Complaints regarding colleges in Connecticut as well as postsecondary career schools and institutions participating in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) fall under the responsibility of the Office of Higher Education. This office is responsible for ensuring quality standards at colleges and regulating postsecondary career schools within Connecticut. Additionally it handles investigations and resolutions for out of state students complaints against Connecticut based institutions offering distance education through SARA.
If you have concerns about a Connecticut college, a career school (such as private occupational hospital based or barber/hairdresser schools) or an institution participating in SARA failing to meet its commitments you can file a complaint with the Office of Higher Education. We will thoroughly investigate complaints that fall within our jurisdiction and take appropriate actions if justified.
Generally issues related to quality and licensing fall within our purview while matters concerning student life (like student discipline, grading and housing) are solely handled by the respective institutions. The Office of Higher Education will only intervene when complaints cannot be resolved through internal dispute resolution processes, at the institution. However please note that our agency cannot provide advice.
To file a complaint with the Office of Higher Education you should first make sure that you have exhausted the grievance or complaint procedures provided by your school. These procedures are typically outlined in the institutions catalog, student handbook or website.
Once you have gone through the schools dispute resolution procedures and have been unable to reach a resolution you can proceed with formally filing a complaint, with the Office of Higher Education. To do this please. Submit the Student Complaint Form by visiting this link; https;//veoci.com/v/p/181953/workflow/gjrt4qhrrvkv
When you submit a complaint we will send you a written acknowledgment to confirm that we have received it. We will then carefully review your complaint to determine if it falls under our jurisdiction. If it doesn’t we will inform you. May redirect it to the appropriate agency. However if your complaint is within our authority we will notify both you and the school/college involved.
We will also share a copy of your complaint with them. Request a written response within 20 days. This response should address the situation. Whether the institution has followed relevant policies, state statutes and regulations. Depending on their response we may need information either from them or from you.
Please note that the office can only address complaints related to compliance with state statutes and policies for Connecticut colleges, postsecondary career schools and SARA institutions that fall under our administration. For issues not covered by our jurisdiction, such, as employer employee matters or discrimination concerns please contact the appropriate specialized entity. For example;
- If you have complaints about education institutions located in other states please reach out to the state agency responsible, for authorizing those institutions.
- If you have complaints regarding employer employee matters please reach out to the Connecticut Department of Labor at (860)263 6000.
- If you have any concerns about violations related to disabilities you can get in touch with Disability Rights Connecticut at (860)297 4300 or (800)842 7303.
- In case you’re a Connecticut student enrolled in an out of state institution and have exhausted the complaint process at that institution you can contact the SARA Portal Agency in the state where your institution is located.
- For complaints related to discrimination issues please contact the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities at (860)541 3400.
