FAQs About Complaints
Consider carefully what you hope to accomplish. The Commission’s complaint process is not designed to address individual problems or provide individualized resolutions. Complaints will be considered by the Commission only if they focus on substantive institutional conditions that may indicate non-compliance with the Commission’s Standards for Accreditation.
- Does your complaint refer to current matters? Normally, the Commission does not consider matters that are alleged to have occured more than three years prior to the filing of the complaint.
- Does your complaint refer to institutional conditions, not a personal grievance?
- Can you find language in the Standards for Accreditation related to your concern?
- Can you substantiate your complaint with evidence, not allegations?
- Have you tried to resolve the problem through the institution’s internal channels?
The Commission is a private accrediting agency with no legal authority to enforce public law. It is not a governmental regulatory agency or court of law charged with enforcement powers. Complaints regarding alleged criminal conduct need to be reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency for investigation. Complaints about discrimination or human rights violations should be referred to the appropriate state agency.
| Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities 21 Grant Street, Hartford, CT 06106 Tel. 860-541-3400 http://www.ct.gov/chro/site/default.asp |
Maine Human Rights Commission #51 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333 Tel. 207-624-6050 http://www.maine.gov/mhrc/index.shtml |
| Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination One Ashburton Pl., 6th Floor, Room 601, Boston, MA 02108 Tel. 617-994-6000 http://www.mass.gov/mcad/index.html |
New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights 2 Chenell Dr., Concord, NH 03301 Tel. 603-271-2767 http://www.nh.gov/hrc/index.html |
| Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights 180 Westminster St., 3rd Floor, Providence, RI 02903 Tel. 401-222-2661 http://www.richr.state.ri.us/frames.html |
Vermont Human Rights Commission 14-16 Baldwin Street, Montpelier, VT 05633-6301 Tel. 800-416-2010 human.rights@state.vt.us |
Can I simply send the Commission a copy of a complaint I originally sent to the institution or to another agency?
Because the Commission’s complaint policy addresses only potential violations of the Standards for Accreditation, the Commission does not respond to or take action on correspondence directed to another body. Documents intended primarily for other audiences cannot provide sufficient information to help the Commission determine whether it can proceed with your complaint.
Can I file a complaint anonymously?
No. Anonymous complaints are difficult for the Commission to process even when they appear to raise relevant accrediting issues. The Commission has no way to ask for additional information from the complainant or to engage in other follow-up. Therefore, the Commission does not accept anonymous complaints.
How should I prepare my complaint?
To file a complaint, first consult the Commission’s Policy on Complaints and complete the Complaint Form to organize your information according to the Commission’s requirements. A complaint can be filed only with a completed and signed Complaint Form mailed to the Commission offices. If you have questions about the procedure or require assistance, contact Louise Zak, Associate Director of the Commission, at 781-541-5413.
How does the Commission respond to complaints?
The Commission has the discretion to determine whether or not a complaint meets its criteria for consideration. If the complaint meets the criteria, it is forwarded to the institution’s chief executive officer, who has 30 days to respond. The Commission reviews the complaint and the institutional response at its next regularly scheduled meeting. (The Commission holds four regular business meetings each year, generally in September, November, March, and April.)
In many cases, the institution can provide the Commission with adequate assurances that it has appropriate policies in place and has acted in accordance with those policies, or that it has recognized a problem and initiated corrective action. In such cases, no further action is warranted.
If the facts of the complaint and the institution’s response raise significant concerns regarding the institution’s current compliance with the Standards for Accreditation, the Commission determines the appropriate steps to take, depending on the circumstances and in keeping with the Commission’s policy on Periodic Review of Accredited Institutions. The institution and the complainant are notified by letter of the Commission's decision.