Online Program Complaints Resolution

Dominican University New York is committed to providing high-quality education and student support. All students are encouraged to communicate concerns so they can be addressed fairly and effectively.

Institutional Procedure

  • Dominican University New York’s academic appeals process — including grade appeals and appeals related to academic integrity — is outlined on the Academic Appeals page. Students seeking an appeal or filing a complaint must initiate the process by communicating the complaint or making the appeal to the director of the program in which the student is enrolled.
  • The process for addressing complaints and appeals related to student conduct is outlined on the Student Conduct Appeals page. Appeals of the decision or sanction related to student conduct must be initiated by the student, in writing via email to the appeal officer listed in their student outcome letter.
  • Complaints and appeals that are not resolved through these processes should be directed to the Vice President for Academic Affairs / Academic Dean at academicdeansoffice@duny.edu.

SARA Complaint Process

The complaint and appeals processes within the University are outlined above. Students enrolled in online programs offered by Dominican University who reside in states other than New York and have complaints about said programs should contact the director of the program in which the student is enrolled and the acting Vice President for Academic Affairs / Academic Dean, Dr. Kevin Hermberg, at kevin.hermberg@duny.edu.

Students enrolled in online programs offered by Dominican University who reside in states other than New York have specific consumer protection rights under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). NC-SARA consumer protection provisions require the institution’s home state, through its SARA State Portal Entity, to investigate and resolve allegations of dishonesty or fraudulent activity by the state’s SARA-participating institutions. Please note that SARA policies do not cover complaints related to grades or student conduct violations — for those, see the Academic Appeals page or the Student Conduct Appeals page.

Student complaints relating to consumer protection laws offered under the terms and conditions of SARA must first be filed with the institution to seek resolution. The complaint and appeals processes within the University are outlined via the links above. Students have the right to appeal the University’s decision to the SARA State Portal Entity in New York State within two years of the incident about which the complaint is made.

Steps for Filing a Complaint (Non-NYS Residents)

  1. Attempt resolution at the institutional level.

    Complaints relating to grades or the academic process should follow the procedures outlined on the Academic Appeals page.

    Students with complaints outside of the academic process that are specifically related to NC-SARA policies should be directed to Dr. Kevin Hermberg, acting Vice President for Academic Affairs / Academic Dean, at kevin.hermberg@duny.edu.

  2. File a complaint with the NYS Office of College and University Evaluation.

    If all institutional procedures have been followed, all avenues of appeal exhausted, and documentation provided that such procedures have been exhausted and the matter remains unresolved, then the student has the right to file a complaint with the NYS Office of College and University Evaluation.

    A student may appeal the institution’s decision to the SARA State Portal Entity in New York State within two years of the incident about which the complaint is made.

New York State SARA Portal Entity

Andrea Richards Supervisor of Higher Education Programs
New York State Education Department
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12234
Phone: 518.474.1551
Email: IHEauthorize@nysed.gov

More information about the SARA complaint process is available on the NC-SARA student complaints page.

Students with questions or concerns about the complaint and appeals processes should contact Mary McLean, IT Program Coordinator and Faculty, at mary.mclean@duny.edu, or Dr. Kevin Hermberg, acting Vice President for Academic Affairs / Academic Dean, at kevin.hermberg@duny.edu.