Policies for Complaints Against the Program

Complaints Against the Program that Fall Outside Due Process

The faculty and staff of the Graduate Occupational Therapy Program strive to demonstrate a high level of ethical values and professionalism in all its activities. In some cases, a situation may generate complaint for which no formal grievance process exists. The complaint should be written, signed, include details about the complaint and documented evidence and mailed to:

Program Director, Graduate Program in Occupational Therapy
Sacred Heart University
5151 Park Avenue
Fairfield, CT 06825

Please include contact information so the Program Director can reach you in order to resolve the complaint.

The following outlines the process for handling a complaint against the Program:

  1. When possible, the Program Director will discuss the complaint directly with the party involved within 14 business days. The expectation is that the complaint can be satisfactorily resolved by this discussion. The Program Director will provide a written description of the resolution to the person complaining.
  2. If dissatisfied with the outcome of the discussion with the Program Director, or if the complaint is against the Program Director, the complainant may submit a written complaint to the Dean, College of Health Professions. The Program Director will provide the Dean with a written summary of previous discussions where applicable. The Dean will discuss the matter with the Program Director and complainant separately and may schedule a joint appointment or conference call with the Program Director and complainant in attempt to reach a solution. The Dean will provide the complainant and the Program Director with a written letter outlining the solution reached through this step.
  3. If the complainant remains dissatisfied after step two, the last line of complaint is to the Provost, who serves as the chief academic officer of Sacred Heart University.
  4. Any letters or documentation associated with the complaint from the complainant, the Program Director, Dean, or Provost will be kept in a folder marked “Complaints against the Occupational Therapy Program kept in the program’s files for a period of five years.

Complaints Against the Program Regarding its Compliance with ACOTE® Accreditation Standards or Adherence to Established ACOTE Policies and Procedures

The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE®) follows established procedures when complaints are received by ACOTE indicating that accredited programs or programs seeking accreditation may not be in compliance with the Accreditation Standards for a Doctoral-Degree-Level Educational Program for the Occupational Therapist, Accreditation Standards for a Master’s-Degree-Level Educational Program for the Occupational Therapist, or Accreditation Standards for an Educational Program for the Occupational Therapy Assistant, or may not be following established accreditation policies or procedures. Actions taken by other accrediting agencies do not preclude ACOTE from investigating a complaint against the same institution or program. ACOTE will not intervene on behalf of individuals or act as a court of appeal for faculty members or students in matters of admission, appointment, promotion, or dismissal. A copy of the Standards may be obtained through the ACOTE Web site   or by contacting Accreditation Department staff at the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

To receive formal consideration, all complaints against a program subject to ACOTE accreditation must be submitted in writing to the ACOTE Chairperson, c/o the AOTA Accreditation Department. The complaint must be submitted as an attachment to an e-mail addressed to accred@aota.org  and must include a signed complaint form, “Complaint Against a Program Subject to ACOTE Accreditation”. A complaint against an educational program must meet specific criteria and include a completed complaint form. Complaint procedures, criteria, and appropriate forms can be found in the ACOTE Policies and Procedures Manual, sections V.B; V.B.1; and V.B.2.

Public Comments or Complaints Against the Program Regarding Regional NECHE Accreditation

The New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) is the regional accrediting body for colleges and universities in New England. The Commission has two means of hearing from students, faculty, staff, and members of the public about its member institutions: (1) Public Comments and (2) Complaints. Neither the Public Comment or the Complaint process is designed to offer a remedy for personal grievances. In no case are anonymous submissions accepted. Public Comments consist of observations, positive or negative, about the quality of a member institution and its programs, based on an individual’s experiences. They must be substantive but need not include evidence. Comments may be written or emailed; there is no prescribed format for submitting the information. Complaints are more formal expressions of concern regarding an institution’s compliance with the Standards for Accreditation. A completed Complaint Form  is required. Complaints must meet seven specific criteria as outlined on the NECHE website. To register your complaint in CT; mail it to

Connecticut Office of Higher Education
450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 510
Hartford, CT 06103-1841
OHE Contact Information

Public Comments or Complaints Against the Program to the Connecticut Office of Higher Education Accreditation

The Office of Higher Education (OHE) is responsible for quality review of independent colleges and the regulation of postsecondary career schools located in Connecticut.  As a member of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), the Office also is responsible for the investigation and resolution of out-of-state students' complaints against all institutions of higher education based in Connecticut and offering distance education via SARA. 

If you believe that a Connecticut independent college, or an institution participating in SARA has not fulfilled its promises, you may file a complaint with the Office of Higher Education. The OHE will investigate complaints concerning matters within their statutory authority and, if justified, take appropriate action. Generally, issues falling under OHE’s jurisdiction involve academic quality and licensing. Issues regarding student life (such as student discipline, grading and housing) fall solely within the purview of institutions. The Office of Higher Education will act only on complaints that were unable to be resolved through the institution’s internal dispute resolution process; The OHE requires that you first exhaust the University and Program’s internal grievance or complaint process before filing a complaint the Office of Higher Education. The Office of Higher Education cannot provide legal advice. To file a complaint, complete an initial review form and send it to ohe.pcs@ct.gov or mail it to:

Connecticut Office of Higher Education
450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 510
Hartford, CT 06103-1841