»Grievance Procedures

At Chapman University, we are committed to ensuring that all students have equitable access to their education and that concerns are addressed promptly, respectfully, and in accordance with university policy. If you experience challenges related to your accommodations, interactions with faculty or staff, or believe you have been subjected to discrimination or harassment, there are several pathways available to seek support and resolution. Depending on your situation, you may choose to request informal assistance through Disability Services (DS), appeal a Disability Services decision, or file a formal grievance. The following outlines each option, its purpose, and the process for initiating it.

 

Request for Intervention

Students may encounter challenges communicating with a faculty member or other Chapman officials but do not wish to file a formal university complaint. If you are experiencing difficulties using your accommodations due to the actions or inactions of a faculty member, TA, instructor, or other campus office or staff, you may submit an informal Request for Intervention by emailing ds@chapman.edu with the subject “Request for Intervention.”

This is an interactive process involving you (the student), Disability Services (DS), the individuals involved, and other appropriate parties, such as faculty leadership (e.g., a dean or department chair). DS can work with you to identify and explore the best options for resolving your concerns.

Please note:

• This process is not investigatory and does not result a determination if someone is responsible or not responsible for violating University policy.
• Its purpose is to facilitate communication, clarify expectations, and promptly address barriers to the provision of accommodations.
• Chapman policy requires DS staff to report any instances of discrimination or violations of university policy. If a faculty member or other university employee is engaging in behavior that may violate policy, the DS staff member assisting you must report it to the appropriate responding office (e.g., Title IX or Human Resources) for appropriate follow up, including steps to prevent recurrence of the alleged issue.

 

Disability Services Appeal Procedure

If you disagree with a Disability Services (DS) decision or process related to your accommodations or services, you may submit an appeal to DS. You are not required to provide additional documentation from a healthcare provider, but you may include it if you wish. In your appeal, we encourage you to:

• Describe the decision you believe was incorrect.
• Explain why you believe it is incorrect.
• State what outcome you believe should occur.

Your appeal will be reviewed—along with your entire DS file—by a senior DS team member (or other qualified individual outside of DS) who was not involved in the original decision. Please note that simply disagreeing with a DS decision, without explaining and/or supporting the disagreement with information or documentation, as applicable, is unlikely to result in a different outcome.

 

Procedure for Grievances Related to Discrimination

Chapman University encourages students to promptly report  concerns related to discrimination or harassment based on protected characteristics—including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and related retaliation—whether involving students, staff, or faculty.

If you believe you have experienced discrimination or harassment, you may file a grievance complaint through Human Resources using the form available on the Equal Opportunity website. General information about Chapman’s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and procedures can also be found on the Equal Opportunity website.