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Questions, concerns, and issues should first be managed at the local, divisional, faculty, and college level as appropriate to the situation.
Deans of Students, Registrars, and Professors are the starting point for most general complaints. Below, you will find information pertaining to issues and complaints that involve the Office of the Vice-Provost, Students.
The University of Toronto’s Statement on Prohibited Discrimination and Discriminatory Harassment states “The University aspires to achieve an environment free of prohibited discrimination and harassment and to ensure respect for the core values of freedom of speech, academic freedom and freedom of research”. This Statement also outlines the responsibilities of the University community members and the process for complaints.
How to proceed with a concern or complaint as a student at the University of Toronto under the
Governing Council Statement on Prohibited Discrimination and Discriminatory Harassment
If you believe an act of discrimination has taken place, these steps will assist you in reporting your concerns and finding a resolution.
Equity offices on campus can assist you to prepare your concerns/complaints and support you through the process.
The step-by-step process is outlined below, and is also available to download in PDF format:
Prohibited Discrimination Flow Chart (PDF)
Raise your concern or complaint with the individual(s) who you believe engaged in discrimination/harassment (if possible).
An informal resolution may be achieved here.
If not, proceed to Step 2.
If a resolution is not achieved, discuss your concern with administrative officers responsible for the department or division. (e.g. Chair/Dean of Faculty/Department, Dean of Students)
An informal resolution may be achieved here.
If not, proceed to Step 3.
If the issue remains unresolved, you have the option to file a formal complaint. Set your complaint in writing and deliver it to an equity office.
An equity officer will speak with you about available options and resources that may best be suited to your concerns.
If an investigation is determined to be warranted, you will proceed to Step 4.
An equity officer, in consultation with senior administration, will decide whether to conduct an investigation, and in the case that an investigation proceeds, the scope of the investigation will be set out.
The decision will be advised by the
Governing Council Statement on Prohibited Discrimination and Discriminatory Harassment
The investigation will commence. The complainant will be advised if the concern/complaint is found to be substantiated. If it is found to be unsubstantiated, it will be dismissed. If a concern/complaint is found to be substantiated, steps will be taken to address the conduct that has occurred and to prevent reoccurrence.
Resolution: The complaint will be addressed or dismissed.
If you are not satisfied with the outcome of a complaint that has been investigated through the process in this flow-chart, you may request a review by writing to the Office of the Vice-Provost, Students within twenty (20) days of being notified of the result.
If you have a concern about a service or resource on campus, the first step is to raise it with the Director of the office.
If the matter is not resolved at this point, the second step is to contact the executive/senior director of this service (e.g. the Warden of Hart House; The Dean of Student Affairs and Services at UTM/USTC; the Senior Director of Student Experience/ the Senior Director of Student Success at St. George).
If the matter is still not resolved, the third step should be to contact the Office of the Vice-Provost, Students at vp.students@utoronto.ca.
Although the University does not monitor or review the activities of recognized student groups in the normal course of events, it will investigate complaints or charges that a group has acted in a manner that is inconsistent with its constitution or with the requirements of the Policy on the Recognition of Student Groups. For more information, please contact the appropriate campus administrator:
While student societies range in size, interest, and level of activity, all societies are characterized by three common elements:
If you have a complaint or concern pertaining to a society’s openness, accessibility, or democratic nature, you must first pursue the society’s own complaints mechanism.
If you have exhausted the society’s complaints mechanism, then the Policy on Open, Accessible and Democratic Autonomous Student Organizations provides for a dispute resolution process in the Complaint and Resolution Council for Student Societies (CRCSS).
For information about the CRCSS, please see the procedures below or visit the dedicated CRCSS page.
The University of Toronto Office of the Ombudsperson offers confidential advice and assistance to students, faculty, and staff on all three campuses of the University of Toronto.
You may reach out to the office to discuss your concerns/problems at any point to get information about relevant policies and procedures and to help identify options. However, please note that the Ombudsperson cannot start an investigation until all other University avenues have been exhausted.
For more information about their services and how to contact the office visit the U of T Ombudsperson webpage.