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�鶹��ýӳ�� participates in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). This voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education, which includes clinical rotations, provide �鶹��ýӳ�� with approval to offer its distance education programs in other NC-SARA states.

To learn more about NC-SARA, please visit their .

Contact Information for Student Complaint Process

The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) consumer protection provisions require member states to investigate and resolve allegations of dishonest or fraudulent activity, including the provision of false or misleading information.  For the purposes of SARA, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), Virgina’s State Portal Entity, will address only those complaints resulting from distance education courses, activities, and operations provided by Virginia SARA-participating institutions to students in other SARA states.  Student complaints regarding grades or student conduct violations are exempt from SARA student complaint reporting. Please visit for additional information regarding student complaints.

�鶹��ýӳ��’s full grievance process is outlined in the .  Students who wish to file a complaint about distance education courses, activities, and operations (i.e. clinical rotations) covered by this agreement must first file a complaint with �鶹��ýӳ�� using the Academic Concerns Grievance procedures outlined below.

Students may seek resolution for concerns or grievances related to academic issues, which may include concerns over general course procedures, grading policies, course grade(s), promotion, or other academic issues with the Course Director, Associate Dean for Student Affairs, Class President, Class Officers, Associate Deans, the Campus Dean, and/or the Provost.  Course assessment policies and test question challenges are not addressed through the student grievance process.

Informal Academic Concerns

An individual concern that is academic in nature should first be discussed with the Course Director in a professional manner, who will work together to attempt to resolve the issue in a manner that follows college policy and is in the best interest of all students and the college.   If a resolution is reached and the student is satisfied with the resolution, the matter is closed.  If the student is unsatisfied with the resolution or a resolution cannot be reached, the student may, within seven calendar days of the failed proposed resolution, file a formal grievance, in writing, to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and the Campus Dean (see procedures below for filing a formal academic grievance). 

A concern that is academic in nature that the student believes concerns the student body as a whole should be addressed jointly with the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and the Class President, who will meet with the Class Officers to discuss the concern.  If the Class President and Class Officers believe it is appropriate to bring the complaint forward as an informal grievance on behalf of the student body, they will meet with the appropriate Course Director and/or the Associate Dean to seek a resolution that follows college policy and is in the best interest of the college and the college.  If a resolution is reached, and the Class President and Class Officers are satisfied with the resolution the matter is closed.  If the Class President and Class Officers are unsatisfied with the resolution or a resolution cannot be reached, the Class President may, within seven calendar days of the failed resolution, file a formal grievance, in writing, to the Campus Dean (see procedures below for filing a formal academic grievance). 

Formal Academic Grievances

A concern that is academic in nature that was not resolved through the informal academic grievance procedures as described above may be addressed through the filing of a formal grievance.   Following unsatisfactory resolution of an informal grievance, the Class President or individual student may file a formal grievance within seven calendar days of the failed resolution.  The formal grievance must be submitted in writing to the Campus Dean.  The Campus Dean will meet with the appropriate parties (students, Course Directors, and Associate Deans) to seek a resolution that is in the best interest of the individual student, student body, and the College as a whole.  The Campus Dean may resolve the issue or may appoint a Three-person panel to assist in finding an appropriate resolution.  The Campus Dean will respond, in writing, within 14 calendar days of receiving the complaint.  If the formal grievance concern was brought by the Class President, he or she will be notified, in writing, of the resolution, as will any other pertinent parties involved.  If the formal grievance concern was brought by an individual student, the student will be notified, in writing, of the resolution, as will any other pertinent parties involved. 

The Class President or individual student has the right to appeal the decision of the Campus Dean, in writing, to the Provost within seven calendar days of the failed resolution should they feel that the resolution does not follow college policy or was made with bias.  In this case, the Provost will review the grievance and previous recommended resolutions and make a decision regarding final resolution of the matter.  The Provost will generally respond, in writing, within 14 calendar days of receiving the appeal request.  However, the decision may take 30 days or longer depending upon the investigation of the case.  If the Class President brought the formal grievance concern, he or she will be notified, in writing, of the resolution, as will any other pertinent parties involved.  If an individual student brought the formal grievance concern, the student will be notified, in writing, of the resolution, as will any other pertinent parties involved.  The decision of the Provost is final. 

If the student believes that �鶹��ýӳ�� has not appropriately handled the complaint, then the student may file a complaint with the following:

For Virginia campus students:

Students may contact the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), which is �鶹��ýӳ��'s SARA portal agency.  Before filing a complaint with SCHEV regarding a Virginia SARA participating institution, students should review SCHEV’s Student Complaint webpage and verify the following:

1. You have exhausted all available grievance procedures established by the institution; and
2. You are not satisfied with the resolution provided by the institution and are contacting SCHEV as a last resort in the grievance process.

If the above two statements are true, fill out the in its entirety and submit it electronically to SCHEV. 

For Carolinas, Auburn, and Louisiana campus students:

Student complaints about out-of-state distance education courses, activities, and operations (i.e. clinical rotations occurring outside of the state of the student’s �鶹��ýӳ�� campus) should be referred to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), which is �鶹��ýӳ��'s SARA portal agency.  Before filing a complaint with SCHEV regarding a Virginia SARA participating institution, students should review SCHEV’s Student Complaint webpage and verify the following:

1. You have exhausted all available grievance procedures established by the institution; and
2. You are not satisfied with the resolution provided by the institution and are contacting SCHEV as a last resort in the grievance process.

If the above two statements are true, fill out the in its entirety and submit it electronically to SCHEV. 

Student complaints about in-state distance education courses, activities, and operations (i.e. clinical rotations occurring within the state of the student’s �鶹��ýӳ�� campus) should be referred to the campus state’s licensing body.

• Auburn campus students should contact the
• Carolinas campus students should contact the
• Louisiana campus students should contact the

Effective July 1, 2024, federal regulations require institutions of higher education to make a determination whether a Title IV eligible academic program that leads to professional licensure or certification meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification in the U.S. State where the institution is located and the U.S. States where “distance education” students are located at the time of initial enrollment in the program, as well as U.S. States where the program is advertised as meeting such requirements, and if applicable, the U.S. State where students attest they intend to be licensed/certified.

�鶹��ýӳ��’s Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) program is an American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) accredited program of study.  Graduation from an AOA-COCA accredited college of osteopathic medicine is required in order to begin training in an ACGME-accredited residency program and to take the COMLEX-USA Level 3 examination.  At this time, �鶹��ýӳ�� has determined the DO program meets the state educational requirements for licensure in all 50 U.S. States and Territories.  As graduation from medical school is only one element of education for physician licensure, students or applicants should also read the residency requirements for their states for licensure, which vary.

Licensure Program State Requirement Status

It is important to note that a medical school or college is not the licensure/certification authority in U.S. States and Territories and cannot assess whether an individual candidate is eligible to be issued a license or certificate.  This disclosure does not provide any guarantee that any state/territory licensure entity will approve or deny an individual’s application for certification or professional licensure, as further requirements exist by state such as residency training and/or may be impacted by prior legal infractions of the applicant.  This disclosure does not account for any future changes in state/territory law or regulations that may affect an individual’s application for certification or licensure that may occur after this disclosure has been made.  It is incumbent on each individual candidate to assure his or her eligibility by contacting the licensure/certification authority in the applicable U.S. State or Territory for guidance on the state’s requirements for licensure/certification and instructions on the application processes.