Concerns About Academic Experience

In general, if you have a concern about one of your faculty instructors or about something that is happening in one of your classes, we hope you will consider going directly to the faculty member to let them know of your concerns. If you don’t feel comfortable doing so, or if you have tried without success, then we encourage you to consult with that faculty member’s department chair (you can find a list of department chairs as a viewable PDF. Your faculty advisor or College Advisor can also be a good sounding board for figuring out how to handle the situation. If your concern is with another student in your class, you might consider contacting the Office of Student Life for their help. There is also the Ombuds Office, which is a confidential, voluntary source of support and advice for a wide range of concerns. In some cases, you may want to contact the Dean of the College. See below for more information on how to schedule an appointment and/or contact the Dean’s Office.

Lewis & Clark College seeks to be an inclusive community that welcomes and respects all people. If discrimination, harassment, or hate- or bias-motivated conduct interferes with your academic experience, there are several offices and individuals who can speak with you about how to proceed.

• If you are concerned about something that happened in one of your classes, we hope you will consider going directly to the faculty member to let them know of your concerns. If you don’t feel comfortable doing so, or if you have tried without success, then we encourage you to consult with that faculty member’s department chair (you can find a list of department chairs as a viewable PDF). Your faculty advisor can also be a good sounding board for figuring out how to handle the situation.
• If you are unsure about where to turn or whether there is a process to address it, you can complete a BART report (BART stands for Bias Assessment and Response Team). BART reports are received by the Dean of Equity and Inclusion, who will refer your concern to a member of the team who can assist you (for example, to the Associate Dean for CAS). You can also speak directly with staff in the Office of Equity and Inclusion.
• Complaints regarding sexual harassment should be made under the procedures described in the College’s Sexual Misconduct Resources and Support Policy.

Most of the policies related to your academics are set out in the College Catalog. Information about many of our academic policies, procedures, and deadlines is also available on the webpage for our Registrar’s Office. If you don’t find an answer in the documents they have provided there, you will also find information on their page about how to contact their office with questions. Should you need to petition for an exception to academic policies, there is a faculty committee that reviews these petitions. The policy about asking for a modification of academic requirements is in the catalog. Petition forms and information about that process are available online. It is often helpful to consult with your academic advisor (and some petitions will require a letter of support from your advisor).

If you have a disability, learning difference, or medical condition and there are accommodations that could support your learning, our Office of Student Accessibility can assist you with education, advocacy, and support. Their staff can work with you to navigate administrative procedures and connect you with resources across campus. They also help students develop self-advocacy skills and strategies for academic and personal success. Their webpage includes links to schedule an appointment or ask a question. They are also assisting students with increased COVID-19 risk to find ways to safely participate in classes and campus life.

If you believe that a final grade in a course is an inaccurate reflection of your performance, you should first attempt to resolve the matter with the individual faculty member. If the instructor of the course does not feel that an error was made, and that the grade should stand, then you may pursue the matter with the department chair or program director. See the list of chairs/program directors (you can find a list of department chairs as a viewable PDF). If you are not satisfied with the answer given by the department chair or program director, then may submit a request, in writing, to the Office of the Dean to ask that the grade be reviewed. Note that the dean cannot accept an appeal until the student has attempted to work with the faculty member or chair. All appeals should include class materials relevant to the grade dispute (syllabi, emails, assignments, etc) and should describe efforts to work with the faculty member and/or department chair or program director. Students may submit a formal written appeal to casdean@lclark.edu. Please keep in mind that no grade may be changed on the transcript after one year of being issued. The dean’s decisions in matters of academic grievances are final. For more information, see the academic grievance policy here.

You can always email the Dean of the College at casdean@lclark.edu. This email is checked regularly and is the quickest way to communicate with the Dean’s Office. If you wish to schedule time to talk to the Dean, you can come to regular student office hours. Office hours are held every Thursday morning, from 9-9:50 am in the Dovecote. If you wish to drop-in, just show up at the Dovecote and grab a seat. First-come, first-served. If you’d like to make an appointment for one of the times, you can make an appointment by emailing casdean@lclark.edu or by contacting drichman@lclark.edu and ask to make an appointment.