Camosun's faculty, staff and administration are deeply committed to excellence in teaching and student success. Camosun has established a number of processes for bringing forward and dealing with any concerns about the quality of teaching and learning in the classroom and throughout the college experience.
Teaching and learning
Every year the college surveys students about their education experience and welcomes honest, constructive feedback.
The Student Complaint Process is for student complaints about teaching and learning, other than those involving grades and formal human rights complaints. The process encourages you to discuss your concern, at or as close to, the source of the concern as possible.
After you review the policy, you can get more detailed information or ask questions about the process, by contacting the Vice-President Education's office or the Ombuds office.
Final grades and student conduct
The Grade Review and Appeals policy is to provide information, responsibilities, and processes for students who wish to request a review of term work, request a final grade review or appeal a final grade. It also informs instructors, department Chairs/Program Leaders, and College administrators of their responsibilities in the process.
The Student Misconduct Policy is meant to provide clear expectations of appropriate non-academic student conduct and to establish processes for resolution of conduct issues or the imposition of sanctions for inappropriate conduct.
After you review the two policies, you can get more detailed information or ask questions about the process, by contacting the Vice-President Education's office or the Ombuds office.
The Academic Integrity process outlines the processes for documenting and addressing an allegation of academic misconduct. The document also outlines the process of appealing a Dean’s/Director’s decision regarding academic misconduct to Education Council’s Academic Appeals Panel.
Human rights/harassment
Camosun College's Respectful Workplace Policy is for addressing formal allegations of discrimination or harassment.
After you review the policy, you can get more detailed information or ask questions about the process, by contacting the Executive Director of Human Resources or the Ombuds office.
Student Complaint Process
Camosun's faculty, staff and administration are deeply committed to excellence in teaching and student success. Camosun has established a number of processes for bringing forward and dealing with any concerns about the quality of teaching and learning in the classroom and throughout the college experience.
The Student Complaint Process is for student complaints about administrative decisions, as well as student complaints concerning teaching and learning, other than those involving grades and formal human rights complaints. At any point in the process, you may contact the Office of the Ombudsperson for guidance and support.
Informal complaint process
Step 1 - Speak to Instructor
You are encouraged to talk to the instructor first in order to resolve the issue.
Step 2 - Speak to Instructor's Chair
If you're not satisfied at Step 1 or if the circumstances of the complaint make it difficult or impossible to meet with the instructor, you should take your complaint to the Departmental Chair. The Chair will meet with the instructor or the instructor and the student together if appropriate, to discuss the complaint.
If the instructor is the Departmental Chair, you should take your complaint to the Dean.
Although not required at Step 2, you're encouraged to summarize briefly your complaint in writing for discussion with the Chair or Dean.
Step 3 - Register complaint with Dean's office
You may meet with the Dean without preparing your complaint in writing. However, the complaint will not proceed through the formal process if you do not provide the complaint in writing giving relevant details. You should include a suggested remedy.
Formal complaint process
Step 4 - Complaint in writing to Dean's office
If not resolved at the informal level, you should prepare your complaint in writing, submit it to the Dean's office and arrange an appointment through the Assistant to the Dean. A copy of the formal complaint will be provided to the faculty member.
Step 5 - Meet with Dean
You'll next meet with the Dean.
You will receive the decision of the Dean in writing. The Dean will meet with you to explain the decision if you're available. A copy of the written decision will be forwarded to the faculty member and department chair.
Decision review process
Step 6 - Review by the Vice-President Education
If you're not satisfied with the decision of the Dean, you have one week (7 calendar days) to deliver a letter requesting a review of the Dean's decision, with the complaint in writing attached, to the Vice-President Education's office.
Student and college services
The College offers a large number of services and resources in support of students' learning experience. If you are concerned or have a complaint about the support or service you have received (outside of the parameters listed above, e.g. human rights/harassment), please contact the department in question and ask to speak with a supervisor or manager who will be happy to assist you.
Not sure who to talk to? Try the Department directory or contact the Office of the Ombudsperson.
Contact information
Office of the Ombudsperson
Rob Thompson, Ombudsperson