Southeast Technical College strives to resolve complaints at the lowest level possible. Students and community members should first attempt to resolve matters by working directly with the individuals involved. Southeast Tech provides the opportunity for students and community members to file a complaint once informal resolution is not achieved or is not appropriate.
Southeast Tech follows approved policies and procedures for handling complaints. These policies can be found in the Sioux Falls School Board Policies section of the STC website.
If the matter is not resolved through Southeast Tech’s complaint resolution process, the complaint may be filed at the state level with the South Dakota Board of Technical Education or with the Higher Learning Commission.
Students who are not South Dakota residents (except California) who are taking exclusively online courses may file unresolved complaints with the South Dakota NC-SARA State Portal Agency (SDBOR). The SDBOR will only address complaints after a student has exhausted his/her appeals at the institutional level. This process is for complaints that the institution has violated deceptive trade practices or consumer protections or that the institution does not meet standards established by the institution's accrediting agency or the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). Complaints involving student grades or student conduct violations are governed entirely by institutional policy. California residents who are taking exclusively online courses may file unresolved complaints with the California Department of Consumer Affairs.
A complaint of consumer fraud on the part of Southeast Technical College should be directed to the South Dakota Attorney General’s office.