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Welcome to the DETC Online Complaint Form. Please carefully read the information below and review the DETC complaint procedure before submitting your complaint.
This page is not intended to fully cover all areas of DETC’s complaint policy or procedure. For the complete details, please refer to DETC's Policy C.20. Policy on Complaints found in the DETC Accreditation Handbook.
The DETC Online Complaint Form is not intended to be used to submit general inquires or questions. These should be sent to Patrice Wall, DETC's Information and Accounts Specialist, via email.
DETC’s goal is to permit a fair and timely investigation of complaints against DETC-accredited institutions or active DETC applicants concerning non-compliance with DETC standards and policies. DETC standards and policies can be found in the DETC Accreditation Handbook.
Complaints concerning DETC Evaluators, the Commissioners, or Staff should be sent in writing to:
Executive Director
DETC
1601 18th Street, NW, Suite 2
Washington, DC 20009
ATTN: COMPLAINTS
Regarding complaints against DETC-accredited institutions, whenever possible, the DETC Accrediting Commission expects complainants and institutions to demonstrate genuine effort in resolving disputes directly using the institution’s internal grievance procedures. Where issues or educational services, student services, or tuition are concerned, a student complainant must have exhausted all efforts to resolve his/her complaint with the institution before filing a complaint with DETC. The complainant must demonstrate that he/she has taken the appropriate procedures to resolve the complaint with the institution (which may include claim numbers, grievance files and emails) prior to filing a claim with DETC.
Where issues of educational quality or compliance with DETC standards or policies are not central to the complaint, DETC will refer the complainant to the appropriate federal or state agency or private entity with jurisdiction over the subject matter of the complaint.
Please note, DETC will not intervene on behalf of individuals in cases of a personnel action, nor will it review an institution’s internal administrative decisions in such matters as admissions decisions, academic honesty, assignment of grades and similar matters unless the context of an allegation suggests a violation of DETC standards or policies or if the context of an allegation suggests that unethical or unprofessional conduct or action may have occurred that might call into question the institution’s compliance with a DETC standard or policy.
Further, DETC will not intervene on behalf of individuals in cases where the situation giving rise to the complaint had occurred so long ago that investigating and ascertaining the facts might prove to be problematic. The Executive Director will exercise professional judgment in determining which cases meet these criteria.
Any complaints not submitted using the Online Complaint Form must be in writing. Written complaints must be legible and include a release from the complainant authorizing the Commission to forward a copy of the complaint—including identification of the complainant—to the institution before it will be processed.
All complaints must include the complainant’s name and contact information. Where circumstances warrant, the complainant may remain anonymous to the institution, however all identifying information must be given to DETC.
In cases where written anonymous complaints are received, the DETC Accrediting Commission will consider how to proceed and whether the anonymous complaint sets forth reasonable and credible information that an institution may be in violation of the Commission’s standards.
- After receipt of the complaint, DETC staff will send a letter or e-mail to the complainant acknowledging receipt of the complaint.
- DETC staff will conduct an initial review of the complaint to determine whether the complaint sets forth information or allegations that reasonably suggest that an institution may not be in compliance with DETC’s standards, policies, and procedures. If additional information or clarification is required, the Executive Director (acting on behalf of the Commission) will send a request to the complainant. If the requested information is not received within 15 days, the complaint may be considered abandoned and may not be investigated by DETC.
- If the Executive Director determines after the initial review of the complaint that the information or allegations do not reasonably demonstrate that an institution is out of compliance with DETC standards, policies, or procedures, the complaint may be considered closed and not investigated by DETC.
- If the Executive Director determines after the initial review of the complaint that the information or allegations reasonably suggest that an institution may not be in compliance with DETC standards, policies and procedures, the Executive Director will notify the institution that a complaint has been filed. The notice will summarize the allegations, identify the DETC standards, policies, or procedures that were allegedly violated, and provide a copy of the original complaint to the institution. The institution will be given 30 days to provide a response, except for:
- In cases of advertising violations, Commission staff forwards a copy of the advertisement to the institution, citing the standard that may have been violated. The institution is required a response within 15 days.
- If a news article or media broadcast carries a negative report on a DETC accredited institution, the institution is required to respond to the statement(s) within 15 days.
- In cases when the complaints are from students concerning administrative services, student services, educational services, or tuition, the institution will be required to respond directly to the student within 15 days to address his/her concerns.
- The Executive Director will review the complaint and the institution’s response for compliance with the accrediting standards, policies, and procedures.
- If the Executive Director concludes that the allegations do not establish there has been a violation of standards, policies, or procedure, he/she will consider the complaint closed, and no further action is required.
- If the Executive Director concludes that the allegations may establish a violation of DETC standards, policies and/or procedures, he/she may take several actions (see Policy C.20. Policy on Complaints for more information).
You can access DETC's Complaint Submission Form by clicking here.
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