Complaint Process

Distance Learning Complaint Process for Out-of-State Students

Northwestern State University strives to resolve student grievances, complaints and concerns in an expeditious, fair and amicable manner.

Students residing outside of the State of Louisiana while attending NSU through electronically delivered classes who would like to resolve a grievance should contact the appropriate NSU office. However, if an issue cannot be resolved internally, you may file a complaint with your State.

Complaint Process for students from a SARA member state

Northwestern State University participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement. Students from other SARA-approved states should refer to the following documents for the appropriate complaint procedure:

Board of Regents’ SARA Student Complaint Process

Board of Regents SARA Student Compaint Form

Complaint Process for students from a state that is not a member of SARA

The State Agencies, listed below, provide phone numbers, emails and/or links to state education agencies.

SACS Complaints

Northwestern State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Complaints filed against Northwestern State University with SACS must adhere to the following criteria:

The complaint policy only addresses significant, documented, alleged non-compliance with the SACSCOC accreditation standards, policies or procedures.
Complainants are expected to have attempted to resolve the issue through the institution’s complaint processes before filing a complaint with SACSCOC.
The SACSCOC complaint process is not intended to be used to involve the Commission in disputes between individuals and member institutions or to cause the Commission to interpose itself as a reviewing authority in individual matters; nor does the policy allow the Commission to seek redress on an individual’s behalf.
The primary purpose of the SACSCOC complaint procedure is to acquire valuable information regarding an accredited institution’s possible non-compliance with accreditation standards, policies and procedures rather than to resolve individual disputes.
Complaints must be tied to specific standard numbers from The Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement.

For more information on how to file a complaint with SACS, click here.

Student Grievance Contact Information for Individual States

Alabama

Alabama Commission on Higher Education
www.ache.state.al.us
(334) 242-1998 (334) 242-0268

Alaska

Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education
http://akadvantage.alaska.gov/
(907) 465-2962 (907) 465-5316

Arizona

Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education
Student Grievance Procedure
(602) 542-5709 (602) 542-1253

Arkansas

Arkansas Department of Higher Education
Student Grievance Procedure (pdf)
(501) 371-2000

Colorado

Colorado Department of Higher Education
Student Grievance Procedure
(303) 866-2723 (303) 866-4266

Connecticut

Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education
www.ctregents.org
(860)947-1801

Delaware

Delaware Department of Education
www.doe.k12.de.us
(302) 735-4000 (302) 739-4654

Florida

Florida Department of Education
Student Grievance Procedure
(850) 245-0505 (850) 245-9667

Idaho

Idaho Board of Education
Student Grievance Procedure
(208) 334-2270 (208) 334-2632

Illinois

Illinois Board of Higher Education
Student Grievance Procedure
(217) 782-2551 (217) 782-8548

Iowa

Iowa College Student Aid Commission
www.iowacollegeaid.gov
(515) 725-3400 (515) 725-3401

Kansas

Board of Regents
Student Grievance Procedure
(785) 296-4917 (785) 296-7052

Kentucky

Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education
Student Grievance Procedure
(502) 573-1555 (502) 573-1535

Louisiana

Louisiana Board of Regents
Student Grievance Procedure
(225) 342-4253 (225) 342-9318

Maine

Maine Department of Education
www.maine.gov/education
(207) 624-6600 (207) 624-6700

Maryland

Maryland Higher Education Commission
Student Grievance Procedure (pdf)
(410) 260-4500 (800) 974-0203

Massachusetts

Massachusetts Board of Higher Education
Student Grievance Procedure
(617) 994-6950 (617) 727-0955

Michigan

Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth
Student Grievance Procedure
(517) 373-1820 (517) 373-2129

Minnesota

Minnesota Office of Higher Education
Student Grievance Procedure
(651) 642-0567 (651) 642-0675

Mississippi

Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation
www.ihl.state.ms.us/mcca
(601) 432-6198 (601) 432-6225

Missouri

Missouri Department of Higher Education
Student Grievance Procedure (pdf)
(573) 751-2361 (573) 751-6635

Montana

Montana University System, Montana Board of Regents
http://mus.edu/board
(406) 444-6570

Nebraska

Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education
www.ccpe.state.ne.us/PublicDoc/CCPE
(402) 471-2847 (402) 471-2886

Nevada

Nevada Commission on Postsecondary Education
Student Grievance Procedure
(702) 486-7330 (702) 486-7340

New Hampshire

New Hampshire Postsecondary Education Commission
Student Grievance Procedure
(603) 271-3494

New Jersey

New Jersey Commission of Higher Education
Student Grievance Procedure
(609) 588-3226

New Mexico

New Mexico Higher Education Department
Student Grievance Procedure
(505) 476-8400 (505) 476-8453

North Carolina

North Carolina Community College System, Office of Proprietary School Services
Student Grievance Procedure
(919) 807-7146 (919) 807-7164

North Dakota

North Dakota State Board for Career and Technical Education
www.nd.gov/cte
(701) 328-3180 (701) 328-1255

Ohio

Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools
Student Grievance Procedure
(614) 466-2752 (614) 466-2219

Oklahoma

Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
www.okhighered.org
(405) 225-9100

Oklahoma Department of Education – Private and Career Schools Office
Student Grievance Procedure
(503) 947-5600 (503) 378-5156

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Department of Education, Division of Program Services
Student Grievance Procedure
(717) 783-6137 (717) 783-6139

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Council on Higher Education
http://www.ces.gobierno.pr
(787) 641-7100 (787) 641-2573

South Carolina

South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
Student Grievance Procedure
(803) 737-2260 (803) 737-2297

South Dakota

South Dakota Board of Regents
Student Grievance Procedure
(803) 737-2260 (803) 737-2297

Tennessee

Tennessee Higher Education Commission
http://www.tn.gov/thec
(615) 741-3605 (615) 741-62307

Texas

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Student Complaints
(512) 427-6101

Utah

Utah Division of Consumer Protection
Student Grievance Procedure
(801) 530-6601 (801) 530-6001

Vermont

Vermont State Board of Education
education.vermont.gov/index.htm
(802) 828-3135

Washington

Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board
www.hecb.wa.gov
(360) 753-7869

Washington DC

Washington DC – Education Licensure Commission
http://osse.dc.gov/service/education-licensure-commission-elc
(202) 442-4343 (202) 442-4465

West Virginia

West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
http://www.wvhepc.com/
(304) 558-4016

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Educational Approval Board
http://eab.state.wi.us/
(608) 266-1996 (608) 264-8477

Wyoming

Wyoming Department of Education
edu.wyoming.gov
(307) 777-5712