Statement Regarding Student Complaint Resolution

Stonehill College participates in federal student aid programs that are authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. A participating institution must be legally authorized to operate with the State in which it is located. Title 34 CFR §600.9 requires states to have a process to review and appropriately act on complaints concerning the institution including enforcing applicable state laws. Title 34 CFR §668.43(b) requires that institutions make available for review to any enrolled or prospective student upon request, a copy of the documents describing the institution’s accreditation and its applicable licensing. The institution must also provide its students or prospective students with contact information for filing complaints with its accreditor and with its state approval or licensing entity and any other relevant state official or agency that would appropriately handle a student’s complaint.

Stonehill College makes every effort to resolve student complaints using the College’s internal policies which are available online.  The institutional complaint process for distance learning students is the same for all students regardless of physical location. It is expected that students will fully utilize any and all such administrative procedures to address concerns and/or complaints in as timely a manner as possible. Specific information can be found as follows:

• A17.1 Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures
• S1.3 Community Standards and Student Conduct Process
• A18.11 Grade Re-evaluation and Dispute Process
• F9.2 Information Security
• Investigation of Complaints of Discrimination or Harassment
  • Bias Reporting 
  • Title IX
• S1.14 Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct and Interpersonal Violence
• A9.9 Procedures for Disciplinary Review of Faculty Members
• A5.12 Student Educational Records and FERPA

Additionally, complaints of a non-academic nature can be directed to the Director of Human Resources at 508-565-1105.

Complaints involving matters of a criminal nature, such as assault, battery, and theft should be directed to the Campus Police Department at 508-565-5100.

In the unlikely event that an issue cannot be resolved through the institutional complaint processes, students may contact:

• Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, 617-994-6950
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges, 781-425-7700
• U.S. Department of Education, 800-872-5327

In addition, Online Students with an issue that cannot be resolved through the institutional complaint processes may contact the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE): 

• Mass DHE Complaint Information