In order for Iowa Lakes to initiate an investigation of a student complaint, the following must be true:
1. The student did not receive a satisfactory resolution when working directly with the appropriate individual(s) or department(s) as outlined in the Student Handbook.
2. The complaint must be in legible written or typed format.
3. The student has submitted the complaint to Iowa Lakes using Iowa Lakes' Student Complaint Form.
4. The student complaint contains a detailed description of the claim, including dates, times, and full names of all involved, as well as the actions taken by both the student and the institution to resolve the matter.
5. The student has signed the form attesting to the truth and accuracy of the complaint.
6. The student recognizes that Iowa Lakes will not investigate anonymous complaints and that by signing the form, the student acknowledges that Iowa Lakes may share information provided with the institution or other relevant organizations or state agencies in order to help resolve the dispute. Iowa Lakes does not guarantee a resolution resulting from this submission or its investigation into the allegation.
The student complaint must be received within two (2) years of the occurrence. Upon receiving a student complaint, Iowa Lakes will facilitate an investigation of the matter being disputed if it falls within its jurisdiction. If preliminary findings indicate a violation of Iowa Lakes regulations by the institution, Iowa Lakes shall attempt to resolve the complaint through mediation. All parties will be notified in writing of the outcome of the investigation. If the complaint is outside of Iowa Lakes’ jurisdiction, it may be directed to another agency that is authorized to address the concerns, if appropriate.
Iowa Lakes may contact the student to submit further details or to submit documented evidence of the allegations against the institution. Students should not submit original documents as they may not be returned. Student complaints will be examined to determine factual basis.
Depending on the nature of the complaint, investigation and facilitation could require several weeks to months to complete.