AZ SARA

AZ SARA STUDENT APPEALS TO THE ARIZONA COMMUNITY COLLEGE COORDINATING COUNCIL (AC4)

AC4 is the appellate body for Arizona SARA Council approved community colleges for distance education student complaints. To file a complaint against an AZ SARA approved community college, first review the complaint eligibility requirements and complaint policy.

If your complaint meets eligibility, request a complaint form at: [email protected]. You will receive a response with the complaint form and submission instructions.

AC4 Complainant Policy

In accordance with AZ SARA policy, you have the option to appeal your original complaint with your Arizona community college to the Arizona Community College Coordinating Council (AC4).  Student complaints can be filed in accordance with this procedure:

  1. If a student has a complaint against an Arizona community college and exhausts all available grievance procedures established by the institution, the student may file a written complaint with AC4.  A complaint must be filed within two years of the incident.
  2. AC4 staff shall investigate the complaint and allegations to determine if there is a violation of statute or AZ SARA requirements and may do any of the following:
    1. Dismiss the complaint if it is determined that the complaint is without merit or does not meet eligibility criteria.
    2. Work directly with the institution’s President to come to a resolution.
    3. Refer the complaint to the AC4 Chief Academic Officers (CAO) Committee for review.
  3. If the complaint is referred to the AC4 CAO Committee for review, the Complaint Committee may do any of the following:
    1. Dismiss the complaint if the committee determines that the complaint is without merit or does not meet eligibility criteria.
    2. File a Letter of Resolution to the institution’s President.
    3. Refer the complaint to the full Council for further review and final action.
  4. If the complaint is referred to the full Council for review and final action, it may do any of the following:
    1. Dismiss the complaint if the committee determines that the complaint is without merit or does not meet eligibility criteria.
    2. File a Letter of Resolution to the institution’s President.

Actions taken by the full Council are final.

AC4 staff will provide the complainant with a written response regarding its review, determination, and resolution (if applicable).