Complaints

The Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education (ACAE), through its established procedures of evaluation and monitoring, attempts to ensure that AuD degree programs maintain high standards of educational quality.

The ACAE was not created to serve and will not serve as an arbiter or mediator of disputes that may arise between the AuD degree programs and other parties. However, the ACAE is interested in hearing from groups or individuals who may have specific comments relating directly to a program’s lack of compliance with the ACAE Standards and requirements.

The institution shall inform its students of the ACAE’s mailing address and/or telephone number (Address: Director, ACAE, 11480 Commerce Park Drive, Suite 220, Reston, VA 20191. Telephone: 703-226-1056), the procedures for filing complaints with ACAE (as described below), and that only complaints relating directly to the lack of compliance with the Accreditation Standards and requirements of accreditation will be considered by the ACAE. Upon advice of counsel, the Board retains the right to withhold public disclosure of information if potential legal action is involved in the complaint.

Filing Complaints About an AuD Program

An individual or group desiring to file a complaint with the ACAE shall submit the complaint to the Executive Director using the web form below. The complaint should be specific in detail and include whatever documentation is available to support the complaint. Upon request and at the discretion of the ACAE Executive Director, ACAE may withhold or protect the identity of the complainant.
Upon receipt of the complaint, the Executive Director will forward within 10 business days a copy to the Program Director, for response and appropriate documentation. If the name of the complainant is being withheld/protected, the Executive Director shall strike any personally identifiable information from the complaint prior to forwarding to the institution or program.
The Program Director will have 30 business days to respond to the complaint, including providing appropriate documentation to support the response. The ACAE Executive Director may grant an extension of time to respond to the complaint if in the Executive Director’s discretion an extension is warranted. A request for delay must be submitted in writing. If a site visit is scheduled within the response time frame, the response may be provided as set forth below.
If a site visit is scheduled within two months of the receipt of the complaint, the Executive Director will also refer the complaint to the chair of the evaluation team visiting the program for investigation and action during the regular course of the evaluation process. The program will have an opportunity to respond during the course of the evaluation process.
The complaint and program response, including any supporting documentation will be turned over to the ACAE Board for its review. Simultaneously, the Executive Director, if feasible, will encourage informal efforts to resolve the matters that led to the complaint.
The ACAE Board shall take appropriate action, including but not limited to, dismissing the complaint, requiring a virtual site visit or scheduling a full in-person site visit.
Following review of the findings and complainant’s written comments, if any, the ACAE Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting shall make a determination with respect to the allegations of the complaint. Within 15 business days following the decision, a written report shall be prepared specifying the factual findings of the ACAE Board and the actions, if any, that the ACAE Board will take with respect to the complaint. The program and complainant(s) will be provided with a copy of the ACAE Board decision.
The ACAE will maintain the confidentiality of the information and documents submitted to it related to any complaint.

Filing Complaints About the ACAE

A complaint or inquiry regarding the ACAE Board, one of its officers, a Committee Member, Site Evaluator, employees, staff, agents, or consultants may be submitted to the ACAE Executive Director using the web form below. The complaint must identify the specific matter(s) of complaint, set forth in detail the facts and reasons to support the allegations, and must include copies of all pertinent documents in the complainant‘s possession that support the complaint.
Upon receipt of a complaint regarding ACAE actions or personnel, the ACAE Executive Committee will review the complaint within 10 days and determine whether further investigation is warranted. If it is determined that an investigation should proceed, the ACAE Board will have 45 days to conduct the investigation. If it is determined that no investigation is warranted, the complainant shall be so informed. The investigation may include, without limitation, interviews with persons having information regarding the allegations and a review of materials relevant to the complaint.
Following review of the findings and complainant’s comments, if any, the ACAE Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting shall make a determination with respect to the allegations of the complaint. Within 15 business days following the decision, a written report shall be prepared specifying the factual findings of the ACAE Board and the actions, if any, that the ACAE Board will take with respect to the complaint. The complainant(s) will be provided with a copy of the ACAE Board decision.
The ACAE will maintain the confidentiality of the information and documents submitted to it related to any complaint.
Do not use the form below to appeal an ACAE accreditation decision. See pages 19-22 of the ACAE Accreditation Manual for the Appeals process.

Complaints

Submit Complaint