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    • Complaint Policy for Out-of-State Online Students

    South Florida State College desires to resolve student grievances, complaints, and concerns in an expeditious, fair, and amicable manner. Students who reside outside of the State of Florida and attend SFSC through electronically delivered classes may resolve a grievance by following the non-instructional complaint process, listed below.  If you have instructional or non-instructional concerns, you are encouraged to discuss informally your concerns with the dean, student services as a beginning step, but may file your concerns as follows:

    If you have concerns that are instructional

    1. Confer with the instructor of the class regarding all related details of the concern. SFSC’s Student Services staff is also a resource for you and may be reached by calling 863-784-7107. Their office hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. EST. The student complaint process is also detailed in the College Catalog. However, most issues can be resolved by communicating directly with your professor.
    2. If the conference with the instructor does not resolve the concern, you should make an appointment to discuss the problem with the instructional supervisor or program director within five College working days after meeting with the instructor. 
    3. If the meeting with the instructional supervisor or program director still does not resolve the situation, you may submit a written appeal to the dean of the division within five College working days after meeting with the instructional supervisor or program director. 
    4. If the meeting with the division dean does not resolve the situation, you may submit a written appeal to the vice president for academic affairs and student services within five College working days after the conference with the division dean. The vice president for academic affairs and student services makes the final decision or resolution. 
    5. SFSC is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Consult the SACSCOC policy for filing a complaint against it or one of its member institutions if you wish to do so.
    6. Visit the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights online to learn how you may file a complaint against SACSCOC and/or one of its accredited institutions.

    If you have concerns that are non-instructional

    1. Confer with the appropriate department/supervisor or division dean.
    2. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, you may submit a written appeal to the Office of the Dean, Student Services. 
    3. If you are not satisfied with the results, you may follow steps 4-6 from the above list.
    4. If you are not satisfied with the resolution with SFSC, the student should visit the Florida College System Complaint Procedure Information webpage for information on how to file a complaint if it is believed that the complaint warrants additional investigation.
    5. If the student is not satisfied with the outcome of the Florida College System, s/he may appeal the complaint to the Post-Secondary Reciprocal Distance Education Coordinating Council (PRDEC) by sending an email to FLSARAinfo@fldoe.org. The Florida Department of Education also posts information about the complaint process on its website.