Complaint Assistance for Online/Out-of-State Students

State Authorization

U.S. Department of Education regulation 600.9(c) requires that if an institution is offering distance education in a state where it is not physically located, the institution must meet individual state requirements for offering distance education to students within that state.

Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC) has been approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). As a result, GTCC is authorized to offer online courses to students in states and territories that participate in NC-SARA, which includes all states except California and also includes Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Complaint Process

U.S. Department of Education regulations require GTCC to provide students with contact information for filing complaints at various levels. 

GTCC faculty and staff attempt, in good faith, to resolve complaints and problems as they arise. However, if a matter remains unresolved, the purpose of the Complaint procedure is to provide a process for resolving student complaints. This procedure applies to all student complaints, including but not limited to academic issues, student services, or administrative concerns, or matters involving any form of discrimination or harassment. 

• Online students attending GTCC who would like to resolve a Grade Related or Non-Grade Related Complaint should follow the Student Complaint process (PDF).
• After students have read the Institutional Student Complaint Policy, they will complete the Grade-Related Complaint Form or the  Non-Grade Related Complaint Form.
• Students who wish to file an appeal for an Academic Integrity violation should follow the Academic Integrity process and complete the  Student Academic Integrity Appeal. If assistance with either process is needed, Online students should contact the Associate Vice President of Instruction. Documents may need to be printed, signed, emailed, or faxed. These documents can be sent to the Office of Instruction contact listed below who will confirm their receipt within two business days and ensure that the completed forms reach the appropriate person.

If you have questions about GTCC's complaint process, please contact:

Jeremy D. Bennett, D.P.A.
Associate Vice President for Instruction
Guilford Technical Community College
Medlin Campus Center, Office 4209
601 E. Main St., Jamestown, NC 27282
8 a.m.-5 p.m. EST Monday-Friday
336-334-4822, ext. 50079
jdbennett5@gtcc.edu

Students also may file a complaint at the state level or with GTCC's accrediting agency. Information about these complaint options is listed below. In most cases, the student is required to exhaust all complaint avenues by using the college's internal procedure before a complaint can be filed at the state or accrediting agency level. As such, students are advised to first attempt to resolve complaints with GTCC using the Student Complaint process (PDF).

NC Office of Post-Secondary Education Complaint Process

GTCC is a member of the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS). Students located in North Carolina may file a complaint with the North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaints unit. First review the NC Post-Secondary Student Complaint Policy. Then print and complete the NC Post-Secondary Education Student Complaint Form and submit the complaint to:

North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaints
c/o Student Complaints
223 S. West St., Suite 1800
Raleigh, NC 27603
Telephone: 919-962-4550
Website: https://www.northcarolina.edu/post-secondary-education-complaints/

State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement-North Carolina (SARA-NC) Complaint Process

SARA-NC Contact Information:
Terrence R. Scarborough, M.P.A. – Director of SARA North Carolina
North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority
c/o SARA North Carolina
P.O. Box 41349
Raleigh, NC 27629
Telephone: 919-248-4667
Email: complaint@saranc.org
Website: www.saranc.org

Additional resources for students located outside North Carolina:

• NC-SARA State Portal Entity Contacts
• Agencies for Filing Student Complaints by State (PDF)

SACSCOC Student Complaint Process

Guilford Technical Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. GTCC also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of GTCC may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling 404-679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC's website (www.sacscoc.org).

If a student has evidence of an institution’s non-compliance with SACSCOC standards, policies, and procedures, the next step would be to file a complaint with GTCC’s accrediting agency. Students who file a complaint with the accrediting agency should follow the SACSCOC Complaint Procedure (PDF). The contact information for SACS is:

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
1866 Southern Lane
Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097
Telephone: 404-679-4500
Website: www.sacscoc.org

Professional Licensure and Certification

Certain areas of study at GTCC prepare students to sit for professional licensure or certification examinations that are required to work in North Carolina. If you plan to work outside of North Carolina, below is information to help you determine if GTCC's curriculum will meet educational requirements for professional licensure or certification in other states. Also, see Professional Licensing Board Contacts by State (PDF) for more information.

Note: Each disclosure document linked below includes the name of a contact person for the program along with email address and phone number. The mailing address for each contact person is Guilford Technical Community College, P.O. Box 309, Jamestown, NC 27282.

• meets state educational requirements for professional licensure or certification,
• does not meet state educational requirements for licensure or certification, or
• a determination has not been made.