of complaints/appeals records at LSU, as well as the custodian(s) of these student records.

 

Table 1.  Location and Custodian(s) of All Student Complaints/Appeals Records

Position or Office

Location Custodian

Notes

Academic Affairs, Office of [6]

Room 135G, Thomas Boyd Hall

Provost Stuart Bell; Rebecca Caire is the provost's designee for academic appeals

 

Admissions, Graduate [7]

Room 114, David Boyd Hall

Renee Renegar

The Graduate School (GS) keeps a log of all exceptions to policies that are sent from the academic departments or colleges.  The GS does not have the authority to approve or disapprove degree-seeking students’ complaints/appeals. 

Exceptions made by the academic units are recorded.  Records of these exceptions are kept in a digital log.

Admissions, Undergraduate [8]

Room 1146, Pleasant Hall

Lupe Lamadrid

 

Agriculture, College of [9]

Room 138, Woodin Hall

Jennifer Neal is the custodian of the complaint log

Kenneth Koonce (dean)

Art & Design, College of [10]

102-A2 Design Building

Tom Sofranko, the associate dean, keeps files on deans-level grade appeals.

Kenneth Carpenter (dean)

Athletics [11]

Financial Aid—Dave Kurpius (Enrollment Management) and the athletic department keeps a file.

Appellate Documents are kept in 601D Athletics Administration.

Bo Bahnsen

Grievance Procedure—procedure in student athlete handbook including financial aid and transfer to go to another school.

Joseph Louis Alleva (vice chancellor, athletics)

Bursar Operations, Office of [12]

Room 125, Thomas Boyd Hall

Laurence Butcher

Late registration appeals originate in this office; they then go to the Registrars’ Office and then back to the Bursar’s Office.

Business, E. J. Ourso, College of [13]

Room 1053, Business Education Complex

Ashley Junek, the Assistant Dean of Academic Programs handles complaints/appeals

Richard White (dean)

Coast & Environment, School of [14]

Room 1002U, Coast and Environment Building

Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences—

Environmental Sciences—Charlotte St. Romain 8-8522

Chris D’Elia (dean);  Gaynelle Gibbs handles student complaints/appeals in Oceanography and Coastal Sciences

Charlotte St. Romain handles complaints/appeals in Environmental Sciences.

 

Continuing Education, Division of [15]

Distance Courses—2238 Pleasant Hall

Appeal of Managers Decisions—2148 Pleasant Hall

Donald Beale

 

Doug Weimer

Student complains are handled and maintained in the program group within the Continuing Education Division that is responsible for the program activity.

Disability Services [16]

Room 115, Johnston Hall

Records are electronically kept on Server in Frey Hall

Benjamin Cornwell, Director of Disability Services

Records are electronically kept on server in Frey Hall. Note that Disability Services Reports to the Office of the Dean of Students, although LSU Human Resource Management may also become involved.

Engineering, College of [17]

Room 3139, Taylor Hall

Richard Koubek

Lisa Launey formally logs the appeals.

Enrollment Management [18]

Room 1146, Pleasant Hall

David Kurpius

 

Financial Aid, Office of [19]

Room 1146, Pleasant Hall

Amy Marix

 

Freshman Year, Center for [20]

Room 150, Allen Hall

Paul Ivey

 UCAC records are located in 150 Himes Hall

Graduate School [7]

Room 114, David Boyd Hall

Gary Byerly (dean)

 

Human Sciences & Education, College of [21]

Room 236, Peabody Hall

Damon Andrew (dean)

Beginning in July 2012, when the College was created, Lisa Newman, assistant dean in the office of student services was in charge of complaints or appeals for undergraduates in all schools of the college. She keeps student files locked in 236 Peabody Hall, and she keeps an Excel file with the student’s name, the date appeal is received, and the date of decision and outcome. Students who are inactive have archived files in the dean’s office. The Excel file is kept on a computer in a locked office in Peabody 236.  

