SARA Complaint Process
Online Students Residing in Georgia and any state other than Louisiana
Andrew College operates under SARA policies thus providing our own and SARA’s Complaint Resolution policies and procedures to all students taking courses under SARA policies. Initial responsibility for the investigation and resolution of distance education student Complaints resides with Andrew College. Further consideration and resolution, if necessary, is the responsibility of the GA-SARA State Portal Entity and other responsible agencies of Andrew College’s Home State, Georgia. The State Portal Entity is responsible for conducting the investigation and resolution of Complaints that are not resolved at Andrew College. The Portal Entity may enlist the assistance of other responsible entities in Georgia in carrying out the work of the Complaint resolution.
Since Andrew College is a SARA institution, distance education students from Georgia and any state other than Louisiana would make their complaint to the State Portal Agency in the Home state (Georgia) here: https://gnpec.georgia.gov/student-resources/student-complaints/ga-sara-online-student-complaint-form
This would be done if they are not satisfied with the resolution from the institution.
For students who wish to file a complaint with the State of Georgia, this form may be found here: https://gnpec.georgia.gov/webform/gnpec-student-complaint-form
Online Students Residing in Louisiana
Andrew College is approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) through the Georgia SARA State Portal Agency. This participation allows Andrew College to offer online education programs to students located in other SARA member states, including the State of Louisiana.
In accordance with NC-SARA guidelines and the Louisiana Board of Regents, Louisiana-resident students enrolled in Andrew College online programs must follow the complaint resolution process outlined below:
1. Step One: File a Complaint with Andrew College
Students should first attempt to resolve all academic or non-academic complaints through Andrew College’s internal processes.
Contact:
Office of Academic Affairs
Andrew College
Phone: 229-732-5971
Email: Academic Affairs , academicaffairs@andrewcollege.edu;
Website: https://www.andrewcollege.edu/student-affairs/
Andrew College will make every effort to resolve the concern promptly and fairly.
2. Step Two: Escalate Unresolved Complaints to Georgia SARA Portal Agency
If the complaint is not resolved through Andrew College’s internal procedures, Louisiana-based distance education students may escalate the complaint to the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (NPEC), which serves as the SARA State Portal Agency for Andrew College’s home state.
Georgia SARA Portal Agency (NPEC)
Website: https://gnpec.georgia.gov
Email: sara@gnpec.ga.gov
Phone: (770) 414-3300
NPEC will review the complaint in accordance with SARA policies.
3. Step Three: Louisiana SARA Student Complaint Process (Final Step)
If the issue remains unresolved, students residing in Louisiana may file a SARA-related complaint with the Louisiana Board of Regents, which is the SARA Portal Agency for the State of Louisiana.
Louisiana Board of Regents
SARA Student Complaint Information:
https://regents.la.gov/institutional-licensure/
PDF version of Louisiana SARA Complaint Process:
https://www.sowela.edu/wp-content/uploads/Board-of-Regents-SARA-Student-Complaint-Process.pdf
Phone: (225) 342-4253
Please note that the Louisiana Board of Regents will only review complaints after all institutional and home-state SARA processes have been exhausted.
