Division of Academic Affairs
Student Complaints and Concerns
Our Commitment to You
At Coppin, we work every day to make your time as a Coppin student positive, memorable, productive, and career-driven. While no college experience is perfect, it should feel safe and supportive. We commit to listen to you—our students—and quickly address complaints and concerns as they happen.
Eagle Guide Student Handbook
You expect a lot from your University, and we expect a lot from our Eagles. The Student Handbook is a comprehensive resource for student and university standards.
Our Legal Obligation for Student Concerns and Complaints
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."
Legal language can be confusing. Simply put, each state must have a process where they review and follow up on complaints made about a school in that state. Sometimes this means states must enforce the law.
This law also makes schools and institutions give any prospective or enrolled student the following information when requested:
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Any and all documentation about the institution’s accreditation and/or licensing
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All contact information to file a complaint with any accreditor, licensing agency, or state office that would appropriately deal with student complaints.
How to Report a Student Concern
In this list, we include some of the most common student concerns as well as where to go to get more detailed information. If you don’t see your concern listed, talk with a trusted Coppin member of staff, faculty, or administration.
This process is for when students believe a grade should change. First, request your professor complete a change-of-grade form on your behalf. If your professor agrees, s/he/they will update the grade with the revised grade and circulate it to the department chair, dean, and provost.
If your professor disagrees about a grade change, you may take your complaint to your department chair, then your academic dean. Most of the time the dean is able to resolve these conflicts. If you don’t get a resolution from the dean, you may reach out to the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
These violations focus on issues around plagiarism. Consult your department chair, and then, if necessary, your academic dean.
Related concerns include incidents of unprofessional behavior, and other issues not related to grade changes or academic integrity.
These types of concerns relate to being treated unfairly because of your race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, or other characteristic. Refer to Coppin’s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Non-Discrimination Statement for more detailed information. You can also connect with your department chair, then your academic dean, if necessary.
If you or someone else is in imminent danger, reach out to Campus Police at (410) 951-3900. If you are looking to file a non-emergency report about hazing behavior, complete the online Behavioral Assessment Team Referral Form.
If you or someone else has been a victim of a hate crime, use the campus crime form to file an official report. As always, if you or someone else is in imminent danger, reach out to Campus Police at (410) 951-3900.
Coppin commits to stay in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA). Visit our ADA page to file a report regarding potential noncompliance.
Visit our resource section on Title IX compliance and fair practice to learn more about reporting sexual misconduct, which includes sexual and gender-based harassment, sexual violence, sexual exploitation, sexual intimidation, as well as sex- and gender-based stalking and retaliation.
Coppin has an affirmative action program committed to ensuring equal employment opportunity. Visit our affirmative action resource page to file a report or concern about related unlawful practices.
Our student, faculty, and staff resources outline Coppin’s commitment to Title IX, and maintaining a safe academic and professional work environment.
Visit our resource section on Title IX compliance to learn more about reporting sexual misconduct, which includes sexual and gender-based harassment, sexual violence, sexual exploitation, sexual intimidation, as well as sex- and gender-based stalking and retaliation.
If you or someone else has been a victim of a campus crime, use the campus crime form to file an official report. Report complaints about criminal activity to Campus Police. Criminal actions include, but are not limited to assault, battery, and theft. As always, if you or someone else in imminent danger, reach out to Campus Police at (410) 951-3900.
As a Coppin student you have certain rights and responsibilities.
The Office of Community Standards is responsible for determining whether the student code of conduct or grievances have been violated.
In 2018, Governor Larry Hogan signed the Financial Consumer Protection Act of 2018. This law creates a Student Loan Ombudsman who serves as a go-between for student loan borrowers and their loan providers. Any student who wants to file a complaint against a loan provider can find valuable resources on the Helpful Resources - Student Loan Ombudsman - Financial Regulation page on the Maryland Department of Labor’s website.