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Student Complaint Processes

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.

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General Complaints – Student Services

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 Executive Director, Student Experience/ the Executive Director, Student Life Programs & Services at St. George).

If the matter is still not resolved, the third step would be to contact the Office of the Vice-Provost, Students at vp.students@utoronto.ca.

Complaints about Prohibited Discrimination

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.

Complaints about Recognized Student Groups

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:

Complaints about Student Societies

While student societies range in size, interest, and level of activity, all societies are characterized by three common elements:

  • they both represent, and are accountable to, given constituencies within the University;
  • membership is automatic with registration in academic divisions (or, where applicable, University residence); and
  • all society members are charged a compulsory fee as part of their total payment to the University.

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).

Office of the Ombudsperson

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.