(a) Complaints against a New York State institution shall first be subject to an institution’s own procedures for resolving complaints.
(b) If a person bringing a complaint to an institution is not satisfied with the outcome of the institutional process for handling complaints, a complaint (except for complaints about grades or student conduct violations) may be made to the department, on a form prescribed by the commissioner.
(c) The department shall review and resolve complaints in accordance with the SARA policies and standards.
(d) The department may impose as a penalty, refunds or other corrective action, to resolve complaints.
(e) Nothing in this section precludes the State from simultaneously using its laws of general application, including laws of consumer protection and fraud prevention, to pursue action against an institution that violates those laws.
Complaints against New York State institutions operating under SARA shall follow the following procedures: