Notification of Complaint Process for Program Integrity

Grievance Procedures

NOTE: This procedure is different from the university's Appealing Academic and Administrative Decisions Policy, (03-30-00).

If you are taking any DSU courses, and you have a complaint about your experience with DSU, you can follow DSU's process for student grievance. You may also contact the Higher Learning Commission, which is DSU's regional accrediting agency.

Any person may file a complaint with the Executive Director of the South Dakota Board of Regents to obtain a review and appropriate action on allegations that an institution governed by the Board:

• Violated South Dakota consumer protection laws
• Engaged in fraud or false advertising
• Violated South Dakota laws relating to the licensure of postsecondary institutions or programs
• Failed to provide an educational program meeting contemporary standards for content and rigor
• Failed to assign qualified instructors; or
• Violated one or more accreditation requirements.

Additionally, students majoring in Teacher Education, Business Administration, Respiratory Care, and Health Information Management as well as Veterans may also contact their respective accrediting agencies.

Where the institution has not already considered and acted upon the complaint, the Executive Director will refer the matter to the institutional president for review and action. If the complainant challenges an institutional disposition of the complaint, the Executive Director will provide for an independent review and disposition of the allegations. The Executive Director may be contacted at:
South Dakota Board of Regents
Office of the Executive Director
306 East Capitol Avenue, Suite 200
Pierre, South Dakota 57501-2545
Phone (605) 773-345
info@sdbor.edu

Allegations involving violation of consumer protection laws may also be filed with:
Office of Attorney General
Division of Consumer Protection
1302 E Hwy 14 Ste 3
Pierre, SD 57501
Phone (605) 773-4400
1-800-300-1986 (in-state only)
Fax (605) 773-7163
consumerhelp@state.sd.us
online complaint form

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS RESIDING IN STATES OTHER THAN SOUTH DAKOTA WHO HAVE COMPLAINTS RELATING SPECIFICALLY TO DISTANCE LEARNING OR CORRESPONDENCE EDUCATION

Pursuant to the United States Department of Education's Program Integrity Rule, Dakota State University 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 or correspondence education within that state. Students residing in other states while enrolled in a course offered by Dakota State University are encouraged to utilize the institution's internal complaint or review policies and procedures prior to filing a complaint with the state agency or agencies. However, if the complaint is not resolved through these processes, a student may use the following list to identify the office(s) in the state in which the student resides to which the complaint against any public institution in South Dakota may be filed.

Agencies by State where These Complaints may be Filed:
(NOTE: This list is subject to change. If a student is not able to contact the appropriate agency in a given state, 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: info@sdbor.edu) 

ALABAMA

• There is no complaint procedure specific to students enrolled in postsecondary institutions. Consumers can file consumer complaints with the Consumers Affairs Section of the Alabama Office of Attorney General. The consumer hotline number is 1-800-392-5658 and the link to the complaint form is http://www.ago.state.al.us/Page-Consumer-Protection-File-a-Complaint

ALASKA

• Complaints against postsecondary institutions may be filed with the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, http://www.akadvantage.alaska.gov. Contact person is Coordinator, Institutional Authorization, 907-465-6741. In addition, consumers can file consumer complaints with the Consumer Protection Unit of the Alaska Office of Attorney General. The link to the complaint form is http://www.law.state.ak.us/pdf/consumer/FORM_complaint.pdf.

ARIZONA

• There is no complaint procedure specific to students enrolled in postsecondary institutions. Consumers can file complaints with the Arizona Consumer Information and Complaints Division of the Arizona Attorney General's Office. The telephone number is 1-800-352-8431 and the link to the complaint form is http://www.azag.gov/consumer/complaintformintro.html

ARKANSAS

• Complaints involving out-of-state institutions may be filed with the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, http://www.adhe.edu. Contact person is Coordinator of Institutional Certification, 501-371-2012. In addition, consumers can file complaints with the Arkansas Attorney General Consumer Protection Division. The phone number is 1-800-482-8982. The link to the complaint form is at http://www.ag.arkansas.gov/consumers_consumer_complaints.html

CALIFORNIA

• Complaints involving out-of-state institutions may be filed with the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education which is part of the Department of Consumer Affairs, http://www.bppe.ca.gov  Contact person is Deputy Bureau Chief, 916-431-6905. The BPPE has a complaint form for students to complete which is available at http://www.bppe.ca.gov/forms_pubs/complaint.pdf There is no separate consumer complaint process.