Humanities and Social Sciences, College of [22]

Room 119, Hodges Hall

Gaines Foster; Assistant Dean Rebecca Caire is the custodian

Rebecca Caire is the provost's designee for academic appeals

Honors College [23]

Room 205, French House

Dr. Nancy Clark (dean) is the custodian; Michael Blandino, assistant dean, keeps a log of the records on the server of the Honors College.

 

LSU Libraries [24]

Room 102, Middleton Library

Elissa Plank formally logs the complaints.

Elaine Smyth (interim dean)

Mass Communication, Manship School of [25]

207B of the Journalism Building

Helen Taylor, assistant dean, is responsible for student complaints.

Jerry Ceppos (dean)

Music & Dramatic Arts, College of [26]

Music: Room 102, School of Music Building

Theater: Room 105, Music and Dramatic Arts Building

Stephen Beck; Joshua Ledet, administratiive assistant

Interim Dean Kristin Sosnowsky; David Rodriguez is the assistant

 

Office of Research and Economic Development  [27]

130 David Boyd

 

 

131 A David Boyd

Jason Pasqua—Institutional Review Board (IRB); Robert Matthews, chair, Department of Psychology, is also the chair of the IRB

Non-IRB research misconduct

The only complaints about students conducting research concern failing to go through the IRB for a thesis or dissertation.  The graduate school checks for this.  In the past six years, only two students failed to go through the IRB.  The chair of IRB investigates these studies and sends a report to the Graduate School (GS).  GS also files a copy of the chair’s report, along with with the IRB protocol that these students submit to the chair.  A similar process would be used for an undergraduate; however, no such case has ever been reported at LSU.

Undergraduate, graduate, and Veterinary Science students are also subject to research misconduct policies, although no incidents have been reported.

Residential Life [28]

Room 99, Grace King Hall

Steve Waller

 

Science, College of [29]

Room 351, Hatcher Hall

The primary contact is Martha Cedotal.

Guillermo Ferreyra (dean)

Student Advocacy & Accountability [30]

 

 

Room 340, LSU Student Union

Matt Gregory

Electronic records (Room 340 Student Union); prior to January 2012, a paper file (in locked cabinets in Dean of Students White’s office (Room 333 Student Union) was also kept.

Greek complaints (housed in Greek Life, Room 472, LSU Student Union);

student organization complaints (housed with Campus Life, Room 350, LSU Student Union);

student organization conduct records, hazing, and discrimination against a student (all housed in Room 340, LSU Student Union); faculty/staff complaints (Room 340, LSU Student Union), then to HR.

Student Life & Enrollment [31]

Room 240, Thomas Boyd Hall

Kurt Keppler

See Disability Services and Residential Life

Student Health Center [32]

Room 176, Student Health Center

Ashley Clement

 

Traffic/Parking [33]

131-B-1 Public Safety Building

Gary Graham

 

LSU Recreation, LSU UREC [34]

Suite 200 SRC

Laurie Braden

A Google doc tracks questions or complaints.  These come to urec@lsu.edu.  Documents and responses are kept in a file, by year.  They are maintained in the UREC administrative suite.  Braden also has an electronic file for any email complaints; both initial and follow-up correspondence are kept in her email files.

University Registrar, Office of the [35]

Room 112,

Thomas Boyd Hall

Robert Doolos, FERPA;

the registrar may  remove a Buckley Hold;

Rachel Ostrenko, residency appeals

Late fees, FERPA; if residency cannot be resolved, residency appeals go to the LSU System —for handling by Robert Rasmussen. 

Veterinary Medicine, School of [36]

Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Room 1821

Pathobiological Sciences Room 3315

Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Room 2510

Research and Advanced Studies, Room 1102

Student and Academic Affairs, Room 1213

Dale Paccamonti, head

 

 

Ronald Thune, head

 

 

Joseph Francis, interim head

James Miller, interim associate dean

Joseph Taboada, associate dean

The School of Veterinary Science maintains records in the unit in which the event happens.  Research misconduct is managed by ORED. 

