Student Complaint Directory

Creating a Positive Environment:
Handling Student Concerns at Ohio University

At Ohio University, we’re committed to fostering a positive environment for all students to ensure you have the opportunities and support you need to be successful. We take students’ concerns seriously and if something goes wrong, we are committed to addressing issues fairly. This webpage contains information intended to help students identify where they may seek assistance. When you encounter an issue follow these steps: 

  • Seek resolution through direct dialogue with relevant individuals or offices
  • Be open and honest in your communication 
  • Be an active listener
  • Seek information or assistance from an advisor, trusted faculty or staff member 
  • Consult the Resources listed in the next section 

Resources

1. College, Regional Campus, or OHIO Online

Many issues can be most effectively addressed by your college, regional campus, or OHIO Online. Questions or concerns about academic advising, how to contact an academic advisor, or other academic matters should be directed to the  advising coordinator for the program,  College or Regional Campus Student Services Office.

2. Contact Specific Office or Offices

Some issues may require contact with a specific office or offices:

Academic

Issue
For more information
Resources
Academic program (Major), classes and college activities or programs

College webpages contain information about all of the activities a college, including but not limited to programs, majors, clubs and organizations, career services, and research opportunities.

Specific questions or concerns may be directed to the Advising Coordinator for the program, or your College or Regional Campus Student Services Office.

Faculty integrity or instructor misconduct

Concerns about faculty integrity or misconduct may be brought to the department chair/school director or an associate dean of your college. These may include but are not limited to:

  • Instructional Quality (course related issues)
  • Faculty conduct or professionalism
Graduate Students

In most cases, the courses, curricula and faculty are matters to be addressed by their department chair or school director, before being brought to the dean of their college. Graduate students who are unable to resolve matters with their academic college* may also contact the Graduate College after seeking resolution within the college.”

*Students who are enrolled in an Individual Interdisciplinary Program or Translational Biomedical Sciences Doctoral Program should contact Graduate College

  • Instructional Quality (course related issues)
  • Faculty conduct or professionalism
Guarantee Plus/Graduation Plan

Ohio University Guarantee+

  • Connect with the Student Success Team
  • Fixed Tuition and Fees
  • Graduate On Time and On Plan
  • Lifelong Bobcat Benefits
Online Learning
OHIO Online — for questions about academic programs, academic services, and advising, or if you are a student living in a state outside of Ohio and want to know more about an online program from OHIO
Transfer Credit
For any questions regarding transfer of your credit to Ohio University or from Ohio University to another institution, visit   Transfer Your Credits

Academic Services

Issue For more information Resources
Canvas Learning Management System

Canvas Resources for Students

Canvas enables students to engage with their coursework, instructors, and peers online in an interactive and efficient way.

Canvas is used by your instructors to communicate with you to deliver instruction

The Office of Information Technology
Course Scheduling and Course availability

How to Register for Classes

This webpage includes links to step-by-step instructions to help you register for classes

Office of the University Registrar
Privacy – student educational records

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Office of the University Registrar

Policy 12.020 Student Records

Report a Compliance or Privacy Concern
Waitlisting for Classes

Being on a waitlist means that you are on a list of students who will be enrolled automatically in a class if seats become available and you meet all other requirements.

Waitlisting Frequently Asked Questions

Office of the University Registrar

Campus Climate Concerns

Issue For more information Resources
A campus climate concern is any act that appears to be or is perceived to be inappropriate by an individual. Such an act may be motivated by race, ethnicity, age, religion, national origin, sex, disability, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, veteran status or socioeconomic status. To be considered a concern, the act is not required to be a crime under any federal, state or local statutes, nor does it have to violate university policy.

Campus Climate Concerns

Ohio University strives to create an environment where students, staff, faculty, and families feel that their authentic self is personally accepted, respected, included, and supported in the university environment. We strive for inclusive excellence.

Sometimes events, behaviors, or actions that negatively impact the goal of inclusive excellence or sense of belonging at OHIO may occur. We encourage members of our community to come forward to report when they feel there has been a negative impact on the overall campus climate.

Submit a Report

Discrimination and Harassment

Issue For more information Resources
Allegations of discrimination based on race, color, religion, age, national origin, national ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, gender identity or gender expression, military or veteran status, mental or physical disability, status as a parent or foster parent, or genetic information

Policy 40.001: Non-discrimination in Education and Employment

University Equity and Civil Rights Compliance
Religious Accommodation
Policy 40.003:Interim Reasonable Accommodations of Sincerely Held Religious Beliefs and Practices University Equity and Civil Rights Compliance

Financial Issues

Issue For more information Resources
Scholarships, Grants, Loans, and other types of Financial Aid
Students who have concerns about financial aid should contact the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships. The office can be reached at   financial.aid@ohio.edu  or  740.593.4141 .  In-person or virtual appointments are available with an assigned financial aid advisor. If a complaint is not resolved to the student’s satisfaction, there are external resources such as the   Office of Federal Student Aid and the Ohio Department of Higher Education . The Division of Enrollment Management
Billing issues or disputes
The university Bursar is responsible for the billing and collecting of balances owed to the university including student tuition balances that are charged every semester. For help with many questions, visit Bursar's Office Frequently Asked Questions The Office of the Bursar
Residency for tuition purposes - Undergraduate Students
Ohio Residency requirements for in-state tuition

Undergraduate Admissions

The Division of Enrollment Management

Residency for tuition purposes - Graduate Students
Graduate Residency for Tuition Purposes

Undergraduate Admissions

The Division of Enrollment Management

Hazing

Issue For more information Resources

Every student at Ohio University has the right to participate in activities and organizations without experiencing hazing.

