Lakewood University is dedicated to ensuring students are properly served. To this effect, the university encourages students to proactively reach out to the appropriate member of the administration when they encounter an issue or wish to file a complaint.
Generally, under Lakewood University policy, there are three categories of student concerns that are considered:
Informal Student Issues
Informal student issues arise when a student encounters an easy-to-fix problem whose solution can typically be found within several days. Therefore, there is no need for escalation to a formal complaint. It is understandable that a student may run into issues during the course of their studies and the university is equipped to assist with resolving them. Below are common issues that Lakewood considers informal:
Issue accessing online textbook
Assistance with logging in to the student portal
Student portal technical problems
Other issues that can be resolved within a 24-48 hour period
Student issues can be shared with a number of Lakewood team members, including the Director of Student Success or any relevant member of the faculty.
Formal Student Complaints
A formal student complaint arises when a student encounters a serious administrative issue that cannot be resolved within several days. A formal complaint may be submitted if the student feels that the issue has not been satisfactorily addressed. a student becomes aware of the issue, they are required to submit a formal complaint via this online form. Below are some examples of formal student complaints:
A financial aid concern
Admissions or enrollment issues
Enrollment certification problems (specific to VA-funded students)
Concern about the behavior of a Lakewood University employee
University not adhering to published policies and procedures
Formal complaints submitted via the online complaint form will be reviewed and responded to within seven business days by an appropriate member of the university administration.
Formal Academic Complaints
A formal academic complaint can be made by a student when they encounter a significant issue that pertains directly to their academic experience. Some examples of formal academic complaints are:
Dispute over a student’s academic status
Dismissal dispute
Dispute of any findings related to noncompliance with the university’s academic integrity policies (plagiarism, improper use of AI tools, etc.)
Lack of feedback and/or interaction from an instructor
Grade dispute*
*Grade disputes will only be considered after the Academics Department establishes any of the following circumstances:
– Grade book calculation is incorrect
– Student’s instructor did not adhere to the university’s grading policy
– Capricious or unfair grading behavior on the part of the instructor
A formal academic complaint must be made within the student’s enrollment term OR up to 7 business days after a grade is received. Typically, Lakewood will not consider complaints related to grades received in a prior semester.
Students can submit their formal academic complaints via this online form. Formal academic complaints will be reviewed and decided on by the Senior VP of Academic Affairs, Academic Dean, and the VP of Instruction and Compliance. Decisions will be made within 7 business days of receipt.
Appeal to University President
In certain extraordinary circumstances, formal student complaints can be appealed to the university President for a final decision.
Afterwards, if the student believes that their complaint remains unresolved, the student may refer the complaint to the appropriate regulatory agency below:
**The Ohio Department of Education serves as Ohio’s SARA portal entity can receive complaints from students that are not initially solved internally. The direct contact information for the SARA Portal Entity can be found below:
Students residing outside of the state of Ohio who wish to file a complaint may contact their state’s authorizing agency. Website links to all agencies int he United States can be found below:
Lakewood University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. This policy applies to, but is not limited to, educational policies, admission, financial aid, hiring and employment practices, use of school facilities, athletics, and other school-administered programs.
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