Grievance Procedures

Grievance Process for Residents of Participating NC-SARA States, Districts and Territories

United States federal guidelines require that distance learning and related activities offered to residents outside of an institution’s home state are regulated. To comply with these guidelines, St. Joseph’s College has joined the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA), which establishes a set of recognized standards and regulations for offering postsecondary online education. NC-SARA is administered by the four regional education compacts (Midwestern Higher Education Compact, New England Board of Higher Education, Southern Regional Education Board and the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education) and membership is open to all degree-granting postsecondary institutions accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. For a current list of states, districts and territories that participate in NC-SARA, please visit the following website: nc-sara.org/sara-states-institutions.

Students who reside in states, districts and territories that are members of NC-SARA are encouraged to resolve any issues regarding their education or experiences at St. Joseph’s College by following the steps outlined on the “Grievance Processes” page found on the SJC Online portal. Students who deem their issue not solved at the institutional level and who wish to file a complaint regarding the College may do so by contacting the New York State Portal Entity Contact for NC-SARA:

Owen Donovan, Ph.D.
Supervisor, Higher Education Programs
New York State Education Department
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12234
518.474.1551
[email protected]

Grievance Process for Non-NC-SARA Residents

To be in compliance with the United States Department of Education’s Program Integrity regulations, St. Joseph’s College, New York is required to provide all prospective and current students with the contact information of the state agency or agencies that handle complaints against post-secondary education institutions offering distance learning within that state. Prior to filling out a complaint with the state we encourage our students to try to resolve any issue by following steps outlined on the “Grievance Processes” page found on the SJC Online portal. Students who deem their issue not solved at the institutional level and who wish to file a complaint regarding St. Joseph’s College may do so by contacting: 

Middle States Commission on Higher Education 
3624 Market Street 2nd Floor West 
Philadelphia, PA 19104 
267.284.5000 
[email protected]

New York Office of College and University Evaluation New York State Education Department 
5 North Mezzanine 
Albany, NY 12234
[email protected]
www.highered.nysed.gov/ocue/spr/COMPLAINTFORMINFO.html

For additional questions or information, please contact Ashley Benson, Associate Director of Online Programs, at [email protected].