Student Complaints

Virginia Wesleyan University has a comprehensive set of policies, programs, and procedures for responding to student complaints.

Virginia Wesleyan University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award bachelors’ and masters’ degrees through both on-campus and online courses. Normal inquiries about the institution, such as admission requirements, financial aid, and educational programs should be addressed directly to Virginia Wesleyan University. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Virginia Wesleyan University.

Please note that the SACSCOC complaint process is not intended to be used to involve the Commission in disputes between individuals and member institutions or to cause the Commission to interpose itself as a reviewing authority in individual matters; nor does the policy allow the Commission to seek redress on an individual’s behalf. The primary purpose of the SACSCOC complaint procedures is to acquire valuable information regarding an accredited institution’s possible non-compliance with accreditation standards, policies, and procedures. Normal inquiries about the University should be addressed directly to the University and not to SACSCOC. To register a complaint against Virginia Wesleyan University for any reason unrelated to accreditation, please contact the President’s Office at 757-455-3215 or by email at officeofthepresident@vwu.edu.

The Vice President for Campus Life and Operational Management, or designee, is responsible for responding to student complaints and/or letters of concern from students and parents regarding matters of campus life. These complaints are maintained electronically by the Vice President for Campus Life and Operational Management.

The Vice President for Academic Affairs, in a similar manner, addresses questions and concerns regarding the academic program. Records of these complaints are maintained in the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. For matters pertaining to faculty, students may contact the Office of Academic Affairs, and they will be referred to the respective School Dean. For grade appeals, students should follow the process laid out in the Educational Programs section of this catalog.

The Director of Human Resources will be informed and consulted, and records will be maintained accordingly in cases involving a staff member and when the situation warrants.

Responses to complaints will be managed in a prompt and efficient manner and in a fashion that will best address the issue presented. In most cases, a response will be provided within seven days from the receipt of the concern.

Once all institutional processes have been exhausted and the complaint has not been resolved, students may file a formal complaint with the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV). SCHEV can be contacted at 804.225.2600 or through the SCHEV Student Complaint Process at SCHEV.edu. To file a complaint against Virginia Wesleyan University for alleged non-compliance with an accreditation standard or requirement, please consult Complaint Procedures against SACSCOC or its Accredited Institutions at SACS.org.

Complaints against an Institution operating under NC-SARA (State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements) policies go first through the Institution’s own procedures for resolution of grievances.

If a complaint is not resolved at the institutional level, the student may appeal to the institution's NC-SARA state portal entity as noted on the NC-SARA website: https://nc-sara.org/ The Virginia State Approving Agency (SAA), is the approving authority of education and training programs for Virginia.

Our office investigates complaints of GI Bill® beneficiaries. While most complaints should initially follow the school grievance policy, if the situation cannot be resolved at the school, the beneficiary should contact our office via email at saa@dvs.virginia.gov. GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.