South Piedmont Community College has been approved by North Carolina to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). SARA represents an agreement between all affiliated states, districts, and territories and indicates that each institution adheres to comparable national standards for interstate post-secondary education opportunities for learners. South Piedmont is able to offer online distance education classes to students residing in affiliate states and territories, which include 49 states (all but California), the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
State Authorization is a legal issue dealing with a college’s adherence to state requirements for colleges to secure authorization to offer instruction in that state. Compliance with individual state requirements is now part of the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, Amended 2010. Institutions offering distance education courses or programs must provide current and prospective students with the contact information for filing complaints with the college, its accrediting agency, and with the state agencies that handle complaints in the students’ state of residence.
The State Authorization Federal Regulation Chapter 34, ß 600.9(c)If an institution is offering post-secondary education through distance or correspondence education to students in a State in which it is not physically located or in which it is otherwise subject to State jurisdiction as determined by the State, the institution must meet any State requirements for it to be legally offering distance or correspondence education in that State. An institution must be able to document to the Secretary the State’s approval upon request.
In compliance with state regulations and with the U.S. Department of Education, South Piedmont Community College desires to resolve student complaints in a fair, timely and effective manner. Students who desire to resolve a grievance should follow South Piedmont’s Student Grievance Policy and Procedure which can be found in the SPCC College Catalog and Student Handbook. Please use the following link to access the digital grievance form: SPCC Grievance Form
Students should exhaust all possible avenues of complaint resolution before going outside of the college. For assistance with the grievance procedure, students may contact:
Elaine Clodfelter, Director of Student Wellness and Accountability
Email: eclodfelter@spcc.edu
Office: 704-272-5302
PO Box 126, Polkton NC 28135
The State Authorization Unit of the University of North Carolina System Office serves as the official state entity and acts as the clearinghouse to receive complaints concerning post-secondary institutions that are authorized to operate in North Carolina. If students are unable to resolve a complaint through the institution’s grievance procedures, they can review the Student Complaint Policy (PDF) and submit their complaint using the online complaint form at https://studentcomplaints.northcarolina.edu/form. For more information review the North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaint Website.
NC Office of Post-Secondary Education Complaints
North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaints
223 S. West Street, Suite 1800
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 962-4550
Website: https://www.northcarolina.edu/post-secondary-education-complaints/
For Out-of-State Online Students Grievance
South Piedmont Community College students residing outside the state of North Carolina who desire to resolve a student grievance are encouraged to follow South Piedmont’s internal grievance procedure as shown in the SPCC College Catalog and Student Handbook. If an issue cannot be resolved internally, a complaint may be filed with SARA North Carolina, with the student’s home state, or with South Piedmont Community College’s accrediting agency SACSCOC. Please see contact information below.
Contact information for SARA North Carolina:
SARA North Carolina Director
NCSEAA
c/o SARA North Carolina
PO Box 41349
Raleigh, NC 27629
Phone: (855) 727-2162, toll free
Fax: (919) 248-6667
Email: complaint@saranc.org
SARA North Carolina Website
Student Complaint Process
Student Complaint Form
South Piedmont Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. South Piedmont Community College also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of South Piedmont Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
Contact information for SACSCOC:
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
1866 Southern Lane
Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097
Phone: (404) 679-4500
SACSCOC Website
SACSCOC Complaint Policy
| State | Agency | Contact information |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama Commission on Higher Education | C/O NC-SARA State Portal Agency P.O. Box 302000 Montgomery, AL 36130-2000 |
| Alaska | Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education | P.O. Box 110505 Email: EED.ACPE-IA@alaska.gov |
| Arizona | Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education | 1740 W. Adams, Suite 3008 Phoenix, AZ 85007 Telephone: (602) 542-5709 Arizona Student Complaint Procedure |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Division of Higher Education | 423 Main St., Suite 400 |
