Student Complaints

The primary purpose of the Commission is to establish and maintain high educational standards and ethical business practices among its accredited institutions. The Standards of Accreditation form the basis upon which the Commission makes all assessments regarding educational quality and are available for public review on the Commission’s website.

Institutions that are accredited by the Commission must have a published procedure and operational plan for handling complaints. Complainants are encouraged first to avail themselves of the school’s complaint procedures. If you feel that the school has not adequately addressed a complaint or that the school is not in compliance with accreditation requirements, you may file a complaint with the Commission in accordance with the following:

• All complaints must be received by the Commission in writing. 

• In order for a complaint to be processed, it should contain

• The basis for any allegation of noncompliance with ACCSC standards or requirements;

• All relevant names and dates and a brief description of the actions forming the basis of the complaint; copies of any documents or materials that support the allegations, when available; and

• A release from the complainant authorizing the Commission to forward a copy of the complaint, including the identification of the complainant, to the school. This can be achieved by completing and submitting the ACCSC Complaint Form.  Click here to download a copy of the ACCSC Complaint Form. 

Upon receipt of a complaint filed in accordance with the aforementioned format, the Commission will forward a copy of the complaint to the school for a response. Schools are given a period of time upon receipt of the complaint to prepare a response addressing the alleged areas of non-compliance with the Commission’s requirements. The Commission may determine, based on a review of the school’s response, that the school has adequately addressed the concerns raised in the complaint and is in compliance with the Standards of Accreditation. In all cases, both the school and complainant are notified of the final disposition of the complaint.  Although one possible outcome of the complaint process may be the resolution of a dispute between parties, the Commission does not act as an arbitrator.  

The Commission’s primary responsibility in reviewing complaints is to ensure that member schools remain in continuous compliance with accreditation requirements. The Commission will not intervene on behalf of individuals in cases of disciplinary action or dismissal or review decisions in such matters as admission, graduation, fees, and similar points unless the context suggests unethical or unprofessional actions that seriously impair or disrupt the educational services of an applicant or an accredited school.