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Provost

Notification of Montana University System Complaint Process

In October 2010, the United States Department of Education released new regulations known as the "Program Integrity" rules, which are intended to address concerns relating to the integrity of academic programs offered by postsecondary educational institutions and authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act (HEA), as amended.

As part of those new rules, each state must have in place a process for receiving, reviewing, and responding to complaints concerning post-secondary educational institutions delivering educational services in that state, and each institution must inform students how to initiate complaints in the state where the student receives instruction. This notification provides information on the complaint process available to students of the Montana University System.

Pursuant to Mont. Code Ann. § 20-25-201 and Title 20, Chapter 15 Mont. Code Ann., the designated units of the Montana University System, and the duly organized community college districts in the State of Montana are legally authorized to provide postsecondary education in the State of Montana. Together, these fourteen entities form the group of public postsecondary educational institutions in the State of Montana, all of which are under the authority and control of the Board of Regents of the Montana University System. Those institutions are as follows:

  •     Montana State University – Bozeman
  •     Montana State University – Billings
  •     Montana State University – Northern
  •     Montana State University – Great Falls College
  •     University of Montana – Missoula
  •     University of Montana – Missoula College
  •     University of Montana – Helena College
  •     Montana Tech of the University of Montana
  •     The University of Montana – Western
  •     Dawson Community College
  •     Flathead Valley Community College
  •     Miles Community College

These institutions are accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, 8060 165th Avenue NE, Suite 100, Redmond, Washington 98052, (425) 558-4224.

How to File a Complaint

Students and prospective students of the Montana University System are encouraged to initially address complaints through the applicable institution's complaint or review procedures. At the University of Montana, please refer to the following.

Safety Concerns: Contact the UM Police Department

Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Harassment, or Retaliation: Contact the Office of Conflict, Resolution, and Policy

Student or Student Organization Misconduct: Contact the Office of Community Standards

General Concerns: Contact the Dean of Students Office

  • (406) 243-5325
  • Online Self-Referral Form
  • The Dean of Students Office can assist with a wide range of concerns, including:
    • Discuss concerns or questions about free speech and expression
    • Assistance navigating university systems or processes
    • Religious accommodations
    • Connecting with resources to support physical/mental health or basic needs
    • General concerns about campus life

Complaints that remain unresolved after engaging in the above-referenced process may be further pursued in the following manners:

  • An individual adversely affected by the final decision of a university president may appeal the decision to the Commissioner of Higher Education and the Board of Regents pursuant to the Board of Regents' Policy 203.5.2.
  • Complaints concerning broad institutional academic practices, such as those that raise issues regarding an institution's ability to meet accreditation standards, may be filed with the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
  • Complaints concerning consumer protection violations may be directed to the Montana Department of Justice Office of Consumer Protection.
  • Complaints concerning distance education by Montana residents and students located in a state or territory that has joined SARA, the SARA State Portal Entity (Montana State Authorization Officer) is responsible for conducting the investigation and resolution of complaints that are not resolved at the institutional level. If a person bringing a complaint is not satisfied with the outcome of the institutional process for handling complaints, the complaint (except for complaints about grades or student conduct violations) may be appealed, within two years of the incident about which the complaint is made, to Montana’s SARA State Portal Entity.