Grievance Policy & Procedures


Office of the Dean of Student Life
Lenoir-Rhyne University (LRU) takes seriously the concerns and grievances of its students. LRU will provide a prompt response to all written complaints, including those complaints alleging discrimination or harassment based on race, age, religion, physical or emotional disability, or sex (which includes gender discrimination, sexual orientation, sexual misconduct). NOTE: If the complaint alleges sexual misconduct (including but not limited to sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, stalking, sexual assault, rape, and/or intimate Partner Abuse), the complainant should immediately refer to LRU’s policies on Sexual Misconduct. In such cases, the University is mandated to report allegations under the Clery Act.

LRU will work to resolve student grievances as quickly as possible; however, the time period for resolution will depend largely on the nature of the grievance and the response required. It is the goal of LRU that written grievances will be resolved within a period not to exceed 60 days; however, the time period for resolving grievances will depend largely on the facts and circumstances at issue and may be expanded where necessary and appropriate to reach a resolution.

LRU defines a Grievance as any claim raised by a student (Complainant) alleging violations of LRU's policies or procedures, including but not limited to improper, inappropriate, arbitrary, discriminatory, harassing or violent conduct by a faculty member, staff member, student or any other individual present on campus (Respondent).

Lenoir-Rhyne University Grievance Resolution
Lenoir-Rhyne University is committed to the success and satisfaction of all prospective and enrolled students. If you have a concern or grievance, as a first step we encourage you to utilize our internal process by following our procedures outlined in the University Student Handbook.

If you have questions regarding student grievances, or if you would like to request a Student Grievance Form, please contact:

Becky Sharpe, Division of Student Life
LR Box 7484
Cromer Center, Room 205
Hickory, NC 28603
828.328.7247
becky.sharpe@lr.edu

N.C. Post-Secondary Education Grievance Process

The Licensure Division of the University of North Carolina System Office serves as the official state entity to receive complaints concerning post-secondary institutions that are authorized to operate in North Carolina. If students are unable to resolve a complaint through the institution's grievance procedures, they can review the Student Complaint Policy and complete the online Student Complaint Form.

North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaints
c/o Student Complaints
University of North Carolina System Office
910 Raleigh Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27515-2688
919.962.4558
www.northcarolina.edu/post-secondary-education-complaints
For more information, send an email to studentcomplaint@northcarolina.edu.

N.C. Independent Colleges & Universities Grievance Process

Should our internal grievance process fail to provide a satisfactory resolution, students may continue the grievance process with the Consumer Protection Division of the North Carolina Department of Justice.

Grievances can be submitted electronically or by mail:
Consumer Protection Division
Attorney General’s Office
Mail Service Center 9001
Raleigh, NC 27699-9001
NC Residents: 877.566.7226
Outside of NC: 919.716.6000
En Español: 919.716.0058
How to file a consumer complaint: https://www.ncdoj.gov/file-a-complaint/
General Consumer Complaint Form

SACSCOC Student Grievance Process

Lenoir-Rhyne is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). If for some reason the grievance is not satisfactorily resolved, the next step would be to file a complaint with Lenoir-Rhyne University’s accrediting agency. Students who file a grievance with the accrediting agency should follow the SACSCOC Complaint Procedure.

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
1866 Southern Lane
Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097
404.679.4500
www.sacscoc.org
SACSCOC General Complaint Form

SARA-NC & NC-SARA Grievance Process

On November 2, 2016, Lenoir-Rhyne University was approved by SARA-NC to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements. NC-SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education. A “State authorization reciprocity agreement,” SARA is an agreement between two or more States that authorizes an institution located and legally authorized in a State covered by the agreement to provide postsecondary education through distance education or correspondence courses to students in other States covered by the agreement.

As a participating institution in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement – North Carolina (SARA-NC), students may also file a grievance through SARA-NC by following their Complaint Process. SARA-NC does not resolve complaints about student grades and student conduct violation. These complaints fall under the jurisdiction of institutional policy. The Student Complaint Form may be submitted by mail to:

SARA North Carolina
North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority
P.O. Box 14103
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
855.SARA.1.NC (727-2162)
919.549.8614, ext. 4667
www.saranc.org
complaint@saranc.org

Supervised Field Experience

Courses and programs incorporating a “supervised field experience” are covered by the provisions of SARA. Under SARA a “supervised field experience” means a student learning experience under the oversight of a supervisor, mentor, faculty member or other qualified professional, located in the host state, who has a direct or indirect reporting responsibility to the institution where the student is enrolled, whether or not credit is granted. Examples include practicum, student teaching, or internships. However, see below regarding programs for licensed professions.

Professional Licensure & Certification Disclosure

In order to comply with U.S. Department of Education regulations, all higher education institutions are required to advise students as to whether their curriculum provides them with the eligibility to apply for a professional license and/or certification in the state for which they plan to practice.

NC-SARA does not deal with professional licensing board approval for any courses or programs leading to professional licensure. If you are not a resident of North or South Carolina, and you are taking an online course or program leading to professional licensure, Lenoir-Rhyne University cannot guarantee whether the course or program meets requirements for professional licensure in your state.

Lenoir-Rhyne recommends that you consult with our program contact, the appropriate national licensing bodies and/or review Lenoir-Rhyne’s status by state for your intended program below:

Athletic Training

Michael McGee, Ed.D.
625 7th Avenue NE, LR Box 7356
Hickory, NC 28601
828.328.7127
michael.mcgee@lr.edu

Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Neal Gray, Ph.D.
625 7th Avenue NE, LR Box 7409
Hickory, NC 28601
828.328.7918
neal.gray@lr.edu

Dietetic Internship

Julie Covington, Ed.D.
625 7th Avenue NE, LR Box 7453
Hickory, NC 28601
828.328.7453
julie.covington@lr.edu

Education

Hank Weddington, Ed.D.
625 7th Avenue NE, LR Box 7539
Hickory, NC 28601
828.328.7918
hank.weddington@lr.edu

Nursing

Kerry Thompson, Ph.D.
625 7th Avenue NE, LR Box 7282
Hickory, NC 28601
828.328.7282
kerry.thompson@lr.edu

Occupational Therapy

Toni Oakes, Ed.D.
625 7th Avenue NE, LR Box 7547
Hickory, NC 28601
828.328.7366
toni.oakes@lr.edu

School Counseling

Neal Gray, Ph.D.
625 7th Avenue NE, LR Box 7409
Hickory, NC 28601
828.328.7918
neal.gray@lr.edu

If a student wishes to contact the state portal entities for his or her home state, contact information for state authorization liaisons in each SARA state can be found on the NC-SARA website. State by state contact information for agencies responsible for receiving student consumer complaints is available online.

Normal inquiries or concerns such as those involving admission requirements, financial aid, educational programs, etc. should be addressed directly to the appropriate office at Lenoir-Rhyne University.

LRU's Grievance Policy is not intended to replace those policies and procedures pertaining to grade appeals or academic integrity violations. For more information on academic integrity policies and procedures, please refer to The Cub or the university catalog. All such matters will be handled in accordance with those policies and procedures.