Before submitting a complaint regarding a EUFAC accredited AEMUS fellowship program to the EUFAC, the parties should attempt to resolve issues utilizing any resources available within the program unless there is a reason for not doing so.
While the EUFAC encourages programs to solve any arising conflicts internally through their institution’s complaints and grievance procedures, it is understood that there may be instances when a person associated with a EUFAC accredited fellowship program wants to submit a complaint directly to the EUFAC.
How to contact the EUFAC about a complaint?
Before submitting an official complaint, we encourage you to reach out to the EUFAC Executive Director via the dedicated complaints@eufacouncil.org email or call the EUFAC Administrative Office and ask to speak with EUFAC’s Executive Director.
After connecting with the Executive Director, the next steps for a complaint can be determined.
What information should a formal complaint contain?
- A brief summary of the issue(s), including steps taken to attempt a resolution – if applicable.
- The name, city, and state of the program
- Contact information for the reporting party
- This information will be used by the EUFAC Executive Director to communicate with the complainant.
Reports of alleged issues that occurred only prior to the current and preceding academic year may not be able to be considered.
Will my complaint be kept confidential?
The EUFAC will take steps to keep the identity of any reporting party confidential to the extent possible in light of the need to take appropriate action or when a party specifically waives the right to confidentiality. There may be times the EUFAC may request permission to identify the individual(s) to the program in order to advocate for a fair process and to identify options and strategies for resolution about the actions taken in response to a complaint.
What happens after I submit a formal complaint?
The submitted information will undergo an initial review to clearly identify all issues raised by the complainant. Additional data may be gathered from both the complainant and the institution the complaint is filed against. Once all data has been gathered, the EUFAC will determine what –if any action – should be taken. Actions can range from a determination that EUFAC has no jurisdiction over the type of complaint filed all the way to a determination by the EUFAC to change the accreditation status for the institution the complaint is filed against.
Will I be notified of the outcome of the complaint?
No. All communications between the EUFAC and the Sponsoring Institutions and programs are confidential. The EUFAC can inform the complainant whether a submitted complaint has been reviewed, but cannot provide more detailed information with regards to what was submitted in response to a concern or complaint received. Anyone may monitor the accreditation status of EUFAC accredited programs on the EUFAC website.
