Grievance Policies

Wartburg College is committed to providing a supportive and respectful environment for all students, faculty, and staff. A grievance is a formal allegation of a violation of policy or rights, while a complaint or concern is an informal expression of dissatisfaction or a request for informal resolution.

If you have a complaint or concern, please contact the appropriate office on campus to schedule an appointment to address the complaint or concern. You can also communicate your complaint here: https://forms.office.com/r/XbfxbGaxtc

If you have a grievance, the following policy outlines the steps to address your concerns:

  1. Filing a Grievance: Any student at Wartburg College may file a grievance with the college. Grievances should be submitted using the form below, which will route to the appropriate office or official. You will receive a confirmation email from the appropriate official when the grievance has been reviewed and assigned. The form requests details of the nature of grievance, relevant facts, and desired resolution. 
  1. Investigation: Upon receiving a grievance, the college will initiate a thorough and timely investigation within 10 business days. This may involve interviews, document reviews, and other relevant procedures to gather information.
  1. Confidentiality: Wartburg College respects the confidentiality of all parties involved in a grievance. Information will only be shared with individuals who need to know to facilitate the resolution process.
  1. Resolution: After the investigation, the college will work toward a fair and timely resolution that will be communicated formally to the complainant in a findings document within 10 business days of completing the investigation. This may include mediation, corrective actions, and/or other appropriate measures.
  1. Appeals: If the complainant is not satisfied with the resolution, they may appeal the decision to the appropriate Vice President in a process which will be detailed in the findings document. Appeals must be submitted in writing within a specified timeframe, outlining the reasons for the appeal. 
  1. Non-Retaliation: Wartburg College prohibits retaliation against anyone who files a grievance or participates in the investigation process. Any form of retaliation will be subject to disciplinary action.
  1. Support Services: The college provides support services to assist individuals throughout the grievance process. This includes counseling, academic support, and other resources as needed. 

Any questions regarding the grievance process can be directed to Zak Montgomery, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, or Lindsey Leonard, Dean of Students.

Academics, grades, evaluation procedures, and course policies are within the professional judgment of the faculty. Therefore, such judgments will only be addressed in the event of allegations relating to faculty error or impropriety leading to the violation of policies or rights. Allegations of faculty error or impropriety should be resolved through the grievance procedures set forth below.

A formal grievance will not be considered until steps 1 and 2 outlined below are taken first and in order. Please note that a grievance involving allegations of violating Title IX should be addressed at Title IX – Sexual Assault and Misconduct – Wartburg College and not through an academic grievance.

Step 1: The student addresses the concern directly with the faculty member and requests resolution, either in person or in writing; if an agreeable resolution is not reached, the student may move to step 2.

Step 2: The student addresses the concern with the faculty member’s department chair and requests resolution, either in person or in writing; if an agreeable resolution is not reached, the student may move to step 3.

Step 3: The student files a formal grievance with the college.

For questions related to academic grievances, please contact Dr. Zak Montgomery, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, at zak.montgomery@wartburg.edu