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Home ― Academics ― Provost & Academic Affairs ― Concerns and Complaints

Concerns and Complaints

Dakota State University is committed to helping students achieve their academic goals by providing a supportive and challenging educational environment. If students have concerns, they should follow the university’s established procedures to address any issues or complaints. Our aim is to resolve these matters promptly and equitably at the university level.

Academic Complaints or Concerns

In the case that a student has a concern, the university’s procedures should be followed to address these concerns.  Where minor concerns arise, we ask students to raise concerns with the instructor or appropriate staff members with the goal of resolving the concern at this level.  We recommend visiting with the appropriate department and dean as needed. If a complaint cannot be handled through these channels, the students may address the concern formally through the Office of the Provost. 

Academic Appeals Policy

Non-Academic Concerns

Enrolled students can submit non-academic complaints. The complaints can be submitted electronically using the Concerns and Complaints form. 

Concerns and Complaints Form

Notification of Complaint Process for Program Integrity

Any person may file a complaint with the Executive Director of the South Dakota Board of Regents to obtain a review and appropriate action on allegations that an institution governed by the Board: 

  • Violated South Dakota consumer protection laws; 
  • Engaged in fraud or false advertising; 
  • Violated South Dakota laws relating to the licensure of post-secondary institutions or programs; 
  • Failed to provide an educational program meeting contemporary standards for content and rigor; 
  • Failed to assign qualified instructors; or 
  • Violated one or more accreditation requirements. 

Where the institution has not already considered and acted upon the complaint, the Executive Director will refer the matter to the institutional president for review and action. If the complainant challenges an institutional disposition of the complaint. The Executive Director will provide for an independent review and disposition of the allegations. 

The Office of the Executive Director of the South Dakota Board of Regents 
306 East Capitol Avenue 
Pierre, South Dakota, 57501-2545 
Phone: 605-773-345 
E-Mail: info@sdbor.edu. 

SARA Complaint Procedures for Out-of-State Students

Complaints must first be processed through DSU’s procedures for resolution of complaints. The SD-SARA administrator will verify that all complaints have been received and processed by the institution and will not consider complaints that have not gone through the institutional complaint process. Complainants who processed their complaints through institutional complaint procedures but remain dissatisfied with the outcome of the institutional process may request that the SARA administrator review the institutional resolution of the complaint. 

The complaint procedures for SD-SARA can be found in Section 7 of SDBOR SARA Policy 1:29. 

For more information about the SARA complaint procedures, refer to the SD-SARA Complaint Procedures

Contact Information for Out-of-State Students

Students residing in other states while enrolled in a course offered by DSU will utilize the institution’s internal complaint or review policies and procedures prior to filing a complaint with the state agency or agencies. For students residing in a SARA state, the complaint must be brought to the institution’s home state SARA portal entity. Students may submit complaints to the SD-SARA Portal Entity. 

Students in California 

Complaints may be directed to the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, Department of Consumer Affairs through their online form.

Accreditor Complaint Procedure

DSU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association (NCA) of Colleges and Schools.  

DSU Accreditation

Instructions for filing a complaint with the Commission. 

Consumer Protection 

Allegations involving a violation of consumer protection laws may be filed with the Office of the Attorney General. 

SD Attorney General’s Office:

Office of the Attorney General
1302 E Hwy 14
Suite 1
Pierre SD 57501-8501

Phone (Routine Business):
(605) 773-3215
TTY: (605) 773-6585 (For the Hearing Impaired)
Fax: (605) 773-4106

Online complaint form

Division of Consumer Protection 

1302 E Hwy 14 
Suite 3 
Pierre SD 57501-8501 

Division of Consumer Protection Phone: (605) 773-4400 
Consumer Help Line: 1-800-300-1986 (South Dakota only) 
Fax: 773-7163 

Email: consumerhelp@state.sd.us