Student Complaint Resolution Process
Effective Date Jan 8, 2019
Purpose
- To promote prompt resolution of perceived wrongs and/or injustices which may arise between students and faculty/staff members.
- To promote prompt resolution of other grievances, whether academic or non-academic in nature.
- To assure the rights of privacy of all parties are maintained.
- To develop a higher sense of community among all persons at Florida Tech.
Informal Complaint Resolution Process
Occasions may arise in which a student feels that he or she has a legitimate basis for complaint. It is the policy of the university to promptly resolve these complaints. Those involved should initially attempt to resolve the matter informally and without the need to establish a record. The informal process for resolution of a complaint is as follows:
- When a student feels that he or she has a complaint, it should be taken by the student directly to the other party(s) involved.
- If the student and the other party are unable to resolve the matter or if for any reason the student does not feel at ease in going to the other party, he or she should contact the academic unit head or appropriate director for assistance. Unit heads and directors are able to achieve a fair and equitable solution to most problems. If the student would rather not discuss the matter with the unit head or director, he or she may choose to go to the college dean or dean of students. Students in Florida Tech Online, Education Center or ABA Online programs, or in courses offered through the Office of Continuing Education, may contact the vice president for online and off-campus education at the Melbourne campus in Melbourne, Florida.
- Complaints involving sex discrimination or equal opportunity can be resolved by using the procedures outlined above. However, if the student is not at ease with these procedures or feels they to be ineffective, he or she may seek the aid of the Title IX Coordinator at (321) 674-8885 or fbaarman@fit.edu. The Title IX coordinator is a person designated by the university to ensure it is in compliance with federal laws regarding the resolution of sex discrimination allegations. This individual has the added responsibility of ensuring compliance with all federal laws regarding equal opportunity.
Formal Complaint Resolution Process
Students have the right to submit a formal written complaint for any grievance. Melbourne campus students should submit the complaint to the dean of students by email to fithelp@fit.edu. Education Center students should submit the complaint to the dean of students, or to their site director if they prefer. Florida Tech Online students should contact the office of the vice president for online and off-campus education by email to ol-help@fit.edu. ABA Online students should submit the complaint via email to abareg@fit.edu.
The dean of students or vice president for online and off-campus education will determine the appropriate person in the university to handle the problem and forward the complaint to that person. All written student complaints, with their resolutions, will be documented and the records maintained by either the dean of students or the office of the vice president for online and off-campus education.
The Ombudsman
The ombudsman is a university employee appointed by the president to investigate reported complaints, to report findings and to help achieve equitable settlements. Students may seek the help of the ombudsman assigned to handle student-based complaints if the student feels that either the informal or formal complaint process has been ineffective. The ombudsman should only be contacted after the student has followed the established procedures described above. The ombudsman can be found in the president’s office or can be contacted by email to ombuds@fit.edu.
Additional information
- Students can choose to drop any complaint process at any time.
- To promote prompt and equitable resolutions of student complaints, complaints should be made as soon after the incident as possible. Complaints should be filed during the term of occurrence but no later than 30 days after the date of the incident.
- Every effort will be made by all parties concerned to resolve the grievance within 90 days.
- All complaints and written resolutions will be maintained for five years from date of resolution.
State Agency Contact Information for Student Complaints
Should a student wish to contact an outside agency away from Florida Institute of Technology the following list of state contacts may be used based on the geographic location of the student.
Florida Tech is a member of NC-SARA, the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements, through the Florida Postsecondary Reciprocal Distance Education Coordinating Council. Online and 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, visit FL-SARA Complaint Process.
