Rights & Responsibilities

Effective July 1, 2026

All students in the Thomas Jefferson University community have the right to file a grievance when they allege they have been treated in a manner inconsistent with the Community Standards.  A grievance may involve an alleged violation of University policy or procedure or improper, unfair, or arbitrary treatment. Students wishing to file a grievance against a faculty member, staff member, or administrator should seek counsel from the Grievance Officer.

There are a number of University policies for which there are existing processes to resolve student issues where the Grievance Policy may not apply. See the links provided below:

Grievance Officers

The table below indicates the Grievance Officers for the University:

Grievance Procedure

A.      Level 1: Informal Complaint

A Level 1 complaint is expressed by a student either verbally or in writing to a TJU employee or faculty member and may involve a discussion with relevant parties to receive information and explore options for resolving the matter.

B.      Level 1: Informal Resolution Process

1. A student should first speak directly with the person with whom the complaint is about.  If a student is not comfortable speaking directly with the person, they can enlist the appropriate Grievance Officer listed above for assistance.
2. If the initial communication does not lead to a resolution, the student may contact the person’s supervisor.
3. If at any point during the informal resolution process, the student determines that informal resolution is not possible, the student may proceed to the Level 2 formal grievance process.

C.      Level 2: Formal Grievance

If unresolved after attempting the informal complaint resolution process, a student may file a Level 2 (formal) grievance.

D.      Level 2: Formal Grievance Resolution Process

1. The student must submit a written grievance on the form provided by the University (see link below). The grievance form includes a description, the policy or procedure violated, and the desired resolution with attached documentation, if applicable.
2. The Grievance Officer will review the matter and may request additional information from the student submitting the grievance, as well as from any other individuals identified as relevant to the issue.
   
   a. The Grievance Officer works to create constructive dialogue among all parties to facilitate a resolution. 
   
   b. If deemed necessary, the Grievance Officer may refer the matter to the Office of Human Resources or other University offices.
   
   c. The University will make every reasonable effort to preserve an individual’s privacy and share information on a need-to-know basis.
3. Final decisions will always be followed up in writing.  When appropriate, the Grievance Officer, and other parties as appropriate, may meet with the student to discuss the final decision, including any proposed resolution.
4. A record of Level 2 Grievances and final outcomes will be stored in the Grievance database.

Appeal Process

If the decision and resolution of the Level 2 grievance is unsatisfactory to the student, an appeal may be filed in writing to the Provost within a maximum of five (5) business days (excluding University holidays) of when the Level 2 grievance resolution was sent to the student.

Appeals may only be considered under the following criteria:

a.      New Information: Information that was not available at the time of the grievance is now available and could reasonably be expected to have altered the outcome of the case.

b.      Improper Procedure: The grievance process did not follow the procedure outlined in the policy.

Upon such appeal, the Provost or designee may:

a.       affirm the decision, or

b.       require the Grievance Officer to reconsider the decision

All decisions by the Provost or designee are final. In reaching their decision, the Provost or designee may discuss the case with any participant in the process.

Thomas Jefferson University makes every effort to respond to student grievances.   If an issue cannot be resolved by the University, grievances may be filed with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Middle States Commission on Higher Education (the University's regional accrediting agency), Pennsylvania SARA (for online education) or the U.S.  Department of Education. The links below provide contact information for each of these entities.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Department of Education
333 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333
Website: www.education.pa.gov

Middle States Commission on Higher Education
3624 Market Street, 2nd Floor West, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Telephone: (267) 284-5000
E-mail: info@msche.org
Spanish: espanolinfo@msche.org
Website: www.msche.org

Pennsylvania SARA (Distance Education) State Portal Contact

Gina Wetten
Higher Education Associate II
Department of Education
Division of Higher and Career Education
333 Market Street 
Harrisburg, PA 17126
Telephone: 717-265-7723
Email: giwetten@pa.gov

Website: Pennsylvania SARA

Federal Department of Education

Website: https://studentaid.gov/feedback-center/