For grievances involving harassment, see the Sexual Harrassment Policy.
For other complaints regarding the staff, faculty or administration of Dallas International, the issue should be handled by following this grievance procedure:
- The student should first approach the particular person(s) with a view toward explanation or reconciliation.
- If the student does not feel the concern has been resolved, the complaint should then be presented to the proper department head or supervisor. (Download the Dallas International Dispute Filing/Resolution Form). The student must initiate this complaint within ten working days from the time the student knew or reasonably should have known about the unfair or unjust treatment. The department has five working days to seek resolution of the complaint.
- If the student still does not feel the concern has been resolved, then the student has the right to appeal the grievance in writing to the Dean of Students, giving the precise nature of the alleged improper treatment.
- The Dean of Students has the responsibility to investigate the complaint by interviewing the parties as necessary and gathering appropriate facts and sufficient information to determine validity of the concern. The Dean will then either deny the grievance or complaint or seek redress and will, within ten working days, report the same to the President and to the aggrieved party or complainant.
- If resolution is not reached through the Dean of Students, either party may request a hearing before a staff committee. The committee will investigate the situation and, within 15 working days, report its findings to the President together with a recommendation that no action is taken, that the accused individual be reprimanded verbally or in writing, that dismissal be initiated, or that any other necessary or reasonable action be taken.
- The decision of the President is final.
Complaints to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) has adopted rules which are codified under Title 19 of the Texas Administrative Code, Sections 1.110 – 1.120, on October 25, 2012. The rules create a student complaint procedure to comply with the U.S. Department of Education’s “Program Integrity” regulations, which require each state to have a student complaint procedure in order for public and private higher education institutions to be eligible for federal Title IV funds. In December 2011, the Office of Attorney General of Texas issued an opinion stating that THECB has authority under Texas Education Code Section 61.031 to promulgate procedures for handling student complaints concerning higher education institutions.
After exhausting the institution’s grievance/complaint process, current, former, and prospective students may initiate a complaint with THECB by sending the required forms either by electronic mail to StudentComplaints@thecb.state.tx.us, or by mail to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Office of General Counsel, P.O. Box 12788, Austin, Texas 78711-2788. Facsimile transmissions of the forms are not accepted.
All submitted complaints must include a student complaint form, a signed Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Consent and Release form, and a THECB Consent and Agreement Form. Submitted complaints regarding students with disabilities shall also include a signed Authorization to Disclose Medical Record Information form.
The Agency does not handle, investigate, or attempt to resolve complaints concerning actions that occurred more than two years prior to filing a student complaint form with the Agency, unless the cause of the delay in filing the student complaint form with the Agency was the complainant’s exhaustion of the institution’s grievance procedures.
Former students shall file a student complaint form with the Agency no later than one year after the student’s last date of attendance at the institution, or within 6 months of discovering the grounds for complaint, unless the cause of the delay in filing the student complaint form with the Agency was the complainant’s exhaustion of the institution’s grievance procedures.
Contact information for filing student complaints with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board:
http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/studentcomplaints
The web address for the rules governing student complaints — Title 19 of the Texas Administrative Code, Sections 1.110-1.120:
https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.ViewTAC?tac_view=5&ti=19&pt=1&ch=1&sch=E&rl=Y
Veterans Grievances
For escalation of Veterans grievance issues please contact the Dean of Students, Meg Trihus, at (972) 708-7379 or dean-students@diu.edu.