CELCIS

Center for English Language and Culture for International Students
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5223 USA
(269) 387-4800

Solving Problems

If you have a problem or are unhappy with any aspect of CELCIS, please follow the appropriate procedures below:

Class concerns (teacher, grade, level, etc.)

  1. First, discuss concerns with an instructor during regular office hours.
  2. If the student is not satisfied with the action taken as a result of the discussion, the student should complete a CELCIS Advising Request form and make an appointment with the CELCIS assistant director. The form is available upon request at the CELCIS front desk. 
  3. If the student is not satisfied with the action taken as a result of the discussion with the assistant director, you may make an appointment to meet with the CELCIS chair.*
  4. If the problem is still not resolved to the student's satisfaction, they may discuss the problem with the University ombudsman, who is responsible for helping students resolve academic and non-academic concerns. Call the ombudsman's office at (269) 387-0718 or stop into the ombudsman's office in Room 2420 of the Faunce Student Services Building.

*Once the CELCIS chair and assistant director make a decision about your concern, you do not need to visit them again, as the decisions will not change. All CELCIS chair/assistant director decisions are final decisions. 

Grade appeal

Acceptable reasons for a student to appeal his/her grade are:

  • Grade was not calculated according to the syllabus or change to the syllabus.
  • Grade was calculated incorrectly.
  • Grading/performance standards were unequally applied.
  • Instructor failed to initiate a grade change as agreed with the student.

Other concerns (program, staff, personal, etc.)

For general concerns or suggestions, a student may ask a class representative to take the concern to one of the regularly scheduled CELCIS Student Advisory Board meetings, or:

  1. Complete a CELCIS Advising Request form and make an appointment with the CELCIS assistant director. The form is available upon request at the CELCIS front desk.
  2. If the student is not satisfied with the action taken as a result of the discussion with the assistant director, you may make an appointment to meet with the CELCIS chair.
  3. If the problem is still not resolved to the student's satisfaction, they may discuss the problem with the University ombudsman, who is responsible for helping students resolve academic and non-academic concerns. Call the ombudsman's office at (269) 387-0718 or stop into the ombudsman's office in Room 2420 of the Faunce Student Services Building.