Other Concern or Complaint Options

After a student has exhausted the college's complaint or grievance procedures, if a matter remains unresolved, a formal complaint may be filed with the online Student Complaint Portal. 

If the student has not properly exhausted all available options with the college, their formal complaint may be denied by the Student Complaint Portal until proper processes and procedures have been followed, thus further delaying a resolution. The portal is hosted by the Licensure Division of the University of North Carolina System Office and can be found online.

A student can also complete a Student Complaint Form (PDF) and submit the complaint to:

North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaints
c/o Student Complaints
University of North Carolina System Office
910 Raleigh Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27515-2688

For more information, send an email to: studentcomplaint@northcarolina.edu.

The Process After Filing a Complaint

The Student Complaint Portal will forward community college student complaints to the North Carolina Community Colleges System Office (NCCCS). Before initiating an inquiry, the NCCCS must receive the following:

• Fully completed and signed student complaint form. Note: Complaints from students with disabilities must also include an authorization to disclose medical information if the complaint in any way involves alleged discriminatory treatment as a result of the disabilities.
• Documentation of the student’s completion of the college’s complaint or grievance procedures, including the ultimate outcome after completing the procedures
• Evidence to support the complaint, such as copies of correspondence, enrollment agreements, course catalog information, and any other information believed to be relevant to the matter of the complaint

Students are required to work through the campus complaint process before escalating issues to the NCCCS through the Student Complaint Portal. The NCCCS cannot offer legal advice to complainants and does not act as a student’s agent, advocate, or attorney. Any information provided by NCCCS staff is not to be interpreted as legal advice. The scope of the review done by the NCCCS will be limited to a review of the complaint, ensuring the college processes have been followed, and ensuring that State Board code has been followed. In some cases, the NCCCS may have a discussion with a college to obtain further details about the complaint.

Consumer Protection Division

Complaints regarding fraud, false advertising, or other violations of state law will be referred to the Consumer Protection Division of the North Carolina Department of Justice. Students can also file a complaint directly with the Consumer Protection Division of the North Carolina Department of Justice by visiting the State Attorney General’s web page. North Carolina residents may also call (877) 566-7226. Outside of North Carolina, please call (919) 716-6000. En Espanol (919) 716-0058. If you choose to mail a complaint, please use the following address:

Consumer Protection Division
Attorney General’s Office
Mail Service Center 9001
Raleigh, NC 27699-9001

Unresolved complaints may also be filed with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, the college’s institutional accreditor, once all other avenues have been exhausted. For more information about filing a complaint with SACSCOC, including the criteria for complaint, see Complaints Against SACSCOC or Its Accredited Institutions.