Student Complaint Process

The University of Virginia's College at Wise participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), which allows the College to offer distance education to students in other SARA member states. In accordance with SARA policy, students enrolled in courses that are subject to SARA regulations should first attempt to resolve any complaints through the institution's complaint procedures described above.

If the complaint is not resolved through the institution's internal complaint process, the resolution of the complaint (except for complaints regarding grades or student conduct violations) may be appealed, within two years of the incident giving rise to the complaint, to either:

• the SARA State Portal Entity (SPE) for Virginia, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), or
• the SARA State Portal Entity (SPE) for the state in which the student is located.

SARA-related complaints are not subject to mandatory arbitration agreements, even if such agreements are used for other types of disputes; arbitration cannot be applied to complaints covered by SARA policy. In addition, SARA member states retain the authority to investigate fraud, misrepresentation, or other illegal activity, regardless of where the institution is based. For additional information about SARA, or to file a complaint with the State Portal Entity, please view the NC-SARA State Portal Entity Contact Directory.