Duke University Policies and Procedures
Federal regulations require Duke to provide current and prospective students with the contact information for filing complaints with appropriate state agencies and other regulatory entities. Contact information for these regulatory agencies is included in the subsequent sections; SACSCOC and SARA North Carolina and Other State Entities.
Duke is committed to providing learning environments in which complaints arising out of on-campus and distance-based programs are responded to promptly and with maximum protection to the parties. Procedures for resolving grievances internally are outlined below.
As a first step, all students should initially seek resolution to their complaints by notifying the relevant department chair or program director in their area of study. Concerns may often be resolved to the student’s satisfaction after meeting and communicating with the department chair or program director. Students whose complaints remain unresolved at this level are encouraged to contact the Dean of the school in which he/she is enrolled at the following:
• Trinity College of Arts and Sciences (phone: 919-684-4863)
• Pratt School of Engineering (phone: 919-660-5389)
• School of Nursing (phone: 919-684-9444)
• School of Medicine (phone: 919-684-2455)
• School of Law (phone: 919-613-7001)
• Divinity School (phone: 919-660-3434)
• Sanford School of Public Policy (phone: 919-613-7309)
• Nicholas School of the Environment (phone: 919-613-8135)
• Graduate School (phone: 919-681-1560)
• Fuqua School of Business (phone: 919-660-7822)
If a student finds at any point their grievance is unable to be, or has not been, sufficiently resolved through the above process they are encouraged to utilize the centralized reporting channels established by Duke University.
The Office of Institutional Equity at Duke oversees and administers policies and procedures for complaints and concerns. Any current or prospective students wishing to submit a complaint or grievance against the university at any point is strongly encouraged to use the Office of Institutional Equity’s Report An Incident form.
The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards at Duke was established to investigate and resolve alleged violations of internal university policies in accordance with the Duke Community Standard in Practice, including issues of academic integrity. Any current or prospective students wishing to submit a Duke Community Standard related violation at any point is strongly encouraged to use the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards Incident Referral form.
Those with questions pertaining to the student complaint process, or complaints that remain unresolved through the above procedures, are encouraged to contact the Office of the Provost, 220 Allen Building, Box 90005, Durham, North Carolina or (919) 681-1396 for additional information and/or guidance.
SACSCOC
Students whose complaints remain unresolved through the internal process overseen by the University may contact Duke’s accreditor, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or by phone at (404) 679-4500 in accordance with SACSCOC complaint procedures.
SARA North Carolina and Other State Entities
Duke University is a participating institution in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) administered by SARA North Carolina. Students may file a complaint via the process and form established by SARA North Carolina at P.O. Box 41349 Raleigh, NC 27629 or by phone at (919) 549-8614, ext. 4667 and email at information@saranc.org
In addition to the grievance procedures set forth by SARA North Carolina, students may a file a complaint with the state in which they are residing and receiving instruction provided by Duke.
Furthermore, students may file a complaint with the North Carolina Department of Justice via this form. Residents of the State of North Carolina may call the Department at (877) 566-7226 while individuals residing outside the State of North Carolina may contact the Department at (919) 716-6000. Individuals that wish to contact the Department in Spanish are encouraged to call the Department at (919) 716-0058.
Please also use the following address to mail complaints to the Department:
Consumer Protection Division
Attorney General’s Office
Mail Service Center 9001
Raleigh, NC 27699-9001
Professional Licensure Programs
School of Nursing
Students interested in enrolling in programs leading to professional licensure at the School of Nursing are highly encouraged to visit a webpage established by Duke for more information about these compliance issues that are of particular concern to the field of nursing. Students may also contact Nora Harrington, Director of Recruitment and Admissions for the Duke University School of Nursing at 307 Trent Drive, Durham, North Carolina or (877)415-3853 for more information about these considerations. In addition, students may contact the Board of Nursing in their state for inquiries regarding nursing education and the School of Nursing's status with these regulatory agencies.
Additional Professional Licensing Boards
In accordance with NC-Sara and SARA North Carolina requirements, please find contact information for additional Professional Licensing Boards, by state, corresponding with relevant educational programs offered by the following Duke University entities:
Contact
Molly Goldwasser:
Associate Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
Email: molly.goldwasser@duke.edu
Phone: 919-684-0731