Students Rights & Responsibilities

Student Complaint Process

Northeast Community College (Northeast) recognizes that from time to time, students and others may have concerns or complaints about conditions, individuals, policies and procedures of the College.  In order to provide a means by which concerns can be effectively expressed and considered by the College, students and others should follow the process outlined below.

For all complaints, the first course of action is to attempt to resolve the complaint directly with the Northeast Community College employee(s) involved.  If a resolution is not obtained at this level, complaints should be put in writing and sent to the Dean of Students, who will then forward the complaint to the appropriate administrator.  The Dean of Students can be contacted at:
Northeast Community College
College Welcome Center
801 E Benjamin Ave
Norfolk, NE 68701
402-844-7258 or deanofstudents@northeast.edu

If a student feels the administrative response is not satisfactory, the Formal Student Grievance Process may be initiated.

Distance Education Student Complaints

In compliance with the Higher Education Opportunities Act of 2008, the U.S. Department of Education conducted a Negotiated Rule Making Process in 2010, and institutions offering distance education must provide enrolled and prospective students with contact information for filing complaints with its accrediting agency and with the appropriate state agency for handling complaints in the student’s state.

It is recommended that students taking online classes at Northeast Community College first pursue their concerns locally.  Students taking online classes at Northeast Community College who reside out-of-state should follow the grievance procedures to resolve concerns as noted in the Student Grievances Procedures section of the Student Handbook.

Northeast Community College is required to have contact information on its web site for out-of-state students who want to file a complaint within their home state. We provide additional resources for filing student complaints that provides phone numbers, emails and/or other contact information for state education agencies.

Harassment and/or Discrimination

Concerns involving harassment or discrimination by a college staff member on the basis of gender, race, national or ethnic origin, religion, military veteran status, marital status, political affiliation, age, or disability should be directed to the College’s compliance officer at:  complianceofficer@northeast.edu.
If after following the College’s procedure, the issue cannot be resolved internally and the student seeks additional resolution, students can refer to the additional resources for filing a complaint with the appropriate state agency or accrediting body.