Student Complaint Process

When submitting complaints, there are different avenues for students completing their education in the state of New York and those completing their education outside of New York State through distance education (e.g. online courses or programs).

As required by the NC-SARA student complaint process, a student must first attempt to resolve and file their complaint at the institution. For complaints not resolved at the institutional level, a student may file an appeal in one of the following ways (dependent on their state residence):

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 NYS Office of College and University Evaluation. The contact information can be found on the New York State Education Department website.

NC-SARA Member Out-Of-State Student Complaint Contact Information

Syracuse University operates under the approval of “NC-SARA” (National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements). Students based outside of New York State who have a consumer-protection-based complaints regarding a distance education program should first seek to resolve such a complaint within the school in which the student is registered.

Note that complaints regarding grades and general student conduct issues are not governed by this distance education complaint process.

For those student complaints not resolved at the institutional level who have followed all grievance procedures and protocols defined by the University, and reside in a SARA member state outside of New York, pursuant to the SARA Complaint Process, please contact the New York SARA State Portal Agency.

NC-SARA State Portal Contact: EmilySutherland
Supervisor of Higher Education Programs
New York State Education Department
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12234
518.474.1551
IHEauthorize@nysed.gov

Non-SARA Member Out-Of-State Student Complaint Contact Information

For those student complaints not resolved at the institutional level who have followed all grievance procedures and protocols defined by the University, and do not reside in a SARA member state, they may seek advisement from the appropriate office in the student's state of residence (see list of agencies below). However, students residing in the state of New York or in a SARA member state should follow the complaint procedures outlined above.

Note: This list includes contact information for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories and should not be construed as informative of what agencies regulate the institution or in what states the institution is authorized to operate. States, through the relevant agencies or Attorneys General Offices will accept complaints regardless of whether an institution is authorized to operate in that state. Also, the University does not maintain the state and territory websites, and information may change without the University’s knowledge.

ALABAMA

In writing:
Alabama Community College System

Attn: Division of Academic and Student Affairs
PO Box 302130
Montgomery, AL 36130-2130

By phone: Phone Number: +1-334-293-4500

On the Internet: Alabama Community College System

ALASKA

In writing:
Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education
PO Box 110505,
Juneau, Alaska 99811-0505

By phone: Phone Number: +1-800-441-2962

On the Internet: Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education

ARIZONA

In writing:
Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education
1400 W. Washington, Room 260
Phoenix, AZ 85007

By phone: Phone Number: +1-602-542-5709

On the Internet: Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education

ARKANSAS

In writing:
Arkansas Division of Higher Education
114 East Capitol
Little Rock, AR 72201-3818

By phone: Phone Number: +1-501-371-2000

On the Internet: Arkansas Division of Higher Education

CALIFORNIA

In writing:
California Department of Consumer Affairs
Consumer Information Center
1625 North Market Blvd., Suite N-112
Sacramento, California 95834

By phone: Phone Number: +1-833-942-1120

On the Internet: California Department of Consumer Affairs

COLORADO

In writing:
Colorado Department of Higher Education
Commission on Higher Education
1300 Broadway Rd., Second Floor
Denver, CO 80203

By phone: Phone Number: +1-303-862-3001

On the Internet: Colorado Department of Higher Education

CONNECTICUT

In writing:
Connecticut Office of Higher Education
450 Columbus Blvd., Suite 707
Hartford, CT 06103-1841

By phone: Phone Number: +1-860-947-1800

On the Internet: Connecticut Office of Higher Education

DELAWARE

In writing:
Delaware Department of Education
The Townsend Building
401 Federal St., Suite 2
Dover, DE 19901-3639

By phone: Phone Number: +1-302-735-4000

On the Internet: Delaware Department of Education

FLORIDA

In writing:
Commission for Independent Education
325 W. Gaines St., Suite 1414
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400

By phone: Phone Number: +1-850-245-0505

On the Internet: Florida Department of Education

GEORGIA

In writing:
Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission
2082 E. Exchange Pl., Suite 220
Tucker, GA 30084