COLORADO

• Complaints involving out-of-state institutions may be filed with the Colorado Department of Higher Education which is authorized to investigate student complaints involving deceptive trade practices. Contact information is Degree Authorization Act Officer, 303-866-2723, Colorado Department of Higher Education/Colorado Commission of Higher Education, http://highered.colorado.gov/CCHE.html In addition, students can file consumer complaints with the Colorado Attorney General's Office. The link to the complaint process is https://www.coloradoattorneygeneral.gov/departments/consumer_protection/file_consumer_complaint The phone number for the Attorney General's office is 303-866-4500.

DELAWARE

• There is no complaint procedure specific to students enrolled in postsecondary institutions. The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection handles general consumer complaints. The complaint process is available at http://www.ct.gov/dcp/cwp/view.asp?a=1629&Q=274424 and complaints can be faxed to 860-713-7239.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

• Complaints involving out-of-state institutions may be filed with the Education Licensure Commission. The contact is Education Compliance Specialist, Education Licensure Commission, 810 First Street, NE, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20002. The complaint form is available at http://osse.dc.gov/seo/frames.asp?doc=/seo/lib/seo/elementary_and_secondary_education/may_2011/complaint_form_4_11.pdf There is no separate consumer complaint process.

GEORGIA

• Complaints involving out-of-state institutions may be filed with the Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission.  Complaints can be filed with the NPEC at 2082 East Exchange Place, Suite 220, Tucker, Georgia 30084, 770-414-3300. The complaint process is available at http://www.gnpec.org/forms/pdf%20files/ComplaintProcess.pdf There is no separate consumer complaint process.

HAWAII

• No established consumer complaint process for students enrolled in public postsecondary institutions could be found.

IDAHO

• There is no complaint procedure specific to students enrolled in postsecondary institutions. The Idaho Office of Attorney General Consumer Protection Division handles consumer complaints. The description of their complaint process and form is available at There is no complaint procedure specific to students enrolled in postsecondary institutions. The Idaho Office of Attorney General Consumer Protection Division handles consumer complaints. The description of their complaint process and form is available at http://www.ag.idaho.gov/consumerProtection/forms/ComplaintFormInformation.html Their phone number is 800-432-3545.

ILLINOIS

• There is no complaint procedure specific to students enrolled in postsecondary institutions. The Consumer Protection Bureau of the Illinois Attorney General's office handles consumer complaints. The description of their complaint process and complaint form is available at http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/consumers/filecomplaint.html The address for submitting complaints is Office of Illinois Attorney General, Consumer Protection Bureau, 500 South Second Street, Springfield, Illinois 62706.

INDIANA

• There is no complaint procedure specific to students enrolled in public postsecondary institutions which are publicly funded. Consumers can file complaints with the Consumer Protection Division of the Indiana Office of the Attorney General. The link to the Consumer Protection Division of the Indiana Office of the Attorney General is http://www.in.gov/attorneygeneral/2434.htm The link to the online complaint form is http://12.186.81.50/ConsumerComplaintForm/ConsumerComplaintForm.htm. The link to the printable complaint form is http://www.in.gov/attorneygeneral/files/complaint.pdf Consumers can also request a complaint form by calling 1-800-382-5516 or (317) 232-6330.

IOWA

• Complaints involving out-of-state institutions may be filed with the Iowa College Student Aid Commission which takes complaints from Iowa residents attending school anywhere. The contact phone is: 877-272-4456. The process for filing a complaint with the ICSAC (called Constituent Request for Review) is discussed at: http://www.iowacollegeaid.gov/forms.html The link to the complaint form is: http://www.iowacollegeaid.gov/forms.html. In addition, students can file complaints with the Consumer Protection Division of the Iowa Office of the Attorney General. The link to the Consumer Protection Division of the Iowa Office of the Attorney General is: http://www.state.ia.us/government/ag/file_complaint/index.html The link to the online complaint form is:http://www.state.ia.us/government/ag/file_complaint/online_complaint_form.html The link to the printable complaint form is:http://www.state.ia.us/government/ag/images/pdfs/ConsumerProtectionComplaintForm.pdf.

