Consumer Grievance Information
The following are links to consumer information notices and disclosures provided in accordance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act with the reauthorized Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.
State Distance Education Grievance Process
Saint Joseph鈥檚 College endeavors to insure that student concerns are promptly addressed, and that resolutions are reached in a fair and just manner. In the event that you have a serious complaint against the College, we wish to make you aware of the appropriate processes and policies to follow.
The U.S. Department of Education requires institutions offering distance education to provide enrolled and prospective students with contact information of the state agency or agencies that handle complaints against post-secondary institutions offering distance learning within the state you reside. Many of the outside agencies will require that all institutional procedures be followed before the concern will be considered. Before contacting one of these agencies, Saint Joseph鈥檚 College encourages current and former students to file a grievance with the College prior to contacting the local state agency in which they reside.
Students residing outside of the State of Maine while attending Saint Joseph鈥檚 College through electronically delivered classes who desire to resolve a grievance should contact the appropriate office (Treasurer鈥檚 Office, Financial Aid Office, Enrollment Management, etc.). If an issue cannot be resolved internally, you may file a grievance within the state you reside. 聽The Consumer Grievance Contact Information聽for individual states provides phone numbers, emails and/or links to state education agencies.
Definitions
A grievance is defined as dissatisfaction occurring when a student believes that any decision, act, or condition affecting him or her is illegal, unjust, or creates unnecessary hardship. Such grievances may concern, but are not limited to, the following: academic problems; wrongful assessment of fees; records and registration errors; and discrimination because of race, national origin, sex, marital status, religion, age, or disability.
Grievances covered by policies already in place (i.e., Sexual Harassment, Grade Issues, Financial Aid, Student Code of Conduct, Athletic Eligibility, etc.) are excluded from this policy.聽 Please refer to the for information and guidance regarding these policies.
Grievance Procedure
Regarding an academic concern, the student is encouraged to seek counsel from the chair of the department in which the course resides. 聽If the student is still dissatisfied he/she may present the grievance, in writing using the appropriate form, to the Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs within ten (10) working days of the incident or of the initial response.
Contact:
Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs
278 Whites Bridge Road
Standish, ME聽 04084
grievances@sjcme.edu
The Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs will conduct a review of the written grievance to resolve any factual disputes. The Senior Vice President may appoint a member of the college community to review the situation in greater detail. A response will be given to the student within ten (10) working days from the date the written grievance was received. If the disposition extends beyond the ten (10) working days, the Senior Vice President will inform the student of the delay and the expected response date.
Regardless of the situation, no member of the College community may harass or retaliate against a student who has filed a grievance under the College grievance procedure.
In the event that a grievance is filed against a Senior Vice President or Vice President, the grievance should be submitted to the President of the College.
Contact:
Joseph L. Cassidy, JD, President
Saint Joseph鈥檚 College
278 Whites Bridge Road
Standish, ME聽 04084
jcassidy@sjcme.edu
Additional information may be found at: