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Additional Information
State Authorization
Southwest Baptist University has been approved by Missouri to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements. NC-SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education.
"The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement is an agreement among member states, districts and territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. SARA is overseen by a National Council and administered by four regional education compacts." (http://www.nc-sara.org)
Complaint Resolution
Higher education institutions delivering courses by distance education are required to provide the contact information for official entities or agencies within each state designed to handle complaint resolution. States are required by the U.S. Department of Education (34 CFR 668.43(b)) to have a complaint process available to any enrolled or prospective student.
Southwest Baptist University students enrolled in online and distance courses, as well as on-campus courses, should attempt to resolve complaints by following the Procedures for Formal Complaints and Grievances in the SBU Student Handbook. If you wish to file a complaint about the University with its regional accreditor regarding issues of institutional quality, you may do so by following the instructions on the Higher Learning Commission website. Distance education students may contact Amy Werner at MDHE, if a concern is not resolved through the SBU Formal Complaint and Grievance process. Contact information is listed below.
Amy Werner, SARA State Portal Entity Contact
Missouri Department of Higher Education
205 Jefferson Street
P.O. Box 1469
Jefferson City, MO 65102-1469
(573) 522-1377
Amy.Werner@dhe.mo.gov