Policy on Complaint Resolution
Complaint Resolution at the Institution Level
Methods to resolve complaints on campus are available in the Jefferson College Student Handbook and in the Jefferson College General Catalog.
Other Methods of Complaint Resolution
Jefferson College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, a Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Contact information for The Higher Learning Commission may be found on the Accreditation Statement web page. The Missouri Attorney General’s Office website may be found at https://ago.mo.gov/.
Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development Policy on Complaint Resolution
The Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development serves as a clearinghouse for post-secondary student complaints. This webpage contains information about the MDHEWD complaint policy process and includes instructions on how to file a formal complaint. Note that the policy provides that a student who wishes to file a complaint with the department must first exhaust all formal and informal avenues provided by the institution to resolve disputes.
Complaint Resolution for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)
A student may contact either the State Portal Entity (SPE) for the Institution's home state or the SPE for the student's home state. has the right to file a complaint or grievance. Jefferson College will ensure that all concerns and complaints of students are addressed fairly and are resolved promptly. Jefferson College students enrolled in online and distance courses, as well as on-campus courses, should attempt to resolve complaints by following the appropriate appeal, complaint, or grievance process as outlined in the Jefferson College General Catalog (P. 35), Student Handbook (P. 31), or Board Policy and Procedures.
Students with a complaint must first attempt to resolve the issue at Jefferson College by completing the school's complaint process. Exhaustion of all informal and formal institutional processes, including both campus processes and any applicable system processes, is a prerequisite to filing any formal complaint with the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development.
The student will be directed to submit the complaint in writing, using a complaint form provided by the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development. It may be mailed, scanned, or faxed to the department and must include supporting documentation. If there is no indication that institutional remedies have been exhausted, the complaint will be returned for that purpose. Complaints that fall within the jurisdiction of the department will be investigated and resolved as appropriate by the relevant unit of the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development. All parties to the complaint will be notified of its resolution.
If dissatisfied with the resolution of Jefferson College grievance process, the student may file a complaint with:
Joshua Fischer: (573) 522-1377
Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development
State Portal Agent for SARA
301 West High Street
Jefferson City, MO 65101
