Out-of-State Student Complaint Process for
Distance Education Courses and Programs
Belmont Abbey College strives to provide a dynamic learning environment supported by sound policies, curricula, instruction, and support services. In compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, institutions offering distance education courses or programs must provide current and prospective students with contact information for filing complaints with the college, accrediting agency, and state agencies that handle complaints in the students’ states of residence.
Students residing outside of the state of North Carolina while taking online courses from Belmont Abbey College who desire to resolve an academic grievance or complaint should follow the college’s student complaint policy found in the Student Handbook (pp. 33-34).
Complaints should be addressed to:
Dr. David Williams
Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
Belmont Abbey College
100 Belmont-Mt. Holly Rd
Belmont NC 28012
Phone: 704-461-6010
Email: davidwilliams@bac.edu
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Unresolved complaints may also be addressed with Belmont Abbey College’s institutional accrediting agency. Belmont Abbey College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate degrees.
The contact information for SACSCOC is:
1866 Southern Lane,
Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097
Phone: 404-679-4500
Website: https://www.sacscoc.org/
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement-North Carolina
(SARA-NC) Complaint Process
Students may also file a complaint with SARA NC. SARA NC is the portal for the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority. Students should follow the SARA-NC Complaint process and use the SARA-NC Complaint Form.
SARA-NC Contact Information:
SARA North Carolina
North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority
P.O. Box 41349
Raleigh, NC 27629
T: 855-SARA-1-NC (727-2162)
F: 919-248-6667, ext. 4667
www.saranc.org
NC Independent Colleges & Universities
If a grievance or complaint cannot be resolved through the University’s publicized process, students may file a complaint with the Consumer Protection Division of the North Carolina Department of Justice.
Consumer Protection Division
Attorney General’s Office
Mail Service Center 9001
Raleigh, NC 27699-9001
Phone for NC Residents: 877-566-7226
Phone for Outside of NC: 919-716-6000
NC Post-Secondary
Students may also file a complaint with the North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaints Unit.
First, review the Student Complaint Process. Then you can submit your complaint electronically by using the NC Post-Secondary Education Complaint Form or you can mail all relevant information and supporting documentation regarding your complaint to:
North Carolina Office of Post-Secondary Education Complaints
c/o Student Complaints
223 S. West Street, Suite 280
Raleigh NC 27603
Website: North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaints
Phone: 919-962-4550
Students residing outside of North Carolina while taking online courses at Belmont Abbey College may also file a complaint with their state. Below is a list of agencies in each state responsible for handling complaints regarding out-of-state distance education programs:
| State | Agency | Contact information |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education | P.O. Box 302000 Montgomery, AL 36130-2000 Phone: 334-242-1998 Fax: 334-242-0268 Complaint Process |
| Alaska | Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education | Kierke Kussart Program Coordinator for Institutional Authorization 907-465-6741 EED.ACPE-IA@alaska.gov PO Box 110505 Juneau, AK 99811-0505 Complaint Process |
| Arizona | Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education | 1400 W. Washington St. Phoenix, AZ 85007 Complaint Form |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Department of Higher Education | 425 Main St., Suite 400 Little Rock, AR 72201 501-371-2000 http://www.adhe.edu Complaint Form |
| California | California Department of Consumer Affairs | Consumer Information Center 1625 North Market Blvd., Suite N-112 Sacramento, California 95834 833-942-1120 email: dca@cda.ca.gov https://www.dca.ca.gov/consumers/complaints/oos_students.shtml General Online Complaint Form |
| Colorado | Colorado Department of Higher Education | 1560 Broadway, Suite 1600 Denver, CO 80202 Complaint Process |