KANSAS

• Complaints involving out-of-state institutions may be filed with the Kansas Board of Regents, Private/Out-of-State Postsecondary Division. The contact person is Director of Private and Out-of-State Education, (785) 296-4917. The process for filing a complaint with the KBOR is discussed at http://www.kansasregents.org/private_postsecondary_complaint_process The link to the complaint form is http://www.kansasregents.org/resources/PDF/524-ComplaintProcedureandForm.pdf In addition, consumers can file complaints with the Kansas Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division. The link to the Kansas Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division is http://www.ksag.org/page/filing-a-complaint  The link to the online complaint form is http://ag.ks.gov/contact-us/file-a-complaint.

KENTUCKY

• Complaints involving out-of-state institutions may be filed with the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education. The contact person is the Director of Postsecondary Licensing, (502) 573-1555, ext. 350. In addition, consumers can file complaints with the Consumer Protection Division of the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General. The link to the Consumer Protection Division of the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General is http://ag.ky.gov/civil/consumerprotection/complaints/ The link to the complaint form is http://ag.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/19D2FEF3-0666-49B5-A184-38006DA45B2C/0/complaint_gen.pdf

LOUISIANA

• Complaints involving out-of-state institutions may be filed with the Louisiana Board of Regents PO Box 3677, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-3677. The contact point is the Associate Commissioner for Planning, Research and Performance, Louisiana Board of Regents.  An individual may file a written complaint with the Board of Regents. Board of Regents' staff.

MAINE

• There is no complaint procedure specific to students enrolled in postsecondary institutions. Consumers can file consumer complaints with the Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Maine Attorney General. The link to the complaint form is: http://www.maine.gov/ag/consumer/complaints/complaint_form.shtml

MARYLAND

• There is no complaint procedure specific to students enrolled in postsecondary institutions. Consumers can file consumer complaints with the Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Maryland Attorney General. The link to the complaint form is: http://www.oag.state.md.us/Consumer/complaint.htm

MASSACHUSETTS

• Complaints involving out-of-state institutions may be filed with the Department of Higher Education, One Ashburton Place, Room 1401, Boston MA 02180; 617.994.6950 http://www.mass.edu/forstudents/complaints/complaintform.asp http://www.mass.edu/forstudents/complaints/complaintprocess.asp In addition, consumers can file consumer complaints with the Public Inquiry & Assistance Center of the Office of the Attorney General of Massachusetts. The link to the complaint form is: https://www.eform.ago.state.ma.us/ago_eforms/forms/piac_ecomplaint.action

MICHIGAN

• No established consumer complaint process for students enrolled in public postsecondary institutions could be found.

MINNESOTA

• Complaints involving out-of-state institutions may be filed with the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. http://www.ohe.state.mn.us/mPg.cfm?pageID=205 phone 651-259-3975 or 651-259-3976. In addition, The Minnesota attorney general has a consumer fraud complaint process that includes complaints relating to scholarship and financial aid scams. A Consumer Report Form can be downloaded from the AG's website. The link is: http://www.ag.state.mn.us/Consumer/Complaint.asp

MISSISSIPPI

• There is no complaint procedure specific to students enrolled in postsecondary institutions. A general consumer complaint process is provided by the attorney general's office. Complaints should be addressed to: Consumer Protection Division, Office of the Attorney General, P.O. Box 22947, Jackson, Mississippi 39225-2947

MISSOURI

• There is no complaint procedure specific to students enrolled in postsecondary institutions. The attorney general has provisions for filing general consumer complaints, which can be found at: http://ago.mo.gov/consumercomplaint.htm

MONTANA

• Complaints involving out-of-state institutions may be filed with the Attorney General, Department of Justice, P.O. Box 201401, Helena, MT 59620; Phone: (406) 444-2026; Fax: (406) 444-3549; E-mail: contactdoj@mt.gov Montana State Board of Regents, http://mus.edu

NEBRASKA

• There is no complaint procedure specific to students enrolled in postsecondary institutions. The Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division may assist with certain complaints http://www.ago.ne.gov/consumer/whatisthecp.htm

NEVADA

• Complaints involving out-of-state institutions may be filed with the Nevada Commission on Postsecondary Education, Attn: Student Complaints, 3663 East Sunset Road, Suite 202, Las Vegas, NV 89120, http://www.cpe.state.nv.us/CPE%20Complaint%20Info.htm  There is no separate consumer complaint process.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

• Complaints involving out-of-state institutions may be filed with the Executive Director, N.H. Postsecondary Education Commission, 3 Barrell Court, Suite 300, Concord, NH 03301. There is no separate consumer complaint process.

