Academic Affairs

Appalachian State University provides several means by which student complaints and grievances may be addressed. In all cases, students are advised to put their concerns in writing and carefully document the events that led to the complaint or grievance. Concerns should be expressed as soon as possible after the event occurs; some of the procedures have specific deadlines for filing grievances or complaints.

To file a complaint visit Office of the Registrar's Grievance and Appeal Procedures webpage. For complaints that do not fall into the categories listed on the Student Grievance and Appeals Policies webpage, the following procedure should be followed:

1. Attempt to resolve the matter directly with the person against whom the complaint is directed.
2. If a resolution is not reached, submit the complaint in writing to the person's immediate supervisor. For a faculty member, this will usually be the department chair or program director. For a staff member, it will be the administrator to whom the staff member reports. Contact the Dean of Students for advice on whom to contact if supervisor is unknown. The supervisor will investigate the matter and work with the student toward a resolution to the complaint.
3. If not satisfied with the resolution, submit a complaint in writing to the next level supervisor (in the case of a faculty member, this will normally be a dean or associate/assistant dean in the college that the course and faculty member is in).
4. If the issue is still not resolved, contact one of the following:

• Undergraduate student academic issues:
  Mark Ginn, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education at 262-7660, ginnmc@appstate.edu, or
  Appalachian State University
  Academic Affairs
  ASU Box 32006
  Boone, NC 28608
• For graduate student academic issues:
  Dr. Ashley Colquitt, Associate Vice Provost & Dean, Graduate School at 262-2691, colquittad@appstate.edu, or
  Appalachian State University
  Cratis D. Williams School of Graduate Studies
  ASU Box 32068
  Boone, NC 28608
• All other issues: Judy Haas, Dean of Students at 262-2060, haasjm@appstate.edu, or
  Appalachian State University
  Office of Dean of Students
  ASU Box 32103
  Boone, NC 28608

Post-Secondary Complaints via the Student Complaint Process

If a student's complaint cannot be resolved through the above institutional process, they may file a complaint through the University of North Carolina, Post-Secondary Complaints via the Student Complaint Process. Students can submit their complaint using the online Student Complaint Form. Student's can send an email for more information or choose to mail complaint to:

University of North Carolina System Office
North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaints
223 S. West Street, Suite 1800
Raleigh NC 27603
Phone: (919) 962-4550
Website: https://www.northcarolina.edu/post-secondary-education-complaints

SACSCOC Complaint Process

If the complaint is not resolved after completing steps one and two, students may file a complaint in writing (SACSCOC Complaint Process & Form) with Appalachian State University's accreditor, SACSCOC:

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
1866 Southern Lane
Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097
(404) 679-4500
Email: questions@sacscoc.org
Website: https://www.sacscoc.org
Complaint Website: https://sacscoc.org/app/uploads/2020/01/ComplaintPolicy-1.pdf

State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)

Additionally, complaints can also be filed with the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement - North Carolina (SARA-NC). See SARA-NC's Complaint Process webpage and webform. The contact information for SARA-NC is:

North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority
c/o SARA North Carolina
P.O. Box 41349
Raleigh, NC 27629
Phone - Toll Free: (855) SARA-1-NC (727-2162)
Phone - Local: (919) 248-4667
Email: complaint@saranc.org
Website: https://www5.ncseaa.edu/SARANC/Complaint.html

For complete list of state portal director's please see the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements webpage.

Should a student's complaint not be rectified after completing Appalachian State University's process, the student may seek advisement within their state of residence.

ALABAMA
Alabama Commission on Higher Education
P. O. Box 302000
Montgomery, AL 36130-2000
Phone: (334) 242-2211
Email: Ron.Leonard@ache.edu

ALASKA
Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education
PO Box 110505
Juneau, AK 99811-0505
Phone: (907) 465-6741
Email: EED.ACPE-IA@alaska.gov

ARIZONA
Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education
1740 W. Adams, Suite 30085
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: (602) 542-5709
Email: info@azppse.gov

ARKANSAS
Arkansas Department of Higher Education
101 E. Capitol Ave., Suite 300
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: (501) 371-2000
Email: finaid@adhe.edu

CALIFORNIA
California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education
P.O. Box 980818
W. Sacramento, CA 95798-0818
Phone: (916) 574-8900
Email: dca@dca.ca.gov

