Student Complaint Procedure Notice

The United States Department of Education requires institutions of higher education to publish and comply with policies regarding student complaints that address the school's program of education.

Any student at Pacific who wishes to bring a formal complaint to the administration regarding a significant problem that directly implicates a) University of the Pacific's  program of education and its compliance with the WASC Standards; b) University of the Pacific's policies or protocols; or c) California state laws, should do the following:

1. Submit the complaint in writing to the Vice President for Student Life. The complaint may be sent via email, U.S. Mail, facsimile, or in-person to the Office of the Vice President for Student Life (Hand Hall).
2. The complaint should describe in detail the behavior, program, process, or other matter that is at issue, and should explain how the matter directly implicates the student's program of education and the University's compliance with a specific, identified WASC Standards*, University policy/procedure, or state law.
3. The complaint must contain the complaining student's name, student ID#, official Pacific email address, and current mailing address. This information will be kept confidential, but there must be an identifying name for a response to take place.

*WSCUC Standards of Accreditation are located on the WASC website: WSCUC Standards of Accreditation

When an administrator receives a student complaint that complies with the foregoing requirements, the following procedures shall be followed:

1. The Vice President for Student Life will acknowledge the complaint within 3 business days of receipt. Acknowledgment may be made by email, U.S. Mail, or by personal delivery, at the option of the Vice President.
2. Within 10 business days of acknowledgment of the complaint, the Vice President for Student Life, or the Vice President's designee, shall respond to the substance of the complaint, either in writing or in person, and shall indicate what steps are being taken by the University to address the complaint. If further investigation is needed, the complaining student shall, upon conclusion of the investigation, be provided with a substantive response to the complaint within 10 business days after completion of the investigation.
3. Any appeal regarding a decision on a complaint shall be brought before the President of the University. The decision of the President will be final. Any appeal must be brought within 10 business days from the date of the response by the Vice President for Student Life.
4. A copy of the complaint and a summary of the process and resolution of the complaint shall be kept in the Office of the Vice President for Student Life for a period of 8 years from the date of final resolution of the complaint.

A complaint may also be pursued in the following manner(s):

1. If your complaint concerns the institution's compliance with academic programs, academic quality and/or accrediting standards, you may submit your complaint to the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), University of the Pacific's accrediting agency, at www.wascsenior.org/comments.   

2.  If you believe that your complaint warrants further attention or is related to an alleged violation of state law, you may contact the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education for review of a complaint. The bureau may be contacted at: 

Most complaints made to media outlets or public figures, including members of the California legislature, Congress, the Governor, or individual Regents of University of the Pacific are referred to the Office of the President.

Nothing in this disclosure limits any right that the student may have to seek civil or criminal action to resolve the complaint.

University of the Pacific has provided this disclosure to you in compliance with the requirements of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, as regulated in CFR 34, Sections 600.9 (b) (3) and 668.43(b). If anything in this disclosure is out of date, please notify the Vice President for Student Life, 3601 Pacific Avenue, Stockton, CA 95211, 209.946.2365.

Click here to file a complaint.