Provost’s Office

In compliance with state and federal regulations and Policy Number FDCR.A.10.030 of the Higher Learning Commission, Lake Superior State University maintains a record of all student complaints it has received, along with a record of the processing of those complaints, and an explanation of how that processing comports with the institution’s policies and procedures on the handling of grievances or complaints. Upon request, Lake Superior State University shall make available to HLC evidence that, at regular intervals, it analyzes data related to student complaints received and identifies opportunities for institutional improvement.

Lake Superior State University’s complaint tracking process effectively allows student complaints to be received, tracked and handled in a timely manner, while ensuring confidentiality. The process through which a student complaint or grievance is submitted and evaluated is as follows:

1. A student submits a formal, signed complaint in writing to the appropriate institutional officer:
   1. Campus life issues: submit to the Dean of Student Affairs
   2. Title IX issues: submit to the Title IX Coordinator
   3. Student employment issues: submit to the Director of Human Resources
   4. Academic concerns, Title II of the Americans with Disability Act (including Web accessibility), or any other
      issues not listed above: submit to the Provost’s Office
2. The institutional officer receiving the complaint reviews that complaint with their immediate supervisor. Appropriate steps to resolve the complaint are taken, and a record of the actions taken is created, including: the date the complaint was submitted; the nature of the complaint; the record of the discussion for resolution of the complaint between the institutional officers who address the issue; the record of steps taken to resolve the issue;
   the institution’s final decision regarding the complaint, including any external actions that may have been taken to resolve the complaint.
3. A record of the student complaint and subsequent actions will be maintained by Lake Superior State University. That record may be shared with the Higher Learning Commission if requested, but individual identities will be protected.

Lake Superior State University will only track written and signed complaints from LSSU students. Complaints received from external parties (parents, employers, etc.) need not be tracked under this policy, even if those complaints might relate to a student. Only written and signed complaints received by mail or delivered by students to an appropriate officer of the university are considered formal complaints and dealt with according to this policy. Records will be maintained for ten years.