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SUNY ESF
Student Complaint Information

Students should attempt to resolve any issues or complaints directly with ESF.  See the ESF Student Handbook related to student Code of Conduct, bias, and Title IX complaint procedures. Academic and other consumer complaints outside of those in the Student Handbook may be submitted to the Associate Provost of Instruction and Dean of the Graduate School at GradDean@esf.edu.

In the event campus grievance procedures have been followed and all avenues of appeals exhausted and documented, and the issue remains unresolved, a complaint may be submitted to System Administration of the State University of New York. Please note, this does not include complaints related to grades or student conduct violations, both of which are to be fully addressed via campus processes. See the section on Out-of-State Distance Education Complaints for complaints related to distance education programs when a student resides outside of New York State.

ESF is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), 1007 North Orange Street, 4th Floor, MB #166, Wilmington, DE 19801 (www.msche.org). MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. In the event campus grievance procedures have been followed and all avenues of appeals exhausted and documented, and the issue remains unresolved, students also may file a complaint with ESF’s accrediting agency. Information and procedures can be found in the Complaints Involving Member Institutions section of the MSCHE Polices, Guidelines, and Procedures webpage.

Out-of-State Distance Education Complaints

New York State is a member of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) and ESF has been a participating institution since 2017.  SARA participation enables ESF to offer its online courses and programs to students residing in other SARA member states- currently AL, AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, GU, HI, ID, IL IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, VI, WA, WV, WI, WY. ESF follows policies and procedures outlined within the SARA Policy Manual, which includes addressing student complaints related to distance education and SARA policies. Consumer complaints related to distance education courses, activities, operations, or other SARA provisions may be submitted to the Associate Provost of Instruction and Dean of the Graduate School at GradDean@esf.edu for investigation and resolution. In the event campus grievance procedures have been followed and all avenues of appeals exhausted and documented, and the issue remains unresolved, distance education students residing in a SARA member state may file a SARA complaint to the System Administration of the State University of New York. And, if still not satisfied, a SARA complaint may then be submitted to the New York State Education Department, New York's SARA Portal Entity, within two years of the incident about which the complaint is made. Please note, this does not include complaints related to grades or student conduct violations, both of which are to be fully addressed via campus processes, not through the SARA complaint resolution procedures.

California is currently not a SARA member.  As an out-of-state public institution without a physical presence in the state, ESF can still enroll CA students in online courses and programs.  In the event campus grievance procedures have been followed and all avenues of appeals exhausted and documented, and the issue remains unresolved, online students in California may file a complaint with the California Department of Consumer Affairs.

You can also view a full list of the higher education authorization and complaints portal agency along with SARA affiliation status for each state below.

 

State

SARA Member

Agency

Alabama

Yes

Alabama Community College System 
PO Box 302130
Montgomery, AL 36130-2130
https://www.accs.edu/student-complaints/

Alabama Commission on Higher Education
PO Box 302000
Montgomery, AL 36130-2000
https://www.ache.edu/index.php/saraaspa-application-process/

Alaska

Yes

Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education
PO Box 110505
Juneau, AK 99811-0505

https://acpe.alaska.gov/ConsumerProtection

Arizona

Yes

Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education
1400 W. Washington Street, Room 260
Phoenix, AZ 85007
https://ppse.az.gov/resources/student-complaint

Arkansas

Yes

Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Arkansas Department of Higher Education
423 Main Street, Suite 400

Little Rock, AR 72201

https://adhe.edu/students-parents/student-grievance-form

California

No

Complaints

California Department of Consumer Affairs

Consumer Information Center

1625 North Market Blvd., Suite N-112

Sacramento, California 95834

https://www.dca.ca.gov/consumers/complaints/oos_students.shtml

Other Higher Ed

California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education
PO Box 980818,

W. Sacramento, CA 95798-0818
https://www.bppe.ca.gov/enforcement/complaint.shtml

Attorney General’s Office
California Department of Justice
Attn: Public Inquiry Unit
P.O. Box 9044255

Sacramento, CA 94244-2550
https://oag.ca.gov/contact/consumer-complaint-against-business-or-company