Peter Haynes, Dean of the School of Veterinary Science, maintains records that reach the school level in Room 1102, Veterinary Medicine Building.

File Management of Student Appeals and Complaints

The information that is kept is generally the information requested in the complaints/appeals that are filed.  Individual departments/units may handle the storage of files in different ways.  Many keep electronic log files, whereas some keep paper logs in student files, some keep both, and some recently started keeping electronic logs. An example of an electronic log is provided from the College of Agriculture [37].  Files are kept using password-protected electronic files or locked file cabinets.

Complaint/Appeal Forms and Where Students Can Find Them

The Website of the Office of the Dean of Students includes an Advocacy & Accountability site that provides students with either the forms to file complaints and appeals or the links to the appropriate resource, as follows:

Student Advocacy & Accountability (Appeals) [2] [38]

Admissions decisions: (email) Undergraduate Admissions

            Code of Student Conduct: (email) Office of the Dean of Students

            Financial aid & scholarships (form): (email) LSU Financial Aid

            Grade appeals: LSU General Catalog

            Graduate student concerns: (email) LSU Graduate School

            Housing contracts/lease terminations: (email) LSU Department of Residential Life

            Library appeals: Appropriate library department head

Parking citations and tows: (email)  Office of  Parking, Traffic & Transportation

            Residency appeals: PM-31:, Residence Regulations, LSU System [39]

Sexual harassment: PS-95: Sexual Harassment of Students [40]

            Student employment: LSU Financial Aid; PS-33: Student Employment [41]

Student workers: Questions/Termination, Human Resource Management

Student Advocacy & Accountability (Complaints) [2] [42] [43]

Academic dishonesty Admissions decisions (undergraduate)

Campus Life, Code of Student Conduct [4]

Career Services

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Center for Academic Success, Grade appeals

Conduct violations (academic & non-academic)

Graduate student issues

Disability Services

Housing contracts/lease terminations

Discrimination incidents

First Year Experience

Parking citations and tows

Greek Life

Hazing

Residential Life student workers

Specific offices may have appeal/complaint forms available; for example, the Office of Academic Affairs Student Appeals [44], Disability Services Appeals [45], Library Appeals [46], or Parking or Towing Appeals [47].  The Student Health Center Surveys clients and follows up on any complaints [48] [49].

Students also have the right to file a complaint if they feel that their Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) (also known as the Buckley Amendment) rights have been violated [50].  They can also appeal to view their records and have their records amended or corrected.  As stated above, the Registrar’s Office maintains these requests [35].  Students can waive their FERPA rights, in writing, to allow parents, other family members, attorneys, or others (specified) to view student records [51].