| California | California Department of Consumer Affairs | Consumer Information Center 1625 North Market Blvd., Suite N-112 Sacramento, California 95834 Telephone: (833) 942-1120 Email: dca@cda.ca.gov California Department of Consumer Affairs Complaints California Student General Online Complaint Form |
| Colorado | Colorado Department of Higher Education | 1600 Broadway, Suite 2200 Denver, CO 80202 Telephone: (303) 862-3001 Colorado Student Complaint Process |
| Connecticut | Office of Higher Education | 61 Woodland Street Hartford, CT 06105‐2326 Connecticut Student 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 Telephone: (302) 892-5800 Delaware Department of Education: Student Complaints |
| District of Columbia | District of Columbia Education Licensure Commission | Office of the State Superintendent of Education Higher Education Licensure Commission 1050 First St. NE, Fifth Floor |
| Florida | Florida Department of Education | Commission for Independent Education 325 W. Gaines Street, Suite 1414 Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400 Telephone: 850-245-3200 Email: cieinfo@fldoe.org Florida Student Complaint Process |
| Georgia | Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission | 2082 East Exchange Place, Suite 220 |
| Hawaii | Hawaii Post-Secondary Education Authorization Program | Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs P.O. Box 541 |
| Idaho | Idaho Board of Education | Attn: State Authorization Program Manager 650 West State Street |
| Illinois | Illinois Board of Higher Education | 1 N Old State Capitol Plaza, Suite 333 Springfield, IL 62701-1377 Telephone: 217-782-2551 Illinois Student Complaint Process |
| Indiana | Indiana Board for Proprietary Education | Board for Proprietary Education Email: Complaints@che.in.gov |
| Iowa | Iowa Department of Education | Higher Education Student Complaints 400 E 14th St |
| Kansas | Kansas Board of Regents | 1000 SW Jackson Street, Suite 520 State Authorization Reciprocal Agreement (SARA) Complaint Procedure |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education | Director of Postsecondary Licensing Council on Postsecondary Education 100 Airport Road, Second Floor, Frankfort KY 40601 Telephone: (502) 573-1555 Kentucky Student Complaint Process |
| Louisiana | Louisiana Board of Regents | P.O. Box 3677 |
| Maine | State of Maine Department of Education | 23 State House Station |
| Maryland | Maryland Higher Education Commission | Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division 200 St. Paul Place Baltimore, MD 21202 Telephone: (410) 528-8662 Maryland Student Complaint Process |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Department of Higher Education | One Ashburton Place, Room 1401 Boston, MA 02108 Telephone: (617) 994-6950 Email: SARAInquiries@dhe.mass.edu Massachusetts State SARA Website SARA – Student Complaints |
| Michigan | State of Michigan | Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Employment & Training, Post-Secondary Schools P.O. Box 30805 Lansing, MI 48933 Telephone: (517) 241-9590 Michigan Post Secondary Schools Statement of Complaint Form Instructions |
| Minnesota | Registration & Licensing Minnesota Office of Higher Education | 1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 350 St. Paul, MN 55108 Telephone: 1(800) 657-3866 Minnesota Student Complaint Process |
| Mississippi | Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation | 3825 Ridgewood Road Jackson, MS 39211-6453 Telephone: (601) 432-6198 Fax: 601-432-6225 Mississippi Student Complaint Process |
| Missouri | Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development | 205 Jefferson Street P.O. Box 1469 Jefferson City, MO 65102‐1469 Telephone: (573) 522-1377 Fax: 573-751-6635 Missouri Distance Education Student Complaint Process |
| Montana | Montana University System Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education | 2500 Broadway P.O. Box 203201 Helena, MT 59620-3201 Telephone: (406) 444-6570 Montana Student Complaint Process |
| Nebraska | Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education | P.O. Box 95005 Lincoln, NE 68509-5005 Telephone: (402) 471-2847 Nebraska Student Filing a Complaint |
| Nevada | Nevada System of Higher Education | SARA Portal Agency Nevada System of Higher Education 2601 Enterprise Road Reno, NV 89512 Telephone: 775-784-4901 |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire Department of Education, Division of Higher Education, Higher Education | 101 Pleasant Street Concord, NH 03301 Telephone: (603) 271-3494 New Hampshire Student 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 Telephone: (609) 292-7225 New Jersey Student Complaint Process |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Higher Education Department | 2044 Galisteo St., Suite 4 Email: HigherEd.Info@hed.nm.gov. |
| New York | New York State Education Department College and University Evaluation | 89 Washington Ave., Room 969 EBA Albany, NY 12234 Telephone: (518) 474-1551 Fax: (518) 486-2779 New York Student Filing a Complaint |
| North Carolina | The University of North Carolina System | Post-Secondary Education Complaints 223 S. West Street, Suite 1800 Raleigh, NC 27603 Telephone: (919) 962-4550 North Carolina Complaints Complaint Form |
| North Dakota | North Dakota University System | Director of Academic Affairs Telephone: (701) 328‐2678 |
