Complaints Procedures

FERPA/Family Eductional Rights and Privacy Act

In the case that a student believes Bexley Seabury is in violation of FERPA, a complaint may be lodged with the Family Policy Compliance Office, United States Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202.

Harassment

Bexley Seabury strictly enforces its policy against all forms of prohibited harassment involving members of the Bexley Seabury community. The rules and procedures set forth in our Student Handbook apply to the entire Seminary community. This policy prohibits harassment against members of the Seminary community, applicants for employment, and those applying for admission into the Seminary. The Seminary will not tolerate any form of prohibited harassment, nor will it tolerate retaliation against individuals who, in good faith, complain of or oppose prohibited harassment or participate in a harassment investigation.

Prohibited harassment is verbal or physical conduct that denigrates or shows hostility toward an individual because of his/her race, color, religion, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, sex, or that of his/her relatives, friends, or associates, and that has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working or learning environment, unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or academic performance or otherwise adversely affecting an individual’s employment or academic opportunities. Harassing conduct includes, but is not limited to, epithets, slurs, jokes, negative stereotyping, threatening, intimidating or hostile acts and written or graphic material placed on walls, bulletin boards or elsewhere on the Seminary’s premises or circulated within the Bexley Seabury community that denigrates or shows hostility toward an individual or group because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, or gender, with or without sexual conduct and including same sex harassment. Prohibited harassment can come from anyone who is classified as a member of the Bexley Seabury Seminary community.

Any member of the Seminary community who believes that he or she has been the subject of sexual or other harassment or retaliation should report the matter as soon as possible to the President. The report may be made orally or in writing. The complaint should be made as promptly as possible after the alleged harassment takes place. The Seminary is committed to maintaining confidentiality in any case that involves allegations of harassment and will protect the privacy of all parties involved to the extent that is possible.

After following the above procedure in the case of harassment, or after discussing any other institutional complaint with the Academic Dean, and not receiving satisfactory process, a student may take their complaint to the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) via the following contact information:

Illinois Board of Higher Education
1 N. Old State Capitol Plaza, Suite 333
Springfield, Illinois 62701-1377

Phone: (217) 782-2551
Fax: (217) 782-8548
TTY: (888) 261-2881

Institutional Complaint Hotline: (217) 557-7359
Online Complaint System: http://complaints.ibhe.org/