Chapter 13:
Student Greivances

Student Grievances Relating to School of Law ABA Compliance

The American Bar Association Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar has adopted Standard 510 for student grievances implicating compliance with the ABA standards.

Any student or group of students believing a significant problem implicates the School of Law's program of legal education and its compliance with the ABA standards has the right to file a complaint regarding that problem. Such a complaint may be filed either with the Sr. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, the Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, or the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs.

The complaint must be filed in writing and must identify the behavior, action, or inaction complained of and the ABA Standards and Rules alleged to have been violated.

Upon receipt of a written complaint, the Dean will, within 30 business days, meet with the student(s) making the complaint and, if necessary, conduct an investigation into the substance of the complaint. Upon completion of any investigation, the Dean will prepare a written report determining whether a significant problem that directly implicates the school’s program of legal education exists. 

If such a significant problem is found, a recommendation of action to resolve the complaint will be included. The student(s) filing the initial complaint will receive a copy of the report. If the students are dissatisfied with the report, they may request additional review of the report by the Dean of the School of Law.

Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

Wake Forest University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees.  Wake Forest University also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of  Wake Forest University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

Student Complaints of Individual Concern

Please note that in addition to the formal complaint process outlined above, students are encouraged to raise matters of individual concern.  Those matters may be more appropriately resolved in a less formal way than the complaint process outlined above.

When students have questions or complaints about law school operations or about the conduct of an instructor, another student, or staff, they are encouraged to talk with either the Associate or Assistant Deans.  The Assistant Dean for Student Affairs is generally responsible for student concerns. The Sr. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs is generally responsible for the academic program, faculty, scheduling, registration, and the Honor Code. 

When a student has a question or a complaint about or a problem in a course, the concern can usually best be handled by talking directly with the instructor teaching the course. A student can also talk with the Sr. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs, or the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs about a complaint or a problem in a course.

When a student has a question about a grade in a course, the student should talk directly with the instructor who taught the course, except in the case of a student who is academically ineligible. Answering questions about grades is part of the instructor's responsibilities. Students are entitled to review their exams, and instructors are required to explain to their students how the exams were graded. An academically ineligible student with a question about a grade must follow the procedure set out for review in Chapter 5. 

Additional Information for Online MSL Students

The School of Law is committed to its online educational programs. If you have a question, concern, or complaint about the online MSL program, we encourage you to contact the Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs or the Sr. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. You may also report your complaints to your local state agency.