| Connecticut | Office of Higher Education | 61 Woodland Street Hartford, CT 06105‐2326 Phone: 860-947-1822 Complaint Process |
| Delaware | Delaware Department of Education | Delaware Department of Education Accountability and Performance The Townsend Building 401 Federal Street, Suite 2 Dover, Delaware 19901 302-735-4090 https://www.doe.k12.de.us |
| District of Columbia | District of Columbia Education Licensure Commission | 810 First Street, NE 9th Floor Washington, DC 20002 Complaint Process |
| Florida | Florida Department of Education | Commission for Independent Education 325 W. Gaines Street, Suite 1414 Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400 Fax: 850-245-3238 cieinfo@fldoe.org Complaint Process |
| Georgia | Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission | 2082 East Exchange Place, Suite 220 Tucker, GA 30084-5305 Phone: 770-414-3300 Fax: 770-414-3309 Complaint Rules |
| Hawaii | Hawaii Post-secondary Education Authorization Program | P.O. Box 541 Honolulu, HI 96809 Complaint Form |
| Idaho | Idaho Board of Education | 650 West State Street P.O. Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720‐0037 Phone: 208-334-2270 Fax: 208-334-2632 Complaint Process |
| Illinois | Illinois Board of Higher Education | 1 N Old State Capitol Plaza, Suite 333 Springfield, IL 62701-1377 Institutional Complaint Hotline: 217-782-2551 Complaint Process |
| Indiana | Indiana Board for Proprietary Education | Board for Proprietary Education Indiana Commission for Higher Education 101 West Ohio Street Suite 300 Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-4206 317-464-4400 https://www.in.gov/che/2376.htm Student Complaints: https://www.in.gov/che/student-complaints/ Complaint Process |
| Iowa | Iowa College Student Aid Commission | 430 East Grand Ave. 5th Floor Des Moines, IA 50309-1920 Phone: 515-725-3400 Complaint Process |
| Kansas | Kansas Board of Regents | 1000 SW Jackson Street, Suite 520 Topeka, KS 66612‐1368 Phone: 785-296-3421 Complaint Process |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education | Director of Postsecondary Licensing Council on Postsecondary Education 1024 Capitol Center Dr. Suite 320 Frankfort, KY 40601 Complaint Process |
| Louisiana | Louisiana Board of Regents
Consumer Protection Division |
Consumer Protection Division Office of the Attorney General P.O. Box 94005 Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9005 Phone: 1-800-351-4889 Complaint Process |
| Maine | State of Maine Department of Education |
23 State House Station Augusta, Maine, 04333-0023 https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/highered/sara Complaint Form |
| Maryland | Maryland Higher Education Commission | Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division 200 St. Paul Place Baltimore, MD 21202 Complaint Process |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Board of Higher Education | Alex Nally SARA Coordinator Massachusetts Department of Higher Education One Ashburton Place; Room 1401 Boston, MA 02108 617-994-6950 SARAInquiries@dhe.mass.edu State SARA Website: www.mass.edu/sara Complaint Process |
| Michigan | State of Michigan | Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing Bureau Administrative Services Section-Complaint Intake P.O. Box 30018 Lansing, MI 48909 Complaint Form |
| Minnesota | Registration & Licensing Minnesota Office of Higher Education |
1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 350 St. Paul, MN 55108 Phone: 1-800-657-3866 Complaint Process |
| Mississippi | Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation | 3825 Ridgewood Road Jackson, MS 39211-6453 Phone: 601-432-6372 Fax: 601-432-6225 Complaint Process |
| Missouri | Missouri Department of Higher Education | 205 Jefferson Street P.O. Box 1469 Jefferson City, MO 65102‐1469 Phone: 1-800-473-6757 Fax: 573-751-6635 Complaint Info |
| Montana | Montana University System Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education |
2500 Broadway P.O. Box 203201 Helena, MT 59620-3201 Phone: 406-444-6570 Complaint Process |
| Nebraska | Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education | P.O. Box 95005 Lincoln, NE 68509-5005 Phone: 402-471-2847 Filing a Complaint |
| Nevada | Nevada Commission on Postsecondary Education | 8778 South Maryland Parkway, Suite 115 Las Vegas, NV 89123 Filing a Complaint |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire Department of Education, Division of Higher Education, Higher Education | New Hampshire Department of Education 101 Pleasant Street Concord, New Hampshire 03301-3852 603-271-3494 Filing a Complaint |
