Student Information Release Form (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law designed to protect the privacy of a student's education records, including academic, financial and financial aid records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under a program of the U.S. Department of Education.
If you need someone to have access to your student information in order to assist with addressing your concern please complete the FERPA document.
Student Resolution Process and FAQs
If you have a concern related to university policy, a conflict with faculty or staff, or need assistance communicating with someone in the university system, The Office of Student Affairs can direct you to the right path for resolution and can review decisions and options once attempts at a resolution within the applicable department or university processes have not been successful. We support students, faculty, and staff in addressing concerns and providing guidance on reasonable and fair resolutions. The Office of Student Affairs also oversees the university’s Code of Conduct and Title IX policy and processes and can provide guidance on these concerns as well.
Petition for Policy Exception
Prior to contacting Student Affairs, please follow these steps:
- Review the Student Handbook or other documented communication to determine the language of the applicable policy.
- Discuss with Student Success Advising or the applicable department whether a policy can be petitioned.
- Refer to the Process for Petitions, Appeals, Grievances, and Complaints in the Student Handbook for the appropriate petition and appeal process.
- If unresolved or unsatisfied with steps #1-3, provide Student Affairs with the applicable policy, decision(s), and an explanation of why you believe the policy is not fair or the decision was improperly made.
Some, but not all policies and decisions may be petitioned or appealed if you have documentation to support your exception request or can describe why the policy or decision is unfair. General disappointment or dissatisfaction is not grounds for policy exceptions. Please contact your advisor or the applicable department to discuss petition and appeal options.
Faculty Conflicts
Sometimes students and faculty do not see eye to eye. If you are having a conflict with your instructor:
- Assume no-ill intent and attempt to gain clarity on your concerns.
- Speak with the person on the phone or schedule a meeting if email has not been productive.
- Request to speak with a supervisor/manager/program director or coordinator if concerns remain.
- Request to speak with a department director/academic Dean if concerns remain. If you are unsure how best to reach your Dean please contact Student Success Advising.
- If unresolved or unsatisfied with steps #1-4, Student Affairs can review decisions for fairness or recommend a mediation between the parties.
Assume no ill intent on the part of the faculty member. Schedule a meeting to discuss your concerns. If still unresolved, reach out to your program coordinator or director to discuss your concerns and the attempts you have made at a resolution.
Ensure you have read and understood the grading rubric, if applicable. Assume no ill intent on the part of the faculty member. Contact your instructor via email or phone to better understand why you received the grade. If still unresolved, reach out to your program coordinator or director to discuss your concerns.
Extensions are an exception to policy and are at the discretion of the instructor. While Walden strives to be flexible when serious personal circumstances can arise in a student’s life, there is no right to a policy exception. Notify your instructor as soon as possible if you need an extension to determine what support may be available to you. If you think you may need disability accommodations, please contact Student Wellness and Disability Services at disability@waldenu.edu or at 1-800-925-3368, ext. 312-1205 to discuss support services available.
Assume no ill intent on the part of the faculty member. Schedule a meeting to discuss your concerns and provide specific examples of grading or decisions you perceive as unfair to allow the instructor to explain the feedback and grading. If still unresolved, reach out to your program coordinator or director to discuss your concerns and provide specific examples for review.
Individual Department Responsiveness
If you are unable to reach a faculty or staff member take the following steps:
- Determine if there is an expected time for a response that has been exceeded (i.e., did a department say to allow for 5-10 business days, and it has been more than 10 days?).
- Determine if your expectation is reasonable (i.e., immediate responses may not be available).
- Follow up respectfully to get an update (i.e., sending multiple emails in a short time frame is not productive).
- Contact Student Affairs if a response time has been exceeded and follow-ups have not been successful or if the matter is urgent and a non-response may result in material harm to your progress or cause you to miss a deadline.
Request to speak with a manager or a director of the department where the error or unresponsiveness occurred. If you are unable to get a resolution, contact Student Affairs with a summary of the concern.
Request to speak with a manager, then a director of the department where the dissatisfaction occurred. If you are not satisfied with the response, contact Student Affairs with a summary of the concern.
Your instructor should post their expected response time/support schedule in the classroom. If they have not maintained that expectation, or the responses received have not answered your questions after you have clarified the concern, reach out to your program coordinator or director and provide a summary and timeline.
Doctoral Degree Progress and Program Concerns
Account Balances and Financial Aid
Code of Conduct
Title IX
Walden University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its education programs and activities. Title IX specifically prohibits discrimination based upon gender.
You can review the Title IX policy and file a Title IX Complaint by visiting and filling out the Title IX Complaint Form. Send the form via email attachment to titleix@mail.waldenu.edu