Student Complaint Procedure & Incident Report

In compliance with the Higher Education Opportunities Act of 2008, the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) conducted a Negotiated Rule Making Process in 2010. This process concluded that institutions offering distance education opportunities must provide enrolled and prospective students with contact information for filing complaints or an incident report with its accrediting agency and with the appropriate state agency for handling complaints in the student’s state.

Southwestern Oregon Community College’s Student Handbook offers a Student Complaint Resolution Procedure. Students attending Southwestern in person or online can utilize this procedure to attempt to resolve any issue. There is an informal and formal process. It is always recommended to attempt to resolve the issue first using the informal process. However, if a formal process is required, the Complaint Form or incident report must be completed.

If a student cannot resolve the issue utilizing Southwestern’s process, they can refer to the contacts below for the appropriate state agency or accrediting body.

Southwestern Oregon Community College is accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Their complaint process is available online.

Students may also contact the Oregon Department of Education and utilize their Complaint Procedure Form to attempt to resolve an issue.

The Oregon Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development is also a resource for students attending a community college in Oregon. Students can contact the Community College Education Specialist at 503-947-2430.