The following information is for prospective and current Fontbonne University online students who will reside outside of Missouri while enrolled in online courses and programs.
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) is a national initiative to provide more access to online courses and programs while maintaining compliance standards with state regulatory agencies.
Fontbonne University participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.
National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements
http://nc-sara.org/
Fontbonne University is dedicated to providing an excellent educational experience for all students. The university recognizes the importance of resolving student concerns and grievances in a timely and effective manner. All students, whether taking classes online or on campus should go through Fontbonne University’s administrative procedures, which include meeting with his or her faculty member, academic advisor, or campus director, or through a more formal process of grievance as outlined below.
Academic Appeals Process
Undergraduate Information and Graduate Information
Contact:
Office of Academic Affairs
Provost
Dr. Adam Weyhaupt
(314) 889-1460
Student Disability Services and ADA Compliance
Undergraduate Information and Graduate Information.
Contact:
Office of Academic Affairs
Director, Kinkel Center and Academic Support & Accommodations
Natasha Baebler
(314) 719-3627
Academic Integrity/Honesty
Undergraduate Information and Graduate Information
Contact:
Office of Academic Affairs
Provost
Dr. Adam Weyhaupt
(314) 889-1460
Academic Advising
Undergraduate Information and Graduate Information
Contact:
Director of Undergraduate Academic Advising
Jamaica Harris
(314) 889-1468
Transfer of Credits
Undergraduate Information and Graduate Information
Contact:
Office of the Registrar
registraroffice@fontbonne.edu
Financial Services
Undergraduate Information and Graduate Information
Contact:
314-889-1414
financialservices@fontbonne.edu
Notice of Non-Discrimination
Contact:
Dean of Students
Janelle Julian
(314) 889-1416
OR
Danielle Doefler
Director of Athletics
(314) 889-4540
Sexual Harassment
email:
HR@fontbonne.edu
(314) 889-1493
Other Resources
Student Affairs
The Griffin Scratch Student Handbook
Fontbonne University is dedicated to providing an excellent educational experience for all students. The university recognizes the importance of resolving student concerns and grievances in a timely and effective manner. In registering concerns and filing appeals, Fontbonne students must follow the policies and procedures that have been established by the university or within the unit about which the concern is being filed. Generally, these policies and procedures require that students begin by discussing the matter with the staff, faculty, or department in which the issue originated. Notable exceptions include complaints alleging discrimination or harassment.
If a student believes that a policy or procedure has been incorrectly or unfairly applied in his/her particular case, or a complaint does not fall within a specific policy, and efforts to resolve the concern have not been successful, the student may file a formal complaint.
A formal complaint is defined as any nontrivial complaint, either academic or nonacademic, that is submitted formally in writing by a student to a member of the Executive Leadership Team or the Director of Human Resources either through:
Not every written communication from a student is considered a complaint. For example, the following would not be considered a complaint: requests for exception to university policies, written letters expressing a general dislike of a university policy, and complaints submitted to a person other than a member of the Executive Leadership Team or Director of Human Resources.
Upon receipt of a formal complaint, the office or person that receives the complaint will acknowledge the complaint. Formal complaints about a faculty or staff member in an academic department or regarding a course or academic program will be directed to Academic Affairs. Other formal complaints will be directed to the Vice President responsible for the department or individual against which the complaint is made. Formal complaints about a Vice President will be directed to the Office of the President. Each person or office who receives a complaint will maintain a record of when the complaint was received, any actions taken, and the final resolution. Students should receive an official response to complaints within 30 days. The receiving office will send notice of the final resolution to the Office of Academic Affairs, which maintains a record of all formal complaints. The Executive Leadership Team will semiannually review formal complaints to improve university processes.
Nothing in this policy shall be construed to be construed to modify any procedures for handling complaints covered by Title VI, Title VII, Age Discrimination, Section 504 complaints, or any other complaint covered by Fontbonne’s Notice of Non-Discrimination.
Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development (MDHEWD) serves as the clearinghouse for complaints concerning colleges and universities authorized to operate in the State of Missouri, acting on those within its purview, and forwarding those that are not to other entities for their appropriate action. Per MDHEWD policy, exhaustion of all informal and formal institutional processes, including both campus processes and any applicable system processes, is a prerequisite to filing any formal complaint with the Department. The complete MDHEWD complaint policy may be found https://dhewd.mo.gov/policies/documents/POLICYONCOMPLAINTRESOLUTION-reviseddraft.pdf.
The Missouri Attorney General’s Office website may be found at http://ago.mo.gov.
Students not residing in the state of Missouri during the time of attending online courses should also follow Fontbonne’s internal administrative procedures listed above. However, if the issue or complaint is not resolved at the institutional level, a student residing in Missouri or in a SARA member state may file a complaint to the Missouri State Portal Agency or the Higher Learning Commission.
Alicia Erickson
Director of Academic Affairs|Postsecondary Policy
Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development
205 Jefferson Street
P.O. Box 1469
Jefferson City, MO 65102-1469
573-751-1764
alicia.erickson@dhewd.mo.gov
Higher Learning Commission
https://www.hlcommission.org/HLC-Institutions/complaints.html
Distance students residing outside of Missouri in non-SARA member states may file a formal complaint with their home state authorizing agency if the issue cannot be resolved internally.
National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements SARA States
