Student Complaints
There are two policies for student complaints. The first is the Pentecostal Theological Seminary Complaint or “Student Grievance Policy.” The second is the Online Complaint Policy of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) which is the body through which the Seminary is authorized to provide online educational program in various states.
• Both policy links may be found below.
• Also, the complaint contacts for the various states in which the Seminary offers programs may be found after the Seminary and SARA complaint policy links.
Pentecostal Theological Seminary Complaint or Student Grievance Policy
Pentecostal Theological Seminary Complaint Policy: The student complaint policy of the Pentecostal Theological Seminary can be found in the Student Handbook at the following link on pages 23-24, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fIR367YrBzfjnH4_LaV-0_aMmAztyUfwxbN9lp4Ood4/edit .
Online Student Complaint Policy of
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)
Complaint Resolution Policies and Procedures for Non-Tennessee Resident Students in State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement States, commonly known as SARA.
Student complaints relating to consumer protection laws that involve distance learning education offered under the terms and conditions of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), must first be filed with the institution to seek resolution.
Complainants not satisfied with the outcome of the Institution’s internal process may appeal, within two years of the incident about which the complaint is made, to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission
(https://www.tn.gov/commerce/consumer/file-a-complaint.html).
For purposes of this process, a complaint shall be defined as a formal assertion in writing that the terms of SARA or the laws, standards or regulations incorporated by the SARA Policies and Standards (http://www.nc-sara.org/content/sara-manual) have been violated by the institution operating under the terms of SARA.
For a list of SARA member States, please visit the NC-SARA website (https://nc-sara.org/, https://nc-sara.org/directory ). Students residing in California, the only non-SARA state, should consult the State of California for further instruction for filing a complaint at the following:
Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education
2535 Capitol Oaks Drive, Suite 400
Sacramento, CA 95833
Tel: 888-370-7589 or Fax: 916-263-1897…….https://www.bppe.ca.gov/enforcement/complaint.shtml
State Contacts for Student Complaints
| State | Agency | Agent |
| Alabama | Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education â€Office of Private School Licensing Division |
The Alabama Community College System 135 South Union Street Montgomery, AL 36104 P.O. Box 302130, Montgomery AL 361030 Tel: 334-293-4500 Fax: 334-293-4504 Authorized Information authorized by NC-SARA https://www.ache.state.al.us/Content/Departments/NRI/federal-reg.pdf |
| Alaska | Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education | Jo Anne Hayden Program Coordinator for Institutional Authorization ……..800-441-2962 Authorization Information: Authorized by NC-SARA https://acpe.alaska.gov/EDUCATOR-SCHOOL/Postsecondary_Institutions/Consumer_Protection |
| Arizona | Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education | Jo Anne Hayden Program Coordinator for Institutional Authorization ……..800-441-2962 Authorization Information: Authorized by NC-SARA https://ppse.az.gov/complaint |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Department of Higher Education | ICAC Coordinator, 114 East Capitol, Little Rock, AR 77201 Authorization Information:Authorized by NC-SARA https://www.adhe.edu/students-parents/colleges-universites/student-grievance-form |
| California | Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education | Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education 2535 Capitol Oaks Drive, Suite 400 Sacramento, CA 95833 Tel: 888-370-7589 or Fax: 916-263-1897…….https://www.bppe.ca.gov/enforcement/complaint.shtml …… |
| Colorado | Colorado Department of Higher Education and Division of Private Occupational Schools |
Colorado Department of Higher Education 1560 Broadway, Suite 1600 Denver, CO 80202 ………….Tel: 303-862-3001 or Fax: 303-996-1329 Authorization Information: Authorized by NC-SARA https://highered.colorado.gov/Academics/Complaints/default.html |
| Connecticut | Department of Higher Education | Office of Financial and Academic Affairs for Higher Education,61 Woodland St, Hartland, CT 06105-2326 ,Tel: 860â€947â€1822 ……. https://www.ctohe.org/StudentComplaints.shtml |
| Delaware | Delaware Department of Education | Delaware Department of Education The Townsend Building, 401 Federal Building, suite 2 Dover, DE 1990-3639 Tel: 302â€735-4000 ………………..Authorization Information: Authorized by NC-SARA https://www.msche.org/ |
