Distance Learning Complaints

Distance Learning Complaint Process for Out-of-State Students

SOWELA Technical Community College strives to resolve student grievances, complaints and concerns in an expeditious, fair and amicable manner.

Students residing outside of the State of Louisiana while attending SOWELA through electronically delivered classes who would like to resolve a grievance should contact the appropriate SOWELA office. However, if an issue cannot be resolved internally, you may file a complaint with your State.

Complaint Process for Students From a SARA Member State

SOWELA Technical Community College participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement. Students from other SARA-approved states should refer to the following documents for the appropriate complaint procedure:

SOWELA Technical Community College has been approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.

Complaint Process For Students From a State That Is Not a Member of SARA

The State Agencies, listed below, provide phone numbers, emails and/or links to state education agencies.

SACSCOC Complaints

SOWELA Technical Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of SOWELA Technical Community College.

Complaints filed against SOWELA Technical Community College with SACSCOC must adhere to the following criteria:

The complaint policy only addresses significant, documented, alleged non-compliance with the SACSCOC accreditation standards, policies or procedures.
Complainants are expected to have attempted to resolve the issue through the institution’s complaint processes before filing a complaint with SACSCOC.
The SACSCOC complaint process is not intended to be used to involve the Commission in disputes between individuals and member institutions or to cause the Commission to interpose itself as a reviewing authority in individual matters; nor does the policy allow the Commission to seek redress on an individual’s behalf.
The primary purpose of the SACSCOC complaint procedure is to acquire valuable information regarding an accredited institution’s possible non-compliance with accreditation standards, policies and procedures rather than to resolve individual disputes.
Complaints must be tied to specific standard numbers from The Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement (opens new window).

For more information on how to file a complaint with SACSCOC, click here.

Student Grievance Contact Information for Individual States

Note: All links in this section will open in a new window. Alabama

Alabama

Alabama Commission on Higher Education https://ache.edu/ (334) 242-1998 or (334) 242-0268

Alaska

Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education https://acpesecure.alaska.gov/ (907) 465-2962 or (907) 465-5316

Arizona

Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education Student Grievance Procedure (602) 542-5709 or (602) 542-1253

Arkansas

Arkansas Department of Higher Education https://www.adhe.edu/ (501) 371-2000

Colorado

Colorado Department of Higher Education https://cdhe.colorado.gov/ (303) 866-2723 or (303) 866-4266

Connecticut

Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education https://www.ct.edu/regents (860) 947-1801

Delaware

Delaware Department of Education www.doe.k12.de.us (302) 735-4000 or (302) 739-4654

Florida

Florida Department of Education https://www.fldoe.org/ (850) 245-0505 or (850) 245-9667

Idaho

Idaho Board of Education https://www.idaho.gov/ (208) 334-2270 or (208) 334-2632

Illinois

Illinois Board of Higher Education Student Grievance Procedure (217) 782-2551 or (217) 782-8548

Iowa

Iowa College Student Aid Commission www.iowacollegeaid.gov (515) 725-3400 or (515) 725-3401

Kansas

Board of Regents Student Grievance Procedure (785) 296-4917 or (785) 296-7052

Kentucky

Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education http://cpe.ky.gov/ (502) 573-1555 or (502) 573-1535

Louisiana

Louisiana Board of Regents http://regents.louisiana.gov/ (225) 342-4253 or (225) 342-9318

Maine

Maine Department of Education www.maine.gov/education (207) 624-6600 or (207) 624-6700

Maryland

Maryland Higher Education Commission https://mhec.maryland.gov/Pages/default.aspx (410) 260-4500 or (800) 974-0203

Massachusetts

Massachusetts Board of Higher Education https://www.mass.edu/home.asp (617) 994-6950 or (617) 727-0955

Michigan

Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth Student Grievance Procedure (517) 373-1820 or (517) 373-2129

Minnesota

Minnesota Office of Higher Education Student Grievance Procedure (651) 642-0567 or (651) 642-0675

Mississippi

Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation www.ihl.state.ms.us/mcca (601) 432-6198 or (601) 432-6225

Missouri

Missouri Department of Higher Education https://dhewd.mo.gov/ (573) 751-2361 or (573) 751-6635

Montana

Montana University System, Montana Board of Regents http://mus.edu/board (406) 444-6570

Nebraska

Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education https://ccpe.nebraska.gov/ (402) 471-2847 or (402) 471-2886

Nevada

Nevada Commission on Postsecondary Education http://cpe.nv.gov/ (702) 486-7330 or (702) 486-7340

New Hampshire

New Hampshire Postsecondary Education Commission https://www.education.nh.gov/ (603) 271-3494

New Jersey

New Jersey Commission of Higher Education Student Grievance Procedure (609) 588-3226

New Mexico

New Mexico Higher Education Department Student Grievance Procedure (505) 476-8400 or (505) 476-8453

North Carolina

North Carolina Community College System, Office of Proprietary School Services Student Grievance Procedure (919) 807-7146 or (919) 807-7164

North Dakota

North Dakota State Board for Career and Technical Education www.nd.gov/cte (701) 328-3180 or (701) 328-1255

Ohio

Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools https://scr.ohio.gov/home (614) 466-2752 or (614) 466-2219

Oklahoma

Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education www.okhighered.org (405) 225-9100

Oklahoma Department of Education – Private and Career Schools Office www.okhighered.org (503) 947-5600 or (503) 378-5156

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Department of Education, Division of Program Services Student Grievance Procedure (717) 783-6137 or (717) 783-6139

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Council on Higher Education http://www.ces.gobierno.pr (787) 641-7100 or (787) 641-2573

South Carolina

South Carolina Commission on Higher Education Student Grievance Procedure (803) 737-2260 or (803) 737-2297

South Dakota

South Dakota Board of Regents Student Grievance Procedure (803) 737-2260 or (803) 737-2297

Tennessee

Tennessee Higher Education Commission http://www.tn.gov/thec (615) 741-3605

Texas

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board http://www.highered.texas.gov/ (512) 427-6101

Utah

Utah Division of Consumer Protection Student Grievance Procedure (801) 530-6601 or (801) 530-6001

Vermont

Vermont State Board of Education https://education.vermont.gov/state-board-councils/state-board (802) 828-3135

Washington

Washington Student Achievement Council https://wsac.wa.gov/ (360) 753-7800

Washington DC

Washington DC – Education Licensure Commission http://osse.dc.gov/service/education-licensure-commission-elc (202) 442-4343 or (202) 442-4465

West Virginia

West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission http://www.wvhepc.com/ (304) 558-4016

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Educational Approval Board https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/Programs/EducationalApproval/Default.aspx (608) 266-1996 or (608) 264-8477

Wyoming

Wyoming Department of Education edu.wyoming.gov (307) 777-5712

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