Submit a Complaint to HLC About an Institution
Students, faculty, staff and members of the public may submit a complaint about an HLC-accredited or candidate institution. HLC accredits degree-granting post-secondary educational institutions in a 19-state region.
Complaint Process
The complaint process is designed to identify substantive problems with an institution’s ability to meet the Criteria for Accreditation. HLC’s policy on complaints provides a full description of the type of complaints that HLC will review.
The HLC complaint process:
- Is deliberative and judgment-based.
- Recognizes the value of information provided by the public.
- Helps institutions gain awareness of systemic problems and improve.
- Directs complainants to appropriate processes for grievances if the matter is not a substantive accreditation problem.
Complaints can be submitted using the form below. HLC’s process for reviewing and responding to a complaint is as follows:
- HLC will acknowledge a complaint within 30 working days of receipt.
- A complaint will be forwarded to an institution for a response only if HLC determines the complaint represents substantive problems with the institution’s ability to meet the Criteria.
- The institution has 30 days to respond to the complaint.
- HLC may take up to another 30 days to review an institutional response to a complaint.
- HLC will notify the complainant whether the matter has been closed or if additional actions will be required.
Complaints HLC Does Not Review
Since the complaint process is intended to pursue only those matters that suggest substantive noncompliance with the Criteria, HLC expects individuals who have a dispute to use the internal grievance procedures of the institution. HLC does not review the outcomes of institutional grievance processes to either uphold or overturn those decisions. In no case will HLC use the complaint process to provide a remedy with an institution on behalf of a complainant. HLC does not intervene in matters of an individual nature, including, but not limited to, the following:
- Obtaining transcripts
- Financial aid
- Tuition/bills
- Satisfactory academic progress
- Grade/instructor disputes
- Disciplinary action
- Employment disputes
- Interpersonal situations
Additionally, HLC does not:
- Accept complaints from third parties (The person submitting the complaint must be a party to the complaint.)
- Provide whistleblower protections
- Review criminal matters
- Provide legal advice
- Review matters older than five years
Anonymous complaints are discouraged. However, HLC will keep the complainant’s identifying information confidential if requested.
HLC reserves the right to reject any complaint that contains defamatory statements.
Additional Resources for Complainants
Complainants should contact their institution’s ombuds or similar office to pursue internal grievance processes if appropriate.
For discrimination matters, complainants should contact the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.
For matters related to federal student loans or loan servicers, complainants should contact the Federal Student Aid Ombudsman Group.
Additionally, state higher education authorities will accept complaints for certain matters. Consumer complaints may be directed to state attorneys general. Complainants should contact law enforcement for criminal matters or an attorney for legal matters.