Grievance Policy

Students in distance learning courses have the right to address complaints or grievances in the same manner as any other students, following the college's student appeals procedure as provided below:

State Authorization for Distance Education

SARA (State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement) is an agreement among member states that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education programs and courses. It is intended to make it easier for students to take distance learninʻg programs and courses offered by postsecondary institutions across state lines. SARA is overseen by the National Council and administered by four regional education compacts. Members of SARA are states, not institutions. Membership is voluntary; therefore, not all states are SARA members.

The state of Hawaiʻi is a member of NC-SARA through the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, University of Hawaiʻi at West Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Community College, Honolulu Community College, Maui College, Kapiʻolani Community College, Kauaʻi Community College, Leeward Community College, and Windward Community College are participating SARA institutions. A list of member States and participating Institutions, may be found at the NC-SARA website.

If complaint is unresolved, after exhausting the college's grievance procedures listed above, then the distance learning student may submit the grievance to the Hawaiʻi Post-Secondary Education Authorization Program (HPEAP).

HPEAP Administrator
P.O. Box 541
Honolulu, HI 96809
Telephone:  (808) 586-7327
Link: Student Complaint Process
Link: Student Complaint Form