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Procedures

Suspension or Separation

In the case of sexual misconduct, violence or threat of violence where there is a concern for the safety of the community, the Dean of the College may suspend a student immediately.  After such action, the Dean of the College, the Director of Campus Safety and an EEOC Officer will consult within 48 hours after the suspension to review the case and determine if further action through internal judicial processes is indicated. At that time, a determination will be made as to whether the suspension will continue indefinitely or until a pre-determined time, such as the conclusion of an investigation. In a case where the investigation produces a suspicion of violation that leads to a Deans Panel, the suspension is at the discretion of the Dean of the College, but will normally be maintained until at least the end of the Dean’s Panel process, to include any appeals made to the President.

If a student becomes a danger to themselves or the College community in circumstances other than the above, the Dean of the College may administratively separate that student from the College.  This decision can be appealed to the President of the College after the student has left the College and can demonstrate that whatever reasons causing the separation are no longer present.

The Dean of the College may also separate a student from the College for cause (behavior or conduct which is detrimental to or not in keeping with Haverford’s sense of community); an appeal may be made to the President of the College on procedural grounds only.

If an Honor Council jury recommends separation as a result of an academic trial, and the Dean accepts the recommendation, the decision may be appealed on either substantive or procedural grounds.

Student Complaint Resolution

Haverford College makes every effort to resolve student complaints internally, using informal processes as well as formal policies and procedures. Students should fully utilize the appropriate avenues, listed below, to address their complaints or concerns.

  • Academic Concerns Regarding Faculty Conduct or Grades: Complaints of this nature should be directed to the Office of the Provost.
  • Access and Disability Services: Complaints regarding accommodations can be made under the ADS Grievance Policy.
  • Affirmative Action: All Affirmative Action questions should be referred to the Director of Human Resources and Risk Management.
  • Criminal Activity: Complaints involving matters of a criminal nature, such as theft or assault, should be directed to Campus Safety at 610-896-1111.
  • Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA): All FERPA procedures, including perceived violations, are overseen by the Registrar’s Office. Complaint resolution procedure is detailed under “Students’ Rights under FERPA.”
  • Financial Aid: Information concerning appeals and adjustments can be found under the Financial Aid FAQs.
  • Harassment or Discrimination: Refer to the relevant Students’ Guide section, titled: Harassment and Discrimination.
  • Hazing: See the Anti-Hazing Policy, particularly the section on Reporting Violations of this Policy
  • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA): HIPAA privacy complaint procedure is articulated in the HIPAA Disclosure Letter.
  • Honor Code Violations: The procedures of the Honor Code govern the manner in which academic and social violations are addressed. Contact code [at] haverford.edu.
  • Title IX: Inquiries or complaints about the application of Title IX may be directed to the College’s Title IX coordinator, and/or to the OCR.Philadelphia [at] ed.gov (U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights).
Whistleblower Policy

If you do not feel comfortable with an internal reporting option, the College's Whistleblower/EthicsPoint process — (855) 811-6222 — is another avenue you may choose. This toll-free line is available 24/7, and is managed by an outside company that will listen to your concern and direct it to the appropriate college official for prompt and corrective action. You may remain anonymous or you may choose to identify yourself. Regardless of your decision, your information will be documented and addressed appropriately.

If a resolution cannot be reached following Haverford’s complaint resolution processes, students should contact the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Division of Higher & Career Education, the applicable agency for oversight in resolving complaints.

Student Complaints During Remote Instruction: Students residing in U.S. States other than Pennsylvania while participating virtually in their Haverford education may file complaints with that state’s authorizing agency responsible for higher education.

Students may also file complaints using the "Higher Education Complaint Form" at Pennsylvania’s State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement Portal (PDE-SARA). Any student unable to resolve a complaint via the PA SARA Portal may review further National Council - State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA) complaint information at: http://www.nc-sara.org/content/sara-and-students.

Once all other avenues provided by the College and the States have been exhausted, students may file unresolved complaints with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the College’s accreditor.

Middle States Commission on Higher Education
1007 North Orange Street
4th Floor, MB #166
Wilmington, DE 19801

General Link: https://www.msche.org/complaints/

Basic Rights & Processes

In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, as amended, Haverford College abides by a Student Records Policy with respect to education records. For more information about FERPA, and to learn about students’ options and rights, visit the Registrar’s FERPA page.

The majority of student disciplinary issues are adjudicated by the student-run Honor Council. However, in cases of violence or threat of violence, or other violations committed by Haverford College students that are deemed to potentially compromise the safety of the community or any individual, a Dean’s Disciplinary Panel may be convened after an investigation. Allegations of sexual misconduct, though, are referred through a separate process, called a Dean’s Panel. As a result of these or other adjudication processes, a student may be subject to Suspension or Separation from the College.

Haverford College does not discriminate in education or employment on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, color, age, religion, disability, genetic information, national or ethnic origin, citizenship, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. For the full non-discrimination policy, as well as other policies and resources, visit our Policies page.

Health and Safety Procedures

For information on what to do in health emergencies, including strange or upset behavior, eating disorders, severe injuries, or suicide threats, review the procedures from Health Services.