Student Complaints

Sweet Briar College has specific processes for students to seek resolutions to issues they have experienced about any aspect of their academic or student life. 

Students are encouraged to complete these processes (listed below) and/or to address the issue directly with the student, faculty, staff member or senior administrator involved in order to seek resolution prior to filing a formal written student complaint.

Sweet Briar College has specific processes for students to seek resolutions to issues they have experienced about any aspect of their academic or student life. Students are encouraged to complete these processes (listed below) and/or to address the issue directly with the student, faculty, staff member or senior administrator involved in order to seek resolution prior to filing a formal written student complaint.

Specific Policies and Procedures

  • Violation of the Student Honor Code or Academic and Non-Academic Standards of Conduct
    The academic and non-academic judicial processes are in place to uphold the College’s honor code and judicial system. For more information about the honor code and judicial system and its procedures, refer to the Student Life website.
  • Violation of College Policies
    The College has established policies concerning student code of conduct, alcohol, drugs, smoking, hazing and standards of behavior, anti- discrimination, harassment, sexual violence (Title IX), and computing. For more information about the procedures governing College Policies, please refer to the Student Handbook located on the Student Life website.
  • Title IX: Detailed information about specific policies and procedures for Title IX can also be found at sbc.edu/human-resources/title-ix/.

Appeals Policies

For appeals procedures for the policies listed above, please refer to those specific policies.

Written Student Complaint Procedure

If the student has exhausted the procedures listed above and wishes to file a formal written student complaint against the College, they should follow the written student complaint procedure outlined below. A student has a right to submit a formal student written complaint and to have their complaints received, appropriately heard in a timely manner in accordance with College policies and procedures, and resolved fairly and expeditiously without fear of coercion, harassment, intimidation, or reprisal form the College or its employees.

All formal written student complaints must be filed using the Written Student Complaint Form. To access the site, students must login to https://my.sbc.edu/ using their email user name and my.sbc password and click on the Student tab. The Office of Human Resources will administer the complaint procedure and will be available to meet to assist students in filing complaints.

All formal written student complaints will begin with this process. Once a completed complaint form has been submitted, an acknowledgement of receipt will be sent. Once the matter has been investigated by the administrator of the complaint procedure, each complainant will receive a written response within 10 business days. The response will either provide a resolution or else identify the need for additional time to research the issue. Confidential files of the investigation and record of each case will be housed in the office of the administrator of the complaint procedure.

In the event that a formal complaint is filed against the College alleging discriminatory treatment by the College or other violation of law or regulation by the College, then the complaint will be referred to the vice president for finance, operations and auxiliary enterprises, for further handling and response. A response will be provided in the time required under the relevant law or regulation, but, if there is no such timeframe, then in 10 business days. The response will either provide a resolution or else identify the need for additional time to research the issue. The records of such a complaint will be housed in the Office of Human Resources.

The office of the administrator of the complaint procedure is in human resources, located in Prothro Hall on second floor. Written complaints can be submitted here.

The vice president for finance, operations and auxiliary enterprises has line accountability for the Office of Human Resources and responsibility for the process of reporting the results of the written student complaints and makes regular reports, as appropriate to the president and the president’s cabinet.

Revised February 2020