If you are a veteran, you can contact the  Veteran’s Legal Clinic at the University of San Diego School of Law for assistance.

PRIVATE POSTSECONDARY SCHOOLS:

Once you have made an effort to address your problem with the school, if the matter is not resolved, or if you do not agree with the outcome, contact the California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) and file a complaint.  BPPE oversees private postsecondary schools in California (postsecondary = after high school). 

Anyone may file a complaint if they believe an approved institution has violated the laws governing the institution's operation. Complaints are most often received from students, their families, other members of the private postsecondary education industry, law enforcement agencies, and other regulatory agencies.

Steps to take if you need help resolving a problem with a California college or university.

ALL POSTSECONDARY SCHOOLS:

Once you have made an effort to address your problem with the school you are attending, if the matter is not resolved, or if you do not agree with the outcome, contact the appropriate state body to file a complaint:

CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

• Contact the California Community College Chancellor’s Officeand submit a complaint. 
  

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM (CSU)

• Use theCSU internal complaint procedure.
  
• You can also contact the California Attorney General’s officewith consumer protection issues:
  
• If your complaint relates to a violation of the CSU systemwide policy prohibiting Discrimination, Harassment, Retaliation, Sexual Misconduct, Dating or Domestic Violence or Stalking against students by the CSU, Employees, other Students, or Third Parties, follow the systemwide procedure to file a complaint.
  

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA (UC)

• The University of California takes very seriously complaints and concerns regarding the institution. Most complaints should be resolved at the campus level. If your complaint regarding the University of California has not been resolved at the campus level, you may present your complaint as follows: 
  
• (1) If your complaint is associated with the institution’s compliance with academic program quality and accrediting standards you may file a complaint with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), the agency that accredits the University of California’s academic program.
  
• (2) For all other complaints about UC that are not about UC’s compliance with academic program quality and accrediting standards, you may file a complaint:
  
• (a) At the EthicsPoint website you can elect anonymity and/or confidentiality with respect to your complaint about the University of California. Your complaint will be conveyed to appropriate campus officials and may be shared with other relevant parties.
  
• (b) To the State Attorney General by contacting the Public Inquiry Unit of the California State Department of Justice.​
  
• (c) Or by telephone or fax: Public Inquiry Unit Voice: (916) 322‐3360 or (Toll‐free in California) (800) 952‐5225 Fax: (916) 323‐5341

OTHER IMPORTANT RESOURCES:

​FosteringQualityEducation

PUBLIC POSTSECONDARY SCHOOLS:

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

empowering California's foster youth to make fully-informed decisions about their college options

CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU (CFPB)

• File a complaint about loans and other financial instruments 
  
• Find information on educational loans tailored to students 
  
• Find information about consumer complaints
  

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

• Information on financial aid for college 
  
• Information on college accreditation 
  
• Information about laws and policies related to education and postsecondary education
  

BE INFORMED AND PREPARED!

Make sure that you receive information about institutional complaint procedures when you sign up for classes.  This should include:

• Procedures you must follow to file a complaint
  
• A timeline that must be followed throughout the dispute resolution process 
  
• Contact information for dispute resolution
  

IF YOU ENCOUNTER A PROBLEM:

Start by using the dispute resolution process in place at the school you are attending. Keep a file with all of your records, including:

• everything you sign (you should always do this) 
  
• every form you send 
  
• all correspondence (sent and received) related to the issue 
  
• all email and text messages (sent and received) related to the issue
  

 
KEEP A LOG:

• Write down the times and dates of anything you do related to the dispute resolution. 
  
• Write down the names and titles of everyone you talk to.
  
• If you have a phone conversation, follow up with an email include in the email: 
  

                    > The date and time of your discussion
                    > The subject of your discussion
                    > The outcome of the discussion

• Keep a copy of the email (the sent copy) and any response you receive.