Student Conduct
The University expects its students to enjoy and nurture this academic community whose purpose is to be a Christian institution of learning. They are expected to help sustain the University’s values. It is the University’s goal that all members of the community adhere to a set of ethical and behavioral standards that are reflected by the rules which apply to students. Students are thus expected to be honest, respectful of others, helpful to the University’s pursuit of its purpose, and law abiding.
To learn more about the University's expectations regarding student conduct, please consult the latest version of the Howard Payne University Student Handbook.
Policies Regarding Informal and Formal Student Complaints
Informal Complaint Procedures
It is the wish of the University to provide an education and services of high quality to its students and to provide equity and harmony in the application of policies and procedures. When a student has a complaint, resolution should be sought through informal communication with the appropriate instructor, school dean, staff member, or administrative officer who may be able to help rectify or clarify the situation before a written complaint is initiated.
Formal Complaint Procedures
This Student Complaint Policy does not supersede specific policies involving special cases such as grade appeals, sexual harassment, appeal and due process, etc.
• Lodging a Formal Student Complaint: A student who wishes to lodge a formal complaint with the University must complete and submit the formal complaint form to the appropriate cabinet level officer. A form is available in the Office of Student Life and Office of Academic affairs, as well as online.
• Administrative Complaint Acknowledgment: Formal student complaints will be forwarded to the administrator most immediately responsible for the area to which the complaint pertains. The administrator will send a written acknowledgment to the student within five working days of receiving the complaint indicating that: (1) the formal complaint form has been received, (2) the nature of the complaint, and (3) the student will receive a written response after deliberation within ten working days. Copies of the written student complaint and the acknowledgement letter will be sent to the cabinet‐level officer over the area.
• Administrative Deliberation and Response: If the administrator to whom the complaint is forwarded determines that the nature of the complaint is beyond his/her area of supervision or expertise, the next level administrator in the area should be consulted and may be requested to respond to the student. Administrative disposition of the complaint will generally consist of investigation into the source of the complaint, previous efforts to resolve the issue, and any contingencies that will aid in the deliberation and disposition of the problem. The responding administrator will send to the student a written statement of attempted resolution to the problem. A copy of the deliberation response will be sent to the appropriate cabinet‐level officer. All formal student complaints will be forwarded upon resolution to the President’s office by each cabinet officer where a log will be kept.
• Student Appeal Process: Upon receiving a deliberation response to the written complaint, the student has the right of appeal to successive levels of administrators within the area. This appeal must be made in writing within five working days of receiving the Administrative response. In each case, the student will receive an acknowledgement of the complaint within five working days and a deliberation response within ten working days from the date of the acknowledgment letter.
• Administrative Levels for Student Complaints: The appropriate cabinet level officer for student complaints will be as follows:
Provost and Chief Academic Officer – academic, accreditation, facility, institutional research, library, registrar, and student retention issues
Senior Vice President for Finance & Administration – auxiliary services (bookstore, dining hall), human resources, information technology, and student accounts issues
Senior Vice President for Institutional Advancement – admissions, alumni, financial aid, and retention issues
Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students – athletics, residence life, spiritual life, student activities, student organizations, and student services issues
Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications – media relations, publications, and public relations issues
The only appeal beyond the cabinet‐level officer is to the President of the University. The decision of the President will be final.