By phone: Phone Number: +1-770-414-3300

On the Internet: Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission

HAWAII

In writing:
Business Registration Division of the Hawaii Department
of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
PO Box 40
Honolulu, HI 96810

By phone: Phone Number: +1-808-587-4272

On the Internet: Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs

IDAHO

In writing:
Idaho State Board of Education
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0037

By phone: Phone Number: +1-208-334-2270

On the Internet: Idaho State Board of Education

ILLINOIS

In writing:
Illinois Board of Higher Education
1 N. Old State Capitol Plaza, Suite 333
Springfield, IL 62701-1377

By phone: Phone Number: +1-217-557-7359

On the Internet: Illinois Board of Higher Education

INDIANA

In writing:
Board for Proprietary Education Indiana Commission for Higher Education
101 W. Ohio St., Suite 300
Indianapolis, IN 46204

By phone: Phone Number: +1-317-464-4400

On the Internet: Indiana Commission for Higher Education

IOWA

In writing:
Iowa College Student Aid Commission
475 SW fifth St., Suite D
Des Moines, IA 50309 (Listed as 50319)

By phone: Phone Number: +1-515-725-3400

On the Internet: Iowa College Aid

KANSAS

On the Internet: The Kansas Board of Regents

KENTUCKY

In writing:
Kansas Board of Regents
1000 SW Jackson Street, Suite 520
Topeka, KS 66612-1368

By phone: Phone Number: +1-785-430-4240

On the Internet: Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education

LOUISIANA

In writing:
State of Louisiana Board of Regents
1201 N. Third St., Suite 6-200
Baton Rouge, LA 70802

By phone: Phone Number: +1-225-342-4253

On the Internet: State of Louisiana Board of Regents

Alternate contact:

In writing:
Office of the Attorney General
Consumer Protection Section
P.O. Box 94005
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9005

By phone: Phone Number: +1-225-326-6464 or Phone Number: +1-800-351-4889

MAINE

In writing:
Maine State Board of Education (MSBE)
23 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0023

By phone: Phone Number: +1-207-624-6846

On the Internet: Maine Department of Education

MARYLAND

In writing:
Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC)
6 N. Liberty St., 10th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21201

By phone: Phone Number: +1-410-767-3301

On the Internet: Maryland Higher Education Commission

Alternative contact:

In writing:
Maryland Office of the Attorney General
200 St. Paul Place
Baltimore, MD 21202

By phone: Phone Number: +1-410-576-6300 or Phone Number: +1-888-743-0023; TDD Phone Number: +1-410-576-6372

On the Internet: Maryland Office of the Attorney General

MASSACHUSETTS

In writing:
Massachusetts Board of Higher Education
One Ashburton Place, Suite 1401
Boston, MA 02108-1696

By phone: Phone Number: +1-617-994-6950

On the Internet: Massachusetts Department of Higher Education

MICHIGAN

In writing:
Michigan Department of Education
PO Box 30008

Lansing, MI 48909

By phone: Phone Number: +1-517-373-9235

On the Internet: Michigan Department of Education

MINNESOTA

In writing:
Minnesota Office of Higher Education
1450 Energy Park Dr., Suite 350
St. Paul, MN 55108

By phone: Phone Number: +1-651-259-3975 or Phone Number: +1-800-657-3866

On the Internet: Minnesota Office of Higher Education

MISSISSIPPI

In writing:
Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation
3825 Ridgewood Rd.
Jackson, MS 39211

By phone: Phone Number: +1-601-432-6372

On the Internet: Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation

MISSOURI

In writing:
Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development
205 Jefferson St.
Jefferson City, MO 65102-1469

By phone: Phone Number: +1-573-751-2361

On the Internet: Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development

MONTANA

In writing:
Montana Board of Regents

Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education - Montana University System
560 N. Park Ave.
PO Box 203201
Helena, MT 59620-3201

By phone: Phone Number: +1-406-449-9124

On the Internet: Montana Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education

NEBRASKA

In writing:
Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education
PO Box 95005
Lincoln, NE 68509-5005

