General Student Complaints and Concerns
The Assistant Dean for Law Student Affairs serves as the primary point of contact for students who have complaints or concerns regarding their experience at the law school. Some examples of issues include a potential breach of the Academic Rules, concerns about policy, procedure or practice, or unfair treatment. Depending on the nature of the concern, the Assistant Dean may assist students by directing them to other relevant administrators within and beyond the law school, such as the Office of the Dean, the Office of Ethical Conduct and Restorative Practices, and the Title IX coordinator.
Contact Assistant Dean Emily Nagisa Keehn to request a meeting or communicate your concerns over email.
Formal Complaints Regarding Compliance with ABA Standards
Any USD law student who believes there is a significant problem that directly implicates the school’s compliance with the ABA Standards for Approval of Law Schools should file a complaint with the Assistant Dean for Law Student Affairs.
Students who wish to communicate their concern should do so in writing to the Assistant Dean for Law Student Affairs. If the complaint concerns the Assistant Dean for Law Student Affairs, you may contact the Dean’s Office.
The complaint should include sufficient detail on the issue for the administration to investigate the matter. The written complaint must describe in detail the behavior, program, process, or other matter complained of, and explain how it implicates the law school's program of legal education and its compliance with a particular ABA Standard. The complaint must identify the ABA Standard(s) at issue. The complaint should state the student’s name and contact information to facilitate investigation and follow up.
Timelines
The administration will provide a written acknowledgment of the complaint within five (5) working days. The student will receive a written update on the investigation within fifteen 15 working days of receipt of the complaint, and periodic updates thereafter if the matter is not yet resolved in full.
Appeals
The student may submit an appeal to the Dean of the Law School within ten (10) working days of the date of the administration’s final written response to the complaint. Any decision made on appeal by the Dean shall be final.
Maintaining a Written Record of the Complaint
A record of student complaints submitted during the most recent accreditation period is maintained by the Office of the Dean. These records include the resolution of the complaints.
Unlawful Discrimination and Harassment
The University of San Diego is committed to upholding standards that promote respect and human dignity in an environment that fosters academic excellence and professionalism. It is the policy of the university to maintain an educational and work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment. To that end, the university prohibits and does not tolerate unlawful discrimination against or harassment of its employees, students or applicants for employment or admission on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, age, physical disability, mental disability, or other characteristic protected by federal or state law, unless a particular characteristic is a bona fide requirement of the position. All members of the university community are expected to uphold this policy.
The full policy and procedure regarding Unlawful Discrimination and Harassment is available here.
Sexual Misconduct and Relationship Violence
Complaints regarding sexual misconduct and relationship violence are handled by the Title IX Office. View your reporting and supportive resource options here.
The reporting and response standards and protocols can be found here.
Public Safety
The Department of Public Safety has many avenues for reporting code violations and crime on campus. View your options, including an anonymous and confidential reporting form.
For non-emergencies contact (619) 260-7777. For emergencies contact (619) 260-2222 on campus or 911 if you are off campus.