Complaints

In compliance with federal regulations as interpreted by the Higher Learning Commission, the University maintains a record of complaints sent by enrolled students to the president, vice presidents and campus executive officers of academic programs. The complaints recorded include academic grievances sent to any person designated by a vice president, provost or director to receive and act on grievances. The complaints recorded include only complaints submitted in writing and signed by a student. Enrolled students include students who registered for courses within the last two years from the date of receipt of the complaint unless the student has been dismissed from the University. If a student has been dismissed but an academic grievance is filed within two years, the complaint/grievance will be tracked. No information identifying the individual(s) making the complaint is made available to the accrediting association. Students may review a record of anonymously tracked complaints that includes academic grievances. The University registrar maintains the database of formal complaints and at least once a year issues a report summarizing the complaints and their status. The following information is recorded in the complaint database:

• The date the complaint was formally submitted.
• The nature of the complaint.
• The steps taken to resolve the complaint.
• The University’s final decision regarding the complaint.
• External actions, if known, initiated by the student to resolve the complaint and outcome of such actions

Military students have an additional option, as follows:

The Department of Defense provides the Postsecondary Education Complaint System which provides a centralized online reporting system for service members and their families to use in reporting problems with education institutions. Agency partners including the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Education are also launching online feedback tools providing a centralized system for veterans, service members and eligible family members to file student complaints. 

Students can submit a complaint if they believe their school is failing to follow the Principles of Excellence through the centralized online reporting system accessed via the Department of Defense website. Examples of education-related issues may include, but are not limited to, misrepresentation or deceptive actions with regards to private or institutional loans, high-pressure recruitment tactics, false representations about degree programs, and misleading statements regarding accreditation.   

The complaint system is part of the President’s Executive Order establishing Principles of Excellence for educational institutions serving Service Members, Veterans, Spouses, and other Family Members; designed to empower beneficiaries to report experiences related to misleading or unfair acts or practices by educational institutions serving veterans, service members and their families.   

Military-connected students using Tuition Assistance (TA) or Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) Scholarships can submit feedback at: www.militaryonesource.mil/voluntary-education/complaint.  Once a complaint is received, agency staff will contact both the student submitting the complaint as well as the referenced school, working with both parties to fully understand the issue raised and seek resolution. 

All verified cases will be submitted to the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Sentinel Network accessible by over 650 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies for use in enhancing and coordinating law enforcement investigations. Appropriate cases will be referred to the Department of Justice and/or Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.