Alabama
Alabama Commission on Higher EducationP. O. Box 302000Montgomery, AL 36130-2000https://ache.edu/ACHE_Reports/Forms/SARA/StudentComp.pdfAlaska
Alaska Commission on Postsecondary EducationP.O. Box 110505Juneau, AK 99811-0505customer.service@alaska.gov Alaska Office of Attorney GeneralConsumer Protection Unit1031 W. Fourth Avenue, Suite 200Anchorage, AK 99501attorney.general@alaska.govhttp://www.law.state.ak.us/pdf/consumer/FORM_complaint.pdf
Arizona
Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education1400 W. Washington StreetRoom 260Phoenix, AZ 85007https://ppse.az.gov/complaintArkansas
Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating BoardArkansas Department of Higher Education114 East Capitol Ave.Little Rock, AR 72201ADHE_Info@adhe.eduhttps://www.adhe.edu/institutions/academic-affairs/institutional-certification-advisory-committee/grievance-form Arkansas State Board of Private Career Education501 Woodlane, Suite 312SLittle Rock, AR 72201sbpce@arkansas.govhttp://www.sbpce.org/complaint_process.html
California
California Bureau of Private Postsecondary EducationP.O. Box 980818W. Sacramento, CA 95798-0818bppe@dca.ca.govhttp://www.bppe.ca.gov/forms_pubs/complaint.pdf
Colorado
Colorado Department of Higher Education1560 Broadway, Suite 1600Denver, CO 80202http://highered.colorado.gov/Academics/Complaints/default.html
Connecticut
Connecticut Department of Higher Education61 Woodland StreetHartford, CT 06105-2326https://portal.ct.gov/DCP/Complaint-Center/Complaint-Forms-and-Procedures Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection165 Capitol AvenueRoom 110Hartford CT 06106trade.practices@ct.govhttp://www.ct.gov/dcp/lib/dcp/pdf/forms/consumer_statementcpfr-2_rev_8-06_edited1106.pdf
Consumer Complaint Hotline: (800) 842-2649
Delaware
Delaware Higher Education OfficeCarvel State Office Building, 5th Floor820 N. French StreetWilmington, DE 19801-3509https://www.doe.k12.de.us/sara Delaware Attorney GeneralConsumer Protection Wilmington:820 N. French Street 5th floorWilmington, DE 19801consumer.protection@state.de.usDistrict of Columbia
District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of EducationEducation Licensure Commission810 First Street, NE9th FloorWashington, D.C. 20002https://osse.dc.gov/publication/specialized-education-state-complaints-form
Florida
Florida Commission on Independent Education325 W. Gaines StreetSuite 1414Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400Commissioner@fldoe.orghttp://www.fldoe.org/about-us/office-of-the-inspector-general/file-a-complaint.stml
Georgia
Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission2082 E. Exchange Pl. #220Tucker, GA 30084-5334https://gnpec.georgia.gov/student-resources/student-complaints
Hawaii
Hawaii State Board of EducationP.O. Box 2360Honolulu, HI 96804ocp@dcca.hawaii.govhttps://cca.hawaii.gov/ocp/files/2018/02/Complaint-Form-and-Instruction-2018-WEB.pdf
Idaho
Idaho State Board of EducationAttn: State Coordinator for Private Colleges and Proprietary Schools650 West State StreetP.O. Box 83720Boise, ID 83720-0037https://boardofed.idaho.gov/higher-education-private/private-colleges-degree-granting/student-complaint-procedures/Illinois
Illinois Board of Higher Education431 East Adams, 2nd FloorSpringfield, IL 62701-1404info@ibhe.orgInstitutional Complaint Hotline: (217) 557-7359
Illinois State Board of Education100 N. 1st StreetSpringfield, IL 62777http://webprod1.isbe.net/contactisbe/ (email)
Illinois Attorney GeneralConsumer Fraud Bureau500 South Second StreetSpringfield, IL 62706http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/about/email_ag.jsp
http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/consumers/conscomp.pdf
Consumer Fraud Hotline: (800) 243-0618
Indiana
Indiana Commission on Proprietary EducationAttn: Director of Regulatory Compliance302 W. Washington Street, Room E201Indianapolis IN 46204http://www.in.gov/cpe/files/sf39280-complaint.pdfIowa
