MilEd Benefits Mobile App
Contact a Counselor
FAQ
Search
Resolve School Concerns (PECS)
Postsecondary Education Complaint System Helps Resolve Student Concerns
Program Overview
The Department of Defense maintains the Postsecondary Education Complaint System (PECS) that provides military students the opportunity to file complaints against a school. Examples of education-related issues may include, but are not limited to, misrepresentation or deceptive actions with regard to private or institutional loans, high-pressure recruitment tactics, false representations about degree programs, and misleading statements regarding accreditation.
PECS will track, manage, and process student complaints at one of three levels, depending on the user assigned to manage the grievance. Students using federal education benefits and programs will be able to register their complaint online. The system electronically records information about the educational institution, nature of the issue/complaint, and the complainant’s contact information. The agencies cited in the Executive Order (Departments of Defense, Education, Justice, Veterans Affairs, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) will be responsible for tracking, managing, and providing a response to student complaints.
Student Benefits
- Assistance with resolving school issues and concerns
- Protection against abusive and deceptive recruiting/retention practices by institutions of higher learning
- Program that monitors compliance with DoD and federal policies to ensure access to quality educational opportunities
- Ensures students receive the information, support, and tools they need to make informed decisions about all aspects of their education
Program Eligibility
If you or your family member receives tuition assistance or is a Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts Scholarship recipient, you are encouraged to submit feedback through PECS.
If you are not using TA or My Career Advancement Account Scholarship education benefits, please submit your complaint to the appropriate agency:
- Montgomery or Post 9/11 GI Bill® — Department of Veterans Affairs
- Federal financial aid, for example Pell Grants and federal loans — Department of Education (email complaint)
- Private student loans - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
When to submit a complaint
You may submit a complaint if your school is failing to follow the Principles of Excellence. This initiative is designed to empower you and your family members to report misleading or unfair actions by education institutions. Examples of education related issues may include, but are not limited to, misrepresentation or deceptive actions concerning multiple unsolicited phone calls or emails used as a high-pressure recruitment tactic, false representation about degree programs, misleading statements regarding accreditation, or promoting costly private or institutional loans. The types of complaints DoD will review include the following:- Recruiting and marketing practices
- Quality of education
- Accreditation
- Grade Policy
- Financial issues (for example, tuition and fee charges)
- Release of transcripts
- Student loans
- Transfer of credits
- Post-graduation job opportunities
- Refund or collection issues
- Change in degree plan and requirements
- Other
If you are experiencing issues specific to your TA or MyCAA education benefit, for example, eligibility, application/request form, or payment, please direct them to your DoD military service education representative.
PECS PROCESS
The following steps outline the process and subsequent actions after a complaint is submitted:STEP 1: COMPLAINT SUBMITTED
Upon submission of a complaint about an issue with a school, the student will receive status updates via the email address provided when the complaint was submitted.
PECS PROCESS
STEP 2: COMPLAINT IS REVIEWED BY DOD AND MILITARY SERVICE
Complaints will be sent to your DoD military service education representative for review. The representative will work with your school and provide you with a response. Please note that all verified complaints will be submitted for the record to the Federal Trade Commission's Consumer Sentinel Network.
PECS PROCESS
STEP 3: COMPLAINT RESPONSE PROCESS
As your complaint is being reviewed, the DoD/military service education representative will communicate with you as needed and, with feedback from the school, will prepare a response to your complaint.
PECS PROCESS
STEP 4: STUDENT RESPONSE
Upon completion of the school's response, you will receive a case closure notification via the email address you provided when you submitted the complaint.
PECS PROCESS
STEP 5: FOLLOW-UP
Complaint data is shared with state and federal law enforcement agencies as necessary. Complaints tell us about practices that may pose risks to students. If we need more information, we'll contact you.