Complaints and Grievances

Do you have a complaint or grievance?

NOBTS provides a mechanism for students to raise concerns and grievances.

Questions may be addressed to Conner Hinton (chinton@nobts.edu, 504-816-8072), the Assistant Dean of Students for Student Affairs.

Online and extension center students are allowed to submit appeals and grievances for the same reasons and by the same channels as students on-campus.

Any student that wishes to appeal a grade or present an academic-related concern should speak directly with the relevant faculty member within a semester of completing the course in order to seek clarification or help with the matter. If an issue cannot be resolved directly with the faculty member, the student may raise an informal complaint to the Associate Dean of their academic program. The Associate Dean may discuss the case with the faculty member to seek resolution. If the matter remains unresolved, the student may appeal to the Dean of the College or the Dean of Graduate Studies. If the matter remains unresolved, the Dean of the College or the Dean of Graduate Studies may carry the issue to the Provost.

When a student has a complaint about something that is not specifically academic in nature, he or she is encouraged to speak directly with the responsible staff member. For example, if a student has a concern about their dorm room or apartment, these issues should be discussed with the Director of Housing. Throughout campus, our staff desires the well-being of our students, and a conversation with the right administrator typically leads to a resolution. 

However, if a student finds a staff member to be unhelpful or rude, the student may raise an informal complaint to the Office of Spiritual Formation and Student Life. The Student Life staff will receive the concern/complaint and attempt to facilitate a resolution in collaboration with the appropriate staff members. Students may also email Conner Hinton at any time with their informal complaint.

If a resolution to the complaint has not been reached according to the above procedures, students may file a formal written complaint with the Office of Spiritual Formation and Student Life. The complaint form may be obtained from the Student Life Office by following this link. The Assistant Dean of Students may act to resolve the issue and inform the student(s) of the decision, or he may carry the issue to the Vice President for Spiritual Formation and Student Life. The VP also may carry the issue to the President’s Cabinet for advice and/or resolution. The decision will then be communicated to the student(s) in a manner appropriate to the complaint. Any decision from the Cabinet is final.

NOBTS currently does not receive federal funding and therefore is not required to respond to Title IX issues. However, the seminary takes any sexual harrassment or sexual assault charges seriously. We process all complaints of sexual harassment and assault according to best practices laid out under Title IX. 

We have designated the Office of Spiritual formation and Student Life as one of the places where students, staff, or other members of our community can come to process difficult situations. The Vice President for Spiritual Formation and Student Life as well as the Assistant Deans of Students are ready to receive any complaint of this kind. If the sexual harrassment complaint involves one of our employees, we will coordinate with the HR office to pursue an appropriate response. If it becomes apparent that a crime may have been committed, we will always encourage students to file a report with NOPD, and we will report the concern to our Campus Police. 

Thomas Strong

Questions?

Contact me at:

Dr. Thomas Strong

Vice President for Spiritual Formation and Student Life

504-816-8426

tstrong@nobts.edu

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