Iowa Student Aid Commission603 E. 12th Street5th FloorDes Moines, IA 50319info@iowacollegeaid.govhttps://www.swcciowa.edu/academics/distance-education/complaint-grievance-process
Kansas
Kansas Board of Regents1000 SW Jackson StreetSuite 520Topeka, KS 66612-1368http://www.kansasregents.org/academic_affairs/private_out_of_state/complaint_process
Kentucky
Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education1024 Capital Center Dr. #320Frankfort, KY 40601-7512http://cpe.ky.gov/campuses/consumer_complaint.html Kentucky Board of Proprietary Education911 Leawood Dr.Frankfort, KY 40601-3319 Office of the Attorney GeneralCapitol Suite 118
700 Capitol Avenue
Frankfort, KY 40601-3449
https://secure.kentucky.gov/formservices/AttorneyGeneral/ConsumerComplaintForm
Louisiana
Louisiana Board of RegentsP.O. Box 3677Baton Rouge, LA 70821-3677https://regents.la.gov/students-parents/student-complaint-process/
Maine
Maine Department of EducationComplaint Investigator23 State House StationAugusta, ME 04333-0023jonathan.braff@maine.gov Maine Attorney GeneralConsumer Protection Division6 State House StationAugusta, ME 04333http://www.maine.gov/ag/consumer/complaints/complaint_form.shtml
Maryland
Maryland Higher Education Commission839 Bestgate Road, Suite 400Annapolis, MD 21401-3013https://mhec.maryland.gov/institutions_training/Pages/career/pcs/complaint.aspx Maryland Attorney GeneralConsumer Protection Division200 St. Paul PlaceBaltimore, MD 21202https://web.oag.state.md.us/editor/customer/onlineformhelpers/formviewer.aspx?filename=MUGeneral.htm
Consumer Protection Hotline: (410) 528-8662
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Board of Higher EducationOne Ashburton PlaceRoom 1401Boston, MA 02108https://www.mass.edu/forstufam/complaints/complaintform.aspMichigan
Michigan Department of Labor & Economic GrowthOffice of Postsecondary ServicesProprietary School Unit Staff201 N. Washington Sq.Lansing, MI 48913https://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-89334_61343_35395---,00.htmlMinnesota
Minnesota Office of Higher Education1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 350St. Paul, MN 55108-5227https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Complaint.asp
Minnesota Attorney General’s Office1400 Bremer Tower445 Minnesota StreetSt. Paul, MN 55101https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Complaint.aspMississippi
Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation3825 Ridgewood RoadJackson, MS 39211-6453 Mississippi Commission of Proprietary Schools and College Registration3825 Ridgewood RoadJackson, MS 39211-6453 Consumer Protection DivisionOffice of the Attorney GeneralState of MississippiP.O. Box 22947Jackson, MS 39225-2947http://www.ago.state.ms.us/index.php/contact (email)
http://www.mississippi.edu/mcca/downloads/mccastudentcomplaintform.pdf
Missouri
Missouri Department of Higher Education205 Jefferson StreetP.O. Box 1469Jefferson City, MO 65102-1469info@dhewd.mo.govMontana
Montana Board of RegentsOffice of Commissioner of Higher EducationMontana University System2500 Broadway StreetP.O. Box 203201Helena, MT 59620-3201 Montana Office of Consumer Protection2225 11th AvenueP.O. Box 200151Helena, MT 59620-0151contactocp@mt.govhttps://dojmt.gov/consumer/consumer-complaints/
Nebraska
Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary EducationP.O. Box 95005Lincoln, NE 68509-5005 Nebraska Department of EducationInvestigations Office301 Centennial Mall SouthP.O. Box 98987Lincoln, NE 68509-4987https://ccpe.nebraska.gov/student-complaint-form
Nebraska Attorney GeneralConsumer Protection Division2115 State CapitolLincoln, NE 68509https://protectthegoodlife.nebraska.gov/file-consumer-complaintConsumer Protection Hotline: (800) 727-6432
Nevada
Nevada Commission on Postsecondary Education3663 East Sunset RoadSuite 202Las Vegas, NV 89120http://ag.nv.gov/Complaints/File_Complaint/New Hampshire
