Student Grievance Procedure
A student is encouraged to discuss academic progress, suggestions, or concerns with Sonoran Desert Institute staff, faculty, or administration. It is suggested that the student contact the staff by email or telephone. For concerns related to Satisfactory Academic Progress or academic standing, please refer to the SAP appeals process for more details. For any other concern, grievance, or complaint that is not satisfactorily addressed through informal conversation, the student may submit a formal complaint relating to the following unresolved areas:
- Administration
- Finance
- Technical issues
- Faculty performance
- Program content
When the Institute receives an SDI Student Grievance Form, the Grievance Committee will contact the staff/faculty members directly involved and attempt to reach a resolution. Within 15-business days after receipt of the SDI Student Grievance Form, the Grievance Committee will provide the student with a written response of the Institute’s decision.
If not satisfied with the decision, the student may appeal that decision in writing, to the Institute’s president. The president will respond to the student within 15-business days after receipt of the appeal. The decision of the president is final, and the Institute will conclude the investigation regarding the grievance.
If the student’s complaint cannot be resolved after exhausting the Institute’s grievance procedure, the student may file a complaint with the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education. The student must contact the State Board for further details. The State Board mailing address and contact information is listed below. The Grievance Committee will keep a log of all formal complaints.
Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education
1740 W. Adams, 3rd Floor
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: 602-542-5709
Website: www.ppse.az.gov/
The student may also file a complaint with the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). Their contact information is listed below.
Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC)
1101 17th Street NW, Suite 808
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-234-5100
Fax: 202-332-1386
Website: www.deac.org
AZ-SARA Complaint Process
The Arizona SARA Council has jurisdiction over Arizona SARA-approved institutions including Sonoran Desert Institute (SDI) in relation to non-instructional complaints. Instructional complaints, such as grade grievances, are not reviewed by the Council and should not be submitted for review. Prior to registering a non-instructional complaint with the Arizona SARA Council, the student/complainant must complete SDI’s and the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education complaint process, as listed in the above grievance procedures. The AZ SARA complaint process is only for non-Arizona based students. Non-instructional complaints may be submitted at https://azsara.arizona.edu/complaints.
California Student Complaint Policy
An individual may contact the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education for review of a complaint. The bureau may be contacted at:
P.O. Box 980818
West Sacramento, CA 95798-0818
Phone: (916) 574-8900
Fax: (916) 263-1897