Student Complaints

UNC Asheville provides several means by which student complaints and grievances may be addressed. In all cases, students are advised to put their concerns in writing and carefully document the events that led to the complaint or grievance.

If you are taking any courses at UNC Asheville and you have a complaint about your experience at UNC Asheville, you can follow UNC Asheville's process for student complaints outlined below.  You may also contact The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), which is UNC Asheville's regional accrediting agency.

If you are residing outside of North Carolina while attending UNC Asheville, in many cases you can file a complaint in the state where you are residing. As required by federal regulations, we direct you to a list of resources here, compiled and updated by the State Higher Education Executive Officers.

Where a student should go to file a complaint depends upon whether the complaint concerns academic or non-academic matters. In practice, student concerns, complaints or grievances are directed to one of two student ombudsmen. The Assistant Provost for Academic Administration is generally the first point of contact for academic student complaints and the Dean of Students is generally the first point of contact for non-academic student complaints. However, regardless of the initial contact, the two student ombudsmen work closely together and direct students to the appropriate complaint procedure and involve any other appropriate departments. Students may also institute complaints to the personnel involved in the procedure or action that yielded the complaint.  For example, instructional matters are typically handled first by the class instructor, and then progressively by the department chair, the dean and the Provost if needed.  While you may be tempted to “start at the top” and contact the Chancellor’s office first, it is almost always more effective to attempt to resolve the matter first with the person against whom the complaint is directed, the person's direct supervisor or one of the student ombudsmen.  In most cases the Chancellor will refer the matter back down through the reporting lines so that the process can be followed.  Each office that receives student complaints will maintain a record of those complaints and their resolutions.

Listed below are contact information or web addresses to help students address specific complaints or grievances.

Academic complaints/grievances/:                   Assistant Provost for Academic Administration
Residency Appeals                                              University Hall (lower level)
                                                                                  Onestop Complaint/Grievance Contact Table
                                                                                  University Catalog Complaint/Grievance Procedures
                                                                                  828-350-4500 or onestop@unca.edu

Disabilities complaints:                                      Assistant Provost for Academic Administration
                                                                                 University Hall (lower level)
                                                                                 Disability Services Web Site
                                                                                 828-232-5050

Financial Aid:                                                         Assistant Provost for Academic Administration
                                                                                 University Hall (lower level)
                                                                                 Financial Aid Web Site
                                                                                 828-251-6535 or finaid@unca.edu

Non-Academic complaints/grievances:           Dean of Students
                                                                                 Governors Hall
                                                                                 Student Code of Conduct  
                                                                                 2011-2012 Student Handbook
                                                                            828-250-2370 or dos@unca.edu