| District of Columbia |
Office of the State Superintendent of Education | Office of the State Superintendent of Education 810 1st Street NE, 9th Floor Washington, DC 20002 …………Tel: 202-727-6436, TTY: 711 Authorization Information: Authorized by NC-SARA https://osse.dc.gov/service/higher-education-licensure-commission-helc-public-complaints |
| Florida | Florida Department of Higher Education | Commission for Independent Education 325 W. Gaines Street, Suite 1414 Tallahassee, FL. 32399 ……… Phone: 850-245-3200 Fax: 850-245-3233 https://www.fldoe.org/about-us/office-of-the-inspector-general/file-a-complaint.stml |
| Georgia | Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission | Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission 2082 East Exchange Place, Suite 220 Tucker, GA 30084-5305 …………. Phone: 850-245-3200 Fax: 770-414-3309 Authorization Information: Authorized by NC-SARA gnpec.org/consumer-resources/gnpec-authorized-school-complainant-form/ |
| Hawaii | Hawaii Post-Secondary Education Authorization Program | Hawaii Post-Secondary Education Authorization Program Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs P.O. Box 541 Honolulu, HI 96809…….. Tel: 808.586.7327 …….. Email: hpeap@dcca.hawaii.gov Authorization Information: Authorized by NC-SARA https://cca.hawaii.gov/hpeap/hpeap-sara-complaint-process/ |
| Idaho | Idaho State Board of Education | Idaho State Department of Education 650 W State Street Boise, ID 83720 Tel: 208-332-6800 or Fax: 202-334-2228 email: info@sde.idaho.gov Authorization Information: Authorized by NC-SARA https://www.boardofed.idaho.gov/priv_col_univ/student_complaint.asp |
| Illinois | Illinois Board of Higher Education | Illinois Board of Higher Education, 1 North Old State Capitol Plaza, Suite 333, Springfield, Illinois 62701, Tel: 217-782-2551 Fx 217-782-8548 Authorization Information: Authorized by NC-SARA https://www.ibhe.state.il.us/consumerinfo/complaint.htm |
| Indiana | Commission for Higher Education | Indiana Commission for Higher Education, 101 W. Ohio St.#300, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 Tel: 31- 464-4400 ext. 0 Authorization Information: Authorized by NC-SARA https://www.in.gov/che/2744.htm |
| Iowa | The Iowa College Student Aid Commission | The Iowa College Student Aid Commission 430 East Grand Avenue F13 Des Moines, IA 50319 Tel: 877-272-4456 Fax: 515-725-3401 Authorization Information: Authorized by NC-SARA https://www.iowacollegeaid.gov/content/constituent-request-review |
| Kansas | Kansas Board of Regents | Kansas Board of Regents 1000 SW Jackson, Suite 520 Topeka, KS 66612 Tel: 785.296.3421 ……….. Authorization Info:Authorized by NC-SARA https://www.kansasregents.org/resources/complaint_procedure_and_form_updated_August2016.pdf |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Commission on Proprietary Education | Kentucky Commission on Proprietary Education Capital Plaza Tower, Room 302 500 Mero Street Frankfort, KY 40601 Tel: 502-564-4185 Fax: 502-564-4248 https://cpe.ky.gov/forstudents/consumercomplaints ………. email: Kcpe@ky.gov6 |
| Louisiana | Louisiana Board of Regents | Louisiana Board of Regents P.O. Box 3677 Baton Rouge, LA 70821 ATTN: SARA Student Complaints Authorization Information: Authorized by NC-SARA https://www.ag.state.la.us/Article.aspx?articleID=36&catID=0 |
| Maine | Maine Department of Education, Office of Higher Education Services |
Maine Department of Education 23 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333-0023 ….Tel: 207-624-6600 TTY: 1-888-577-6690 Fax: 207-624- 6690 Authorization Information: Authorized by NC-SARA https://www.maine.gov/doe/specialed/support/dispute/procedures/complaintinvestigation.html |
| Maryland | Maryland Higher Education Commission | Office of the Attorney General Consumer Protection Division 6 N Liberty Street Baltimore, MD 21201 ……… Phone: 410-767-3301, Toll Free: (800) 974-0203 Authorization Information: Authorized by NC-SARA https://mhec.maryland.gov/institutions_training/Pages/career/pcs/complaint.aspx |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Department of Higher Education | Massachusetts Department of Higher Education One Ashburton Place, Room 1401 Boston, MA 02108 Tel: 617-994-6950 https://www.mass.edu/forstudents/complaints/complaintform.asp |
| Michigan | Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs | Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs CSCL/Enforcement Division P O Box 30018 Lansing MI 48909 ……… Tel: 517-241-7000 Authorization Information: Authorized by NC-SARA https://www.michigan.gov/documents/lara/Post-Secondary_Student_Complaints_498839_7.pdf |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Office of Higher Education | Registration & Licensing Office of Higher Education 1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 350 St. Paul, MN 55108-5227 ………. Phone: 800-657-3866 Fax: 651-642-0675 Authorization Information: Authorized by NC-SARA https://www.ohe.state.mn.us/mPg.cfm?pageID=1078 |
