The University has grievance procedures to provide students, employees, or applicants an opportunity to file a complaint of illegal discrimination of any kind.
A student may make an informal complaint or inquiry in one of the following areas by contacting the office or individual noted. In order to file a grievance, contact the appropriate person below or see the grievance procedures published in the student handbook.
Academic Appeals concerning grades or academic discipline such a plagiarism, class absence, etc.
The student should complete the Academic Appeals form and submit to the following person, who has been designated to handle inquiries or complaints regarding academic appeals:
Dr. Chris Leskiw
Vice President for Academic Affairs (Oversees Academic Appeals Committee)
Gatliff 114
(606) 539-4214
Academic Standing concerning probation/suspension or academic bankruptcy.
The following person has been designated to handle inquiries or complaints regarding academic standing:
Dr. Hayley Rice
Executive Director of Records & Registration (Chair of Academic Standing Committee)
Gatliff 116B
(606) 539-4246
Harassment involving faculty, staff, or students.
University of the Cumberlands is committed to maintaining an environment which respects the dignity of all individuals. Accordingly, University of the Cumberlands will not tolerate sexual harassment by or of its students, faculty, or employees. (see Complaint Policy for Discrimination or Sexual Harassment on page 149 of the Student Handbook)
The following person has been designated to handle employee inquiries or complaints regarding the sex nondiscrimination policy, including compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as well as all other portions of the nondiscrimination policy:
Dr. Quentin Young
Chief Financial Officer and Title IX Coordinator
Gatliff Administrative Building, Office 003
quentin.young [at] ucumberlands.edu (quentin[dot]young[at]ucumberlands[dot]edu)
(606) 539-4597
The following person has been designated to handle employee inquiries or complaints with all other portions of the non-discrimination policy:
Mr. Steve Allen
Human Resources Director
Gatliff 001
(606) 539-4219; steve.allen [at] ucumberlands.edu (steve[dot]allen[at]ucumberlands[dot]edu)
The following person has been designated to handle student inquiries or complaints regarding the sex non-discrimination policy including compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as well as all other portions of the nondiscrimination policy:
Dr. Jamirae Holbrook
Vice-President for Student Affairs
Boswell Campus Center
(606) 539-4120; jamirae.holbrook [at] ucumberlands.edu (jamirae[dot]holbrook[at]ucumberlands[dot]edu)
Complaints may also be submitted to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights: 1-800-421-3481.
Social Discipline and Other Grievances involving faculty, staff or students.
The following person has been designated to handle student inquiries or complaints regarding the sex nondiscrimination policy including compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as well as all other portions of the nondiscrimination policy:
Dr. Jamirae Holbrook
Vice-President for Student Affairs
Boswell Campus Center
(606) 539-4120; jamirae.holbrook [at] ucumberlands.edu (jamirae[dot]holbrook[at]ucumberlands[dot]edu)
Students with Disabilities: University of the Cumberlands provides procedures for resolving disputes related to services for students with disabilities, including complaints that a student has been discriminated against because of his or her disability.
The following person has been designated to handle inquiries or complaints regarding the disability non-discrimination policy, including compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973:
Ms. Shirley Stephens
Director of Student Accommodations
Gatliff Administration Building, Academic Affairs Office Suite
(606) 539-4214; shirley.stephens [at] ucumberlands.edu (shirley[dot]stephens[at]ucumberlands[dot]edu)
Financial Disputes. Questions or concerns regarding students’ tuition and fees or financial aid can be resolved by contacting either the Office of Student Accounts or Financial Aid.
If a resolution is not achieved through informal dialogue, the student may file a formal written complaint following procedures articulated for each area within the Student Handbook. The disposition of all formal written complaints is subject to review by the President of the University.
COMPLAINT RESOLUTION PROCESS FOR SARA STATES
States operating under the State Authorization and Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) have agreed to allow their SARA state portal agency investigate and resolve any complaints that have not been resolved through an institution's own procedures for resolution of grievances. The SARA Complaint Resolution Process is provided in Section 4.2 of the NC-SARA State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements Policies and Standards.
Participating SARA States: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, US Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
COMPLAINT RESOLUTION PROCESS FOR KENTUCKY
Per the Kentucky Council for Post Secondary Education, “In accordance with 13 KAR 4:010, a non-resident student attending a Kentucky college or university operating through the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) must first exhaust all internal procedures for complaint resolution offered by the college or university before filing a complaint. In addition, the incident giving rise to the complaint must have occurred within two years of filing.”