Syracuse University is committed to providing an environment where the individual rights of all persons are respected and where concerns regarding these rights may be raised and resolved fairly. Syracuse University’s Student Grievance Procedures ensure that all students and student organizations are afforded an opportunity to resolve their grievances in a timely manner. This procedure cannot be used to challenge disciplinary charges or outcomes, including, without limitation, those made through the student conduct and Academic Integrity processes, and the Title IX informal or formal resolution procedures, as these systems already provide mechanisms for review and/or appeal. This process is also not available to challenge course grades or academic outcomes. Being a respondent in a University investigation or disciplinary process is not, absent more, a valid basis to file a grievance. In addition, the Department of Public Safety has an established system for filing complaints of alleged misconduct by public safety officers, and that process must be used for such complaints.
Any student or recognized student organization may file a grievance in writing with Community Standards, located at 804 University Ave. Suite 106, 315-443-3728, when it is alleged that a right enumerated in the Statement of Community Standards has been violated by any employee or agent of the University.
Grievances must be filed within fifteen (15) business days of the occurrence of the incident or interaction giving rise to the student’s or student organization’s grievance. Grievances filed after this time may be dismissed.
Student Grievance Form: A student may submit a grievance via the online submission form. The grievance is then routed to the Director of Community Standards (or designee).
Student Outreach and Support will serve as a resource for any student who may need assistance and/or support in this process. Every effort will be made to resolve grievances by mutual agreement of all parties involved.
If a suitable solution cannot be reached through ordinary means, Community Standards will evaluate whether the student has followed all appropriate procedures. Thereafter, Community Standards will make a good faith effort to assist the student in resolving the grievance informally and confidentially with any appropriate campus partners. The grievance process stated below is primarily to review alleged deviations from the Statement of Community Standards.
The general process for review of any grievance shall be:
- The Director of Community Standards (or designee) shall review the grievance complaint and determine if the grievance process applies, or if the complaint should be referred to another existing University process. If the matter is referred to another office, the Complainant will be notified via SU email within ten (10) business days of Community Standards’ receipt of the complaint.
- If the Director of Community Standards (or designee) determines the grievance complaint should proceed through the grievance process, the Complainant will be notified via SU email within ten (10) business days of Community Standards’ receipt of the complaint.
- If the Director of Community Standards (or designee) determines these procedures apply, they shall attempt to connect the student with the person(s), and/or the department head of the person(s)/area with whom they have a grievance in an attempt to informally resolve the matter.
- If a grievance complaint is not able to be resolved through informal resolution, the matter will be referred to an Ad Hoc Grievance Committee to review the grievance. This committee shall be chaired by the Director of Community Standards (or designee) who shall serve in an advisory capacity without the power to vote/decide the grievance, and consist of no less than one (1) student, one (1) staff member, and one (1) faculty member, as appointed by the Dean of Students.
- The Grievance Committee may choose to investigate further, meet with any of the involved parties, or conduct a review based solely on the written materials, in their sole discretion.
- The Grievance Committee will determine whether it is more likely than not that a violation of the Statement of Community Standards occurred. The decision of the Grievance Committee will be reviewed by, and must be approved by, the Director of Community Standards, and thereafter will be communicated to the Complainant via SU email within fifteen (15) business days of the matter being referred to the Grievance Committee. If the Committee, with the concurrence of the Director, finds a violation occurred, they will recommend remedies to the relevant unit/area/dept. — It is ultimately within the discretion of the unit/area/dept. to determine the appropriate remedies, and, in egregious cases, possible disciplinary action consistent with relevant University policies.
- The Complainant may appeal the decision of the Grievance Committee to the Dean of Students (or designee) within five (5) business days of the outcome being transmitted via SU email to the Complainant. The Dean of Students (or designee) shall review all written materials regarding the matter and may uphold the decision of the Grievance Committee, alter the decision, or refer it back to the Committee for further review. The Dean of Students’ decision will be communicated to the Complainant via SU email within fifteen (15) business days of the submission of the appeal. The decision of the Dean of Students (or designee) is final.
If the grievance is filed against a Community Standards staff member, the grievance will be forwarded to the Senior Vice President and Chief Student Experience Officer, who will appoint another staff member outside Community Standards to manage and oversee the grievance process for that specific complaint.
Syracuse University prohibits retaliation in any form, including but not limited to threats, intimidation, and harassment, against anyone for making a complaint of discrimination or participating in the grievance process.
Date: August 2005, updated August 2024