| Mississippi | Mississippi Commission on Proprietary School and College Registration | Commission on Proprietary Schools and College Registration 3825 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, MS 39211 …… Phone:601-432-6185.. Authorization Information: Authorized by NC-SARA https://www.mississippi.edu/mcca/downloads/studentcomplaintform.pdf |
| Missouri | Missouri Department of Higher Education | Missouri Department of Higher Education, 205 Jefferson St, PO Box 1469, Jefferson City MO 65102-1469, Ph 800-473-6757, Fax 573-751-6635, https://www.dhe.mo.gov/documents/POLICYONCOMPLAINTRESOLUTION-reviseddraft.pdf |
| Montana | Montana University System, Montana Board of Regents | Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education, 2500 Broadway, PO Box 203201, Helena, Montana 59620 Phone: 406-444-5670. Authorization Information: Authorized by NC-SARA https://mus.edu/MUS-statement-of-complaint-process.asp |
| Nebraska | Nebraska Department of Education, Private Postsecondary Career Schools |
Nebraska Department of Education 301 Centennial Mall South P.O. Box 94987 Lincoln,NE 68509-4987 Tel: 402-471-2295 or Fax: 402-471-0117 Authorization Information: Authorized by NC-SARA https://ccpe.nebraska.gov/student-complaints-against-postsecondary-institutions |
| Nevada | Nevada Commission on Postsecondary Education | Commission on Postsecondary Education 8778 South Maryland Parkway Suite 115 Las Vegas, Nevada 89123 Tel: 702-486-7330 or Fax: 702-486-7340 Authorization Information: Authorized by NC-SARA https://www.cpe.state.nv.us/CPE%20Complaint%20Info.htm ….. |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire Department of Education, Division of Higher Education, Higher Education Commission |
Jan Fiderio Londergan Hall, Room 101B New Hampshire Department of Education 101 Pleasant Street Concord, NH 03301…….. Tel: 603-271-0256 Authorization Information: Authorized by NC-SARA www.education.nh.gov/highered/compliance-allegation.htm |
| New Jersey | New Jersey Commission on Higher Education | State of New Jersey, Office of the Secretary of Higher Education 20 West State Street, 4th Floor PO Box 542 Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0542 …….. Phone: 609-292-4310 Fax: 609-292-7225 https://www.state.nj.us/highereducation/documents/pdf/OSHEComplaintForm.pdf |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Higher Education Department | New Mexico Higher Education Department 2048 Galisteo Street Santa Fe, NM 87505 Tel: 505-476-6500 Authorization Information: Authorized by NC-SARA https://www.hed.state.nm.us/students/complaints.aspx |
| New York | New York Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision, New York State Education Department |
Office of College and University Evaluation New York State Education Department 89 Washington Avenue,Room 969 EBA Albany NY 12234 Tel:518-474-1551 Fax: 212-486-2779 https://www.highered.nysed.gov/ocue/spr/COMPLAINTFORMINFO.html |
| North Carolina | North Carolina Community College System, Office of Proprietary School Services |
NC Community Colleges, Office of Proprietary Schools 200 W. Jones Street; Raleigh, NC 27603 Mailing Address: 5001 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-5001 ..Tel: 919-807-7061 or Fax: 919-807-7169 Authorization Information: Authorized by NC-SARA https://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/complaint-procedures-and-forms |
| North Dakota | North Dakota State Board for Career and Technical Education | North Dakota Department of Career and Technical Education Department 270 600 East Boulevard Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58505-0601 …… Tel: 701-328-3180 Fax: 701-328-1255 Authorization Info: Authorized by NC-SARA https://www.nd.gov/cte/private-post-inst/docs/NDSBCTE_Student_Complaint_Procedure.pdf |
| Ohio | Ohio Board of Regents | Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools 30 East Broad Street, Suite 2481 Columbus, OH 43215 Tel: 614-466-2752 or Fax: 614-466-2219 Toll Free (877) 275-4219 Authorization Information: Authorized by NC-SARA https://www.ohiohighered.org/students/complaints |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma Board of Private Schools | Nora Ann House, Director 3700 N. Classen Blvd., Ste. 250 Oklahoma City, OK 73118 Tel: 405-528-3370 or Fax 405-528-336 Authorization Information: Authorized by NC-SARA https://www.okhighered.org/current-college-students/complaints.shtml |
| Oregon | Oregon Department of Education †Private and Career Schools Office |