| New Jersey | New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education | 20 West State Street, 4th Floor P.O. Box 542 Trenton, NJ 08625-0542 Phone: 609-292-7225 Complaint Process |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Higher Education Department | 2044 Galisteo St., Suite 4 Santa Fe, NM 87505 Phone: 505-476-8400 Complaint Form |
| New York | Office of College and University Evaluation New York State Education Department |
89 Washington Ave., Room 969 EBA Albany, NY 12234 Phone: 518-474-1551 Fax: 518-486-2779 Filing a Complaint |
| North Carolina | North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaints | North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaints c/o Student Complaints 223 S. West Street, Suite 280 Raleigh NC 27603 Phone: 919-962-4550 Filing a Complaint |
| North Dakota | Director of Distance Education & State Authorization | 600 East Capital Ave. Bismarck, ND 58501-1217 Phone: 701‐328‐2678 Filing a Complaint |
| Ohio | Ohio Department of Higher Education | 25 South Front Street Columbus, OH 43215 Phone: 614-466-6000 Filing a Complaint |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education | 655 Research Parkway, Suite 200 Oklahoma City, OK 73104 Phone: 405-225-9100 Complaint Process |
| Oregon | Higher Education Coordinating Commission
|
ATTN: Complaints-ODA 775 Court St. NE Salem, OR 97301 Phone: 503-947-5716 Complaint Process |
| Pennsylvania | Bureau of Postsecondary & Adult Education Pennsylvania Department of Education |
333 Market Street, 12th Floor Harrisburg, PA 17126‐0333 Complaint Form |
| Puerto Rico | Puerto Rico Council on Higher Education | P.O. Box 19900 San Juan, PR 00910-1900 Phone: 787-641-7100 Fax: 787-641-2573 |
| Rhode Island | Commissioner of Higher Education Rhode Island Office of Higher Education |
Shepard Building, Suite 524 80 Washington Street Providence, RI 02903 Phone: 401-456-6008 Complaint Process |
| South Carolina | South Carolina Commission on Higher Education Academic Affairs & Licensing |
1122 Lady St., Suite 300 Columbia, SC 29201 Phone: 803-737-2260 Fax: 803-737-2297 Complaint Form |
| South Dakota | South Dakota Board of Regents | 306 E. Capitol Ave., Suite 200 Pierre, SD 57501 Complaint Form |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Higher Education Commission | Division of Postsecondary State Authorization 404 James Robertson Parkway, Suite 1900 Nashville, TN 37243 Phone: 615-741-3605 Complaint Process |
| Texas | Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board | College Readiness & Success Division P.O. Box 12788 Austin, TX 78711-2788 Phone: 512-427-6101 Complaint Process |
| Utah | Utah Division of Consumer Protection | Utah Division of Consumer Protection 160 East 300 South Salt Lake City, Utah 84111 801-530-6601 Complaint Process |
| Vermont | Vermont Department of Education | 120 State Street Montpelier, VT 05620‐2501 Phone: 802-828-3135 Complaint Process |
| Virginia | Virginia State Council of Higher Education | 101 N. 14th St., 10th Floor James Monroe Bldg. Richmond, VA 23219 Phone: 804-225-2600 Complaint Process |
| Washington | Washington Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board | Washington Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board 128 10th Avenue SW P.O. Box 43105 Olympia, Washington 98504-3105 360-709-4600 workforce@wtb.wa.gov |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission Community & Technical College System of West Virginia |
1018 Kanawha Blvd. East, Suite 700 Charleston, WV 25301 Phone: 304-558-4016 Complaint Process |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Educational Approval Board | Department of Safety and Professional Services 1400 East Washington Avenue Room 112 Madison, Wisconsin 53703 608-266-2122 Email: dsps@wisconsin.gov Website: https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/Programs/EducationalApproval/Default.aspx Student Complaints: https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/Programs/EducationalApproval/EAPFileAComplaint.aspx |
| Wyoming | Wyoming Department of Education | Hathaway Building, 2nd Floor 2300 Capitol Avenue Cheyenne, WY 82002‐0050 Complaint Form |
Professional Licensure Disclosures
Who is affected by the Regulation on Public Disclosure by the United States Department of Education?
