Complaint Process
Filing Complaints and Grievances
The complete process is in the COE Educator Preparation Undergraduate Handbook pages 89-92.
Filing a complaint is a two stage process:
Stage I: Register your complaint following the appeals process listed below.
- Students
- Faculty
- Cooperating Teachers, Principals, Partnering Districts and Students
Stage II: File complaint with the Texas Education Agency
Stage I: Register your complaint following the appeals process
Complaints or reports should be made as soon as possible after an incident. Students and employees should first follow the appropriate complaint procedures in the College of Education as noted in the TCU Official Student Handbook and the Faculty Staff Handbook.
Sexual Harassment and Discriminatory Harassment
Complaints or reports should be made as soon as possible after an incident. All individuals are encouraged to report discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct and retaliation so that prompt effective action can be taken.
All complaints and third-party reports of conduct in violation of this policy should be made to the Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Officer/Title IX Coordinator (“Title IX Coordinator”) or to a Deputy Title IX Officer identified below. All complaints against a student will be referred to the Associate Dean of Campus Life.
There are several ways to submit a complaint or report:
- Leave a private message for the Title IX Coordinator at (817) 257-8228.
- File a written complaint with the Title IX Coordinator.
- Make an appointment to see the Title IX Coordinator or one of the Deputy Title IX Officers.
Complaints against a student for conduct alleged to have been committed by a student in violation of this policy can also be made to Campus Life – Dean’s Office.
Title IX Coordinator
Ms. Andrea Vircks
a.vircks@tcu.edu
TCU Box 298980, The Harrison Suite 1800
Fort Worth, Texas 76129
The Title IX Coordinator coordinates and tracks all complaints and reports of conduct alleged to violate this policy. The Title IX Coordinator may handle a complaint alleging a violation of this policy, or it may be handled by one of the Deputy Title IX Officers, or another appropriate University official. The Title IX Coordinator and/or Deputy Title IX Officers may confer with one another or others when deemed appropriate. (see TCU Faculty/Staff Handbook or TCU Official Student Handbook).
If the complaint cannot be resolved after all College of Education and Texas Christian University processes have been exhausted, see Stage II.
Stage II: File Complaint with TEA
If the student, faculty member, or staff member is unable to resolve the complaint at the institutional level, and all TCU’s complaint and appeal processes have been exhausted, the individual may file a complaint with the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
The official TEA complaint process can be found at www.tea.texas.gov in the banner located at the bottom of the page and then select “Educator Preparation Programs” or click the following Complaints Against Educator Preparation Programs.
The complaint process allows for an applicant or a candidate in an educator preparation program to seek redress in areas where they feel that the program did not fulfill requirements for certification or for actions that the candidate feels are wrong. Educator preparation programs may also file a complaint about the actions of other programs when it involves a candidate transferring into a program.
Not all complaints fall under the authority of TEA. TEA has jurisdiction to investigate allegations of noncompliance regarding specific laws and rules, generally related to state and federal requirements. Complaints may address educator preparation program requirements listed in Texas Administrative Code (TAC) in Chapters 227, 228, 229, ethics (TAC 247), fingerprinting (TAC §§227, 232) and certification (TAC §§230, 231, 232, 239, 241, 242)
All complaints filed with the TEA must be in writing. We do not accept complaints by phone or complaints that are submitted anonymously. A person or entity may file a written complaint with TEA by filling out the complaint form online or by mailing or faxing a hard copy to the address on the form.
To adequately review and address a complaint, TEA needs specific details. We must be able to identify a clear violation of TAC and determine whether the agency has authority to act upon the allegation.
Complaints submissions should include the following:
The reasons you believe the issues raised in your complaint are valid. You should also indicate how you believe that TEA can assist you with this matter. Remember that TEA cannot assist you in understanding your contractual arrangement with the educator preparation program, arranging for a refund, obtaining a higher grade or credit for training, or seeking reinstatement to an educator preparation program.
Documentation to support your claim when possible. For example, if you refer in your complaint to an educator preparation program policy, include a copy of the policy with your complaint. Helpful documentation might include letters or e-mails exchanged between the parties.
Texas Education Agency staff will send confirmation of a complaint within 30 days of receiving the submission. Remember, information the public sends to TEA by email may not be secure. Do not email sensitive information to TEA. The agency will remove confidential or sensitive information when replying by email. TEA will maintain confidentiality of information to the extent the law allows.