COLORADO
Colorado Department of Higher Education
1600 Broadway, Suite 2200
Denver, CO 80202
Phone: (303) 862-3001
Email: CDHE@dhe.state.co.us

CONNECTICUT
Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education
61 Woodland Street
Hartford, CT 06105-2326
Phone: (860)-723-0000
Email: simonia@ct.edu

DELAWARE
Delaware Department of Education
The Townsend Building
401 Federal Street Suite 2
Dover, DE 19901-3639
Phone: (302) 735-4120
Email: dheo@doe.k12.de.us

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education
Office of the State Superintendent of Education
Higher Education Licensure Commission
1050 First St. NE, Fifth Floor
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 727-6436
Email: Terasita.Edwards@dc.gov

FLORIDA
Florida Department of Education
325 W. Gaines Street Suite 1314
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400
Phone: (850) 245-0505
Email: FCSInfo@fldoe.org

GEORGIA
Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission
2082 East Exchange Place
Suite 220
Tucker, GA 30084-5334
Phone: (770) 414-3300
Email: Contact Form

HAWAII
Office of Consumer Protection
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
235 South Beretania
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 586-2630
Email: OCP@DCCA.HAWAII.GOV

IDAHO
Idaho State Board of Education
Attn: Private Colleges and Proprietary Schools
P.O. Box 83720
650 West State Street, Suite 307
Boise, ID 83720-0037
Phone: (208) 334-2270
Email: board@osbe.idaho.gov

ILLINOIS
Illinois Board of Higher Education
1 N. Old State Capitol Plaza, Suite 333
Springfield, Illinois 62701-1377
Phone: (217) 782-2551
Email: info@ibhe.org

INDIANA
Indiana Commission on Proprietary Education
Board for Proprietary Education
Indiana Commission for Higher Education
101 West Ohio Street, Suite 300
Indianapolis, IN 46204-4206
Phone: (317) 232-1033
Email: RMiller@che.in.gov

IOWA
Iowa Student Aid Commission
475 SW Fifth Street, Suite D
Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone: 877-272-4456
Email: info@iowacollegeaid.gov

KANSAS
Kansas Board of Regents
1000 SW Jackson Street Suite 520
Topeka, KS 66612-1368
Phone: (785) 430-4240
Email: regents@ksbor.org

KENTUCKY
Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education
100 Airport Road
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: (502) 573-1555
Email: Contact Form

LOUISIANA
Louisiana Board of Regents
P.O. Box 3677
Baton Rouge, LA. 70821-3677
(225) 342-4253
Email: kim.reed@laregents.edu

MAINE
Maine Department of Education
Special Services Team
23 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0023
Phone: (207) 624-6600
Email: Contact Form

MARYLAND
Maryland Higher Education Commission
6 N. Liberty Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone: (410) 767-3300
Email: pcs-complaint.mhec@maryland.gov

MASSACHUSETTS
Massachusetts Board of Higher Education
One Ashburton Place Room 1401
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 994-6950
Email: Contact Form

MICHIGAN
Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Corporations, Securities, & Commercial Licensing Bureau Licensing Division
PO Box 30018
Lansing, MI 48909
Phone: (517) 241-7000
Email: CSCLonline@michigan.gov

MINNESOTA
Minnesota Office of Higher Education
1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 350
St. Paul, MN 55108-5227
Phone: (651) 642-0567
Email: info.ohe@state.mn.us

MISSISSIPPI
Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation
3825 Ridgewood Road
Jackson, MS 39211-6453
Phone: (601) 432-6198
Email: questions@mississippi.edu

MISSOURI
Missouri Department of Higher Education
State WIOA Equal Opportunity Officer
301 West High Street
PO Box 1087
Jefferson City, MO 65102-1087
Phone: (573) 751-9528
Email: dwdcomplaintsandgrievances@dhewd.mo.gov

MONTANA
Montana University System
Office of Commissioner of Higher Education
560 N. Park Ave.
PO Box 203201
Helena, MT 59620-3201
Phone: (406) 449-9124
Email: cchristian@montana.edu

NEBRASKA
Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education
P.O. Box 95005
Lincoln, NE 68509-5005
Phone: (402) 471-2874
Email: ago.consumer@nebraska.gov

NEVADA
State of Nevada Department of Education
Nevada System of Higher Education
700 E. Fifth Street
Carson City, NV 89701
Phone: (775) 687-9115
Email: ndeinfo@doe.nv.gov

