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Distance-Learning and PAGE Reporting Procedures

Mount Holyoke College is a women’s college that is gender diverse. The College is committed to providing equal access and opportunity in employment and education to all employees and students. In compliance with state and federal law, Mount Holyoke College does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, genetic information, sex, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, ancestry, veteran or military status, or any other legally protected status under federal, state or local law.

To support our commitment, we have established a Sexual Harassment Policy, Nondisrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy, and the Student Handbook, with respective procedures. All enrolled Mount Holyoke College students, regardless of location, are responsible for knowing, understanding and abiding by the policies, regulations and standards of conduct described within these policies. A student’s enrollment is considered to be their acceptance of all conditions specified in these policies.

If you are a PAGE student or a distance learner and you would like to report something that you believe may have violated a College policy, please submit your report here.

These reports will be reviewed by the Interim Executive Director of PAGE and will be forwarded to the proper College office for assessment. These offices include but are not limited to Community Standards, Civil Rights and Compliance, Human Resources and the Provost. If you have a concern that you would like to be sent directly to a specific office, please review our Community Reporting page for alternate reporting links.

Upon exhausting your administrative remedies with the College, you may then file a SARA complaint, explained below.

Distance Learning Students

Mount Holyoke College has been approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA). SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education. As a SARA-approved institution, Mount Holyoke College is authorized to offer online courses in each state that is part of the agreement without having to get approval from each state individually.

Mount Holyoke College out-of-state distance learning students residing in a SARA state may file a complaint with the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education. Students must first attempt to resolve their complaint using internal administrative procedures offered by Mount Holyoke College. After all administrative remedies have been exhausted with Mount Holyoke College, the student may submit a SARA Complaint.

The SARA complaint process is as follows:

  • Students must first attempt to resolve their complaint using internal administrative procedures offered by the SARA institution.
  • After all administrative remedies have been exhausted with the MA-SARA institution, the student may submit a SARA Complaint via the URL below.
  • The Department shall send a copy of the complaint to the institution that is the subject of the complaint;
  • 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.

Learn more information about DHE’s complaint processes.

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

If you have a complaint or concern that has not been resolved by Mount Holyoke College, you may file a consumer complaint with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office (AGO) by using the consumer complaint form. The AGO 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 Mount Holyoke College, located at https://gradadmission.mtholyoke.edu/register/Grievance, if your complaint has not been resolved, you may file a complaint with the DHE by using the SARA complaint form. Please note: for SARA complaints, students are explicitly required to exhaust the institution’s available complaint procedures before filing a SARA complaint.

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, practica, 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:

  • Students must first attempt to resolve their complaint using internal administrative procedures offered by the SARA institution.
  • After all administrative remedies have been exhausted with the MA-SARA institution, the student may submit a SARA Complaint via the URL below.
  • The Department shall send a copy of the complaint to the institution that is the subject of the complaint;
  • 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.