Out-of-State Online Student Complaint Procedure

Out-of-State Online Student Complaint Procedure

Any complaints pertaining to a Southern Crescent Technical College online course or program should be submitted to Southern Crescent Technical College using the Student Grievance/Complaint Form.

Complaints needing further investigation beyond the college level may be submitted to TCSG using the Program Integrity Complaint Form. Before submitting to TCSG, students need to ensure they have followed the Southern Crescent Technical College's process.

A student may appeal to the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (GNPEC) if the SCTC's and TCSG’s resolution is not satisfactory; however, please note that the Commission will not investigate a complaint unless the student has exhausted all available grievance procedures outlined by the institution. GNPEC does not resolve complaints about student grades and student conduct violations. These complaints fall under the jurisdiction of institutional policy.

The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) is a national initiative that establishes uniform standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education. SARA simplifies the process for institutions to provide online courses across state lines and ensures consistent consumer protections for students. If you are an online student residing in a SARA-participating state, you have specific rights and a formal process for addressing complaints related to distance education.

SARA Student Complaint Procedure and Policy

Learn about the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) complaint process, including your rights as an online student and the steps to resolve concerns. This resource explains what types of complaints fall under SARA, how to begin with your institution’s grievance process, and when to escalate to your state’s SARA portal entity. Read the SARA Student Complaint Procedure and Policy

GA-SARA Online Student Complaint Form

The U.S. Department of Education’s “Program Integrity” regulations require that each state has a student complaint procedure in order for public and private higher education institutions to be eligible for Title IV funds. GA-SARA is responsible for monitoring all written and signed student complaints against degree granting institutions authorized to operate in Georgia through SARA. If, after exhausting internal grievance procedures, the institution of higher education has not responded to the complainant’s satisfaction, or a satisfactory remedy has not been found, the complainant may contact GA-SARA for further investigation into the issue. View the GA-SARA Online Student Complaint Form

Click here to access forms for Student Complaints.