File a Complaint

Policy and Procedure for Filing a Complaint

Complaints That Fall Outside of Due Process

Any individual or organization that is dissatisfied with his/her experience or encounter with any student, faculty, or staff member associated with the Department of Physical Therapy may file a complaint against the offending party with the Department of Physical Therapy Program Director. The complaint must be made in writing and contact information supplied to be considered bona fide. Complaints should be addressed as follows:     

Janet B. Tankersley, PT, DPT, PhD
Chair and Program Director, Physical Therapy Program
Charleston Southern University
Health Science Building
9200 University Blvd
Charleston, SC 29406
Phone: 843-863-7186
Email: jtankersley@csuniv.edu

Complaints Involving the Department or Program Director

Complaints about the Department of Physical Therapy or the Program Director may be submitted directly to the Dean of the College of Health Science at the following address:

Gabrielle Poole, DMSc, MSPAS, PA-C
Interim Dean, College of Health Sciences
Charleston Southern University
9200 University Blvd.
Charleston, SC 29406
Phone: 843-863-7452
Email: gpoole@csuniv.edu

Complaints Involving Physical Therapy Accreditation

Complaints about the Department or University related to compliance with accreditation standards must be submitted in writing to the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). These complaints should be addressed as follows:

Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
Department of Accreditation
3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100
Alexandria, VA 22305-3085
Phone: 800-999-2782 or 703-706-3245
Email: accreditation@apta.org

The following actions will be taken on any written complaint filed with the University:

The Department of Physical Therapy Program Director or Dean of the College of Health Science (Dean) will provide the complainant (person or organization submitting complaint) with an acknowledgment of receipt of the complaint within 15 business days of the receipt of the complaint. This acknowledgment may take written or verbal form based on the nature of the situation. Within 30 business days after receipt of the complaint, the appropriate administrator of the University will provide the complainant and the Dean with the institutional response to the complaint if response is determined to be necessary by CSU.

The Dean will maintain a record regarding the names of complainants, date of complaints, the nature of complaints, the disposition of the complaint, and a supporting file reflecting actions taken in response to complaints for a timeline as prescribed by CSU policies. Formal complaints (written statement filed with the Program Director or Dean) and those responses and supporting files will be forwarded to the President’s office.

Complaints regarding the institution that cannot be resolved at the institutional level, particularly state related policies and procedures or accrediting concerns, should be filed by the complainants to the S.C. Commission on Higher Education or the appropriate agency.

The university recognizes the sensitive and confidential nature of many complaints and as a result documentation and correspondence about written complaints are kept confidential. This information is shared with other departments only on a need-to-know basis. In addition, retaliation is strictly prohibited by the university as it is unlawful and undermines the character and purpose of Charleston Southern University. The university will take prompt action in response to any act of retaliation.