If a dispute arises between a student and a faculty member or department, there may be confusion as to the best way for the student to resolve the problem. Students should try to resolve classroom issues with the instructor involved. If the conflict is still unresolved, the student should address the complaint to the course coordinator if applicable. In a case where the issue cannot be resolved with the instructor and/or course coordinator, the student should contact the Head of the Department responsible for the class in which the instructor is teaching to assist in the resolution of the conflict. In cases where the issue needs further resolution, the student should address the conflict with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

Students who have concerns or complaints about any aspect of their education at the College of Pharmacy are strongly encouraged to bring them to the attention of the proper individuals at the College. At any time students may provide input, opinions and suggestions themselves, or through their class officers, to the faculty member, the relevant course coordinator, the department head to whom the faculty member or course coordinator reports, the Office of Student and Professional Affairs, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Office of the Dean of the College of Pharmacy. Student input and reaction through class representatives is regularly solicited at Pharmacy Student Senate meetings. In addition, student representatives serve as members of several school committees such as curriculum and admissions.

The COP also provides a general email for faculty, staff and students to share opinions, general comments and complaints. Only emails from a ULM email address will be read and considered (i.e. @ulm.edu or @warhawks.ulm.edu). To submit an email, go to http://ulm.edu/pharmacy/ and the link can be found under “Academic News and Other.”

Any person may file a formal complaint to the University of Louisiana Monroe College of Pharmacy regarding its Doctor of Pharmacy Program. Complaints may include, but are not limited to, admissions policies, inappropriate faculty or student conduct, inequities in grading, and/or failure to comply with collegiate policy. It is the responsibility of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to manage and provide responses to formal complaints about the Doctor of Pharmacy Program. The College of Pharmacy encourages persons with complaints about the Doctor of Pharmacy educational program to seek informal resolution of their complaints prior to initiating a formal process.

To initiate a formal complaint, one must provide a written, signed and dated statement and provide full contact information of the person submitting the complaint. If this is a student complaint related to a course or faculty action, a statement of actions taken, per collegiate policy, to informally resolve the complaint must be included. Complaints must be submitted to the Attention of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, ULM College of Pharmacy, 700 University Avenue, Monroe, LA 71209.

Formal complaints will be reviewed upon receipt by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or designated person(s) in the Office of Student and Professional Affairs and referred to the appropriate collegiate committee or administrative office within the College or University for information, advice and/or response. Resolution of complaints may require meeting or hearings with the involved parties or other members of the collegiate or University community. The person submitting the complaint will receive a response or update on its status within 60 days. All efforts will be made to provide timely responses to time sensitive complaints.

Outcomes of complaints that result in decisions by College of Pharmacy committees may be appealed to the College of Pharmacy Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Complaint actions or decisions by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs may be appealed to the Dean of the College of Pharmacy.

The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) requires that each College of pharmacy implement a process to allow for students to lodge written complaints that relate directly to ACPE’s accreditation standards, policies, or procedures regarding the College of Pharmacy or the pharmacy program. The University of Louisiana Monroe College of Pharmacy’s process for formally registering these concerns and complaints is as follows.

• A student who has a concern or a complaint about the College of Pharmacy or the Doctor of Pharmacy Program regarding ACPE’s accreditation standards, policies, or procedures have two options:

1.  Notify the college’s administrative team using the link provided at the bottom of the current student web-page. This link sends an email to sopcomments@ulm.edu  

2.  Submit the complaint directly to ACPE in writing by going to:https://www.acpe-accredit.org/complaints/

• The complaint will be referred to the Dean’s Committee (Dean and Associate Deans) for analysis, assignment, and planning or action.

• Where appropriate, students will be notified of the concern or complaint and the resultant actions taken or to be taken by the College of Pharmacy.

• A file of these concerns and complaints and subsequent outcomes will be maintained in the Office of Student and Professional Affairs. This file will be made available to ACPE during site visits and upon written requests from ACPE.

• These concerns and complaints will also be considered in the College of Pharmacy’s assessment, quality improvement, and self-study processes.

All complaints, concerns and suggestions made by students and the reaction to them by the College are handled in the spirit of continuous quality improvement. No retribution against any individual complainant may be taken by any faculty member, staff member, school committee or the faculty as a whole because of the complaint. A file will be maintained for inspection by ACPE of all complaints and responses related to ACPE standards and the procedures involved to ensure the complainant fundamental procedural due process.