The ‘Complaint Process’ described below stands apart from grievances related to Title IX and Title IV; see “St. John’s College Sexual Misconduct Policy” and “Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy” appendices in the Student Handbook for full details. If a student feels aggrieved by an action taken or not taken by St. John’s College with respect to its policies, procedures, or practices, the complainant can formally register the complaint. St. John’s College believes in the fair treatment of all community members and will review complaints in a timely manner. All complaints will be reviewed impartially, and no student will face retaliation for bringing a complaint. Please bring your complaint to the appropriate college official, as defined below. The New Mexico Higher Education Department and the Maryland Higher Education Commission require that “students or other parties with complaints or grievances against an institution first seek to resolve their complaint or grievance directly with the institution.”

Step 1: Formal Complaint

A formal complaint should be presented in writing to the Office of the Assistant Dean, for undergraduate student complaints, or to the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs, for graduate student complaints. Within ten work days, a meeting will take place with the complainant, the Assistant Dean or the Associate Dean, and, if the complainant wishes, another member of the community who may serve as a witness to the meeting. This meeting serves to ensure that the complaint is fully understood and the outcomes desired by the complainant are clearly expressed. Within ten days of the initial meeting, the Assistant Dean or the Associate Dean will notify the complainant in writing of the actions the college will take to address the complaint. (Complaints by staff members should be submitted to the Director of Human Resources. Complaints by faculty members should be submitted to the Dean. Complaints by alumni and members of the public should be directed to the President.)If a student, the Assistant Dean, or the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs feel that the Assistant Dean or Associate Dean are not able to handle the complaint impartially, the student may register the complaint with the Dean, instead.

Step 2: Formal Appeal

If the complainant feels that the issue has not been sufficiently resolved, the complainant may appeal to the President of the college. Ten days after the submission of the appeal, the President will make a determination and notify the complainant in writing.

Step 3: Outside Resolution

Should that final action by the college not lead to a mutually acceptable resolution, the complainant may file the complaint with the New Mexico Higher Education Department (for Santa Fe) or the Maryland Higher Education Commission (for Annapolis). The New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED) or the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) has authority to help facilitate resolution of student complaints, only after the student has utilized all internal complaint procedures at the educational institution. See more information about NMHED’s Student Complaint Process for non-distance education students or MHEC’s Student Complaint Process. Complaints regarding grades and student conduct violations shall not be reviewed by NMHED.

Student Complaint Process for Distance Education Students

The National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) is an agreement among member states, districts and territories that sets national standards for interstate offering of post-secondary distance education courses and programs. St. John’s College is an NC-SARA approved institution and the New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED) is the NC-SARA Portal Entity for New Mexico. MHEC is the NC-SARA Portal Entity for Maryland. Distance Education students attending St. John’s College who would like to resolve a grievance should follow St. John’s College’s established Student Complaint Process. However, if an issue cannot be resolved internally, you may file a NC-SARA complaint with the New Mexico Higher Education Department or the Maryland Higher Education Commission. Complaints regarding grades and student conduct violations shall not be reviewed by NMHED. See NMHED’s NC-SARA page or MHEC’s NC-SARA page for more information.