By phone: Phone Number: +1-402-471-2847

On the Internet: Nebraska's Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education

NEVADA

In writing:
Nevada Commission on Postsecondary Education
3663 E. Sunset Road, Suite 202
Las Vegas, NV 89120

By phone: Phone Number: +1-702-486-7330

On the Internet: Nevada Commission on Postsecondary Education

NEW HAMPSHIRE

In writing:
New Hampshire Department of Education
101 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH 03301-3494

By phone: Phone Number: +1-603-271-3494

On the Internet: New Hampshire Department of Education

NEW JERSEY

In writing:
New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education
1 John Fitch Plaza, 10th Floor
PO Box 542
Trenton, NJ 08625-0542

By phone: Phone Number: +1-609-292-4310 or Phone Number: +1-609-984-2709

On the Internet: New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education

NEW MEXICO

In writing:
New Mexico Higher Education Department
2044 Galisteo St., Suite 4
Santa Fe, NM 87505-2100

By phone: Phone Number: +1-505-476-8400

On the Internet: New Mexico Higher Education Department

NEW YORK

In writing:
New York State Education Department
Office of College & University Evaluation Education Bldg.
5 North Mezzanine, 89 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12234

By phone: Phone Number: +1-518-474-2593

On the Internet: New York State Office of Higher Education

NORTH CAROLINA

In writing:
North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaints
c/o Student Complaints
910 Raleigh Rd.
Chapel Hill, NC 27515-2688

By phone: Phone Number: +1-919-962-4538

On the Internet: North Carolina Post-Secondary Education

Alternative contact:

In writing:
Consumer Protection Division
Attorney General’s Office
Mail Service Center 9001
Raleigh, NC 27699-9001

By phone: Phone Number: +1-877-566-7226 or Phone Number: +1-919-716-6000 (En Espanol (Phone Number: +1-919-716-0058)

On the Internet: North Carolina Department of Justice

NORTH DAKOTA

In writing:
North Dakota University System
Core Technology Services
2000 44th St. SW, Suite 301
Fargo, ND 58103

By phone: unknown

On the Internet: North Dakota University System

OHIO

In writing:
Ohio Department of Higher Education
25 South Front Street
Columbus, OH 43215

By phone: Phone Number: +1-614-466-6000

On the Internet: Ohio Department of Higher Education

OKLAHOMA

In writing:
Oklahoma State Regents of Higher Education
655 Research Pkwy, Suite 200
Oklahoma City, OK 73104-3603

By phone: Phone Number: +1-405-225-9100 or Phone Number: +1-405-225-9142

On the Internet: Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

OREGON

In writing:
Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission
Office of Private Postsecondary Education
225 Capitol St. NE
Salem, OR 97301

By phone: Phone Number: +1-503-378-5690

On the Internet: Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission

PENNSYLVANIA

In writing:
Pennsylvania Department of Education
333 Market St., 12th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333

By phone: Phone Number: +1-717-783-6785

On the Internet: Pennsylvania Department of Education

PUERTO RICO

In writing:
Consejo de Educacion Superior de Puerto Rico/Puerto Rico Council on Higher Ed.
PO Box 19900
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00910-1900

By phone: Phone Number: +1-787-724-7100 ext. 2022 or ext. 2016

On the Internet: Puerto Rico Departamento de Estado

RHODE ISLAND

In writing:
Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner
560 Jefferson Blvd.
Warwick, RI 02886-1304

By phone: Phone Number: +1-401-736-1100

On the Internet: Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Education Commission

SOUTH CAROLINA

In writing:
Nonpublic Postsecondary Institution Licensing
1333 Main St., Suite 200
Columbia, SC 29201

By phone: Phone Number: +1-803-737-3918

On the Internet: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education

SOUTH DAKOTA

In writing:
South Dakota Secretary of State
Capitol Building
500 E. Capitol Ave, Suite 204
Pierre, SD 51501-5070

By phone: Phone Number: +1-605-773-3215

On the Internet: South Dakota Secretary of State

TENNESSEE

In writing:
Tennessee Higher Education Commission
Parkway Towers, Suite 1900
404 James Robertson Pkwy
Nashville, TN 37243-0830