File Attachments:
  1.  [1] LSU Dean of Students main Web page [1] LSU Dean of Students main Web page
  2.  [2] LSU Dean of Students Web page, Student Complaints and Appeals [2] LSU Dean of Students Web page, Student Complaints and Appeals
  3.  [3] LSU Policy Statement 48 (PS-48): General Appeal Procedure Available to Students [3] LSU Policy Statement 48 (PS-48): General Appeal Procedure Available to Students
  4.  [4] Student Advocacy and Accountability, Code of Student Conduct [4] Student Advocacy and Accountability, Code of Student Conduct
  5.  [5] LSU Dean of Students Web page, Bookshelf [5] LSU Dean of Students Web page, Bookshelf
  6.  [6] Office of Academic Affairs [6] Office of Academic Affairs
  7.  [7] Office of Graduate Admissions [7] Office of Graduate Admissions
  8.  [8] Office of Undergraduate Admissions [8] Office of Undergraduate Admissions
  9.  [9] College of Agriculture [9] College of Agriculture
  10. [10] College of Art & Design [10] College of Art & Design
  11. [11] Athletics [11] Athletics
  12. [12] Office of Bursar Operations [12] Office of Bursar Operations
  13. [13]	E. J. Ourso College of Business [13] E. J. Ourso College of Business
  14. [14] School of Coast & Environment [14] School of Coast & Environment
  15. [15] Division of Continuing Education [15] Division of Continuing Education
  16. [16] Disability Services [16] Disability Services
  17. [17]	College of Engineering [17] College of Engineering
  18. [18]	Enrollment Management [18] Enrollment Management
  19. [19]	Office of Financial Aid [19] Office of Financial Aid
  20. [20] Center for Freshman Year [20] Center for Freshman Year
  21. [21]	College of Human Sciences & Education [21] College of Human Sciences & Education
  22. [22]	College of Humanities & Social Sciences [22] College of Humanities & Social Sciences
  23. [23]	Honors College [23] Honors College
  24. [24]	LSU Libraries [24] LSU Libraries
  25. [25]	Manship School of Mass Communication [25] Manship School of Mass Communication
  26. [26]	College of Music & Dramatic Arts [26] College of Music & Dramatic Arts
  27. [27]	Office of Research and Economic Development [27] Office of Research and Economic Development
  28. [28]	Office of Residential Life [28] Office of Residential Life
  29. [29]	College of Science [29] College of Science
  30. [30]	Office of Student Advocacy & Accountability [30] Office of Student Advocacy & Accountability
  31. [31]	Office of Student Life & Enrollment [31] Office of Student Life & Enrollment
  32. [32]	Student Health Center [32] Student Health Center
  33. [33]	Traffic/Parking Services [33] Traffic/Parking Services
  34. [34]	LSU Recreation Center [34] LSU Recreation Center
  35. [35]	University Registrar [35] University Registrar
  36. [36]	School of Veterinary Medicine [36] School of Veterinary Medicine
  37. [37]	Complaint/Appeals Log, College of Agriculture [37] Complaint/Appeals Log, College of Agriculture
  38. [38]	Office of Student Advocacy & Accountability, Appeals Web page [38] Office of Student Advocacy & Accountability, Appeals Web page
  39. [39]	Louisiana System Permanent Memorandum 31 (PM-31): Residence Regulations [39] Louisiana System Permanent Memorandum 31 (PM-31): Residence Regulations
  40. [40]	LSU Policy Statement 95 (PS-95): Sexual Harassment of Students [40] LSU Policy Statement 95 (PS-95): Sexual Harassment of Students
  41. [41]	LSU Policy Statement 33 (PS-33): Student Employment [41] LSU Policy Statement 33 (PS-33): Student Employment
  42. [42]	Office of Dean of Students, Complaints Portal Web page [42] Office of Dean of Students, Complaints Portal Web page
  43. [43]	Office of Dean of Students, Complaints Form Web page [43] Office of Dean of Students, Complaints Form Web page
  44. [44]	Office of Academic Affairs, Student Appeals Web page [44] Office of Academic Affairs, Student Appeals Web page
  45. [45]	Disability Services, Appeals/Complaints Web page [45] Disability Services, Appeals/Complaints Web page
  46. [46]	LSU Libraries, Appeals Web page [46] LSU Libraries, Appeals Web page
  47. [47]	Parking or Towing Appeals Web page [47] Parking or Towing Appeals Web page
  48. [48]	Student Health Center Comments and Complaints [48] Student Health Center Comments and Complaints
  49. [49]	Student Health Center Survey Results [49] Student Health Center Survey Results
  50. [50]	Family Educational Rights and Privacy (FERPA) Rights [50] Family Educational Rights and Privacy (FERPA) Rights
  51. [51]	Form for Waiving of FERPA Rights [51] Form for Waiving of FERPA Rights
Author: Stephenie Franks
Last modified: 7/1/2015 8:33 AM (EDT)