NEW HAMPSHIRE
New Hampshire Department of Education
101 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH 03301- 3852
Phone: (603) 271-3494
Email: info@doe.nh.gov

NEW JERSEY
New Jersey Office of Secretary of Higher Education
PO Box 542
Trenton, NJ 08625-0542
Phone: (609) 292-4310
Email: Contact Form

NEW MEXICO
New Mexico Higher Education Department
2044 Galisteo Street, Suite 4
Santa Fe, NM 87505
Phone: (505) 476-8400
Email: HigherEd.Info@hed.nm.gov

NEW YORK
New York Office of College and University Evaluation
New York State Education Department
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12234
Phone: (518) 474-3852
Email: ocueinfo@nysed.gov

NORTH CAROLINA
North Carolina Community College System Office of Proprietary Schools
200 West Jones St.
Raleigh, North Carolina 27603
Phone: (919) 807-7100
Email: webmaster@nccommunitycolleges.edu

North Carolina Post-Secondary Education
University of North Carolina System Office
North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaints
223 S. West Street, Suite 1800
Raleigh, NC 27603
Phone: (919) 962-4550

NORTH DAKOTA
North Dakota University System
10th Floor, State Capitol
600 East Boulevard Ave, Dept. 215
Bismarck, ND 58505-0230
Phone: (701) 328-2960
Email: stateauth@ndus.edu

OHIO
Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools
30 East Broad Street, Suite 2481
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-2752
Email: bpsr@scr.state.oh.us

OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
655 Research Parkway Suite 200
Oklahoma City, OK 73104
Phone: (405) 225-9100
Email: communicationsdepartment@osrhe.edu

OREGON
Oregon Department of Education
255 Capitol Street NE
Salem, OR 97310-0203
Phone: (503) 947-5600
Email: ode.frontdesk@ode.state.or.us

PENNSYLVANIA
Pennsylvania Department of Education
333 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333
Phone: (717) 783-8228
Email: RA-HigherEducation@pa.gov

PUERTO RICO
Puerto Rico Council on Higher Education
PO Box 9023271
San Juan, PR 00910-3271
Phone: (787) 722-2121
Email: Contact

RHODE ISLAND
Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner
560 Jefferson Boulevard, Suite 200
Warwick, RI 02886
Phone: (401) 736-1100
Email: Contact Form

SOUTH CAROLINA
South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
1122 Lady Street, Suite 400
Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: (803) 737-2260
Email: submitcomplaint@che.sc.gov

SOUTH DAKOTA
South Dakota Board of Regents
306 E. Capitol Ave Suite 200
Pierre, SD 57501-2545
Phone: (803) 737-3455
Email: info@sdbor.edu

TENNESSEE
Tennessee Higher Education Commission
312 Rosa Parks Ave
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: (615) 741-3605
Email: marcie.mills@tn.gov

TEXAS
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
P.O. Box 12788
Austin, TX 78711-2788
Phone: (512) 427-6101
Email: studentcomplaints@highered.texas.gov

U.S. Virgin Islands
Government of the Virgin Islands of the United States
1131 King Street, Suite 101
Christiansted, St. Croix,
Virgin Islands 00820
Phone: (304) 773-6449
Email: Contact Form

UTAH
Utah Division of Consumer Protection
160 East 300 South
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
Phone: (801) 530-6601
Email: consumerprotection@utah.gov

VERMONT
State of Vermont Agency of Education
1 National Life Drive, Davis 5
Montpelier, VT 05620-2501
Phone: (802) 828-1130
Email: aoe.edinfo@vermont.gov

VIRGINIA
State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
101 N. 14TH St.
James Monroe Building
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: (804) 225-2600
Email: Contact Form

WASHINGTON
Washington Student Achievement Council
917 Lakeridge Way SW
Olympia, WA 98502
Phone: (360) 753-7800
Email: complaints@wsac.wa.gov

WEST VIRGINIA
West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
1018 Kanawha Blvd E. Suite 700
Charleston, WV 25301-2800
Phone: (304) 558-0261
Email: lucy.kefauver@wvhepc.edu

WISCONSIN
State of Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
Division of Legal Services and Compliance
P.O. Box 7190
Madison, WI 53707-7190
Phone: (608) 266-2112
Email: dsps@wisconsin.gov

WYOMING
Wyoming Department of Education
122 W/ 25th St, Ste E200
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Phone: (307) 777-7675
Email: linda.finnerty@wyo.gov