Oregon Department of Education 255 Capitol Street NE Salem, OR 97310 Tel: 503-947-5600 or Fax: 503-378-5156 Authorization Information: Authorized by NC-SARA https://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=325 |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Department of Education, Division of Higher Education |
Bureau of Postsecondary and Adult Education Pennsylvania Department of Education 333 Market Street, 12th Floor Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333 Fax: 717-772-3622 Fax: 717-722-3622 …………… https://www.education.pa.gov/Postsecondary-Adult/College%20and%20Career%20Education/Pages/Students-Complaints.aspx#tab-1 |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education | Commissioner of Higher Education RI Office of Higher Education 80 Washington Street, Suite 524, Providence, RI 02903 Phone 401-456-6000 Authorization Information: Authorized by NC-SARA https://www.ribghe.org/pdfs/BOGStudentComplaintProcessII011012.pdf |
| South Carolina | South Carolina Commission on Higher Education | Nonpublic Institution Licensing SC Commission on Higher Education 1122 Lady Street, Suite 300 Columbia, SC 29201 Phone: 803-737-2260 …………………………Authorization Information: Authorized by NC-SARA https://www.che.sc.gov/CHE_Docs/academicaffairs/license/Complaint_Procedures_and_Form.pdf |
| South Dakota | South Dakota Secretary of State | Division of Consumer Protection 1302 E Hwy 14 Suite 3 Pierre, SD 57501 Tel: (605) 773-3215 TTY: (605) 773-6585 Fax: (605) 773-4106 Authorization Information: Authorized by NC-SARA https://catalog.sdstate.edu/content.php?catoid=24&navoid=2239 |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Higher Education Commission, Division of Postsecondary School Authorization |
Tennessee Residents Attending Off Campus |
| Tennessee |
Department of Commerce & Insurance |
Authorization Information: Authorized by NC-SARA https://www.tn.gov/commerce/section/consumer-affairs |
| Texas | Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board | Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board College Readiness and Success, P. O. Box 12788, Austin, TX 78711 Authorization Inforrmation: Authorized by NC Sara https://www.thecb.state.tx.us/index.cfm?objectid=C9BD55D4-C5A3-4BC6-9A0DF17F467F4AE9 |
| Utah | Utah Division of Consumer Protection | Utah Division of Consumer Protection Attention: Complaint Processor Heber M. Wells Building, 2nd Floor 160 East 300 South, SM Box 146704 Salt Lake City, UT 84114 https://www.consumerprotection.utah.gov/complaints/manual.html |
| Vermont | Vermont State Board of Education, Vermont Department of Education |
Vermont Department of Education 120 State Street Montpelier, VT 05620 ……… Tel: 802-828-3135 ……Authorized by NC-SARA https://education.vermont.gov/documents/EDU-Complaint_Resolution_Statement_for_Postsecondary_Education_Matters.pdf |
| Virginia | Virginia State Council of Higher Education, Private & Outâ€of†State Postsecondary Education |
State Council of Higher Education for Virginia 101 N. 14th Street, 10th Floor James Monroe Bldg. Richmond, VA 23219 Tel: 804-225-2600 or Fax: 804-225-2604 https://www.doe.virginia.gov/special_ed/resolving_disputes/complaints/index.shtml |
| Washington | Washington Student Achievement Council | 917 Lakeridge Way SW Olympia, WA 98502 Tel: (360) 753-7800 or Email: info@wsac.wa.gov Authorized by NC-SARA https://www.wsac.wa.gov/student-complaints |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission | Dr. Mark Stotler Director of Academic Programming Academic Affairs West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission 1018 Kanawha Blvd East, Suite 700 Charleston, WV 25301 …… Tel: 304.558.2101 ……. Authorized by NC-SARA https://www.wvhepc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Student-Complaint-Process-revised-3.pdf |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Educational Approval Board | State Of Wisconsin Educational Approval Board 431 Charmany Drive, Suite 102 Madison, WI 53719 Phone: (608) 266-1996 · Fax: (608) 264-8477 Email: eabmail@eab.wisconsin.gov https://eab.state.wi.us/resources/complaint.asp |
| Wyoming | Wyoming Department of Education | Wyoming Department of Education Cindy Hill, Superintendent of Public Instruction Hathaway Building, 2nd Floor, 2300 Capitol Avenue Cheyenne, WY 82002 Tel: 307-777-7675 or Fax: 307-777-6234 Authorized by NC-SARA https://edu.wyoming.gov/downloads/schools/student-complaint-process.pdf |
| Puerto Rico | Puerto Rico Council on Education | Consejo de Educacion de Puerto Rico 268 Ponce de Leon Ave. Hato Rey Center Building 15th Floor, Hato Rey PR 00918……. PO Box 19900, San Juan PR 00919-1900 Tel. (787) 641-7100 https://www.msche.org/ |
Sara – The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) establishes a state-level reciprocity process that will support schools in the U.S. in its efforts to increase the nations educational realization by making state authorization more efficient, effective and uniform.
