NC-SARA Student Complaint Process

Overview

Fordham University is a participant in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), which establishes national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education. This participation allows us to provide distance education to students in other NC-SARA member states. As part of this agreement, we are committed to upholding specific consumer protection standards and providing a clear process for addressing student complaints.

Internal Complaint Process

Students are encouraged to utilize Fordham University's internal complaint resolution procedures as the first step in addressing any concerns. These procedures are designed to ensure that all student complaints are handled fairly and promptly. Detailed information about our internal complaint processes, including how to file a complaint, can be found on our Internal Complaint Process page.

New York Resident Student Complaint Contact Information

Student complaints not resolved at the institutional level who have followed all grievance procedures and protocols defined by the University, and reside in the state of New York, have the right to file a complaint with the Office of College and University Evaluation. 

If a student believes that the University’s internal complaint process has not adequately resolved the complaint, the student may contact the Office of College and University Evaluation: 

Phone: 518-474-1551
Email: [email protected]
NYSED's complaint procedures

SARA and Out-of-State Distance Education Students

Under NC-SARA, students residing outside of New York State who are enrolled in Fordham University's distance education programs have specific consumer protection rights. This agreement facilitates a streamlined process for addressing complaints related to the institution's distance education activities across state lines.

Important Considerations:

  • Exclusions: Complaints solely about grades or student conduct violations are not covered under SARA policies. Such matters are governed by Fordham University's internal policies. For more information, please refer to our Academic Complaint and Grievance Policies.
  • Timeframe: Students have up to two years from the date of the incident to file a SARA-related complaint.

Steps for Filing a Complaint

  1. Institutional Level: Begin by filing your complaint through Fordham University's internal complaint process. This ensures that the institution has the opportunity to address your concerns directly.
  2. NC-SARA Complaint Process: While NC-SARA itself does not receive student complaints, it provides guidance on the complaint process. For more information, visit the NC-SARA Student Complaints page.

FAQs: For common questions regarding the SARA complaint process, refer to the Frequently Asked Questions about Filing a SARA Complaint.

  1. State Level: If the issue is not resolved to your satisfaction, and you are an out-of-state distance education student, you may escalate the complaint to the New York State Education Department (NYSED), which serves as the State Portal Entity (SPE) for SARA-related matters.
    • Office of College and University Evaluation
    • Contact Information:
    • NYSED Complaint Procedures: Detailed information on filing a complaint with NYSED can be found on the NYSED NYSED Complaint Procedures page.
    • A State Portal Entity (SPE) is designated by each member state to oversee their state's SARA-participating institutions. View their contact information by selecting a state from the drop-down list.

By following these procedures, Fordham University aims to ensure that all student complaints are addressed in a fair and timely manner, in compliance with NC-SARA standards.