Complaints
As a student you have the right to complain without fear of reprisal. If you feel you are being penalized for having complained, you can contact us for advice on how to handle the situation. It is useful to familiarize yourself with the University’s policies and procedures as well as the (PDF file) Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities when you bring forward a complaint.
If you would like to complain about something, you can consult with your Department Chair or Program Director, the TM Student Union Advocate (external link) , the TMAPS Student Rights Coordinator (external link) , Human Rights Services, or our office. Remember to keep a record of who you contacted, when, and what you talked about. It is also important to keep copies of any documents which you have provided to the University and to confirm any resolutions in writing. An (PDF file) effective complaint (external link) toolkit, is a helpful resource to help articulate your concern.
Be aware that complaints that are false and/or malicious may constitute a violation of the (PDF file) Student Code of Non-Academic Conduct and the Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Policy.
It is important that you deal with situations which affect your academic performance as soon as possible. In some situations unresolved problems can get worse. Specific information concerning complaints may be found in your Department or Program Student Handbook. Relevant information about the structures, processes, objectives, and requirements that pertain to courses can also be found in the (PDF file) Course Management Policy. In general, though, we suggest you consider the following steps:
STEP 1:
We would recommend that whenever possible you first try to resolve the issue at its source. In other words, start by speaking to your instructor about your concerns, if it is possible to do so.
STEP 2:
If the issue is not resolved after you speak to your instructor, or you are reluctant to deal directly with your instructor because of the nature of your complaint, you can speak to the Chair/Program Director of the Department the course is taught in (e.g. if your concern is about a Geography course you would make arrangements to speak with the Program Director or Chair of the Geography Department even if you are enrolled in the School of Nursing or the Theatre School). For complaints of a more general nature, you may also want to speak with your own Departmental Chair/Program Director, i.e. the program you are enrolled in now. In general, you can ask the Chair to discuss an issue confidentially, or you can request that the Chair or Director investigate your concern and identify you to the person you are complaining about.
STEP 3:
In some situations, it may be appropriate to follow up on your concern with the Dean of the Faculty for the Department or School.
Complaining about a non-academic matter (for example a staff member’s actions or an administrative process)
STEP 1:
Raise your concern with the individual staff member involved.
STEP 2:
If the issue is not resolved after you speak to the staff member, or you are reluctant to deal directly with the staff member because of the nature of your complaint, you can contact the Supervisor/Manager of the unit they work in. Ask for their contact information.
STEP 3:
In some situations, it may be appropriate to follow up on your concern with the Vice-Provost Students.
If you have experienced a sexual or other assault, contact the Crisis Team, the Consent comes first; Office for Sexual Violence Support and Education, Ryerson Security or the Toronto Police (external link) (In an emergency, dial 911).
If you are sexually harassed or discriminated against you can contact the Consent comes first; Office for Sexual Violence Support and Education or Human Rights Services to discuss your situation. Personal counselling is available on campus at the Centre for Student Development and Counselling.