File a Complaint

Lake Area Tech wants to hear from you when something isn’t right. We take every concern seriously and work to resolve it fairly, respectfully, and as quickly as possible. What you tell us also helps us improve — for you and for the students who come after you.

Start by talking with us

Most concerns are resolved fastest by talking directly with the person or department involved. If that doesn’t resolve it, contact the Department Supervisor for the program or area, or the Dean of Academics.

File a Formal Complaint

If your concern isn’t resolved informally, complete the official complaint form and submit it to Cameron Corey, Vice President, at Cameron.Corey@lakeareatech.edu.

Complaints may concern, among other things:

Academic matters — an instructor, a grade appeal, or another academic concern
Campus hazing
Student services — customer service, accommodations, or another service concern
Financial matters — an appeal of charges
Non-academic concerns from distance education students

What Happens Next?

1. We confirm that we received your complaint within two business days and tell you who will be handling it.
2. Your complaint is assigned to the Dean, Director, or Department Supervisor responsible for that area. It is never assigned to anyone named in the complaint.
3. That person looks into your concern, takes appropriate action, and documents the outcome.
4. You receive the outcome in writing. Complaints are resolved within sixty business days; if more time is needed, we will tell you why and give you a new date.
5. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, you may appeal in writing to the President of Lake Area Technical College within ten business days, stating the grounds for your appeal. The President’s decision is final.

Grade appeals and other academic grievances follow the steps in the Student Handbook, which also describes your right to appeal at each stage.

You Are Protected

No one will face retaliation of any kind for filing a complaint or taking part in the complaint process.

How We Will Use What You Tell Us

Every formal complaint and its outcome is recorded in a secure log. We review those records each year to make sure complaints are resolved promptly and to spot patterns that point to a policy, service, or process that needs to change. Concerns raised through this process have led to college-wide changes — including the campus AI guidelines now in effect.

Sexual Harassment & Discrimination (Title IX)

Title IX concerns follow a separate process. Please contact the Title IX Coordinator rather than using the general complaint form:

Hannah Abel, Dean of Student Services · hannah.abel@lakeareatech.edu · Lake Area Technical College, 1201 Arrow Avenue, Watertown, SD 57201

Distance Education Students

Please use Lake Area Tech’s complaint process first. If your concern is still unresolved after that, you may file a complaint with the South Dakota SARA Coordinator:

South Dakota SARA portal.

The SARA process reviews concerns about state authorization, deceptive practices, and accreditation standards. It does not review grades or student conduct decisions, which are governed by college policy. Students residing in California may contact the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education.

Accreditation

Lake Area Technical College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Concerns about the college’s compliance with accreditation standards may be directed to:

Higher Learning Commission, 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, Illinois 60604-1411 · 800-621-7440 · File a complaint with HLC

Program-specific concerns should be directed to the appropriate accrediting body, including:

Consumer Protection

Suspected consumer fraud may be reported to the South Dakota Attorney General’s Division of Consumer Protection · 605-773-4400 or 1-800-300-1986 (in state) · consumerhelp@state.sd.us