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COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AUTHORIZATION REGULATIONS UNDER TITLE IV OF THE
HIGHER EDUCATION ACT OF 1965, AS AMENDED
STUDENT COMPLAINT PROCESS
BACKGROUND: On July 1, 2011, new minimum requirements went into effect concerning State oversight
and approvals for postsecondary institutions in order to be eligible to participate in Title IV programs. (34
CFR 600.9) An institution in compliance with federal regulations must be legally authorized by a State to
provide a postsecondary education program, and the State must have a process to review and act upon
student complaints about the institution. Contact information for the resolution of student complaints for
Alabama’s public two-year and four-year institutions as well as Alabama’s private institutions follow.
ALABAMA’S PUBLIC SENIOR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION
Authority and oversight of Alabama’s public institutions of higher education is vested in Boards of Trustees as
referenced in the Alabama Constitution and legislative acts as cited in the Code of Alabama of 1975.
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The
following list provides links to information about student complaint policies for Alabama’s public four-year
institutions:
Alabama A&M University
Student Complaints - Alabama A&M University
Alabama State University
Student Handbook | Alabama State University
(alasu.edu)
Auburn University
Complaints & Appeals – Student Affairs
(auburn.edu)
Auburn University at Montgomery
Complaint Procedures at AUM – AUM
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The Alabama Commission on Higher Education is the coordinating board for higher education in this state. The
Commission exercises no governing and limited regulatory authority over Alabama’s public institutions. Ala. Code §16-5-
1 et seq. (1975)
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Jacksonville State University
JSU | Student Affairs | Student Complaints
Troy University
Student Complaints | Troy
University
The University of Alabama
Complaints and Appeals - Division of Student Life
(ua.edu)
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Complaint Policy - Students - One Stop
Student Services | UAB
University of Alabama in Huntsville
UAH - Charger 360
University of Montevallo
Student Complaints - The University of
Montevallo
University of North Alabama
Student Complaint Form | University of North
Alabama (una.edu)
University of South Alabama
Student Policies and Complaints
(southalabama.edu)
University of West Alabama
Grievances - University of West Alabama - Acalog
ACMS™ (uwa.edu)
Athens State University
Student-Grievance-Procedure.pdf
(athensstate.net)
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ALABAMA’S PUBLIC TWO-YEAR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION
In 2015, the Alabama Legislature vested oversight of the state’s public two-year institutions of higher education (known
as the Alabama Community College System (ACCS)) with the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees. The
Alabama Legislature further directed the Board of Trustees to delegate to the System’s Chancellor the authority to act
and make decisions concerning the management and operation of the community and technical colleges. The Chancellor
is assisted in these duties by the staff of the System Office, formerly known as the Alabama Department of Postsecondary
Education. Consumer and student complaints that are not resolved at the institutional level are thus arbitrated at the
state level by the ACCS System Office.
The ACCS is committed to respecting and supporting the work of its member institutions and to providing a quality
educational experience for all students. The objective of the student complaint process is to ensure that the concerns
and complaints of students are addressed fairly and are resolved promptly. The Alabama Community College System
requires each institution to establish its own procedures to address student grievances and complaints. A student must
exhaust his/her rights under the institution’s official complaint/grievance policy before advancing any complaint to the
System Office of Alabama Community College System. Students may file consumer/student complaints with the Alabama
Community College System by following these procedures:
a)
If, after exhausting all available institutional processes, a student’s complaint remains unresolved, the student
may appeal to the Alabama Community College System using the System’s official Student-Complaint-Form-
FINAL.pdf (accs.edu), which is contained in this document and also available online at the ACCS website
(ACCS | Real. Life. Education.). Students may submit completed complaint forms by printing the form, signing
it, and then either (1) scanning it and e- mailing it to [email protected] or (2) mailing it to:
Alabama Community College System
Attention: Office of the Vice Chancellor for Instructional and Student Services
P.O. Box 302130
Montgomery, AL 36130-2130
b)
The Vice Chancellor for Instructional and Student Services or an appropriate administrator designated by the
Vice Chancellor will investigate the complaint within 30 days of receipt.
c)
The institution which is the subject of complaint has 30 days to provide a written response to questions and/or
concerns raised during the investigation. Such response may or may not contain a resolution.
d)
The Vice Chancellor or designated administrator will adjudicate the matter and write a report or letter to the
institution and student detailing corrective action, if any is necessary, or stating that the school has no violation
of polices.
e)
If corrective action is needed the institution will have 30 days to comply or develop a plan to comply with the
corrective action.
f)
The System Office will monitor the institution’s compliance to ensure the completion of any required corrective
action.
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ALABAMA’S PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION
All private (non-public) institutions of higher education are subject to the Alabama Private School License
Law, enacted in 1971 and amended by the Alabama Legislature on several occasions. Alabama’s private
institutions of higher education may be nonprofit or for profit. This law is administered by the Division of
Licensure of the Alabama Community College System: Private School Licensure - Alabama Community
College System (accs.edu). Contact information for student complaints:
Private School Licensure Division
Alabama Community College system
P. O. Box 302130
Montgomery, Alabama 36104
334-293-4653
[email protected]
PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS CHARTERED BY THE LEGISLATURE
The following private, nonprofit institutions have been chartered by the Alabama Legislature and operate
under the governance of Boards of Trustees (Directors). A link for each of these institutions is listed below:
Faulkner University
www.faulkner.edu
Miles College
www.miles.edu
Selma University
HOME | Selma University
Stillman College
www.stillman.edu
Tuskegee University
www.tuskegee.edu