Complaint Resolution

Franklin & Marshall College is committed to fostering an equitable, responsive community where student concerns are addressed promptly and respectfully. If you experience an issue regarding college policies, academic decisions, or administrative services, we encourage you to resolve it directly with the relevant office or department whenever possible. If informal resolution is not feasible or successful, please use the reporting contacts listed below to submit a formal grievance.

Information can be found in the Course Catalog and Student Handbook, but below are direct links to address specific needs and concerns:

• Academic Grievances and Grade Appeals: Students should first consult directly with the instructor for the course. If the issue remains unresolved, please consult the College Catalog for more information about the grievance process. 
  
  
• Other Grievances can be addressed through reporting mechanisms on the “Report a Concern” card in Experience (F&M login required) or through the following specific resources:
  • Accessibility
  • Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA
  • Public Safety
  • Sexual Misconduct
  • Bias & Discrimination
  • Student Conduct
  • Title IX
  • Title VI: The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding discrimination, harassment or retaliation based on age, color, genetic information, marital status, national or ethnic origin, race, religion or veteran status where the conduct involves students:
    
    • Tim Poirier
      Employee Engagement Officer & Title IX/ADA Coordinator
      Human Resources, Franklin & Marshall College
      Lancaster, PA 17604
      717-358-3996
      tpoirier@fandm.edu 
  • For General Non-Academic Grievances - or any grievance that does not fit into the categories listed above - you may contact the Office of General Counsel at ogc@fandm.edu.

If a complaint cannot be resolved through the College’s internal processes and the student has exhausted all internal institutional complaint processes without a satisfactory resolution, they may file a complaint with one of the following oversight agencies. 

• For concerns about the College that involves consumer protection issues or violations of state law: Pennsylvania Department of Education.
  
  
• For complaints involving civil rights or discrimination under federal law: US Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights
  
  
• For concerns regarding the College’s compliance with accreditation requirements: Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
  
  Middle States Commission on Higher Education
  3624 Market Street,
  2nd Floor West,
  Philadelphia, PA 19104
  Telephone: (267) 284-5000
  E-mail: info@msche.org
  Spanish: españolinfo@msche.org