NEW JERSEY

• No established consumer complaint process for students enrolled in public postsecondary institutions could be found.

NEW MEXICO

• Complaints involving out-of-state institutions may be filed with the New Mexico Higher Education Department, 2048 Galisteo Street, Santa Fe, NM 87505; phone 505-476-8442. The complaint form is available at http://www.hed.state.nm.us/uploads/FileLinks/b23fc959f37c44bb8e3caae612e0dba7/PPS%20Complaint%20Form.pdf There is no separate consumer complaint process.

NEW YORK

• There is no complaint procedure specific to students enrolled in postsecondary institutions. A complaint of consumer fraud on the part of the institution should be directed to the Office of the New York State Attorney General, Justice Building, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223.

NORTH CAROLINA

• Complaints involving out-of-state institutions may be filed with the Post-Secondary Education Complaints, c/o Assistant Director of Licensure and Workforce Studies, University of North Carolina General Administration. 910 Raleigh Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27515-2688, telephone (919) 962-4558. There is no separate consumer complaint process.

NORTH DAKOTA

• Complaints involving out-of-state institutions may be filed with the Office of Attorney General,Consumer Protection & Antitrust Division, Gateway Professional Center, 1050 East Interstate Ave. Ste. 200, Bismarck, ND 58503-5574, phone (701)328-5570, fax (701)328-5568.

OHIO

• No established consumer complaint process for students enrolled in public postsecondary institutions could be found.

OKLAHOMA

• No established consumer complaint process for students enrolled in public postsecondary institutions could be found.

PENNSYLVANIA

• There does not appear to be any complaint procedure specific to students enrolled in postsecondary institutions. The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office handles consumer related complaints. http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/Complaints.aspx

RHODE ISLAND

• There is no complaint procedure specific to students enrolled in postsecondary institutions. Students with complaints involving possible illegal or criminal activity are referred to the local or the Rhode Island State Police, and complaints of discriminatory practices are referred to the Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights.

SOUTH CAROLINA

• Complaints involving out-of-state institutions may be filed with the Nonpublic Institution Licensing, South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, 1333 Main Street, Suite 200, Columbia, SC 29201. The complaint process is available at http://www.che.sc.gov/AcademicAffairs/License/Complaint_procedures_and_form.pdf While the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs handles consumer complaints, the information on its website indicates it refers complaints to the agency with direct jurisdiction, which in this case would be the South Carolina CHE

TENNESSEE

• Complaints involving out-of-state institutions may be filed using a complaint form found at: http://www.tn.gov/thec/Divisions/LRA/PostsecondaryAuth/psa.html, The Division of Postsecondary Schools Authorization handles complaints. This process applies to all complaints.

TEXAS

• No established consumer complaint process for students enrolled in public postsecondary institutions could be found.

UTAH

• Complaints involving out-of-state institutions may be filed with the Utah Division of Consumer Protection using the complaint process link: http://consumerprotection.utah.gov/complaints/index.html There is no separate consumer complaint process.

VERMONT

• Complaints involving out-of-state institutions may be filed with the Vermont State Board of education using the complaint process link: http://education.vermont.gov/new/html/pgm_postsecondary.htmlThere is no separate consumer complaint process.

WASHINGTON

• Complaints involving out-of-state institutions may be filed with the Higher Education Coordinating Board following the Board's website at the link below. Information as to how and where to file is included. Complaints are submitted to dainfo@hecb.wa.gov. http://www.hecb.wa.gov/AboutOurSystem/MaintainingStandards/ConsumerProtectionIt is possible to bring a complaint regarding a school to the State Office of the Attorney General where the complaint pertains to a business operating in Washington.

WEST VIRGINIA

• There is no complaint procedure specific to students enrolled in postsecondary institutions. Consumer complaints may be filed with the Attorney General's office. Attorney General, Capitol Complex Building 1, Room E-26, 1900 Kanawha Blvd E, Charleston, WV 25305; phone 304-558-2021.

WISCONSIN

• Complaints involving out-of-state institutions may be filed with the Educational Approval Board which has the authority to investigate a student complaint http://eab.state.wi.us/resources/complaint.asp In addition, complaints may be filed with the Attorney General's office.

WYOMING

• There is no complaint procedure specific to students enrolled in postsecondary institutions. Consumers may complain to the Consumer Protection Unit of the Wyoming Attorney General's office at http://attorneygeneral.state.wy.us/consumer.htm