Student Complaint & Grievance Policy

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Effective: 06/19/2020

Within 72 hours: Discuss the matter with his or her instructor, if applicable. If not resolved,
Within the following 72 hours: Discuss the matter with the Program Director. If not resolved,
Within the following 72 hours: Discuss the matter with the Academic Dean. If not resolved,
Within the following 72 hours: Discuss the matter with the Campus President/Director.

If a student is still unable to resolve the issue, a written grievance statement along with supporting documentation may be submitted to the Campus President/Director. The written statement should include the details of the student’s issue, a summary of the conversations the student had with individuals while following the above procedure, and an explanation as to why the student believes the issue remains unresolved.

The Campus President/Director will schedule a grievance committee meeting within three business days of receipt of the written grievance. Students are required to appear before the grievance committee. The Campus President/Director will inform the student of the time and place to appear before the committee. The grievance committee has the responsibility of reaching a decision that is in balance with the best interest of both the student and the college. Students will be notified in writing within three business days of the committee’s decision. Legal representation is not permitted since a grievance committee meeting is not considered a legal proceeding.

Further, students have the right to report any apparent inconsistencies with the application of the Student Complaint & Grievance Policy outlined in the school catalog. The request must be completed in writing and submitted to Concorde’s Campus Support Center Student Affairs Department at: studentaffairs@concorde.edu. The request must include a summary of the student’s grievance and any details and supporting documentation of the student’s conversation with campus staff regarding the grievance, and it must describe how the campus’ management of the grievance procedure was inconsistent with the school catalog. The Student Affairs Department will research the student’s report as deemed appropriate, including requesting additional information from the student as needed, and render a final decision that is binding. The student will be notified in writing of the decision.

Additional Student Grievance Options

Council on Occupational Education (Memphis, Southaven, Portland)

Should the school not be able to resolve the problem, students should contact the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education (COE), 7840 Roswell Road, Building 300, Suite 325, Atlanta, GA 30350, Telephone: 770-396-3898/FAX: 770-396-3790, www.council.org.

State of Tennessee

Should the school not be able to resolve the problem, the student should contact Marcie Mills, Paralegal, marcie.mills@tn.gov or 615.253.7458, State of Tennessee, Higher Education Commission; https://www.tn.gov/thec/bureaus/student-aid-and-compliance/postsecondary-state-authorization/request-for-complaint-review.html

State of Mississippi

Should the school not be able to resolve the problem, the student should contact the Commission on Proprietary Schools and College Registration, 3825 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, MS 39211; 601-432-6185; https://www.mccb.edu/offices/proprietary-schools.

A copy of the commission’s Complaint Form is available at the campus and may be obtained by contacting the Campus President/Director.

A student who started in the Dental Assisting diploma program at the Memphis campus prior to February 26, 2018, may direct an unresolved complaint to:

Commission on Dental Accreditation 211 East Chicago Avenue Chicago, IL 60611 312-440-4653 www.ada.org/coda

Program Specific

A student who started in the Dental Assisting diploma program at the Memphis campus after February 26, 2018, may direct an unresolved complaint to:

Dental Board
State of Tennessee Health Related Boards
665 Mainstream Drive, 2nd Floor
Nashville, TN 37243
615-532-5073
1-800-778-4123

If necessary, please see the Dental Assisting Program Director for the appropriate agency contact.

A student in the Dental Hygiene program may direct an unresolved complaint to:

Commission on Dental Accreditation
211 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
312-440-4653
www.ada.org/coda

A student in the Massage Therapy program may direct an unresolved complaint to:

Massage Therapy Board
State of Tennessee Health Related Boards
665 Mainstream Drive, 2^nd Floor
Nashville, TN 37243
615-253-2111
1-800-778-4123

A student in the Neurodiagnostic Technology program may direct an unresolved complaint to:

Committee on Accreditation for Education in Neurodiagnostic Technology (CoA-NDT)
2206 Highland Ave
Morton PA 19070
223-666-5952
www.coa-ndt.org

A student in the Nursing Practice program may direct an unresolved complaint to:

Tennessee Board of Nursing, Tennessee Department of Health, Bureau of Health Licensure and Regulation, Division of Health Related Boards
665 Mainstream Drive
Nashville, TN 37243
Tennessee.gov/health

A student in the Occupational Therapy Assistant program may direct an unresolved complaint to:

Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)
7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E
Bethesda, MD 20814
ACOTE c/o AOTA: 301-652-AOTA
www.acoteonline.org

A student in the Pharmacy Technician program may direct an unresolved complaint to:

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)
4500 East-West Highway, Suite 900
Bethesda, MD 20814
866-279-0681

A student in the Physical Therapist Assistant program may direct an unresolved complaint to:

Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
1111 North Fairfax Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-706-3245
www.capteonline.org

A student in the Polysomnographic Technology program may direct an unresolved complaint to:

Committee on Accreditation for Polysomnographic Technologist Education (CoA PSG)
1711 Frank Avenue
New Bern, NC 28560
252-626-3238

A student in the Radiologic Technology program may direct an unresolved complaint to:

Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)
20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 2850
Chicago, IL 60606-3182
312-704-5300
www.jrcert.org