Colorado

Yes

Colorado Department of Higher Education
1560 Broadway, Suite 1600
Denver, Colorado 80202
https://cdhe.colorado.gov/complaint-procedures

Connecticut

Yes

Office of Higher Education
61 Woodland Street
Hartford, CT  06105-2326
http://www2.ct.edu/complaint

Delaware

Yes

Delaware Higher Education Office
John G. Townsend Building,
401 Federal St., Suite 2
Dover, DE 19901
https://www.doe.k12.de.us/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&ModuleInstanceID=7585&ViewID=ed695a1c-ef13-4546-b4eb-4fefcdd4f389&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=22062&PageID=3062

**SARA Student Complaint Form

District of Columbia

Yes

District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education
Higher Education Licensure Commission
810 First Street, NE, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20002
https://helc.osse.dc.gov/topic/helcadmin/community-stakeholders/public-complaints

Florida

Yes

Florida Department of Education
Commission for Independent Education
325 W. Gaines Street, Suite 1414
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400
https://www.fldoe.org/schools/higher-ed/fl-college-system/about-us/concerns-complaints.stml

Georgia

Yes

Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission
2082 E. Exchange Pl. #220
Tucker, GA 30084-5334
https://gnpec.georgia.gov/student-complaints

Hawaii

Yes

Hawaii Postsecondary Education Authorization Program
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
P.O. Box 541
Honolulu, Hawaii 96809
http://cca.hawaii.gov/hpeap/student-complaint-process/   

Idaho

Yes

Idaho State Board of Education
Attn: State Coordinator for Private Colleges and Proprietary Schools
650 West State Street
PO Box 83720

Boise, ID 83720-0037
https://boardofed.idaho.gov/higher-education-private/proprietary-schools-non-degree-granting/student-complaint-procedures/

Illinois

Yes

Illinois Board of Higher Education
1 North Old State Capitol Plaza, Suite 333
Springfield, Illinois 62701
https://complaints.ibhe.org/register.aspx

Indiana

Yes

Indiana Commission for Higher Education 
101 W. Ohio Street, Suite 670
Indianapolis, IN 46204
https://www.in.gov/che/student-complaints/#:~:text=The%20Commission%20will%20inform%20both,%40che.in.gov.

Iowa

Yes

Iowa Student Aid Commission
430 E. Grand Ave., 3rd Floor
Des Moines, IA 50309
https://www.iowacollegeaid.gov/StudentComplaintForm

Kansas

Yes

Kansas Board of Regents
1000 SW Jackson Street, Suite 520
Topeka, KS 66612-1368
http://www.kansasregents.org/academic_affairs/private_out_of_state/complaint_process

Kentucky

Yes

Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education
Director of Postsecondary Learning
1024 Capital Center Dr. #320
Frankfort, KY 40601-7512
http://cpe.ky.gov/campuses/consumer_complaint.html

Louisiana

Yes

Louisiana Board of Regents
P.O. Box 3677
Baton Rouge, LA 70821-3677
https://www.laregents.edu/student-complaint-process/

 

Louisiana Attorney General Office

Consumer Protection Section

P.O. Box 94005

Baton Rouge, LA 70804

https://www.ag.state.la.us/

Maine

Yes

Maine Department of Education
23 State House Station
Augusta, ME  04333-0023
https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/highered/sara

Maine Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
6 State House Station
Augusta, ME  04333
consumer.mediation@maine.gov
http://www.maine.gov/ag/consumer/complaints/complaint_form.shtml

Maryland

Yes

Maryland Higher Education Commission
6 North Liberty Street, 10th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21201
http://mhec.maryland.gov/institutions_training/Pages/colleges_universities/index.aspx

Massachusetts

Yes

Massachusetts Board of Higher Education
One Ashburton Place, Room 1401
Boston, MA 02108

https://www.mass.edu/forstufam/complaints/complaintform.asp#:~:text=Submit%20a%20Complaint&text=The%20Board%20cannot%20provide%20you%20with%20legal%20advice.&text=)%20to%20complete%20and%20return%20via,(617)%20994%2D6963.

Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure

Office of Private Occupational School Education

1000 Washington Street

Boston, MA 02118

https://www.mass.gov/service-details/have-a-complaint-against-a-licensee

Michigan

Yes

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing Bureau
Administrative Services Section-Complaint Intake
PO Box 30018
Lansing, MI 48909
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/lara/Post-Secondary_Student_Complaints_498839_7.pdf

Minnesota

Yes

Minnesota Office of Higher Education
1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 350
St. Paul, MN 55108-5227
http://www.ohe.state.mn.us/mPg.cfm?pageID=1078

Mississippi

Yes

Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation
3825 Ridgewood Road
Jackson, MS 39211-6453
http://www.mississippi.edu/mcca/student_complaint_process.asp

Missouri

Yes

Missouri Department of Higher Education
205 Jefferson Street
PO Box 1469
Jefferson City, MO 65102-1469

https://dhewd.mo.gov/documents/POLICYONCOMPLAINTRESOLUTION-reviseddraft.pdf

Montana

Yes

Montana University System
Office of Commissioner of Higher Education
2500 Broadway Street
PO Box 203201
Helena, MT 59620-3201
https://mus.edu/MUS-Statement-of-Complaint-Process.asp

Nebraska

Yes

Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education
PO Box 95005
Lincoln, NE 68509-5005
https://ccpe.nebraska.gov/student-complaints-against-postsecondary-institutions

Nevada

Yes

Nevada Commission on Postsecondary Education
8778 S Maryland Parkway, Suite 115
Las Vegas, NV 89123
http://cpe.nv.gov/Students/Students_Home/

New Hampshire

Yes

New Hampshire Department of Education
Division of Higher Education
101 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH  03301-3494
https://www.education.nh.gov/pathways-education/higher-education-new-hampshire

New Jersey

Yes

New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education
20 West State Street
4th Floor, PO Box 542
Trenton, NJ 08625
https://www.state.nj.us/highereducation/OSHEComplaintInstructions.shtml

New Mexico

Yes

New Mexico Higher Education Department
2048 Galisteo Street
Santa Fe, NM 87505-2100
https://hed.state.nm.us/students-parents/student-complaints

New York

Yes

New York State Education Department
Office of College and University Evaluation
EBA Room 960
89 Washington Ave
Albany, NY 12234
http://www.highered.nysed.gov/ocue/spr/COMPLAINTFORMINFO.html
*Note special directions for SUNY and CUNY institution complaints  

North Carolina

Yes

University of North Carolina General Administration
North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaints
910 Raleigh Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27515-2688
https://www.northcarolina.edu/post-secondary-education-complaints/#:~:text=Information%20about%20Student%20Complaints&text=North%20Carolina%20residents%20may%20call,(919)%20716%2D6000.

North Dakota

Yes

North Dakota University System
Director of Distance Education and State Authorization
600 East Boulevard Ave
Bismarck, ND 58505-0230
http://www.ndus.edu/system/state-authorization/

*See bottom of page

Ohio

Yes

Ohio Department of Higher Education
25 South Front Street
Columbus, OH 43215
https://highered.ohio.gov/students/current-college-students/student-complaints/student-complaints

Oklahoma

Yes

Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
655 Research Parkway, Suite 200
Oklahoma City, OK 73104
http://www.okhighered.org/current-college-students/complaints.shtml

Oregon

Yes

Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission
Office of Degree Authorization
775 Court Street NE
Salem, OR 97301
https://www.oregon.gov/highered/institutions-programs/private/Pages/private-postsecondary-complaints.aspx

Pennsylvania

Yes

Pennsylvania Department of Education
Bureau of Postsecondary and Adult Education
333 Market Street, 12th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333
https://www.education.pa.gov/Postsecondary-Adult/CollegeCareer/Pages/Students-Complaints.aspx

Puerto Rico

 Yes

Education Council of Puerto Rico (Consejo de Educación de Puerto Rico)
PO Box 19900
San Juan, PR 00910-1900
http://www.agencias.pr.gov/agencias/cepr/inicio/Pages/default.aspx

 

Puerto Rico Department of Justice

P.O. Box 9020192

San Juan, PR 00902

https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/submit-complaint

Rhode Island

Yes

Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner
560 Jefferson Boulevard, Suite 100
Warwick, RI 02886
https://riopc.edu/policies/student-complaint-procedures/#:~:text=Written%20complaints%20and%20supporting%20documentation,they%20will%20be%20reviewed%20accordingly.

South Carolina

Yes

South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
1122 Lady St., Suite 300
Columbia, SC 29201
https://che.sc.gov/sites/che/files/Documents/Institutions%20and%20Educators/Complaint_Procedures_and_Form.pdf

South Dakota

Yes

South Dakota Board of Regents (SARA affiliated institutions)
306 E. Capitol Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501
https://www.sdbor.edu/administrative-offices/academics/SD-SARA/Pages/default.aspx

 

South Dakota Secretary of State (Non-SARA)
500 East Capitol Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501-5070
SOS.EDU@state.sd.us
https://sdsos.gov/general-information/postsecondary-education/default.aspx

Tennessee

Yes

Tennessee Higher Education Commission
Division of Postsecondary School Authorization
Parkway Towers, Suite 1900
404 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243-0830
https://www.tn.gov/thec/bureaus/student-aid-and-compliance/postsecondary-state-authorization/request-for-complaint-review.html

Texas

Yes

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
1200 E. Anderson Lane
Austin, TX 78752
  https://www.highered.texas.gov/student-complaints/

Utah

Yes

Utah System of Higher Education
Board of Regents Building
The Gateway
60 South 400 West
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101

https://ushe.edu/office-of-commissioner/state-authorization-ut-sara/ 

Utah Division of Consumer Protection

160 East 300 South

Salt Lake City, Utah 84111

https://db.dcp.utah.gov/complaints.html

*For complaints related to fraud, false advertising, or other deceptive practices

 

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

8060 165th Ave. NE, Suite 200

Richmond, Washington 98052

https://nwccu.org/tools-resources/complaints/

*For complaints related to quality of education or other issues appropriate for the colleges accrediting institution to consider

Vermont

Yes

Vermont Agency of Education
219 North Main Street, Suite 402
Barre, VT 05641
https://education.vermont.gov/documents/postsecondary-program-complaint-resolution

Virginia

Yes

State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
101 N. 14th St., 10th Floor
James Monroe Building
Richmond, VA  23219
https://www.schev.edu/students/resources/student-complaints

Washington

Yes

Washington Student Achievement Council
917 Lakeridge Way SW
Olympia, WA 98502
http://www.wsac.wa.gov/student-complaints

 

Washington Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board

128 10th Avenue SW

P.O. Box 43105

Olympia, WA 98504

http://www.wtb.wa.gov/PCS_Complaints.asp

West Virginia

Yes

West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
Community and Technical College System of West Virginia
1018 Kanawha Blvd E., Suite 700
Charleston, WV 25301
http://www.wvhepc.edu/inside-the-commission/special-initiatives/state-authorization-reciprocity-agreement-sara/  

https://www.wvhepc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Student-Complaint-Process.pdf

 

West Virginia Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division

P.O. Box 1789

Charleston, WV 25326

https://ago.wv.gov/consumerprotection/Pages/default.aspx

Wisconsin

Yes

Wisconsin Educational Approval Board
431 Charmany Drive, Suite 102
Madison, WI 53719
https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/Programs/EducationalApproval/EAPFileAComplaint.aspx

 

For SARA participating institutions/states:
Distance Learning Authorization Board
(Higher Educational Aids Board)
131 W. Wilson Street, Suite 902
Madison, WI 53703
http://www.heab.state.wi.us/dlab/students.html#file

Wyoming

Yes

Wyoming Department of Education
2300 Capitol Avenue, Hathaway Building, 2nd Floor
Cheyenne, WY 82002-0050
https://edu.wyoming.gov/beyond-the-classroom/school-programs/private-school-licensing/

 

For SARA participating institutions:
Wyoming Community College Commission
2300 Capitol Ave, 5th Floor, Suite B
Cheyenne, WY 82002
https://communitycolleges.wy.edu/sara/

 

Last Updated 9/25/2023