Complaints

If you feel comfortable doing so, we always encourage you in the first instance to get in touch informally to see whether simple steps can be taken to address your concerns. In a students' union environment, many issues are very complex, very sensitive, or both, and misunderstandings can easily arise. We encourage officers and potential complainants to act with good will and common sense, and we hope that most disputes can be settled amicably. Remember that you always retain the right to file a formal complaint at any time.

If you wish to register your grievance formally and seek redress, you can do so easily: online from this page, by post, or in person at the CUSU office.

The Complaint Form

CUSU Complaint Form

CUSU Complaint Form - continuation sheet

When not to use the Form

The above form and continuation sheet can be used for all complaints except in two special cases: complaints to the editors of The Cambridge Student newspaper and complaints about the conduct of CUSU Elections.

TCS: Complaints by business partners and advertisers regarding The Cambridge Student can be lodged using the standard form on this page. For all other TCS complaints (editorial content, journalists' behaviour, etc), please do not use this page. Instead, visit the complaints section of the TCS website.

Elections: Complaints regarding the conduct of CUSU Elections (rules, counts, etc.) are subject to special laws, bylaws, and procedures. Any elections complaints should not use the forms on this page. They should be raised with the CUSU Elections Committee (elections@cusu).

Complaints about the personal or professional behaviour of Elections Committee members, candidates, or voters (separate from the election process itself) can be filed using the forms on this page as complaints about elected officers or members. If you are not sure where your complaint fits, the CUSU Coordinator or the CUSU Elections Committee will direct it to the correct place.

Complaints about CUSU's policies are normally dealt with by officers other than the Coordinator. Depending on the type of challenge, the correct officer is listed in Standing Order H. If you send a challenge to the Coordinator, however, he or she will ensure that it reaches the correct officer.

Do I have to use the form?

No, but doing so helps with processing. Any written contact containing your desire to complain, the specifics of your issue and its harms, and a way to be in touch with you will be treated as a formal complaint.

Where to send the Form

The CUSU Coordinator is the primary complaints officer for the union, and he or she will handle the receipt of almost all incoming complaints. By default, the e-mail button on the form sends it to coordinator@cusu . It will also be accepted by post, fax, or in person at the CUSU office.

What if my complaint is about the Coordinator?

Complaints about the Coordinator should be sent to the CUSU President rather than to the Coordinator. The same forms and processes on this page still apply.

Full Procedures Texts

Complaints to the CUSU - complete text of Standing Order L - .pdf - html

Challenges to CUSU Policy (legal/constitutional) - text of Standing Order H - .pdf - html

À la Carte: Procedure for each Complaint Type

Complaints Principles (all complaints) - .pdf - html

Complaints by CUSU employees - .pdf - html

Complaints about the conduct of CUSU staff - .pdf - html

Complaints about the conduct of CUSU elected officers - .pdf - html

Complaints about CUSU services, facilities, or products - .pdf - html

Complaints about members' behaviour at CUSU functions - .pdf - html