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Student Complaint Process

The goal of Cheyney’s student complaint process is to resolve student complaints internally. Students should follow the appropriate policies and procedures as outlined in the University Catalog and Student Handbook.

Learn more about the Community Response Team here.

Reporting Options:

  • Non-Emergency University Police Reports: Click Here
  • Academic Honesty Reports
  • Student Conduct Reports
  • Human Resources Reports
  • Identity-Based Bias or Discrimination Reports
  • Sexual Misconduct Reports
  • Other Complaints or Incidents of Concern

PLEASE NOTE: These reporting forms are for non-emergency reporting only. If any person may be in danger, call 911 immediately. For urgent emotional/mental health matters, please call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

Internal Complaint Resources

Reports submitted through the links below are addressed through a coordinated university approach. Based on the type of report, you may be contacted for additional information. Anonymous reporting is available for certain University Police and Sexual Misconduct incidents—though these are permitted, please note that doing so may limit the university’s ability to investigate and/or respond.

A Note About Retaliation: Cheyney strictly prohibits retaliation against any individual who makes a good faith report of suspected wrongful conduct or participates in an investigation, hearing, or inquiry. Retaliatory behavior should be reported and will be addressed through the appropriate university process. Review our Policy on Harassment, Intimidation and Disruptive Conduct for more information.

Report Options

Non-Emergency University Police Reports:

Non-Emergency Student Care:

Students, faculty, and staff who have concerns about a student experiencing academic, health, personal crisis, financial distress, and/or concerning observed behaviors should contact Student Affairs: 610.399.2503

Reports made here are for non-emergency student care concerns only: submit a Student Care Report.

Academic Honesty Reports:

Any issues occurring within a classroom, class-related activity, or class-related function fall within the Academic Honesty Policy and are referred to the Provost’s Office. Contact Dr. Sharon Gramby-Sobukwe at sgsobukwe@cheyney.edu or 610.399.2030.

Issues include:

  • Student grade appeals
  • Plagiarism/fabrication/cheating/academic dishonesty
  • Technological misconduct
  • Facilitating academic integrity violations
  • Classroom misconduct/unethical or hazardous behavior

Student Conduct Reports:

All Cheyney students and student organizations are to abide by expectations of responsible behavior, civility, and respect as established in the Student Code of Conduct. Anyone may submit a student conduct referral involving a student. Contact the Student Conduct and Compliance department at 610.399-2264 and refer to the Student Conduct Policies pages.

Reportable violations may include:

    • Alcohol/drugs/other controlled substances: Including illegal possession/use, furnishing, misuse
    • Harmful conduct/harassment: Including violence, threats, coercion, stalking, disorderly behavior
    • Community safety: Including tampering with safety alarms, arson, weapons/explosives
    • Property: Including theft, destruction/damage, unauthorized entry
    • Noncompliance: Including violations of university rules, regulations, and sanctions
    • Complicity: Including active encouragement of conduct violations
    • Other: Including violations of federal, state, or local laws and regulations
    • Hazing: Refer to the Cheyney Policy on Hazing.

To appeal student conduct reports, please complete this form.

Reports made here are for non-emergency student conduct incidents only: submit a Student Conduct Report

Human Resources Reports:

The Office of Human Resources, 610.399.2283, provides multiple employee services.

Reports to this office may include:

  • Cheyney Employee Injury Report
  • Workplace conflict: Including those between two or more Cheyney employees
  • Reports of employee misconduct or concerns: Not related to discriminatory behavior or sexual misconduct

Identity-Based Bias or Discrimination Reports:

Reports involving acts of bias, intolerance, discrimination, harassment, and/or incivility based on identity are evaluated and responded to by the Office of Diversity, Equity & Social Responsibility. Please also refer to the Policy on Nondiscrimination and the Policy on Affirmative Action Statement.

Reportable incidents of bias/discrimination may include:

  • Affiliations
  • Age
  • Appearance
  • Beliefs
  • Disability
  • Ethnic origin
  • Gender expression
  • Gender identity
  • National origin
  • Race
  • Religion
  • Sex
  • Sexual orientation
  • Veteran status

Reports made here are for non-emergency discrimination incidents only: submit a Discrimination Report

Sexual Misconduct Reports:

The Policy on Preventing and Addressing Sexual Harassment, Including Sexual Violence provides definitions, reporting guidelines, and complaint resolution procedures. It is applicable to all students and employees of the university, as well as designated volunteers, contractors, and vendors. All have a duty to report, unless designated as having legal privilege or are appointed with confidentiality (i.e., licensed counselors, clinical psychologists, medical personnel, some Counseling Center and athletics staff). Resources and support services are available to the university community.

An anonymous reporting option is available. Reportable violations may include:

  • Sexual and gender-based harassment
  • Non-consensual sexual contact
  • Non-consensual sexual intercourse
  • Sexual exploitation or exposure
  • Sexual assault/sexual violence
  • Relationship/dating/domestic violence
  • Stalking
  • Other sexual misconduct

Reports made here are for non-emergency sexual misconduct incidents only: submit a Sexual Misconduct Report

Other Complaints or Incidents of Concern:

If your concern is not addressed by the reporting options above, please submit this form.

 

What if a solution is still not reached?

Cheyney University’s goal is to resolve complaints internally in a fair and expeditious manner. If the complaint cannot be resolved through the local complaint process, the student may go to one of  Cheyney’s state approval and licensing entites: Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (email may be sent to Dr. Donna Wilson, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, dwilson@passhe.edu), Pennsylvania Department of Education; or Cheyney University of Pennsylvania’s accreditor, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

To comply with federal regulations, Cheyney University provides the following information to our prospective and current students:

Cheyney University participates in Federal student aid programs that are authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. Participating institutions must be legally authorized to operate with the state in which it is located. Title 34 CFR §600.9 requires states to have a “process to review and appropriately act on complaints concerning the institution including enforcing applicable State laws.” Title 34 CFR §668.43(b) requires that institutions “make available for review to any enrolled or prospective student upon request, a copy of the documents describing the institution’s accreditation and its State, Federal, or tribal approval or licensing. The institution must also provide its students or prospective students with contact information for filing complaints with its accreditor and with its State approval or licensing entity and any other relevant State official or agency that would appropriately handle a student’s complaint.”

Middle States Commission on Higher Education
1007 North Orange Street, 4th Floor, MB #166, Wilmington, DE 19801 Telephone: 267-284-5011
Email: info@msche.org Spanish: españolinfo@msche.org
General Link: www.msche.org