The New Regulation on Public Disclosures by the U. S. Department of Education affects all Higher Education Programs (traditional, online, hybrid), leading to a Professional Licensure and/or Certification.
What is a professional licensure program?
A Professional Licensure Program (PLP) is an academic program offered by institutions of higher learning designed, marketed and/or advertised to meet educational requirements: (1) for a specific license or certification; and (2) is required for employment in an occupation.
What is a professional licensure disclosure?
A professional licensure disclosure is a regulation of the U. S. Department of Education requiring all colleges and university to communicate publicly and directly to prospective and current students about:
(1) academic programs that will or will not fulfill educational requirements for specific professional licensure that is required for employment in that field; and
(2) academic programs that meet or do not meet the education requirements for licensure for each state and US territory regardless of the program’s delivery mode.
Belmont Abbey College has applied for membership with the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA). This allows us to provide distance learning programs (both online and in the form of supervised field experiences) to residents of states other than North Carolina. However, NC-SARA membership does not grant reciprocity or exempt us from state professional licensing requirements. As a result, other states may not recognize North Carolina licensing and/or certification requirements as sufficient to obtain a license in other states.
Belmont Abbey College ensures that the curriculum design for programs leading to licensure meet the licensure/certification requirements in North Carolina and prepare students to apply for licensure examinations and/or certification. Each state and territory have different professional licensure and certification requirements. Other licensure requirements may include professional examinations, background checks, work experience, background checks, fingerprinting requirements, etc. Students who intend to return or move to any state other than North Carolina need to review their program’s professional licensure disclosures and consult with the state professional licensing board. The state professional licensing boards make the ultimate decision as to whether or not an individual will be eligible to sit for licensure based on the rules and regulations in place at the time the individual submits their application for licensure.
International Students: Before enrolling in any program at Belmont Abbey College, prospective students living and/or working outside of the United States should confirm with the appropriate certifying agency whether successful completion of any degree program at Belmont Abbey College will meet the credentialing requirements of the country in which they intend to seek employment.
Many licensure boards have requirements beyond successful degree completion to obtain a license. Please be advised that state laws, regulations, and policies may change at any time. Changes in requirements may impact the program’s ability to meet educational licensure requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to check with the licensing board(s) in their state of residence or in the state where they intend to obtain a license for the most recent information and requirements. Belmont Abbey College shall not be liable if the student cannot qualify for licensure or certification in any jurisdiction.
Disclosures by Program
Professional Licensure and Certification Programs at Belmont Abbey College work with partners at the state, national, and international levels to meet the United States Department’s requirements for professional licensure disclosures.
The list of Academic Programs at Belmont Abbey College leading to Professional Licensure or Certification are listed below.
| Program | Modality | States for which the institution has determined the curriculum meets the State educational requirements for licensure or certification | States for which the institution has determined the curriculum does not meet the State educational requirements for licensure or certification | States for which the institution has not made a determination whether the curriculum meets the State educational requirements for licensure or certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary Education (BA.)
Dr. Mary Stratton, Chair Phone: 704-461-7800 |
Face-to-face | NC:
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Phone: 984-236-2100 |
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY | |
| Nursing (BS)
Lee-Ann Kenny Phone: 704-461-5068 |
Face-to-face | The pre-licensure program is currently seeking North Carolina Board of Nursing Approval. The curriculum has been designed to meet these requirements. SACSCOC approval to initiate the program was issued in 2020.
North Carolina Board of Nursing Phone: 919-782-3211 |
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY |
