Student Complaint/Grievances Procedures

The staff and faculty are available to meet with students to address issues and resolve concerns during open business hours. A student who has a concern or who feels that his or her rights have been violated must follow the proper procedure:

  • Consult the faculty member involved in the grievance directly within three days of the occurrence. This faculty member will discuss the situation with the Director of Nursing for advice and get back to the student within three school days after the first meeting with the student.
  • If the student is not satisfied with the results of the conference, the Director of Nursing should be consulted within three college days after the previous conference. If the student is not satisfied with results of the conference with the Director of Nursing, the Executive Director should be consulted within three college days after the previous conference.
  • Students who are not satisfied with the outcome of their grievance may appeal to the Commission for Independent Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Suite1414, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400; toll free 888-224-6684 or 850-245-3200.

A grievance is any situation arising from a college action, which a student deems to cause them academic, financial, or emotional distress. The grievance procedure is available to any student who believes a decision or action by the College had adversely after their status, rights, or privileges as a student. The purpose of the grievance procedure is to provide a prompt and impartial process for resolving student grievances

In pursuit of its policy of openness, accountability, and responsiveness to students, the College has established a grievance procedure policy. The Executive Director shall maintain a file on each grievance reported, including ensuring that the proper procedure is followed. The outcome then shall be filed in the complaint log with a resolution to the complaint.

If a student has a grievance, a written complaint must be submitted to the College, either on the college’s petition form, or in letter format. The written grievance must clearly state the student’s name, the nature of the complaint, the name(s) of all parties directly involved in the complaint, and any appropriate documentary evidence.

Steps towards Resolution

Based upon the information presented in the grievance, steps toward resolution shall begin with informal discussion headed by the Executive Director. Resolution shall be attempted first at the level of the complaint (instructor, student, staff member, and/or student). If a satisfactory solution cannot be reached within a reasonable period, the grievance shall be scheduled for presentation to the Student Grievance Committee for hearing and appropriate action. Informal discussion between persons directly involved in a grievance is essential in the stages of dispute and reconciliation, and mutual resolution shall be encouraged at all stages of procedure.

Procedures for Official Hearings

If informal recourse fails to resolve the grievance within a reasonable time after filing, the Executive Director will schedule a Student Grievance committee meeting. The voting members of this committee shall be comprised of the Executive Director, Director of Nursing, Student Services Director, Faculty Member, and a Student Representative. Further, a non-voting member will serve as a moderator.

Accompany of the grievance shall be given in writing to the person(s) against whom the complaint is brought. The committee shall review and consider documentary record, which relate to the case, including the grievance and its supporting documentation, and any documentary evidence or statement by the person(s) against whom the complaint was filed. Committee members shall arrive at a judgment in consultation among themselves in which the majorities vote of such qualified members who may also make recommendations, disciplinary actions, or modifications in policy to the Executive Director. The Executive Director will make the final decision.

Recourse after Hearing

If students have exhausted these procedures and the problem has not been resolved, they have the right to contact the Commission for Independent Education and/or the Florida Board of Nursing.

Contact the Commission for Independent Education or the Florida Board of Nursing offices by mail. A written follow- up letter must accompany complaints received by phone.

Include the following required information in the letter of complaint:

  • The nature of the problem.
  • The approximate date(s) that the problems (s) occurred.
  • The nature(s) of the individual (s) involved in the problems (s) (facts, not rumors, examples of attempts toward solution).
  • Copies of information regarding the problems(s) (fact, not rumors, examples of attempts toward solution).
  • Evidence demonstrating that the college’s complaint procedure was followed prior to contacting the State. The claimant must sign the complaint.

 

Send the complaint to

Commission for Independent Education 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1414

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400

Toll free telephone number 888-244-6684 Fax 850-245-3234

Distance Education Students that have completed the internal institution complaint process and the applicable state process, may appeal non-instructional complaints to the Florida SARA PRDEC Council at FLSARAinfo@fldoe.org.