Student Complaints

Mitchell Technical College (MTC) recognizes there may be conditions in need of improvement and students and others should have some means by which their concerns may be effectively expressed, considered, and dealt with fairly. Such means can do much to maintain harmonious relationships between the College and the students, employees, and community.

MTC will follow approved policies and procedures for handling complaints. MTC desires all types of complaints be handled informally at the level closest to the origin of the complaint. However, a process is provided for filing official complaints when resolution is not achieved.

Students with a concern or complaint should start by requesting assistance from staff in the Center for Student Success. CSS staff will work with the student to address the issue through meetings, emails, or other informal communication with involved parties. If efforts to reach a resolution are unsuccessful, or at any point in the process, the student may choose to initiate a formal complaint or appeal. Students wishing to file a formal complaint or appeal with the College should refer to Policy MTC 1045. Students wishing to file a grievance alleging a violation of federal or state civil rights laws, rules, and regulations should refer to Policy MTC 1046. All student written appeals/complaints/grievances should be submitted to Scott Fossum, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Title IX Coordinator, in the Campus Center.

Employees wishing to file an official complaint or appeal with the College should refer to Policy MTC 713. Employees wishing to file a grievance alleging a violation of federal or state civil rights laws, rules, and regulations should refer to Policy MTC 115. All employee written appeals/complaints/grievances should be submitted to Scott Fossum, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Title IX Coordinator, in the Campus Center.

If the matter is not resolved through formal processes, individuals may choose to file a complaint at the state level.

Students who are South Dakota residents or who are attending courses on the Mitchell Tech campus may file unresolved complaints with the South Dakota Board of Technical Education (BOTE). The BOTE office will only handle those complaints that concern educational programs or practices of technical colleges and that have exhausted the individual institution’s formal process for complaints. The office does not handle anonymous complaints, nor does it intervene in matters concerning an individual’s grades or examination results, as these are the prerogative of the college’s faculty.

Students who are not South Dakota residents (except California) who are taking exclusively online courses may file unresolved complaints with the South Dakota NC-SARA State Portal Agency of the South Dakota Board of Regents (SDBOR). The SDBOR will only address complaints after a student has exhausted their appeals at the institutional level. This process is for complaints that the institution has violated deceptive trade practices or consumer protections or that the institution does not meet standards established by the institution’s accrediting agency or the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). Complaints involving student grades or student conduct violations are governed entirely by institutional policy. (See Section 4 of the SARA Policy Manual for SARA's consumer protection policies.) California residents who are taking exclusively online courses may file unresolved complaints with the California Department of Consumer Affairs.

Mitchell Technical College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. For complaints related to institutional practices that may not meet the Criteria for Accreditation established by The Higher Learning Commission, individuals should direct complaints to HLC.

Allegations about an individual MTC program’s failure to comply with program accreditation standards should be directed to the accrediting body in question.

Culinary Academy
Medical Assistant
Medical Laboratory Technology
Radiation Therapy
Radiologic Technology

A complaint or concern regarding MTC's handling of education benefits for veterans should be directed to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). For any complaints submitted to the VA, all information, including your name unless filed anonymously, will be shared with MTC officials who will follow procedures found in Policies 1045 and 1046.

A complaint of consumer fraud on the part of MTC should be directed to the South Dakota Attorney General’s office.