By phone: Phone Number: +1-615-741-5293 or Phone Number: +1-615-253-8857

On the Internet: Tennessee Higher Education Commission & Student Assistance Corporation

TEXAS

In writing:
Texas Workforce Commission
Career Schools and Colleges-Rm 226-T
101 East 15th Street
Austin, TX 78778-0001

By phone: Phone Number: +1-800-558-8321

On the Internet: Texas Workforce Commission

Texas Alternate Contact #1:

In writing:
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Office of General Counsel
P.O. Box 12788
Austin, TX 78711-2788

By phone: Phone Number: +1-512-427-6101

On the Internet: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

Texas Alternate Contact #2:

In writing:
Texas Office of the Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
P.O. Box 12548
Austin, TX 78711-2548

On the Internet: Texas Office of the Attorney General

UTAH

In writing:
Utah System of Higher Education State Board of Regents
60 South 400 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84101-1284

By phone: Phone Number: +1-801-321-7200 or Phone Number: +1-800-418-8757

On the Internet: Utah System of Higher Education

VERMONT

In writing:
Vermont Agency of Education<
219 North Main St., Suite 402
Barre, VT 05641

By phone: Phone Number: +1-781-425-7713 or Phone Number: +1-802-479-1030

On the Internet: Vermont Agency of Education

Vermont Alternate Contact:

In writing:
Vermont Attorney General’s Office
109 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05609-1001

By phone: Phone Number: +1-802-828-3171

VIRGINIA

In writing:
State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
James Monroe Building
101 N. 14th St., 10th Floor
Richmond, VA 23219

By phone: Phone Number: +1-804-225-2600

On the Internet: State Council of Higher Education for Virginia

WASHINGTON

In writing:
Washington Student Achievement Council
PO Box 43430
Olympia, WA 98504-3430

By phone: Phone Number: +1-360-753-7869 or Phone Number: +1-360-753-7866

On the Internet: Washington Student Achievement Council

WASHINGTON D.C.

In writing:
Office of the State Superintendent of Education
Higher Education Licensure Commission
1050 First St. NE
Washington, DC 20002

By phone: Phone Number: +1-202-727-6436

On the Internet: Washington, DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education

WEST VIRGINIA

In writing:
West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
1018 Kanawha Boulevard East, Suite 700
Charleston, WV 25301

By phone: Phone Number: +1-304-558-2101

On the Internet: West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission

WISCONSIN

In writing:
State of Wisconsin
Educational Approval Program
P.O. Box 8366
Madison, WI 53708-8366

By phone: Phone Number: +1-608-266-1996

On the Internet: Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services

WYOMING

In writing:
Wyoming Department of Education
122 W. 25th St., Suite E200
Cheyenne, WY 82002

By phone: Phone Number: +1-307-777-7675

On the Internet: Wyoming Department of Education

AMERICAN SAMOA

In writing:
Office of Protection and Advocacy
Attn: Dr. Peter Tinitali
Executive Office Building
Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799

By phone: Phone Number: +1-684-699-2441

On the Internet: American Samoa Office of Protection & Advocacy

GUAM

In writing:
Office of Attorney General
287 W O’Brien Dr.
Hagatna, Guam 96910

By phone: Phone Number: +1-671-475-3324

On the Internet: Guam Office of Attorney General

NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS

In writing:
State Higher Education Agency, Northern Marianas College
POB 501250
Saipan MP 96950-1250

Northern Mariana Islands Alternate Contact:

In writing:
Office of Attorney General
Juan A Sablan Memorial Bldg.
Capital Hill,
Caller Box 10007, Saipan, MP 96950

By phone: Phone Number: +1-670-234-5498

On the Internet: Northern Mariana Islands Office of the Attorney General

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS

In writing:
Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands
Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs
Golden Rock Shopping Center,
3000 Estate Golden Rock, Suite 9, St. Croix, VI 00820

By phone: Phone Number: +1-340-713-2754

On the Internet: Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands