Student Complaint Process

Formal Student Complaint Process

Lincoln Memorial University provides a number of avenues through which students can address grievances. Academic grievances are addressed through processes outlined on the catalogs page.

The Lincoln Memorial University Formal Student Complaint Process exists to ensure students have the right to address grievances related to non-academic issues. Students must first work through informal grievance appeal processes prior to initiating a Formal Student Complaint.

Students who wish to file a Formal Student Complaint related to a non-academic issue must complete and submit this Formal Student Complaint Form.

Off Campus Authorities

All Locations

• Complaints relating to quality of education or accreditation requirements shall be referred to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, (https://sacscoc.org/app/uploads/2020/01/ComplaintPolicy-1.pdf)

Tennessee Locations

• Complaints related to the application of state laws or rules related to approval to operate or licensure of a particular professional program within a postsecondary institution shall be referred to the appropriate State Board (i.e., State Boards of Health, State Board of Education, and so on) within the Tennessee State Government and shall be reviewed and handled by that licensing board (https://www.tn.gov, and then search for the appropriate division);
• Complaints related to state consumer protection laws (e.g., laws related to fraud or false advertising) shall be referred to the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs and shall be reviewed and handled by that Unit (https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/working-for-tennessee/consumer/file-a-complaint.html).

Corbin, Kentucky Location

• Filing a Complaint with the Kentucky Commission on Proprietary Education:
  To file a complaint with the Kentucky Commission on Proprietary Education, a complaint shall be in writing and shall be filed on Form PE-24 May 2022, Form to File a Complaint, accompanied, if applicable, by Form PE-25 May 2022, Authorization for Release of Student Records.
  The form(s) shall be mailed to the following address:
  Kentucky Commission on Proprietary Education
  500 Mero Street, 4^th Floor
  Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
• Existence of the Kentucky Student Protection Fund:
  Pursuant to KRS 165A.450 All licensed schools, resident and non-resident, shall be required to contribute to a student protection fund. The fund shall be used to reimburse eligible Kentucky students, to pay off debts, including refunds to students enrolled or on leave of absence by not being enrolled for one (1) academic year or less from the school at the time of the closing, incurred due to the closing of a school, discontinuance of a program, loss of license, or loss of accreditation by a school or program.
• Process for Filing a Claim Against the Kentucky Student Protection Fund
  To file a claim against the Kentucky Student Protection Fund, each person filing must submit a signed and completed Form for Claims Against the Student Protection Fund, Form PE-38 and provide the requested information to the following address:
  Kentucky Commission on Proprietary Education
  500 Mero Street, 4^th Floor
  Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
  Forms may be located at https://kcpe.ky.gov/Pages/index.aspx.

Lexington, Kentucky Location

• To file a complaint against an institution licensed by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, submit this form: https://cpe.ky.gov/campuses/complaintform.html
• REF: 13 KAR 1:020 Section 13. Consumer Complaint Procedure. https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/kar/titles/013/001/020/
• A person with a complaint or grievance involving misrepresentation against a college licensed under this administrative regulation shall make a reasonable effort to resolve the complaint or grievance directly with the college. If a mutually satisfactory solution cannot be reached, the procedures established in this section shall be followed.
  1. (1) A person shall submit a written complaint to the president which contains evidence relevant to the complaint and documentation that a reasonable effort was made to resolve the complaint directly with the college.
  2. (2) The president shall require an institution to file a written response setting forth the relevant facts concerning the consumer complaint, including a statement on the current status of the complaint, and any resolution of the complaint.
  3. (3) The president shall review the facts as presented and may intervene to bring the matter to a satisfactory conclusion through facilitation, but the facilitation shall not include legal action on behalf of any party.

Tampa, Florida Location

• Complaints related to the application of state laws or rules related to approval to operate or licensure of a particular professional program within a postsecondary institution shall be referred to the appropriate State Board (i.e., State Boards of Health, State Board of Education, and so on) within the Florida State Government and shall be reviewed and handled by that licensing board (https://floridasnursing.gov/licensing/, and then search for the appropriate division);
• For students attending programs in Florida, complaints related to state consumer protection laws (e.g., laws related to fraud or false advertising) shall be referred to the Florida Office of the Attorney General and shall be reviewed and handled by that Unit (https://www.myfloridalegal.com/how-to-contact-us/file-a-complaint).
• For students attending programs in Florida, who have a grievance that has not been resolved through other avenues, they can contact the Florida Department of Education- Commission on Independent Education either by sending a letter to: Commission for Independent Education 325 W. Gaines Street, Suite 1414, Tallahassee, FL. 32399-0400, Or by email: CIEINFO@fldoe.org, Or Fax: 850-245-3238

Ewing, Virginia Location

• In accordance with § VAC 40-31-100 of the Virginia Administrative Code, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) is responsible for investigating all written and signed student complaints against postsecondary educational institutions operating in Virginia.  Students with a complaint that has exhausted all available grievance procedures at the LMU and are not satisfied with the resolution provide[d] by LMU should follow the procedures outlined at Student Complaints (schev.edu). The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, 1010 N. 14^th Street, 10^th Floor, James Monroe Building, Richmond VA 23219, 804-225-2600.

Complaint Policies and Procedures for Certain Distance Education Students

• 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

• who are attending an out-of-state learning placement in a SARA state.

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.

Additional Complaint Policies

• Tennessee Higher Education Commission (“THEC”)
  •  Students 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 student 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.