skip to main content

Bluffton University

Menu

Complaint process

Bluffton University has an established procedure to address student concerns and complaints. The procedure varies based on the type of concern being raised.

  • Students with concerns about grades should use the grade appeal procedure found in the Catalog
  • Students with concerns about disciplinary issues or the conduct process may follow the procedure outlined in the Student Handbook or contact Vice President for Student Affairs and Athletics Phill Talavinia (talaviniap@bluffton.edu or 419-358-3226).
  • Title IX concerns should be directed to the Title IX Coordinator, Megan Coffman (coffmanm@bluffton.edu or 419-358-3376), or the Title IX Deputy Coordinator: Mark Bourassa (bourassam@bluffton.edu or 419-358-3217). 

    Confidential counseling and support are available either through the campus pastor (campbellc@bluffton.edu or 419-358-3654) or through Crime Victim Services (877-867-7273). Crime Victim Services can also provide a trained victim’s advocate. Assistance making a police report is available by calling the Bluffton Police Department at 419-358-4050.
  • FERPA rights are outlined on the registrar's webpage. FERPA concerns should be directed to Alex Sider, academic dean and VP of academic affairs, (sidera@bluffton.edu). Students have the right to file FERPA complaints with the U.S. Department of Education at:

                  Family Policy and Compliance Office
                  U.S. Department of Education
                  600 Independence Avenue S.W.
                  Washington, DC 20202-4605

  • Requests for ADA accommodations should be directed to the Counselor for Disability Services Jacqui Slinger at slingerj@bluffton.edu or 419-358-3215. 

For other concerns/complaints, contact Alex Sider, academic dean and VP of academic affairs, (sidera@bluffton.edu). Issues not resolved at the institutional level, may be pursued with several organizations:

  • The student may file a grievance with the Ohio Department of Higher Education.
  • Students may contact our accrediting agency, the Higher Learning Commission.
    • The student may appeal to the portal entity of the home state of the institution through NC-SARA. The state portal entity will notify NC-SARA of the appealed complaint and will also notify the portal entity of the host state where the student is location. For Ohio, that contact information is:

      Matt Exline
      Assistant Director of Program Approval Operations
      Ohio Department of Higher Education
      25 South Front Street
      Columbus, OH  43215
      614.728.3095
      mexline@regents.state.oh.us

Top