| Ohio | Ohio Department of Higher Education | 25 South Front Street Email: odhe-complaints@highered.ohio.gov |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education | 655 Research Parkway, Suite 200 State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) Student Complaints |
| Oregon | Higher Education Coordinating Commission | ATTN: Complaints-ODA 775 Court St. NE Salem, OR 97301 Telephone: (503) 947-5716 Oregon Student Resources |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Department of Education | Pennsylvania Department of Education Division of Higher Education, Access, and Equity 607 South Drive, Floor 3E Harrisburg, PA 17120 E-mail: ra-highereducation@pa.gov Telephone: (717) 787-3787 |
| Puerto Rico | Puerto Rico Council on Higher Education | Office of Registration and Licensing of Educational Institutions PO Box 9023271, San Juan, PR 00902-3271 Telephone: (787) 641-7100 |
| Rhode Island | Commissioner of Higher Education Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner | 560 Jefferson Blvd, Suite 200 Warwick, RI 02886 Telephone: (401) 736-1100 Rhode Island Student Complaint Process |
| South Carolina | South Carolina Commission on Higher Education | 1122 Lady St., Suite 400 Columbia, SC 29201 Telephone: (803) 737-2260 South Carolina Student Complaint Procedures and Form |
| South Dakota | South Dakota Board of Regents | 306 E. Capitol Ave., Suite 200 Pierre, SD 57501 Telephone: (605) 773-3455 South Dakota SARA Complaint Resolution Form |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Higher Education Commission | Division of Postsecondary State Authorization |
| Texas | Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board | College Readiness & Success Division P.O. Box 12788 Austin, TX 78711-2788 Telephone: (512) 427-6101 Texas Student Complaint Process |
| Utah | Utah Division of Consumer Protection | Utah Division of Consumer Protection 160 East 300 South Salt Lake City, Utah 84111 Telephone: (801) 646-4784 UT SARA Complaint Process |
| Vermont | Vermont Agency of Education | 1 National Life Drive, Davis 5 Montpelier, VT 05620‐2501 Telephone: (802) 828-5535 Vermont Student Complaint Process |
| Virginia | State Council of Higher Education for Virginia | 101 N. 14th St., 10th Floor James Monroe Bldg. Richmond, VA 23219 Telephone: (804) 225-2600 Virginia Student Complaint Process |
| Washington | Washington Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board | Washington Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission Community & Technical College System of West Virginia | 1018 Kanawha Blvd. East, Suite 700 Charleston, WV 25301 Telephone: (304) 558-4016 West Virginia Student Complaint Process |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Educational Approval Program (EAP) | Department of Safety and Professional Services 4822 Madison Yards Way P.O. Box 8366 Email: DSPSEAP@wisconsin.gov Telephone: (608) 266-2112 |
Students who do not live in North Carolina and are considering a program at South Piedmont Community College that leads to licensure or certification should contact the appropriate individual listed for a specific program.
The mailing address for each program that leads to professional licensure is below:
1851 South Piedmont Street,
Monroe, NC 28110
Students may review the list of licensure disclosures located here – Professional Licensure Disclosures by State.
Basic Law Enforcement Technology (BLET)
Mike Smith
Email: jsmith@spcc.edu
Office: 704-290-5884
Information on Professional Licensing Boards by State
CDL Class B
Cornelius Dunlap, Program Lead
Email: CDunlap@spcc.edu
Office: 704-290-4862
Information on Professional Licensing Boards by State
Computed Tomography
Mez Chen
Email: mchen@spcc.edu
Office: 704-701-0480
Information on Professional Licensing Boards by State
Early Childhood Education
Tonya Silas
Email: tsilas@spcc.edu
Office: 704-290-5864
Information on Professional Licensing Boards by State
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Troy “Sam” Bishop
Email: tbishop@spcc.edu
Office: 704-290-5817
Information on Professional Licensing Boards by State
Firefighter Training
Troy “Sam” Bishop
Email: tbishop@spcc.edu
Office: 704-290-5817
Information on Professional Licensing Boards by State
General Medical Sonography
Britney Autry
Email: bsmith@spcc.edu
Office: 704-290-5209
Information on Professional Licensing Boards by State
HVAC-R
Kelly Stegall
Email: kstegall@spcc.edu
Office: 704-290-5224
Information on Professional Licensing Boards by State
Mammography
Mez Chen
Email: mchen@spcc.edu
Office: 704-701-0480
Information on Professional Licensing Boards by State
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Mez Chen
Email: mchen@spcc.edu
Office: 704-701-0480
Information on Professional Licensing Boards by State
Certified Nurse Aide (CNA I)
Jessica Bowers
Email: jbowers@spcc.edu
Office: 704-290-5210
Information on Professional Licensing Boards by State
Nursing – ADN, CNA II, LPN, LPN Refresher
Dr. Sharon Walker
Email: swalker@spcc.edu
Office: 704-290-5816
Information on Professional Licensing Boards by State
Phlebotomy
Aeysha Morman-Robbs
Email: amorman-robbs@spcc.edu
Office: 704-290-5825
Information on Professional Licensing Boards by State
Real Estate
Kelly Stegall
Email: kstegall@spcc.edu
Office: 704-290-5224
Information on Professional Licensing Boards by State
Therapeutic Massage
Elan Schacter
Email: eschacter@spcc.edu
Office: 704-290-5867
Information on Professional Licensing Boards by State