What is NC-SARA?
Southwest Tennessee Community College is a proud member of NC-SARA. The National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) is an agreement among member states, districts, and territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate postsecondary distance education.
Southwest has multiple measures to ensure the college can operate effectively in an emergency or catastrophic event. This includes the teach out plan in the invent of a crisis.
The Emergency Management Plan is designed for potential emergencies or crises on campus. The current Emergency Management Plan conveys the operational, communication, and crisis response plans.
Southwest also utilizes the National Student Clearinghouse to ensure students have access to transcripts in the event of a catastrophic event or unanticipated closure of the institution.
Student complaints relating to consumer protection laws that involve distance learning education offered under the terms and conditions of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), must first be filed with the institution using the student complaint form to seek resolution.
Complaints not satisfied with the outcome of the Southwest’s internal process, may contact the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. The complaint procedures is available for your convenience. If you have questions related to the compliant review process, please contact Marcie Mills at Marcie.mills.@tn.gov or 615-253-7458.
For a list of SARA member States, please visit the NC-SARA website. Students residing in non-SARA states should consult their respective State of residence
for further instruction for filing a complaint.
To file a complaint with the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC), complete
the THEC Request for Complaint Review Form, or contact Julie Woodruff.
Julie Woodruff
Tennessee Higher Education Commission
312 Rosa L. Parks Ave., 9th Floor
Nashville, TN 37243
julie.woodruff@tn.gov
615-253-8857
Complaint Process for Tennessee Department of Justice
Tennessee online students who you are not satisfied with the outcome of the complaint
process at Southwest Tennessee Community College, you may choose to file a complaint
with the Tennessee Department of Justice. To file a complaint with the Tennessee Department of Justice, please visit the Department of Justice Complaints webpage.
Out of state online students who are not satisfied with the outcome of the complaint
process at Southwest Tennessee Community College, may choose to file a complaint with
our accrediting agency.
Southwest Tennessee Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees and
certificates. Questions about the accreditation of Southwest Tennessee Community College
may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission
on Colleges (SACSCOC) at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404)
679-4500, or use the information available on SACSCOC's website (http://www.sacscoc.org/).
Students who file a complaint with the accrediting agency should follow the SACSCOC Complaint Procedures.
For Tennessee Residence and Non-Tennessee Residence, please visit the licensure and disclosure link below for more information. If you are interested in being licensed out-side the state of Tennessee, Southwest Tennessee Community College recommends that you contact the appropriate licensing agency in the U.S. States and territories where licensure is intended. This will enable you to obtain the most up-to-date information related to your licensure and certification program requirements.
https://www.southwest.tn.edu/professional-licensure-disclosures/index.php
Normal inquiries or concerns related to admission requirements, financial aid, educational programs, etc., should be addressed directly to the appropriate office at Southwest Tennessee Community College.