Complaint & Appeal Policies

Contents

Southeastern University has instituted the following procedures for student complaints and adheres to these procedures. All unrestricted education students (regional/extension, evening, online, and graduate) are free to submit written complaints and appeals. Appeals and complaints are dealt with fairly and judiciously on a case-by-case basis. Students have the right of complaint and appeal in the following instances:

General Complaint Policy for Unrestricted Education Students

Any general complaints and appeals, not outlined explicitly in the following sections, should be directed to the College of Unrestricted Education, including concerns related to academic coursework and faculty, technology, and other aspects of the student experience. Please direct all such concerns to Associate Provost for the College of Unrestricted Education, at UnrestrictedEd@seu.edu.

Out-of-state (i.e., non-Florida) distance education students, who have completed the internal institutional grievance process and the applicable state grievance process, may appeal non-instructional complaints to the FL-SARA PRDEC Council. For additional information on the complaint process, please visit the FL-SARA Complaint Process page.

Transfer Credit Appeals

Transfer students have the right to appeal transfer credit decisions made by the Office of the Registrar. The student must write a letter of appeal accompanied by any additional documentation requested by the Office of the Registrar. The appeal will be reviewed by the appropriate department chair and Academic Dean for the College of Unrestricted Education with additional documentation and the student will be notified of the decision rendered.

Course Appeals

A student who has an unresolved issue in a course is encouraged to appeal to the department chair of the discipline of the course or Academic Dean for the College of Unrestricted Education. If the student is unable to meet with the department chair or Academic Dean for the College of Unrestricted Education, he/she may meet with the Associate Provost for the College of Unrestricted Education to receive assistance in bringing a resolution.

Advising/Registration/Degree Completion Appeals

A student who has an unresolved issue and has not received satisfactory answers from his/her assigned Academic Advisor related to degree completion, transfer of credit, advising questions or non-response, may appeal to the Director of Academic Advising or to the Registrar. An appointment will be set up promptly to consider the student’s unresolved issues, with the goal of successful degree completion. If the issue is still unresolved following the meeting with the Director of Academic Advising or the Registrar, the student may appeal to the Associate Provost for the College of Unrestricted Education at UnrestrictedEd@seu.edu, for a resolution.

Academic Suspension Appeals

A student may appeal an academic suspension to the Academic Progress Committee if there are valid extenuating circumstances that contributed to the poor academic performance. The student must submit a written appeal with supporting documentation addressed to the Academic Progress Committee Chairperson in care of the Office of the Registrar within one week of notice of pending suspension. If the appeal is granted, the student will be allowed to continue enrollment without a period of suspension or will be readmitted after the student has completed a period of suspension. The student must agree to a set of conditions that must be met until the student has successfully raised the G.P.A. to the minimum of 2.0. If the student fails to meet one or more of the conditions, a dismissal notice will be issued.

Course Registration Appeals

Course drops after a semester drop/add deadline are not allowed without a written appeal from the student to the Office of the Registrar. The appeal must contain reasons that justify such an exception to the deadline. The outcome of a student appeal request will be based on the student’s financial aid awarded, the point in time during the semester, and other contributing factors. A class that has been attempted cannot be dropped without an approved written appeal after the add/drop deadline.

Late Registration Appeals

Late registration after the deadline is permitted only by permission and requires a written appeal to the Office of the Registrar.

Grades and Quality Point Appeals

Students who wish to appeal a grade must do so within the immediate succeeding semester. Otherwise, the recorded grade is permanent and can be changed only by repeating the course. Grade appeals must be submitted in writing to the department chair or Academic Dean for the College of Unrestricted Education.

Financial Complaints & Appeals

Financial problems, questions and issues regarding student accounts should be addressed to the Student Financial Services. Student complaints and appeals will be addressed promptly. Requests for problem resolution must  be submitted in writing.

Student Disciplinary Appeals

The student must make all appeals in writing to the Student Development Office  within 24 hours of receiving disciplinary notification. All decisions of the Student Development Office are final and there shall be no subsequent appeals.

State-Specific Complaint Policies

Listed below are additional complaint policies for the unrestricted education programs categorized by states.

Alabama

In Alabama, the Private School Licensure Division has the authority to investigate student complaints against licensed private postsecondary institutions.  Students are required to complete their institution’s grievance/complaint procedure prior to submitting a complaint to the Division.  If the institution’s resolution is not satisfactory, a student may then submit a complaint to the Division.

Complaints regarding Federal Student Aid should be addressed to the U.S. Department of Education.

The Private School Licensure complaint procedures are designed to address issues of non-compliance with Alabama Private School License rules and regulations. The procedures are not intended to be used in disputes or matters pertaining to a student’s admission to or graduation from an institution or academic issues including grades, academic sanctions, transferability of credits, and/or disciplinary/conduct matters unless the student can provide documentation that the institution did not follow its published policies and procedures.

The Private School Licensure Division will not accept a complaint which is anonymous or in which the student has retained legal counsel or began legal action.

Students must submit a complaint to the Private School Licensure Division within one year of exhausting the grievance policy with the institution unless there are mitigating circumstances, which prevent the student from doing so.

PROCEDURES:

• The student must submit the complaint in writing using the following link: https://psl.asc.edu/External/Complaints.aspx or by using the complaint form in the quick link’s section.  The student complaint must contain a detailed description of the claim, including dates, times, and full names of all involved, as well as a timeline of action taken by both the student and the school to resolved the matter.
• The Division will contact the institution regarding the complaint within30 days of receipt.
• The institution will have 30 days to provide a written response that may or may not contain a resolution.
• A report or letter will be provided to the institution and student detailing corrective action, if any is necessary, or stating that the school has no violation of private school licensure policies or procedures if no violations are determined.
• If corrective action is needed the institution will have 30 days to comply or develop a plan to comply with the corrective action.
• If the institution does not comply with the corrective action the institution’s Private School License may be suspended or revoked.

Arizona

In accordance with state law, the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education is responsible for investigating student complaints against Educational institutions licensed by this Board. Pursuant to Arizona Administrative Code Rule R4-39-403, the complaint procedure is stated as follows: If the student complaint cannot be resolved after exhausting the Institution’s grievance procedure, the student may file a complaint with the Arizona State Board for Private Post-Secondary Education. The student must contact the State Board for further details.  The State Board address is: 1740 West Adams, Suite 3008, Phoenix, AZ 85007. Phone: 602/542-5709. Website: www.azppse.gov

California

A student or any member of the public may file a complaint about this institution at any time with the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education by calling 1 (888) 370-7589 or by completing a complaint form, which can be obtained on the bureau’s internet Web site, www.bppe.ca.gov. For more information go to the Bureau website.

Delaware

Students should first file their complaints at the institution where they are enrolled. If after following proper policy and procedures for appeals, the complaint has not been resolved, then contact the Delaware Department of Education, Higher Education Office, the Townsend Building, 401 Federal Street, Suite 2, Dover, DE 19901-3639, telephone 302-735-4000.

Florida

To file a complaint against a nonpublic postsecondary institution in Florida, please write a letter or send an e-mail containing the following information:

1. Name of Student (or Complainant)
2. Complainant Address
3. Phone Number
4. Name of Institution
5. Location of the Institution (City)
6. Dates of Attendance
7. A full description of the problem and any other documentation that will support your claim such as enrollment agreements, correspondence, etc.
8. The complaint process of the Commission involves contacting the institution to obtain their response to your complaint.  If you do not want the Commission to contact the institution you are attending, you must state so in your complaint; however, doing so will greatly hinder the Commission’s ability to assist you with your complaint.

Send Letter To:

Hawaii

Students can file complaints with the Hawaii Post-secondary Education Authorization Program, after all other resources have been exhausted. For more information on how to file a complaint go to the state website.

Illinois

Students who wish to file a complaint with the Illinois Board of Higher Education may go to the state website or Institutional Complaint Hotline: (217) 557-7359

Illinois Board of Higher Education
1 N. Old State Capitol Plaza, Suite 333
Springfield, Illinois 62701-1377
Phone: (217) 782-2551
Fax: (217) 782-8548
TTY:  (888) 261-2881

Kentucky

To file a complaint against a Kentucky postsecondary institution, please write a letter to the address below or submit your complaint via cpeconsumercomplaint@ky.gov and include the following information:

• Name of student (or complainant)

• Complainant address

• Email address

• Phone number

• Name of institution

• Location of institution (city)

• Dates of attendance

• A full description of the problem, any relevant documentation that will support the complaint such as correspondence, and the desired outcome.

Mailing Address: Institutional Complaints Council on Postsecondary Education, 1024 Capital Center Drive, Suite 320, Frankfort, KY 40601.

Louisiana

The Louisiana Board of Regents will refer student complaints to the appropriate entity. Louisiana Board of Regents telephone (225) 342-4253. If the complaint pertains to potential violations of consumer protection, Board of Regents staff will direct the complainant to: Consumer Protection Division, (800) 351-4889. If the complaint discerns discrimination, the Board of Regents will refer the complainant to: Office for Civil Rights, Dallas office, U.S. DOE, (214) 661-9600 or OCR.Dallas@ed.gov.

