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Appeals & Complaints

Appeals Procedure & Complaints

INEAA maintains a formal appeals procedure for institutions that wish to challenge an adverse accreditation decision, and a separate complaints process for concerns raised by members of the public or institutions.

Institutional Appeals

Right to appeal

Any institution that receives an adverse accreditation determination — Provisional Accreditation with Conditions or Denial — retains the right to lodge a formal appeal. Appeals must be submitted within thirty (30) calendar days of the written decision notification.

All appeals are reviewed by an independent panel with no prior involvement in the original evaluation. The appeals process does not suspend the original determination unless the Board issues an interim order.

Appeals must be submitted in writing to the Board of Accreditation Commissioners at arc@ineaa.org within thirty (30) calendar days of the decision notification date.

Appeals Process

1
Submit Appeal
Submit a formal written appeal to arc@ineaa.org within 30 calendar days of the decision notification. The appeal must state clearly the grounds for challenge and include any supporting evidence not previously considered.
2
Acknowledgement
INEAA will acknowledge receipt of the appeal within five (5) business days and confirm the composition of the independent appeals panel.
3
Panel Review
The independent appeals panel reviews the original evaluation record, the evaluator's Scoring Rubric, and the grounds submitted by the appellant. The panel may request additional information from either party.
4
Panel Determination
The appeals panel issues a written determination within forty-five (45) business days of acknowledgement. The determination may uphold the original decision, modify it, or refer the case to a new evaluation.
5
Board Confirmation
The Board of Accreditation Commissioners confirms the panel's determination. This decision is final and binding. Written notification is issued to the institution within five (5) business days.

Grounds for Appeal

What may be appealed

An appeal must be based on one or more of the following grounds. General dissatisfaction with the outcome does not constitute a valid ground for appeal.

Procedural Irregularity
The evaluation was not conducted in accordance with INEAA's published procedures, and this irregularity materially affected the outcome.
Evaluator Conflict of Interest
An evaluator who participated in the review had an undisclosed conflict of interest that was not identified prior to the evaluation.
Material Evidence Not Considered
The institution submitted documentary evidence that was not considered by the evaluator, and that evidence is material to the determination of one or more standards.
Scoring Error
A standard was scored in a manner inconsistent with the evidence presented, and the error materially affected the Overall Weighted Score or the determination of a critical standard.
Appeals submitted on grounds other than those listed above, or submitted after the thirty (30) day deadline, will not be accepted for review. The Board's decision on admissibility is final.

Public Complaints

Raising a concern

Any individual or organisation may submit a formal complaint to INEAA regarding:

  • —The conduct or quality of an INEAA evaluation
  • —The accuracy of information in the INEAA accreditation register
  • —An accredited institution misrepresenting its INEAA accreditation status
  • —Suspected misrepresentation or fraud in an accreditation application
  • —The conduct of an INEAA evaluator or staff member

All complaints are treated with strict confidentiality. Complainants will receive acknowledgement within five (5) business days and a written outcome within thirty (30) business days of submission.

How to Submit a Complaint

By Email

Send your complaint in writing to info@ineaa.org with the subject line: "Formal Complaint — [Brief Description]".

What to Include
  • ›Your full name and contact details
  • ›The name of the institution or individual concerned
  • ›A clear description of the complaint and the events or conduct in question
  • ›Any supporting documentation or evidence
  • ›The outcome you are seeking
By Post

Complaints Manager, INEAA
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