Student Complaint Procedures
Purpose
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley endeavors to provide fair and objective procedures for hearing student complaints. Students are protected from coercion, intimidation, interference, harassment, retaliation, or discrimination for filing a complaint or assisting in an investigation.
Student Advisement for Concerns/Complaints
University policies and procedures direct students about how to file a complaint. The applicable policy will depend on the nature of the complaint. If a student has questions about the applicable policy, the Office for Student Rights and Responsibilities, located in the University Center, Rm. 315, on the Edinburg Campus and in Cortez Hall, Rm. 204 on the Brownsville Campus, can assist a student who has questions regarding existing policies and procedures. Methods to file complaints are outlined more fully in the Handbook of Operating Procedures.
UTRGV Complaint Processes
(compliant with DOE “Program Integrity” Regulations)
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and the Texas Administrative Code (19 TAC § 1.110-1.120) require The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to provide a student complaint procedure that complies with the U.S. Department of Education’s “Program Integrity” regulations as part of UTRGV’s eligibility for Title IV federal funds. The THECB complaint process may be found here.
Students wishing to file a formal complaint under the THECB process must ensure they have first brought their complaint to UTRGV’s attention through UTRGV’s complaint processes. Students may submit complaints through Vaqueros Report It. If the matter is unresolved after exhausting UTRGV’s complaint processes, the student may then file a formal complaint with THECB.
Students making a complaint to the THECB may submit required forms and supporting documentation in PDF format by email to studentcomplaints@thecb.state.tx.us, or by regular mail to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Office of General Counsel, P.O. Box 12788, Austin, TX 78711-2788. Original documents should not be submitted, as the THECB cannot return documents received.
Accreditation-related complaints regarding UTRGV’s accreditation may be made to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) under its complaint procedures. A complainant should complete SACSCOC’s Complaint Form and send two signed copies to the President, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097. The details of the SACSCOC complaint process explain that it is intended to address significant, documented, alleged non-compliance with SACSCOC accreditation standards, policies, or procedures. Complainants are expected to have attempted to resolve the issue through UTRGV’s complaint processes before filing a complaint with SACSCOC.