How To File A Complaint

NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT POSTSECONDARY COMPLAINT NOTICE

Please note that the State University at Fredonia administers internal procedures to receive, investigate and resolve student complaints concerning requirements established in this catalog. Informal and formal means by which students can seek redress of grievances are identified through this document. Students are assured of a reasonable and appropriate time frame for investigating and resolving a formal complaint, that final determination of each formal complaint will be made by a person or persons not directly involved in the alleged problem, that assurances that no adverse action will be taken against a student filing a complaint and that notice to students about the state consumer complaint process has been made.

Informal and formal complaints should be initiated in the appropriate departments. In the absence of a timely response or resolution, a student should contact one of the following offices:

Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, 8th floor, Maytum Hall (716) 673-3335
Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, 6th floor, Maytum Hall (716) 673-3271
Office of the Vice President for Administration, 5th floor, Maytum Hall (716) 673-3109
Office of Human Resources, 5th floor, Maytum Hall (716) 673-3434

In addition, in New York State, a complaint may be filed by any person with reason to believe that an institution has acted contrary to its published standards or that conditions at the institution appear to jeopardize the quality of the institution’s instructional programs or the general welfare of its students. Any person who believes he or she has been aggrieved by an institution may file a written complaint with the Office of College and University Evaluation.

Q. How to File a Complaint

1. The person should first try to resolve the complaint directly with the institution by following the internal complaint procedures provided by the institution. An institution of higher education is required to publish its internal complaint procedure in a primary information document such as the catalog or student handbook. (The department suggests that the complainant keep copies of all correspondence with the institution.)
2. If a person is unable to resolve the complaint with the institution or believes that the institution has not properly addressed the concerns, he or she may send a letter to the Office of College and University Evaluation.
3. Please do not send a complaint to the Office of College and University Evaluation until you have read all of the information below. This will assure that you are sending your complaint to the appropriate agency/office. The Office of College and University Evaluation handles only those complaints that concern educational programs or practices of degree-granting institutions subject to the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, with the exceptions noted below. The Office does not handle anonymous complaints.
4. Complaints concerning programs in fields leading to professional licensure (e.g., nursing) should be directed to:

                                Office of the Professions

                                Professional Educational Program Review

                                Education Building, 2 West

                                Albany, NY 12246

5. A complaint against a college in the State University system should be sent to:

                                State University of New York

                                Central Administration

                                State University Plaza

                                Albany, NY 12246

            6. A complaint against a college in the City University system should be sent to:
                                The City University of New York

                                Central Administration

                                535 East 80th Street

                                New York, NY 10021

            7. A complaint involving discrimination against enrolled students on the part of an institution or faculty, or involving sexual harassment, should be sent to:

                                U.S. Office for Civil Rights

                                75 Park Place

                                New York, NY 10007

            8. Complaints about two-year colleges concerning sexual harassment/discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender and disabilities should be sent to:

                                Office of Equity and Access

                                VATEA Program

                                10th Floor Education Building Addition

                                Hawk Street

                                Albany, NY 12234

           9. A complaint of consumer fraud on the part of the institution should be sent to:

                                Office of the New York State Attorney General

                                Justice Building

                                Empire State Plaza

                                Albany, NY 12223

R. Complaint Resolution

The Office of College and University Evaluation does not intervene in matters concerning an individual’s grades or examination results, as these are the prerogative of the college’s faculty. The Office does not handle complaints concerning actions that occurred more than five years ago. The Office does not intervene in matters that are or have been in litigation. For a complaint about state student financial aid matters, contact the Higher Education Services Corporation Center at 1-888-NYS-HESC. Complainants should be aware that the Office of College and University Evaluation does not conduct a judicial investigation and has no legal authority to require a college or university to comply with a complainant’s request. If your complaint does not fall into one of the exceptions noted above, please contact the Office of College and University Evaluation at www.highered.nysed.gov/ocue/home.html.

[ Back to Top ]