Maryland

Students who wish to file a complaint with the Maryland Higher Education Commission may go to the state website.

Minnesota

Students should first file their complaints at the institution where they are enrolled. If after following proper policy and procedures for appeals, the complaint has not been resolved, then contact the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, 1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 350, St. Paul, MN 55108, telephone: 651-259-3975 or 1-800-657-3866 or secure fax 651-797-1664, email: betsy.talbot@state.mn.us.  Website: https://www.ohe.state.mn.us

Mississippi

For more information on how to file complaints with the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning go to the state website.

Nevada

More information, including complaint forms, is available at state website. Or contact: Commission on Postsecondary Education, 8778 S. Maryland Parkway, Suite 115, Las Vegas, NV 89123, (PH) 702-486-7330.

Oklahoma

For information on how to file a complaint with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, go to the state website.

Pennsylvania

To file a complaint with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, go to the state website.

New Mexico

If a student is currently living in New Mexico and is enrolled in the extension site program, please be informed of the following complaint policies in addition to the Extension Site Complaint Policy:

State rule provides a requirement that students or other parties with complaints or grievances against an institution first seek to resolve their complaint or grievance directly with the institution in accordance with the institution’s complaint or grievance policy. A student or other party not satisfied with an institution’s resolution of a complaint may submit a complaint to the Department in writing on the link provided below.  A student must file a complaint with the department within three (3) years of his/her last date of enrollment.

Complaints to New Mexico Higher Education Department/PPSD: 2044 Galisteo St, Suite 4, Santa Fe, NM 87505-2100, 505-476-8442 or 505-476-8416, and the following link for forms: Complaints Form.

North Carolina

If you were unable to resolve a complaint through the institution’s grievance procedures, please review the Student Complaint Policy (PDF) located on the State Authorization webpage , print out and complete the Student Complaint Form and submit the complaint to:

North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaints
c/o Student Complaints
University of North Carolina General Administration
910 Raleigh Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27515-2688

For more information, you may call (919) 962-4550 or send an email.

To file a complaint with the Consumer Protection Division of the North Carolina Department of Justice, please visit the State Attorney General’s web page. North Carolina residents may call (877) 566-7226. If you live outside of North Carolina, please call (919) 716-6000.

If you choose to mail a complaint, please use the following address:

Consumer Protection
Attorney General’s Office
Mail Service Center 9001
Raleigh, NC 27699-9001

South Carolina

If a student is currently living in South Carolina and is enrolled in the online learning program, please be informed of the following complaint policies in addition to the Extension Site Complaint Policy: The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education responds to formal complaints against public, independent non-profit and proprietary institutions of higher education in South Carolina. The Commission cannot review complaints related to course grades, academic sanctions, or discipline/conduct mats unless the student can prove that the institution did not comply with its policies and procedures for appeal. For further information on how to submit a complaint to the Commission go to the state website.

Mail form to:

Student Complaint, Academic Affairs
SC Commission on Higher Education
1122 Lady Street, Suite 300
Columbia, SC 29201

or email to: submitcomplaint@che.sc.gov.

Texas

To file a complaint, follow the complaint procedures in the school’s catalog. If the issue is not resolved, contact either the Texas Workforce Commission’s Career School or the school’s accrediting agency. Unresolved grievances can be directed to Texas Workforce Commission Career Schools and Colleges, Room 226T, 101 East 15th Street, Austin, TX 78778, (512) 936-3100, http://www.twc.state.tx.us/partners/career-schools-colleges-resources.  If the school is not accredited by a recognized accreditor but has degree-granting authority, send a written complaint to the Coordinating Board at Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Academic Affairs and Research, P.O. Box 12788, Austin, TX 78711. For more information go to the state website.

Virginia

If a student is currently living in Virginia and is enrolled in the extension site program, please be informed of the following complaint policies in addition to the Extension Site Complaint Policy: As a last resort, students may submit their complaint to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. Students will not be subject to unfair action or treatment by any school official as a result of filing a complaint. Please contact SCHEV at (804) 371-2285 if you have any questions about the student complaint procedure.

West Virginia

The West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education (Council) and West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (Commission) are responsible for monitoring all written and signed student complaints against degree granting institutions authorized to operate in West Virginia. Students must fill out, sign, and send a complaint form to: Executive Vice Chancellor for Administration, West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education, West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, 1018 Kanawha Blvd. East, Suite 700, Charleston, WV 25301. For more information, download the PDF file found on the state webpage.