This grievance procedure is intended to provide an orderly process by which grievances of a professional nature are examined or resolved within the established structure of the school. It is understood that this procedure is available to students on a voluntary basis and that any student shall have the right to pursue a grievance through regular administrative channels. The term grievance shall not apply to any legal matter in which the administration is within authority to act.
Definitions- GRIEVANT – “Grievant” shall refer to a student.
- GRIEVANCE – A “grievance” shall mean a written claim by a grievant that there has been a violation, a misinterpretation, or an inequitable application of any existing policies, rules, or regulations of the school, which substantially affects a grievant.
- PARTY IN INTEREST – A “party in interest” is the grievant, the instructor(s), or the administrator(s) who are involved in the examination and resolution of the claim.
- Level One – Instructor
The parties in interest acknowledge that it is usually most desirable for a student and his/her immediate involved instructor to resolve problems through free and informal communications. The grievant shall address his/her concerns with the instructor within five (5) working days of an issue arising in and/or outside the classroom. - Level Two – Director of Education (DOE)
If the grievant is dissatisfied with the response or solution provided in Level One, the student must present his/her grievance in writing to the Director of Education within ten (10) calendar days of attempting to resolve the issue with the instructor. The grievance filed must specifically state the existing policy, rule, and/or regulation, which has been violated, misinterpreted, and/or inequitably applied, along with how the grievant has been adversely affected. Upon receipt of the written grievance, the DOE and/or designee has fifteen (15) working days to provide a written response to the grievant. The DOE may arrange an in person meeting with the grievant during this period if applicable.
- Level One – Campus President
If the grievant remains dissatisfied with the informal procedures, then he/she has within ten (10) calendar days of receiving a written response from the DOE, to present his/her original written grievance to the Campus President. The Campus President may arrange an in person meeting to take place within fifteen (15) working days of receipt of the grievance if applicable. At the end of the stated timeframe, the Campus President and/or designee shall provide the grievant with a written answer to the grievance. This response would represent the institution’s final decision and would conclude the appeals process. - Level Two – Students who are dissatisfied with the final ruling or any action taken by the school may contact the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools, 7777 Leesburg Pike, Suite 314 N. Falls Church, VA 22043, Tel (703) 917-9503.
Should the grievant fail to appeal a grievance decision within the period of ten (10) working days during the appeals process, whatever current decision at that stage will be deemed as acceptable and final. If the appeal is approved due to mitigating or special circumstances, the student will be placed on probation and will be considered making satisfactory academic progress and eligible for financial aid.
Mutual consent in writing by the parties in interest may extend the time periods outlined in the informal and formal procedures.
REPRISALSNo reprisals of any kind shall be taken by either party or by any member of the administration against any party involved.
STATE AND ACCREDITING AGENCY COMPLAINT POLICYFor West Hartford, CT, students who are dissatisfied with the final ruling of any actions taken by the school may contact the State of Connecticut, Office of Higher Education, 450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 707, Hartford, CT 06103, Telephone (860) 947-1816, or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools, 6116 Executive Blvd., Suite 730, North Bethesda, MD 20852, Tel (703) 917-9503.
For New Jersey students who are dissatisfied with the final ruling or any actions taken by the school may contact the New Jersey Department of Education P.O. Box 05, Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0055, Telephone (609) 292-9696, or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools, 6116 Executive Blvd., Suite 730, North Bethesda, MD 20852, Tel (703) 917-9503. In the event of an unannounced school closure in the State of New Jersey, students enrolled at the time of the closure must contact the Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s Training Evaluation Unit within ninety (90) calendar days of the closure. Failure to do so within ninety (90) calendar days may exclude the student from any available assistance. The contact number to call is (609) 292-4287.
American Institute does not have a policy and does not act in any manner to discourage or prevent any student from filing a complaint with the State of Connecticut, State of New Jersey, Department of Higher Education, or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools.
