Contacts for Resolving Student Problems

Chipola College recognizes that sometimes a student would like clarification of a rule or policy.  Students are encouraged to request clarification or resolve concerns by contacting the college personnel responsible for the area relevant to the complaint.  Students should initially refer to the contact person listed below to request clarification or discuss the complaint.  If the appropriate Chipola contact listed below is not immediately available, students should make an appointment and speak to that contact rather than continuing to the next level.  If the issue or complaint is not resolved, students should contact the Associate Vice president of Student Affairs located in Building A – Room 107C or through email at smithb@chipola.edu

Refer to the Student Complaint Procedure on page 64 of the college catalog

Per Florida Statute 1006.51, Chipola College provides a Student Ombudsman for students to confidentially discuss complaints, concerns, or problems.  The ombudsman will act as an impartial campus resource by providing a safe environment for a student to pursue either an academic, non-academic complaint or grade grievance.  The Associate Vice President of Student Affairs serves as the student ombudsman and may be contacted in Building A – Room 107C, email smithb@chipola.edu, or 850-718-2451. 

ISSUE FIRST CONTACT
Academic/Instruction Supervising Dean
Admissions/Application Registrar
Advising Associate  VP of Student Affairs
Athletics Coach
Bachelor's Degree Academic Program Dean
Bookstore Bookstore Manager
Cashier Comptroller
Class Availability Academic Program Dean
Discrimination - between students Associate VP of Student Affairs
Discrimination - of student by employee Associate VP of Human Resources
Entry Testing College Testing Center Coordinator
Financial Aid College Director of Financial Aid
Florida Residency Registrar
Graduation Registrar
Harrassment - between students Associate VP of Student Affairs
Harrassment - of student by employee Associate VP of Human Resources
Inappropriate Use of Grant Funds from any Federal Agency USDOL Hotline, 1-800-347-3756
International Admissions Registrar
Library College Director of Learning Resources
Limited Access Admissions Academic Program Dean
Lost and Found Associate VP of Student Affairs
New Student Orientation Associate VP of Student Affairs
Not on Class Roster Registrar
Parking Ticket Appeals Coordinator of Student Activities
Refund Requests Registrar
Registration Registrar
Security Associate VP of Student Affairs
Student Financial Accounts Comptroller
Students Experiencing Homelessness Director of Enrollment Services
Student Activities College Student Activities Coordinator
Students with Disabilities College Disability Services
Transcripts Registrar
Veterans VA Advisor

*Please Note: All complaints of harassment of a student by an employee must be forwarded to the Associate Vice President of Human Resources. These complaints may or may not be presented in writing, as the Office of Human Resources will formally document all such complaints.

In the event the student feels the grievance was not managed properly by the institution, the student may visit the Florida College System Complaint Procedure Information, website for information on how to file a complaint if it is believed that the complaint warrants additional investigation.

Complaint Process Under SARA (State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement)
Chipola College Distance Learning students who have completed the internal institutional complaint process or the applicable state grievance process may appeal non-instructional complaints to the FL-SARA PRDEC Council.
Students should follow the steps below for addressing complaints if they are enrolled in a distance learning program or if they are seeking clarification under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA):
1. Initial Complaint Resolution
If you have a complaint, it must first be resolved through the institution’s procedures. This is the first step before any further action can be taken. Complaints related to criminal offenses or violations of state law can be reported directly to the relevant state agencies.
2. Complaints About Grades or Student Conduct
Complaints related to student grades or conduct violations are governed by the institution’s policies and the laws of the state where the institution is based.
3. Appealing an Institutional Decision
If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the institution's resolution process (except for issues related to grades or conduct), you may appeal to the SARA State Portal Entity in the institution’s home state. The appeal must be filed within two years of the incident. The institution’s home state will resolve the issue, and their decision is final, unless specific exceptions apply.
4. Assistance from Your State Portal Entity
While the final decision comes from the institution’s home state, the SARA State Portal Entity in your state of residence can provide assistance if necessary. Once the complaint is resolved, the outcome will be shared with your state’s SARA State Portal Entity.
5. Review of Disputed Complaints
If concerns arise about whether a state is following SARA policies, the regional authority overseeing SARA may review the complaint. NC-SARA (National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements) may also review whether regional compacts are ensuring member states comply with SARA standards.
6. Reporting and Transparency
SARA State Portal Entities are required to report quarterly to NC-SARA regarding unresolved complaints that have been appealed beyond the institutional level. This data will be made publicly available on the NC-SARA website, ensuring transparency and accountability in the complaint resolution process.
7. State Legal Action
SARA policies do not prevent a state from using its general laws to take action against an institution if there has been a violation of those laws.
For more information about the SARA Complaint Process, please visit the FL-SARA Complaint Process page.
Filing a Complaint with the College’s Accrediting Agency
Information regarding how to file a complaint with the College’s accrediting agency, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), can be found on their website at: https://sacscoc.org/app/uploads/2020/01/ComplaintPolicy-1.pdf.