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Administrative Complaints
Student Affairs views Skidmore students as emerging adults responsible for
managing, with our support and guidance, their academic and personal affairs.
While we are often inclined toward solving problems for our students, we try
instead to help them acquire the information and strategies that they need to
explore possible remedies for their concerns. We ask parents to trust this educational
effort whenever possible, rather than intervene with an office or program
on behalf of students.
When students have questions about College policy or practice, we expect
them to review the appropriate policies and handbooks and to pursue their
concerns directly with the appropriate office or program. As examples, students
should direct questions about housing to the Office of Residential Life
and questions related to financial aid to the staff of Student Aid and Family
Finance. Student Affairs staff are available to advise students about appropriate
offices and best strategies in most circumstances.
If a student remains dissatisfied with the decision of an office or program, the
student can ask the dean or vice president responsible for the area of concern
to review the decision or policy. However, the dean or vice president will not
change a decision that seems consistent with general principles of fairness,
equity, and College policy. In the majority of academic situations, moreover,
the faculty exercise final authority for decisions regarding the classroom,
course requirements, and academic standards and expectations.
In most complaint-resolution cases, the dean or vice president's decision is
final. If students or parents remain dissatisfied with the decision, they may
ask the president to review the practice or policy. Students and parents
should write to the president, explaining the circumstances and describing
the conversations that have taken place with other College staff. If the appropriate
dean or vice president has not yet reviewed the decision, the president's
office will generally direct students and parents to the campus office
most directly responsible for the area of concern. The president only reviews
situations or problems of substantial consequence to students or parents and
of broad concern to the College.
Procedures for Filing Administrative Complaints
The College provides a variety of avenues for students and parents to follow
should they experience difficulty getting their needs met. Typically, these
needs involve issues of student residence and student life, finance, academic
requirements, parking, etc. Whenever students and parents have questions
about College policy or practice regarding these and other issues, the best
course of action is to pursue conversations with the appropriate offices. For
example, student housing and student life questions are best directed to the
Office of Student Affairs, working with staff first and, if students and parents
are not satisfied, progressing to a conversation with the Dean of Student
Affairs. The same pertains to questions involving finance: The office of financial
services and the Office of Student Aid and Family Finance are the first
points of contact.
However, should students and parents find that their concerns have not been
adequately addressed, they have recourse with the President's Office via the
Special Assistant to the President. Students and parents should call or write
the president, explaining the circumstances and describing the conversations
that have taken place with other College staff. (If the President's Office is the
first point of contact, students and parents will be directed to the appropriate
campus office for resolution.) The Special Assistant to the President, and the
president if necessary, will assess cases and then respond to the student or
parent in written correspondence, with a phone call, or both. Neither the
President nor his staff is prepared to change policy, but contact with the
President's Office may help facilitate resolution in difficult cases.
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