North Carolina Community Colleges

Post-Secondary Education Complaints

Student Complaint Process

In compliance with state regulations and the rules promulgated by the U.S. Department of Education, the University of North Carolina is committed to implementing a student complaint process that is fair, timely, and effective. This policy establishes a process by which students can initiate complaints against a post-secondary institution offering programs in the state of North Carolina when all other forums at the institutional level have been exhausted. The University of North Carolina System Office, serving as the clearinghouse for complaints concerning post-secondary institutions that are authorized to operate in North Carolina, will act upon those complaints within its purview and forward all other complaints to the appropriate agency.

Complaints against UNC Constituent Institutions

The University of North Carolina Board of Governors established the University of North Carolina System Office as the body responsible for the oversight of the University of North Carolina, its constituent institutions and other post-secondary institutions licensed to operate in North Carolina.

The Board of Governors has formal and informal involvement with, and control over, the complaints and appeals that arise at its constituent institutions. In addition to direct involvement, the Board of Governors has also delegated authority to the constituent institutions and to the President of the University of North Carolina to receive complaints and to act on them accordingly.

Student complaints are routinely resolved at the institutional level. If there is no specific policy to appeal to the University of North Carolina Board of Governors, the President’s staff at UNC System Office maintains an open student complaint process “to review and appropriately act on complaints concerning the institution.” Students from all constituent institutions may utilize the application form provided by the UNC System Office of Post-Secondary Education Complaints to submit these complaints.

Complaints against Licensed Institutions, Independent Colleges and Universities, and State Community Colleges

Complaints received against post-secondary institutions licensed in the state of North Carolina, state community colleges, and the 36 statutorily-recognized independent colleges and universities will be forwarded to the appropriate agency for action. Students may utilize the application form provided by the UNC System Office of Post-Secondary Education Complaints to submit these complaints for processing.

Student Complaint Process

Step 1. Have you filed a complaint at your institution? If yes, proceed to the next step. If no, please refer to your institution’s student complaint process. You must exhaust all opportunities for resolution with the appropriate persons at your institution before filing a complaint with the Office of Post-Secondary Education Complaints.

Step 2. You can submit your complaint electronically by using the student complaint form or you can mail all relevant information and supporting documentation regarding your complaint to the North Carolina Office of Post-Secondary Education Complaints, C/o Student Complaints, 223 S. West Street, Raleigh, NC 27603. If you have questions about this process, please email studentcomplaint@northcarolina.edu.

Step 3. Once received by the Office of Post-Secondary Education Complaints, complaints will be forwarded to the appropriate staff or agency for investigation as follows:

Step 4. Students will be notified of the investigation results and/or resolution of the complaint.