Consumer Complaints
Filing An Internal Grievance
Pursuant to the United States Department of Education’s Program Integrity Rule, each institution of higher education is required to provide all prospective and current students with the contact information of the state agency or agencies that handle complaints against postsecondary education institutions offering distance learning within that state.
Students wishing to file a complaint, whether academic or non-academic, are encouraged to utilize Georgia State University’s internal complaint or review policies and procedures prior to filing with a state agency. The University will take appropriate action to seek resolution when a student complaint is brought to our attention. Please see the Student Code of Conduct and Policies and Procedures for Filing a Student Complaint for further information on this process.
In the event a satisfactory resolution is not reached, students are invited to contact the state regulation agencies listed below.
External and Out-of-State Complaint Resolution
To file a complaint with Georgia State Univesity’s regional accreditor, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC): Complete the Commission’s Complaint Form and send two print copies to the President, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097. (To access the Commission’s complaint policy, procedures, and the Complaint Form, please see Complaint Procedures Against the Commission or Its Accredited Institutions.) Please read the document carefully before submitting a complaint.
Note that the complaint policy only addresses significant, documented, alleged non-compliance with the SACSCOC accreditation standards, policies or procedures. Complainants are expected to have attempted to resolve the issue through the institution’s complaint processes before filing a complaint with SACSCOC. The SACSCOC complaint process is not intended to be used to involve the Commission in disputes between individuals and member institutions or to cause the Commission to interpose itself as a reviewing authority in individual matters; nor does the policy allow the Commission to seek redress on an individual’s behalf. The primary purpose of the SACSCOC complaint procedure is to acquire valuable information regarding an accredited institution’s possible non-compliance with accreditation standards, policies and procedures rather than to resolve individual disputes. Complaints must be tied to specific standard numbers from The Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement
For Federal Financial Aid and other federal obligations:
Instructions for filing a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education in regard to Title IV (financial aid, civil rights violations or discrimination) can be found here.
Complaints for out‐of‐state institutions are referred to the Alabama Commission on Higher Education.
The Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE) processes complaints alleging violations of state institutional authorization law relative to postsecondary institutions or programs in Alaska. The complaint investigation process is described in AS 14.48.130 and 20 AAC 17.130-145. A student is encouraged to pursue the complaint/grievance process at their institution prior to contacting ACPE. This process is outlined in the institution’s catalog. To request a complaint form please send an email to: [email protected].
For questions or assistance relative to complaints and to request a complaint form please email:
Institutional Authorization Program Coordinator
907-465-6741
[email protected]
Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education
PO Box 110505
Juneau, AK 99811-0505
The Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education (ASBPPE) handles out of state student consumer complaints.
ASBPPE Complaint Procedure and Form
Contact
1740 W. Adams, Suite 3008
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: 602-542-5709
Fax: 602-542-1253
The Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board (ADHE) requires the certified institution to make a decision on the student grievance following the institution’s public policy. Inquiries into student grievances must be limited to AHECB certified (under Arkansas Code §6‐61‐301) courses/degree programs and institutions and to matters related to the criteria for certification. Within 20 days of completing the institution’s grievance procedures, the student may file the complaint in writing with the Institutional Certification Advisory Committee (ICAC) Coordinator:
Arkansas Department of Higher Education
114 East Capitol
Little Rock, AR 72201
The grievant must provide a statement from the institution verifying that the institution’s appeal process has been followed. ADHE will notify the institution of the grievance within 15 days of the filing. Within 10 days after ADHE notification, the institution must submit a written response to ADHE. Other action may be taken by ADHE as needed.
The California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) handles complaints for students who are California residents enrolled at out of state institutions and believe the institution’s administrative process or educational programs have been compromised.
A complaint may be filed by writing to DCA or calling DCA’s Consumer Information Center (CIC) at:
California Department of Consumer Affairs-Consumer Information Center
1625 North Market Blvd., Suite N-112
Sacramento, California 95834
Telephone: (833) 942-1120
Students may also:
Connecticut Office of Higher Education
For degree granting institutions, students should contact the Office of Financial and Academic Affairs for Higher Education at 860‐947‐1822 for specific instructions. For Post‐Secondary Occupational Schools, a complaint form is available at the web site.
Delaware Department of Education
The Delaware Department of Education will investigate complaints. Such complaints must be in writing and verified by the signature of the person making the complaint. Oral, anonymous or unsigned complaints will not be investigated. Until the web site is functional, please write or call for more information. The Delaware Department of Education; Teacher and Administrator Quality; John W. Collette Resource Center; 35 Commerce Way; Dover, DE 19904. The Delaware Department of Education phone number is 302‐857‐3388.
Illinois Board of Higher Education
Institutional Complaint Hotline: (217) 557‐7359. The Board receives general information email at [email protected]. Students seeking to register a complaint about an institution are required to submit the complaint in writing. Complaint processing as relates to maintenance of institutional approvals is described in the State of Illinois Administrative Codes (Sections 1030.70 and 1030.80).
For proprietary schools, please see the Louisiana Board of Regents website
For the academic degree-granting institutions, Louisiana relies on the Consumer Affairs Division of the Attorney General’s Office
Maine Department of Education
23 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0023
Maine Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
6 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
[email protected]
Maryland Higher Education Commission
6 North Liberty Street, 10th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21201
Massachusetts Board of Higher Education, Consumer Complaints
One Ashburton Place, Room 1401
Boston, MA 02108
Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure
Office of Private Occupational School Education
1000 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02118
*You can locate the complaint form here, but you are encouraged to contact the Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure before filing your application.
Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing Bureau
Administrative Services Section-Complaint Intake
PO Box 30018
Lansing, MI 48909
Minnesota Office of Higher Education
1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 350
St. Paul, MN 55108-5227
Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation
3825 Ridgewood Road
Jackson, MS 39211-6453
Missouri Department of Higher Education
205 Jefferson Street
PO Box 1469
Jefferson City, MO 65102-1469
See the CBHE Policy on Complaint Resolution for additional information on filing a complaint.
Montana University System, Office of Commissioner of Higher Education
2500 Broadway Street
PO Box 203201
Helena, MT 59620-3201
Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education
PO Box 95005
Lincoln, NE 68509-5005
Nevada Commission on Postsecondary Education
8778 S Maryland Parkway, Suite 115
Las Vegas, NV 89123
https://ndus.edu/state-authorization-sara/
https://estudiantes.uprrp.edu/student-complaint-information/
https://agencias.pr.gov/agencias/cepr/inicio/Pages/Servicios.aspx
https://riopc.edu/policies/student-complaint-procedures/
South Dakota Consumer Complaints
If a student is not able to contact the appropriate agency in his or her state of residence, please contact the Offices of the South Dakota Board of Regents and assistance will be provided. (306 East Capitol Ave, Suite 200, Pierre, SD 57501; phone: 605-773-3455; e-mail: [email protected]).
I am text block. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
https://www.highered.texas.gov/student-complaints/
https://ushe.edu/office-of-commissioner/state-authorization-ut-sara/