1
April 9, 2018
Post-Secondary Student Complaints
Filing a Complaint with the Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing Bureau
Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing (CSCL) Bureau is responsible for responding to formal
complaints against authorized public, independent non-profit and proprietary institutions of higher
education providing distance education from Michigan or out-of-state institutions of higher education
providing distance education in Michigan pursuant to 2015 PA 45 (Act). We also investigate complaints
against any other licensed or authorized post-secondary school regulated by CSCL. CSCL has limited
authority over colleges and universities, and cannot offer legal advice or initiate civil court cases; CSCL
staff will review submitted complaints and work with student complainants and institutions.
Before completing a complaint form, please take a moment to read these instructions; they will help
you understand CSCL’s functions.
• CSCL has no authority to investigate discrimination: If a student believes that an institution has
acted in a discriminatory manner, he/she may wish to contact the Michigan Department of Civil
Rights (MDCR) at (800) 482-3604. http://www.michigan.gov/mdcr
• CSCL has no authority to investigate financial aid issues: Issues with State of Michigan financial
aid should be directed to the Michigan Department of Treasury, Student Financial Services
Bureau at (888) 447-2687 or (517) 373-4897. http://www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid
Issues with Federal Financial Aid should be directed to the Federal Student Aid Ombudsman
Group of the U.S. Department of Education and/or the Federal Student Aid Information Center,
at (800) 433-3243 or (800) 4FED-AID. http://www2.ed.gov/programs/fpg/contacts.html
• CSCL has no authority to investigate complaints related to course grades, academic sanctions
or discipline/conduct matters.
• CSCL only has authority to investigate entities regulated by acts administered by CSCL. If a
student believes that a college or university has violated state or federal law, he/she may wish
to contact the Michigan Department of Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division at (517)
373-1140. Attorney General Consumer Complaint/Inquiry Filing Information
.
Prior to completing CSCL’s complaint form, students should attempt to resolve their issues with the
institution of higher education they are or have attended.
First, if a student has concerns related to classroom situations or administrative actions, he/she should
contact the faculty or staff member(s) with whom he/she has an issue. It may be possible to resolve the
concerns without the need for formal institutional action.