Every member of the Ohio University community has an obligation to report and act on information regarding hazing.

Hazing Prevention Resources

Policy 23.010 Hazing

Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility

On-campus housing and residence life

Issue For more information Resources
Reporting Student Misconduct and Violation of the Student Code of Conduct
The Student Conduct Process The Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility
Dining Plan
Meal Plans and Meal Plan Options Culinary Services
Housing Contract issues
Housing and Culinary Services Contract  Housing & Residence Life
Request for Exemption from on-campus housing
Housing & Residence Life Exemption and Termination Process Housing & Residence Life
Residence Hall Damage: billing appeals
Housing Damage Appeal Housing & Residence Life
Request room change
Room Change and Roommate Conflicts Housing & Residence Life
Roommate Conflicts
Room Change and Roommate Conflicts Housing & Residence Life
Safety or Maintenance issues in Residence Halls
Facility Concerns Housing & Residence Life

Pregnancy and Related Conditions

Issue
For more information
Resources
Pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, or lactation

Pregnancy and Related Concerns Students may request reasonable modifications based on the following:

  1. pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, or lactation,
  2. medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, or lactation, and
  3. recovery from pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, or related medical conditions.
Lactation Accommodation for student employees (PUMP Act)

Pregnancy and Related Concerns

Student employees may request accommodations to support breastfeeding, including reasonable break times to nurse and private spaces to pump breastmilk.

Student Services

Issue For more information Resources
Campus Care

OhioHealth Campus Care is Ohio University’s student health center.

All Ohio University undergraduate, graduate, and medical students who are enrolled for one or more credit hours are eligible to use the services.

Ohio Health Campus Care
Mental Health Concerns

Ohio University seeks to provide a safe and secure environment in which students can pursue their academic and personal goals. The purpose of the CARE Team is to ensure a timely and coordinated university response to students whose behavior is disruptive to others or reflects a credible potential for harm to self or others.

Counseling and Psychological Services Resources

The Office of the Dean of Students
Student Legal Services
The Center for Student Legal Services provides Ohio University students with a wide range of legal services. Center for Student Legal Services
Transportation and Parking Services
The Ohio University Transportation & Parking Services Office provides safe, efficient and reliable transportation & parking centered services which align with and support campus needs. Transportation and Parking Services
Privacy of Student Medical Records

Counseling and Psychological Services

Confidentiality and Privacy

Report a Compliance or Privacy Concern
Plagiarism, or other Academic Misconduct
Academic Misconduct includes, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, un-permitted collaboration, forged attendance (when attendance is required), fabrication (e.g., use of invented information or falsification of research or other findings), using advantages not approved by the instructor (e.g., unauthorized review of a copy of an exam ahead of time), knowingly permitting another student to plagiarize or cheat from one's work, or submitting the same assignment in different courses without consent of the instructor.

Student Code of Conduct

Community Standards Academic Misconduct Report Form

Violations of Student Code of Conduct
Student Code of Conduct Community Standards Incident Report Form

3. University Ombuds

If you are not sure who to contact or you didn't find your concern listed here, we've got you covered. The Office of the Ombudsperson can be a good starting point.

The  Office of the Ombudsperson is a confidential service open to all students, employees, alumni, parents and community members at Ohio University. The overarching mission of the Office of the Ombudsperson is twofold: to ensure that every member of the university community receives equitable and fair treatment and due process, and to uphold a positive working and learning environment by facilitating informal communication and helping students navigate the options for resolution. 

4. Formal Complaints

A formal complaint is a structured process by which a student can report and seek resolution. A formal complaint must be based on a claimed violation of university policy, procedure, or process. A formal complaint must be initiated in writing and contain sufficient information for the appropriate office to review and respond. Formal complaints may not be filed anonymously. Information about how to file a formal complaint may be found on the table of resources, above.

5. EthicsPoint Hotline

Ohio University Ethics Hotline can be used to report concerns of fraud, waste, abuse, or non-compliance with regulations or University policies — anonymously if so desired. This process is managed by the  Office of Audit, Risk, and Compliance , and additional information can be found on the Office’s website .

If you have concerns about possible fraud, waste, abuse of University assets, or other compliance or regulatory issues, you can file a report from any computer or mobile device on the  Ohio University Ethics Hotline , or by calling EthicsPoint toll-free at 1-866-294-9591.

6. External Reporting

If a student believes their complaint has not been adequately addressed by the university, they may have the option to seek assistance from external agencies or organizations.

7. Resource Finder: Student Issues Form

If you’re dealing with an issue related to an Ohio University policy or procedure that you are uncertain how to resolve, submitting this electronic form will connect you to someone who can help you find the right person or office to address the issue. While we can’t promise a specific outcome, we’re here to help you navigate university procedures. 

Student Issue Form

Once you submit the form, it will be sent to the appropriate academic or administrative department for review.  

Your information will be respected and kept as private as possible while addressing the issue, ensuring campus safety, and complying with any legal requirements. 

If this is an emergency, please call Ohio University Police at 740.593.1911 or dial 9-1-1.

Confidentiality and Privacy

Ohio University is committed to protecting the confidentiality and privacy of students involved in complaint procedures. Information related to complaints will be handled in accordance with applicable laws and university policies.

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