Resolving Student Problems

Chipola College recognizes that sometimes a student would like clarification of a rule or policy. Students are encouraged to request clarification or resolve concerns by contacting the college personnel responsible for the area relevant to the complaint. Students should initially refer to the contact person responsible for that area to request clarification or discuss the complaint. A detailed contact list for most issues can be found in the Chipola College catalog. If the appropriate Chipola contact is not immediately available, students should make an appointment and speak to that contact rather than continuing to the next level. If the issue or complaint is not resolved, students should contact the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs located in Building A – Room 107C or through email at smithb@chipola.edu. 

Complaint Submission

The Student Complaint Procedure is fully outlined in the college catalog. 

Per Florida Statute 1006.51, Chipola College provides a Student Ombudsman for students to confidentially discuss complaints, concerns, or problems. The ombudsman will act as an impartial campus resource by providing a safe environment for a student to pursue either an academic or non-academic complaint or grade grievance.  The Associate Vice President of Student Affairs serves as the student ombudsman and may be contacted at Building A – Room 107C, smithb@chipola.edu, or 850-718-2451.

In the event the student feels the grievance was not managed properly by the institution, the student may visit the Florida College System Complaint Procedure Information, website for information on how to file a complaint if it is believed that the complaint warrants additional investigation. 

Distance Learning- Out of State Complaint Procedure

Chipola College Distance Learning students who have completed the internal institutional complaint process or the applicable state grievance process may appeal non-instructional complaints to the FL-SARA PRDEC Council. Rule 6N-1.006, F.A.C., states that “any student who receives distance education from an in-state member institution may, after the student has exhausted the institution’s procedures for the resolution of grievances, and within two (2) years of the incident about which the complaint is made, file a written complaint to the Council.”

Students should follow the steps below for addressing complaints if they are enrolled in a distance learning program or if they are seeking clarification under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA):

1. Initial Complaint Resolution: If you have a complaint, it must first be resolved through the institution’s procedures. This is the first step before any further action can be taken. Complaints related to criminal offenses or violations of state law can be reported directly to the relevant state agencies.
2. Complaints About Grades or Student Conduct Complaints related to student grades or conduct violations are governed by the institution’s policies and the laws of the state where the institution is based.
3. Appealing an Institutional Decision If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the institution's resolution process (except for issues related to grades or conduct), you may appeal to the SARA State Portal Entity in the institution’s home state. The appeal must be filed within two years of the incident. The institution’s home state will resolve the issue, and their decision is final, unless specific exceptions apply.
4. Assistance from Your State Portal Entity While the final decision comes from the institution’s home state, the SARA State Portal Entity in your state of residence can provide assistance if necessary. Once the complaint is resolved, the outcome will be shared with your state’s SARA State Portal Entity.
5. Review of Disputed Complaints If concerns arise about whether a state is following SARA policies, the regional authority overseeing SARA may review the complaint. NC-SARA (National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements) may also review whether regional compacts are ensuring member states comply with SARA standards.
6. Reporting and Transparency SARA State Portal Entities are required to report quarterly to NC-SARA regarding unresolved complaints that have been appealed beyond the institutional level. This data will be made publicly available on the NC-SARA website, ensuring transparency and accountability in the complaint resolution process.
7. State Legal Action SARA policies do not prevent a state from using its general laws to take action against an institution if there has been a violation of those laws.

Chipola College maintains clear and accessible procedures for addressing student complaints. In accordance with SARA Policy Manual, Section 4.4, all grievance procedures published in the College Catalog are also available on the College’s website to ensure transparency and ease of access. Students seeking additional information may refer to the FL-SARA Complaint Process page on the Florida Department of Education website. 

Information about filing a complaint with the College’s accrediting agency, the Southern Association of College and Schools Commission on Colleges, can be found on its website at sacscoc.org.

For Ethics and Compliance, please visit the Instructional Affairs Ethics and Compliance page.