A student in the Respiratory Therapy program may direct unresolved complaints to:

Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care
264 Precision Blvd
Telford, TN 37690 USA
Telephone: 817-283-2835
Fax: 817-354-8519
www.coarc.com

A student in the Surgical Technology program may direct an unresolved complaint to:

Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
6116 Executive Blvd., Suite 730
North Bethesda, MD 20852
(301) 291-7550
https://www.abhes.org

State of Oregon Procedure

Students aggrieved by action of the school should attempt to resolve these problems with appropriate school officials. Should this procedure fail, students may contact:

Higher Education Coordinating Commission
3225 25th Street SE
Salem, OR 97302
503-378-5690

State of Washington Procedure

This school is licensed under Chapter 28C.10RCW. Nothing in the policy prevents the student from contacting the Workforce Board at 360-753-5662 at any time with a concern or complaint. Inquiries or complaints regarding this or any other private vocational school may be made to the:

Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board
128 - 10th Avenue, Southwest,
Olympia, WA 98501
360-709-4600 www.wtb.wa.gov
Email: workforce@wtb.wa.gov

The Academic Dean and/or Campus President handle all student complaints. Both can be reached at Concorde Career College, 1425 Northeast Irving Street, Building 300, Portland, OR 97232; 503-281-4181.

A student in the Polysomnographic Technology program may direct an unresolved complaint to:

Committee on Accreditation for Polysomnographic Technologist Education (CoA PSG)
1711 Frank Avenue
New Bern, NC 28560
252-626-3238

A student in the Practical Nursing program may direct an unresolved complaint to:

Oregon State Board of Nursing
17938 Southwest Upper Boones Ferry Road
Portland, OR 97224-7012
www.oregon.gov/OSBN

A student in the Respiratory Therapy program may direct unresolved complaints to:

Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care
264 Precision Blvd
Telford, TN 37690 USA
Telephone: 817-283-2835
Fax: 817-354-8519
www.coarc.com

A Portland student in the Surgical Technology program may direct an unresolved complaint to:

Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA)
19751 E Mainstreet, Ste 339
Parker, CO 80138
303-694-9262
www.arcstsa.org.

Distance Education

Complaint Policies for Certain Distance Education Students Enrolled Through the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (“SARA”)

The below policies apply to students who are:

non-Tennessee residents in State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (“SARA”) states and who are enrolled in a distance education program/course or
attending an out-of-state learning placement in a SARA state other than Tennessee

The nature of complaints to be addressed through these policies include violations of SARA policies and dishonest or fraudulent activity. These policies do not apply to complaints concerning student grades or student conduct violations. For more information on complaint subject matter see SARA Policy Manual Sections 4.2 and 4.3.

Institution Complaint Policies

Students are encouraged, at all times, to communicate their concerns to members of the faculty and administration. If a situation arises in which a student has a complaint or grievance regarding grades, instruction, disciplinary actions, or other topics related to his or her program of study, the student is to adhere to the following procedure:

Within 72 hours: Discuss the matter with his or her instructor, if applicable. If not resolved,
Within the following 72 hours: Discuss the matter with the Program Director. If not resolved,
Within the following 72 hours: Discuss the matter with the Academic Dean,
Within the following 72 hours: Discuss the matter with the Campus President/Director.

If a student is still unable to resolve the issue, a written grievance statement along with supporting documentation may be submitted to the Campus President. The written statement should include the details of the student’s issue, a summary of the conversations the student had with individuals while following the above procedure, and an explanation as to why the student believes the issue remains unresolved.

The Campus President will schedule a grievance committee meeting within three business days of receipt of the written grievance. Students are required to appear before the grievance committee. The Campus President will inform the student of the time and place to appear before the committee. The grievance committee has the responsibility of reaching a decision that is in balance with the best interest of both the student and the college. Students will be notified in writing within three business days of the committee’s decision. Legal representation is not permitted since a grievance committee meeting is not considered a legal proceeding.

Additional Complaint Policies

Tennessee Higher Education Commission (“THEC”) Students (as described above) must complete the institution complaint process before appealing to THEC.
- Students who are not satisfied with the institution’s resolution of their complaint may appeal the institution decision to THEC using the Request for Complaint Review form. Additional information on the THEC complaint process is available at THEC Complaint Review Process. Students may also contact THEC.RCD@tn.gov with questions.
- The appeal to THEC must be filed within two (2) years of the incident about which the complaint is made.
- Out-of-state students may also contact their home state higher education authority; although student may be referred to THEC. See State Portal Entity Contacts | NC-SARA for a listing of SARA states and contacts.
- Students residing in non-SARA states, currently California only, should consult their respective state of residence for further instructions for filing a complaint.

Any person claiming damage or loss as a result of any act or practice by an authorized postsecondary educational institution or its agent that is a violation of Title 49, Chapter 7, Part 20 or Rule Chapters 1540-01-02 or 1540-01-10, may file a complaint with THEC after exhausting the institution complaint process. More information is available at THEC Complaint Review Process, 312 Rosa Parks Ave., 9th Floor, Nashville, TN, 37243, (615) 741-3605. Students may also contact THEC.RCD@tn.gov with questions.