Students Complaints & Grievance Policy

Effective: January 15, 2020
All students in the School of Medicine (SOM) at LSU Health Shreveport have the right to express a complaint/grievance on academic or non-academic issues. Students must demonstrate evidence of error, miscalculation, omission, or other action negatively impacting the student. The purpose of the complaint/grievance process is to provide students with an opportunity for fair and objective consideration and review of their issue. Students are expected to follow established procedural guidelines for academic and/or non-academic complaints or issues.

Anonymity. Individuals wishing to remain anonymous may file a complaint in any manner, including by telephone or written communication however, electing to remain anonymous may limit the institution’s ability to correct the issue, collect evidence, or take effective action against individuals accused of violating policies.

Confidentiality. The SOM has an obligation to maintain an environment free of Title IX offenses (include sex discrimination, sexual harassment, dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and retaliation, etc.), thus SOM faculty/staff have mandatory reporting and response obligations and may not be able to honor a complainant’s request for confidentiality.

Contact Us

Office of Student Affairs
(318) 675-5339

Grievance/Complaint Procedure

These flow charts provide the recommended chain of command for filing grievances.  If an academic or non-academic grievance cannot be resolved at the faculty or course/clerkship director level, it is recommended that the student submit a complaint utilizing the online student complaint form: School of Medicine Complaint form. All submitted complaint forms go directly to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs who will ensure that the complaint is addressed by the appropriate administrator.

Appointment of a Review Committee for Grievances

If a resolution cannot be reached in the case of an academic or non-academic grievance, the Dean will review the appeal from all levels, and take one of the following actions:

  1. Render a decision based on the written appeal and review of all documentation and investigation.
  2. Meet with all parties concerned, who may be accompanied by advisors if desired, and then reach a decision,
  3. Refer the appeal to the appropriate committee for its recommendation.  The committee engaged for academic grievances is the Medical Curriculum Council; for non-academic grievances, the Professionalism Committee is convened. After deliberation, the committee will make its recommendation in writing to the Dean within 5 working days of the hearing.

The Dean’s written decision will be sent to both the plaintiff and defendant and will list the reasons supporting the decision.

Complaints & Grievance Policy

School of Medicine