New Hampshire Postsecondary Education Commission3 Barrell Court #300Concord, NH 03301-8531https://my.doe.nh.gov/ESSWEB/HigherEducation/Complaint.aspxNew Jersey
New Jersey Commission on Higher EducationPO Box 542Trenton, NJ 08625nj_che@che.state.nj.us New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development1 John Fitch PlazaP.O. Box 110Trenton, NJ 08625-0110schoolapprovalunit@dol.state.nj.ushttp://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/forms_pdfs/edtrain/Conflict%20Resolution%20Questionnaire.pdf
New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs124 Halsey StreetNewark, NJ 07102http://www.nj.gov/oag/ca/complaint/ocp.pdf
New Mexico
New Mexico Higher Education Department2048 GalisteoSanta Fe, NM 87505
https://hed.state.nm.us/uploads/documents/Complaint_Form_2019.pdf
New York
New York Office of College and University EvaluationNew York State Education Department
5 North Mezzanine
Albany, NY 12234ocueinfo@mail.nysed.gov
http://www.highered.nysed.gov/ocue/spr/COMPLAINTFORMINFO.html
New York Bureau of Proprietary School SupervisionNew York State Education Department99 Washington Avenue, Room 1613 OCPAlbany, NY 12234 New York State Department of StateDivision of Consumer ProtectionConsumer Assistance Unit5 Empire State Plaza – Suite 2101Albany, NY 12223-1556 https://www.dos.ny.gov/consumerprotection/form/ComplaintForm1.aspNorth Carolina
North Carolina Community College System Office of Proprietary Schools200 West Jones St.Raleigh, NC 27603https://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/complaint-procedures-and-forms North Carolina Consumer ProtectionAttorney General's Office
Mail Service Center 9001
Raleigh, NC 27699-9001https://ncdoj.gov/file-a-complaint/
North Dakota
North Dakota Department of Career and Technical EducationState Capitol – 15th Floor
600 E. Boulevard Ave. Dept. 270
Bismarck, ND 58505-0610cte@nd.gov North Dakota Consumer Protection DivisionOffice of Attorney GeneralGateway Professional Center1050 E Interstate Ave. Suite 200Bismarck, ND 58503-5574
https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/consumer-resources/consumer-complaints
Ohio
Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools35 East Gay Street, Suite 403Columbus, OH 43215-3138http://scr.ohio.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=%2bwaKHWPRAH8%3d&tabid=68 Ohio Board of Regents30 East Broad Street, 36th floorColumbus, OH 43215-3414 Ohio Attorney GeneralConsumer Protection Section30 E. Broad St., 14th floorColumbus, OH 43215-3400
https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Individuals-and-Families/Consumers/File-a-Complaint
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education655 Research ParkwaySuite 200Oklahoma City, OK 73104 Oklahoma State Board of Private Vocational Schools3700 Classen BoulevardSuite 250
Oklahoma City, OK 73118-2864 Oklahoma Office of the Attorney GeneralConsumer Protection UnitAttn: Investigative Analyst313 NE 21st StreetOklahoma City, OK 73105
http://www.oag.ok.gov/Websites/oag/images/2019%20Consumer%20Complaint%20Form%201.pdf
Oregon
Oregon Office of Degree Authorization1500 Valley River DriveSuite 100
Eugene, OR 97401 Oregon Department of EducationPrivate Career Schools Office255 Capitol Street NESalem, OR 97310-0203https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/d8444c7999b04759860b398f4750ca0d Oregon AttorneyGeneralFinancial Fraud/Consumer Protection Section
1162 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301-4096
https://justice.oregon.gov/forms/consumer_complaint.asp
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Department of Education333 Market StreetHarrisburg, PA 17126-0333 Office of Attorney General
Bureau of Consumer Protection
14th Floor, Strawberry Square
Harrisburg, PA 17120
https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/BCP_Complaint_Form.pdf
