College of Health Sciences

Complaints that fall outside due process and non-retaliation policy

I. Purpose

A plan to assess, resolve and follow up on complaints that fall outside of due process in compliance with the non-retaliation policies of the university.

II. Definitions

1. Complaint: A concern about the program, expressed by students or others with a legitimate relationship to the program, the subject of which is not among those that are addressed through the institution’s formal due processes.
2. Due process: Timely, fair and impartial procedures at the program or institutional level for the adjudication of complaints and grievances.
3. Retaliation: Actions against the complainant because of their participation in the complaint process.

III. Policy

1. The Physical Therapy Department (PTD), the College of Health Sciences (CHS) and the University of Michigan-Flint encourage those who have complaints to address the issue with the immediate cause of the complaint, whether it is a fellow student, faculty or staff, according to the department policies and procedures.
2. Complaints could be made by any individual or group who interacts with the members of the PTD.
3. The PTD has a non-retaliation policy for any complaints from stakeholders per SPGs 201.89-1, 201.96 and 201.08.

IV. Procedures

1. Whenever possible, those with complaints should address the complaint directly with the individual or group for which it is intended.
2. If the complainant is not satisfied with the response or feels that further discussion about the complaint is warranted, the individual should discuss the issue with the next person up the line of the reporting relationship (clinical education advisor or faculty advisor).
3. Within the PTD, the department director is ultimately responsible for hearing any complaints that are unresolved at another level.
4. If the complainant is not satisfied with the response within the Physical Therapy Department or feels that further discussion about the complaint is warranted, the complainant may proceed through the appropriate channels provided within the CHS or UM-Flint.
5. Complaints that have due process outlined by University guidelines do not fall within the purview of this policy and should be sent to the appropriate individual or group within the department, college or university.
6. For complaints involving issues or persons outside of the department but which have an effect on the program, the appropriate channels for resolution of complaints are utilized within the institution. See policy on Safety, Rights, Privacy, and Dignity of Individuals and Clinical Education Sites (340.11).

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Approved Feb. 5, 2010. Revised Feb. 7, 2024.
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