Distance Education Complaint Process
Institutions offering distance education are required by the U.S. Department of Education and the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) to provide enrolled and prospective students with a clear student complaint process. Additionally, institutions must supply contact information of the state agency or agencies responsible for handling escalated complaints against postsecondary institutions offering distance learning within that state. Õ¬ÄÐÆµµÀ (SNHU) is authorized and regulated by the New Hampshire Department of Education (NH DOE) and adheres to NC-SARA standards for addressing complaints related to distance education. Many external agencies require students to exhaust all institutional complaint procedures before they will review a concern.
Eligible complaints under NC-SARA include:
- Misrepresentation of program details, such as tuition, fees, or program duration.
- Concerns about whether a program meets licensure requirements for a specific profession.
- Inaccuracies in job placement data or employment outcomes.
- Issues related to the transferability of credits between institutions.
Complaints not covered under NC-SARA include:
- Academic grade disputes.
- Student conduct violations.
Students are encouraged to first address their concerns with SNHU by following these steps:
- Informal Resolution - Contact the relevant faculty member, academic advisor, or department associated with the concern. Many issues can be resolved informally through open communication.
- Formal Complaint Submission - If the concern is not resolved informally or involves an allegation of discrimination, students may submit a formal complaint using the designated .
- Review and Resolution - SNHU will review the complaint promptly and provide a written response, including the outcome and any further actions required, within a reasonable timeframe.
Concerns should be reported as soon as possible after the event occurs. If a student has exhausted all institutional grievance procedures and any related appeals and still feels the issue remains unresolved, the student may escalate the issue to .
Accreditation Complaint Process
SNHU is accredited by the . If the issue pertains to the institution’s accreditation standards, please review the . For guidance on filling either a Public Comment or Complaint, email info@neche.org.
For California Students ONLY
Students residing in California, which is not a member of SARA (State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement), have the option to file complaints or appeals with their appropriate state agency. For more information on filing a complaint with the , please see the contact information below.
California Department of Consumer Affairs Contact Information:
Address: 1625 North Market Blvd., Suite N-112, Sacramento, CA 95834
Phone: (800) 952-5210 (Toll-Free) or (916) 445-1254
Website:
Email: dca@dca.ca.gov
This agency can provide guidance and resources for students facing issues outside the scope of SARA, such as general consumer protection concerns.