Contacts for Resolving Complaints

If in doubt about where to start, contact the Dean of Students at 978-556-3818 or jarey@necc.mass.edu.

Student Code of Conduct
 Procedure  Initial Contact  Who v. Who Type of Complaint/Violation 
Student Code Of Conduct

Office of Community Standards, CARE Report

Maxie Holman Stocks, Director of Community Standards
978-556-3746
mstocks@necc.mass.edu 

Faculty/Staff v. Student, Student v. Student

Violation of Student Code of Conduct.

Student Grievance
Procedure  Initial Contact Who v. Who  Type of Complaint/Violation 

Student Grievance Procedure

 

Jason Arey, Dean of Students
978-556-3818
jarey@necc.mass.edu

Heather Mores, Director of Compliance
978-556-3659
hmores@necc.mass.edu

Student v. Faculty/Staff

Alleged abridgement of student rights in the classroom or academic environment.

Grade Appeals
Procedure Initial Contact  Who v. Who Type of Complaint Violation 

Student Grievance Procedure

Grade Appeals Officer

Thomas Greene, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
978-556-3336
tgreene@necc.mass.edu

Student v. Faculty

Grade dispute.

Affirmative Action Grievance Procedure
Procedure     Initial Contact Who v. Who   Type of Complaint/Violation  

Affirmative Action, Non-Discrimination & Accessibility

Liz Trelegan, Affirmative Action Officer

978-556-3928
etrelegan@necc.mass.edu

Student, Staff or Faculty v. Student, Staff or Faculty

Discrimination or harassment-based complaint (race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran status, genetic information, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 
Procedure Initial Contact  Who v. Who Type of Complaint/Violation 

Affirmative Action, Non-Discrimination & Accessibility

Liz Trelegan, ADA Coordinator, 504 Coordinator Officer

978-556-3928
etrelegan@necc.mass.edu

Anyone who accesses the College v. any employee or student at NECC

Anyone who accesses the College v. NECC 

Allegation of disability discrimination.

Administrative Complaints
Procedure  Initial Contact Who v. Who Type of Complaint/Violation

Dissatisfaction with an office service or decision.

Jason Arey, Dean of Students

978-556-3818
jarey@necc.mass.edu

Prospective Student, Parent or Current Student v. Faculty, Staff or Office

Dissatisfaction with an office service or decision

Allegations of Sexual Assault or Harassment
Procedure Initial Contact Who v. Who Type of Complaint/Violation

Know Your Title IX: Sex Discrimination, Harassment & Assault

Liz Trelegan, Title IX Coordinator

978-556-3928
etrelegan@necc.mass.edu

Public Safety: 978-556-3333 or X3333 from any campus phone
Local Authorities: 911

Student v. Student or Employee

Employee v. Student or Employee

Allegations of Sexual Violence, Sexual Assault, Dating Violence, Domestic Violence, Stalking, or Sexual Harassment

 

Complaints

NECC is required to provide current and prospective online learning students with contact information for filing complaints. Students who desire to resolve a grievance should follow the College’s Student Grievance Procedure as outlined in the NECC Student Code of Conduct and Grievance Procedures

For Massachusetts Residents and Online Students in Non-SARA Member States and Territories 

After you have exhausted the complaint procedures made available by Northern Essex Community College (NECC) initiated here through the NECC Student Complaint Form, if your complaint has not been resolved, you may file a consumer complaint with the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education by using the consumer complaint form. The DHE consumer complaint form should be used by students who are located in: 

  • Massachusetts 
  • Non-SARA Member States or Territories (e.g., California, Guam, etc.) 

For Online Students Located in SARA Member States and Territories 

After you have exhausted the complaint procedures made available by Northern Essex Community College and your complaint has not been resolved, you may file a complaint with the DHE by using the SARA complaint form. The DHE SARA complaint form should be used by students who are located in SARA member states and territories. This includes all students who are located in SARA member states and territories for the purposes of completing out-of-state learning placements, such as internships, practicums, clinical experiences, etc. in SARA member states and territories outside Massachusetts. 

Additional information from the DHE’s SARA complaint website is below: 

The SARA complaint process is as follows: 

  1. Students must first attempt to resolve their complaint using internal administrative procedures offered by the SARA institution. 
  2. After all administrative remedies have been exhausted with the MA-SARA institution, the student may submit a SARA Complaint via the URL below. 
  3. The Department shall send a copy of the complaint to the institution that is the subject of the complaint; 
  4. Within 30 days of the date that the Department sends a copy of the complaint to the institution, the institution must provide a written response to the student and the Department. 

More information about DHE’s complaint processes can be found here (PDF).

The SARA portal agency in the student’s state of residence will be notified of any complaint filed with the Massachusetts portal agency. The student’s home state may assist the Massachusetts portal agency as needed. The complaint resolution by the Massachusetts portal agency is final and cannot be appealed to another state or federal agency or to NC-SARA.