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Council on Higher EducationP.O. Box 1900San Juan, PR 00910-1900http://www.agencias.pr.gov/agencias/cepr/inicio/DocumentosCEPR/Documents/SARA/SARA_Complaint_Process.pdf Puerto Rico Department of JusticeP.O. 9020192
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00902-0192
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher EducationShepard Building80 Washington StreetProvidence, RI 02903 Rhode Island Department of Attorney GeneralConsumer Protection Unit150 South Main StreetProvidence, RI 02903http://www.riag.ri.gov/ConsumerProtection/About.php
South Carolina
South Carolina Commission on Higher Education1333 Main Street, Suite 200
Columbia, SC 29201
https://www.che.sc.gov/CHE_Docs/AcademicAffairs/License/Complaint_procedures_and_form.pdf
South Dakota
South Dakota Board of Regents306 E. Capitol Ave, Suite 200Pierre, SD 57501-2545 South Dakota Office of Attorney GeneralDivision of Consumer Protection1302 E. Hwy. 14 – Suite 3Pierre, SD 57501-8053https://consumer.sd.gov/complaintform.aspx
Tennessee
Tennessee Higher Education Commission404 James Robertson ParkwaySuite 1900Nashville, TN 37243Texas
Texas Workforce CommissionCareer Schools and Colleges – Room 226-T101 East 15th StreetAustin, TX 78778-0001http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/links/student-complaints/ Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board1200 E. Anderson LaneAustin, TX 78752 Office of the Attorney GeneralConsumer Protection Division
P.O. Box 12548
Austin, TX 78711-2548
http://txoag.force.com/CPDOnlineForm
Utah
Utah Division of Consumer Protection160 East 300 SouthSalt Lake City, UT 84111https://dcp.utah.gov/complaints.html
Vermont
Vermont Department of EducationState Board of EducationVermont Department of Education120 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05620-2501https://education.vermont.gov/sites/aoe/files/documents/edu-postsecondary-program-complaint-resolution.pdf Vermont Attorney General’s Office
109 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05609-1001
Virginia
State Council of Higher Education for Virginia101 N. 14th St.James Monroe Building
Richmond, VA 23219communications@schev.edu
https://www.schev.edu/index/students-and-parents/resources/student-complaints
Washington
Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board917 Lakeridge WayP.O. Box 43430Olympia, WA 98504-3430dainfo@hecb.wa.govhttps://wsac.wa.gov/student-complaints
Washington Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board128 10th Avenue SWP.O. Box 43105Olympia, WA 98504-3105workforce@wtb.wa.govhttps://www.wvhepc.org/resources/Complaint_Process.pdf (instructions)
Washington State Office of the Attorney General1125 Washington Street SEP.O. Box 40100Olympia, WA 98504-0100https://fortress.wa.gov/atg/formhandler/ago/ContactForm.aspx?subject=Consumer%20Protection (email)
https://fortress.wa.gov/atg/formhandler/ago/ComplaintForm.aspx (complaint form)
West Virginia
West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission1018 Kanawha Blvd. E., Ste. 700Charleston WV 25301-2800https://ago.wv.gov/Pages/consumercomplaint.aspx Community and Technical College System of West Virginia1018 Kanawha Blvd. E., Ste. 700Charleston WV 25301 West Virginia Office of the Attorney GeneralConsumer Protection DivisionP.O. Box 1789Charleston, WV 25326-1789https://www.wvhepc.org/resources/Complaint_Process.pdf
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Educational Approval Board30 W. Mifflin St., 9th FloorP.O. Box 8696Madison, WI 53708eabmail@eab.state.wi.ushttp://www.heab.state.wi.us/dlab/docs/SARAComplaintForm2018.pdf
Wyoming
Wyoming Department of Education2300 Capitol AvenueHathaway Building, 2nd FloorCheyenne, WY 82002-0050https://edu.wyoming.gov/blog/2018/12/06/student-complaint-form/ Attorney General's Office123 Capitol Building
200 W. 24th Street
Cheyenne, WY 82002