University of South Florida
School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences
Procedures for Complaints Falling Outside of the Realm of Due Process

Complaints Falling Outside of the Realm of Due Process

The following information outlines the process for an individual or entity who is not a USF student, faculty member, or staff member to lodge a complaint about the program. This process is to be used by those who are not enrolled or employed by the University and therefore not addressed by institutional guidelines promoting due process. For example, clinical education instructors, parents, health or professional facilities, alumni, volunteers, employers, or any other member of the public would use this process to file a complaint about the USF School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences (SPTRS).

In order to file a complaint outside the realm of due process, the complaint should be submitted in writing to the Program Director of the SPTRS (the “Program Director”) or to the Morsani College of Medicine Vice Dean for Educational Affairs (the Vice Dean) if the complaint involves the Program Director. The complaint should include the following information: 

• Name and contact information of the person filing the complaint (complainant)
• Name of the person(s) about whom the complaint is filed (as applicable)
• Date and location of the incident
• Description of the incident

The Program Director (or his/her designee) will respond to the complainant within 14 working days of receiving the complaint in order to reach a decision regarding the matter. The Program Director (or his/her designee) will send a letter summarizing the decision about the complaint to the complainant and the persons directly involved in the complaint when deemed appropriate.

If the complainant is not satisfied with the decision reached by the Program Director, the complainant may submit a subsequent written complaint to the Vice Dean within 10 working days of the date the decision letter was issued. Once the review is complete, the Vice Dean (or his/her designee) will send a letter summarizing the decision about the complaint to the complainant and the persons directly involved in the complaint when deemed appropriate. The decision reached by the Vice Dean is the final stage of this process.

The Program Director will maintain records of complaints in compliance with USF policies and procedures and applicable law. Information reported in this complaint process will be treated as confidential to the extent allowed by law; however, mandatory reporting may be legally required for certain types of complaints.

The aim of this process is to resolve all matters as quickly as possible. However, inevitably some issues will be more complex and therefore may require longer to be fully investigated. Consequently, timescales given for handling and responding to complaints are indicative. If a matter requires more detailed investigation, the complainant will receive an interim response describing what is being done to deal with the matter, and when a full reply can be expected and from whom.