Information Regarding Student Complaint Resolution

Academic Decision Complaints

Disputes Concerning Grades

Complaints regarding grades should follow the procedures set out in the Undergraduate and Graduate Bulletin.

Grades are submitted only by the instructor of the course. Any change of grade must be approved by that instructor. A grade may be changed only if there is unequivocal evidence that it was the result of computational or mechanical error. If you believe your grade is incorrect or unfair you should:

• Discuss your course work with the instructor
• Review with the course instructor the grading policies for the course.
• If you are still dissatisfied, disputes concerning grades should be brought to the chair of the department (if there is a chair).
• If you are still dissatisfied or if there is no chair, you should bring your concerns to the assistant or associate dean of the school responsible for the course.
• The dean may choose to discuss the matter with the chair and/or the instructor to try to resolve the issues.
• If the issues remain unresolved, you may request that the Office of Academic Services (Associate Provost for Academic and Student Life) discuss the matter with the instructor and/or with the dean.

Online Program Disputes for Out-of-State Students

Complaint Process

Every student deserves a positive educational experience. Sometimes a student’s experience may not be what they anticipate, and the student may have a concern or a complaint.

SARA consumer protection provisions require the institution’s home state, through its SARA State Portal Entity, to investigate and resolve allegations of dishonest or fraudulent activity by the state’s SARA-participating institutions, including the provision of false or misleading information.

A student has the right to lodge a complaint or grievance. The institution should ensure that all concerns and complaints of students are addressed fairly and are resolved promptly. Student complaints relating to consumer protection laws offered under the terms and conditions of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), must first be filed with the institution to seek resolution.

The student should begin the complaint process with Adelphi University and if a resolution is not found, the student would contact the institution’s home state of NC SARA Student Complaints.

New York State Portal Entity Contact

Andrea Richards
Supervisor of Higher Education Programs
518.474.1551
IHEauthorize@nysed.gov

New York State Education Department
89 Washington Ave
Albany, NY 12234

Complaint Process for Online Students in California

If you are enrolled as an online student living in California–which is not a member of NC-SARA–and you have a complaint that cannot be resolved through Adelphi’s internal complaint process, you may file a complaint with CADCA. CADCA will evaluate California resident student complaints, identify the appropriate accrediting agency or governmental entity to handle the complaint, and request a response from the entity regarding the final disposition of the complaint. The address and contact information for CADCA are:

California Department of Consumer Affairs

Consumer Information Center
1625 North Market Blvd., Suite N-112
Sacramento, CA 95834

Phone: (833) 942-1120
Email: dca@dca.ca.gov

File a complaint with CDCA

If the Chair, Dean or Provost determines that a grade was a result of arbitrary or capricious conduct on the part of the instructor, you may be allowed to withdraw from the course. In the case of arbitrary or capricious conduct, the department or school may allow the substitution of another course to replace the course in question.

All disputes concerning the accuracy of a grade must be raised within one calendar year. Grade changes must first be signed by the instructor and then by the department chair and the appropriate dean before being submitted to the Registrar.

Complaints About Other Academic Issues (excluding grades)

If you have complaints regarding other academic-related issues (excluding grade complaints) you should follow the procedure described above and also take account of any policies and procedures that are specific to your School and College. These processes are available from your Dean’s Office. If there are no specific procedures identified or if you have already contacted your academic department and require further assistance, please contact the Office of Community Concerns and Resolution for assistance.

Unresolved complaints may also be filed with the New York State Education Department at the following address:

New York State Education Department
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12234

Still unresolved complaints may be filed with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the University’s institutional accrediting agency.

Middle States Commission on Higher Education
1007 North Orange Street
4th Floor, MB #166
Wilmington, DE 19801

Phone: (267) 284–5011
Email: info@msche.org  Spanish: españolinfo@msche.org
General Link: www.msche.org/complaints/

Violations of the University Code of Ethics

Where an individual is concerned about making an anonymous complaint in confidence about violations of the University’s Code of Ethics, a reporting process via a third party is available.