A complaint is defined by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) as one alleging that a CODA-accredited educational program, a program which has an application for initial accreditation pending, or CODA may not be in substantial compliance with CODA standards or required accreditation procedures.
File a Complaint
Additional Complaint Information
A “formal” complaint is defined as a complaint filed in written (or electronic) form and signed by the complainant. This complaint should outline the specific policy, procedure or standard in question and rationale for the complaint including specific documentation or examples. Complainants who submit complaints verbally will receive direction to submit a formal complaint to CODA in written, signed form following guidelines in the EOPP manual (PDF).
Students, faculty, constituent dental societies, state boards of dentistry, patients, and other interested parties may submit an appropriate, signed, formal complaint to CODA regarding any CODA accredited dental, allied dental or advanced dental education program, or a program that has an application for initial accreditation pending. An appropriate complaint is one that directly addresses a program’s compliance with the CODA’s standards, policies and procedures. CODA is interested in the continued improvement and sustained quality of dental and dental-related education programs but does not intervene on behalf of individuals or act as a court of appeal for treatment received by patients or individuals in matters of admission, appointment, promotion or dismissal of faculty, staff or students.
In accord with its responsibilities to determine compliance with accreditation standards, policies, and procedures, CODA does not intervene in complaints as a mediator but maintains, at all times, an investigative role. This investigative approach to complaints does not require that the complainant be identified to the program.
Students, faculty, constituent dental societies, state boards of dentistry, patients, and other interested parties may submit an appropriate, signed, formal complaint to CODA regarding any CODA accredited dental, allied dental or advanced dental education program, or a program that has an application for initial accreditation pending. An appropriate complaint is one that directly addresses a program’s compliance with the CODA’s standards, policies and procedures. CODA is interested in the continued improvement and sustained quality of dental and dental-related education programs but does not intervene on behalf of individuals or act as a court of appeal for treatment received by patients or individuals in matters of admission, appointment, promotion or dismissal of faculty, staff or students.
In accord with its responsibilities to determine compliance with accreditation standards, policies, and procedures, CODA does not intervene in complaints as a mediator but maintains, at all times, an investigative role. This investigative approach to complaints does not require that the complainant be identified to the program.
An “anonymous comment/complaint” is defined as an unsigned comment/complaint submitted to CODA. Any submitted information that identifies the complainant renders this submission a formal complaint and will be reviewed as such (e.g. inclusion of a complainant’s name within an email or submitted documentation).
All anonymous complaints will be reviewed by CODA staff to determine linkage to Accreditation Standards or CODA policy and procedures. If further investigation is warranted, the anonymous complaint will be handled as a formal complaint (See Formal Complaints); however, due to the anonymous nature of the submission, CODA will not correspond with the complainant.
Anonymous comments/complaints determined to be unrelated to an Accreditation Standard or CODA policies and procedures will not be considered. Anonymous comments/complaints that do not provide sufficient evidence of probable cause of noncompliance with the standard(s) or required accreditation policy(ies), or procedure(s) to proceed, will not be considered.
File an Anonymous Complaint Against an Educational Program (PDF)
Interested parties may submit an appropriate, signed complaint to CODA regarding CODA policy(ies), procedure(s) or the implementation thereof. CODA will determine whether the information submitted constitutes an appropriate complaint and will follow up according to the established procedures.
Further details about CODA’s processing of complaints may be found at the Complaint Policy link above. Per CODA policy, the initial screening of the complaint is usually completed within thirty (30) days.
Further details about CODA’s processing of complaints may be found at the Complaint Policy link above. Per CODA policy, the initial screening of the complaint is usually completed within thirty (30) days.