Formal Complaint Process
LMU seeks to address written student complaints when brought to the attention of the administration. The formal complaint process of LMU is a separate process from the program specific appeal/grievance process in an academic program. The University encourages students who have a legitimate concern to participate in the formal complaint process if the concern is not addressed by the program specific appeal/grievance process. The Formal Student Complaint is used to document and track the institution’s forthright attempts to address appropriately filed Formal Student Complaints.
The Formal Student Complaint Form may be downloaded at: https://www.lmunet.edu/office-of-institutional-compliance/student-complaint-process.
The process initiated by this form does not negate or replace any appeal/grievance process of a specific program. The student may be directed to that process as a result of filing this form. That program specific appeal/grievance process in an academic program must be completed by the student before any additional review may take place by the University. The formal complaint process initiates a review of the completed appeal/grievance process. A formal complaint must be filed within 30 days of the receipt of the final decision from the program specific appeal/grievance process.
For proper processing, all information must be completed and delivered to Office of Institutional Compliance, Cumberland Gap Offices #3 (Next-door to the Lincoln's Closet), 609 Colwyn St., Cumberland Gap, TN 37724.
Off -Campus Authorities
All Locations
Complaints relating to quality of education or accreditation requirements shall be referred to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) (http://www.sacscoc.org/pdf/081705/complaintpolicy.pdf);
Tampa, Florida Location
Complaints related to the application of state laws or rules related to approval to operate or licensure of a particular professional program within a postsecondary institution shall be referred to the appropriate State Board (i.e., State Boards of Health, State Board of Education, and so on) within the Florida State Government and shall be reviewed and handled by that licensing board (http://floridasnursing.gov/licensing/, and then search for the appropriate division).
For students attending programs in Florida, complaints related to state consumer protection laws (e.g., laws related to fraud or false advertising) shall be referred to the Florida Office of the Attorney General and shall be reviewed and handled by that Unit (https://www.myfloridalegal.com/consumer-protection).
For students attending programs in Florida, who have a grievance that has not been resolved through other avenues, they can contact the Florida Department of Education - Commission on Independent Education either by sending a letter to: Commission for Independent Education 325 W. Gaines Street, Suite 1414, Tallahassee, FL. 32399-0400, or by email: CIEINFO@fldoe.org, or Fax: 850-245-3238
Complaint Policies and Procedures for Certain Distance Education Students
The below policies apply to students who are:
- non-Tennessee residents in State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (“SARA”) states and who are enrolled in a distance education program/course or
- who are attending an out-of-state learning placement in a SARA state.
The nature of complaints to be addressed through these policies include violations of SARA policies and dishonest or fraudulent activity. These policies do not apply to complaints concerning student grades or student conduct violations. For more information on complaint subject matter see SARA Policy Manual Sections 4.2 and 4.3.