Nicholls State University has adequate procedures for addressing written complaints from students and demonstrates that it follows those procedures when resolving such complaints. These procedures are outlined in both the University Bulletin [1] and the Code of Student Conduct [2]. Procedures stated in the Bulletin follow [3]:

Student Complaints and Their Resolution

The State of Louisiana and the U. S. Department of Education have mandated that institutions of higher education have in place a specific procedure for the resolution of student complaints. State and federal governments are most interested in complaints that involve: 1) the mismanagement of federal financial aid funds and 2) false representation of programs and courses of study that may appear in an institution's various publications. Although Nicholls State University adheres strictly to all rules and regulations and represents as clearly as possible to students the information pertaining to their education here, students who may have complaints in either of these areas are encouraged to bring them to the University's attention through the procedure outlined below.

Other complaints may be addressed through the same procedure; however, specific complaints such as those concerning discrimination or harassment and grade appeals must follow the procedures specified in the Code of Student Conduct.

Procedure for Resolution of Student Complaints:

1.	A student who has a valid, documentable complaint against any office or employee of the University, or about any program or service offered by the University may file a written complaint, along with documentation, either a) with the supervisor of the office, service, or program which provided grounds for the complaint, or b) with that individual's supervisor. The complaint will be recorded in a complaint log, noting the name of the complainant, the grounds for the complaint, and the date of filing. The student is encouraged to file the complaint as soon as possible after the incident occurred.
2.	The supervisor, the student, and the person giving grounds for the complaint will meet within three workdays of the filing of the complaint to attempt to resolve the matter. The student must be prepared to present a resolution acceptable to him or her. It is expected that most complaints will be resolved at this point. The supervisor will record the outcome of the discussion in the complaint log.
3.	If the discussion has ended without resolution and if further investigation is necessary to resolve the complaint, the supervisor will conduct the investigation within the ten workdays following the discussion, keeping notes and documentation of the investigation in a separate file, and will present the results of his or her investigation, along with a recommendation for resolution, during a second meeting with the parties involved. The parties will again attempt to negotiate a resolution acceptable to all. The results of this meeting will be inscribed in the complaint log.
4.	If the student does not agree to a resolution as proposed, developed, or modified during the second discussion, he or she may file an appeal to the next University officer in the chain of command, within five workdays of the second discussion. In the appeal letter, the student must state with specificity why he or she believes the proposed resolution to be unacceptable, and why his or her desired resolution is preferable. Upon receipt of the appeal letter, the appeal officer will request that the complaint log page(s) and other records pertinent to this case be forwarded to him or her.
5.	The appeal will be decided within ten workdays, based on the student's letter of appeal as well as all notes and documentation produced during the discussions. The appeal officer may speak with all of the parties involved, or with none, if he or she sees fit; however, the appeal officer will not speak with only one of the parties without also speaking with the other(s). The officer will keep notes of these discussions. The decision of the appeal officer will be inscribed in the complaint log (after having been communicated in writing to the student).
6.	Subsequent appeals will follow the procedures in 4 and 5 above, through the University Council, which will make the final campus determination.
7.	If the student should decide to appeal the University Council's decision to the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System, the procedures to be followed are those determined by the Board.
8.	At whatever stage the complaint is resolved, its resolution must be recorded in the log, and a signed and dated copy of the record forwarded to the office of the appropriate vice president. The original will then be returned to the logbook of the department where the complaint initiated.

As documented in Comprehensive Standard 3.9.1 [4], students at Nicholls State University have numerous rights which correspond with certain responsibilities and conduct. The University has specific and separate procedures to implement policies which deal with student complaints or appeals, depending upon whether the complaint or appeal concerns academic matters or student conduct. Procedures for handling complaints of student misconduct are outlined throughout the Code of Student Conduct, as indicated in its Table of Contents below [5]. Policies that involve harassment or discrimination complaints are also explicitly detailed in the Code of Student Conduct.