State Authorization

Valdosta State University (VSU) is proud to offer fully online degree programs and certificate courses. Designed by expert faculty in the field of online learning and eLearning instructional designers, you can expect personalized, quality education and programming with the flexibility of distance learning.

The U.S. Department of Education requires compliance with state regulations of any state in which VSU provides distance education for students. To facilitate compliance with state regulations, VSU is a participating institution in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) administered by GA-SARA. The Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission has been designated the portal agency for SARA – the entity responsible for coordinating SARA activities in Georgia. The contact information for the Georgia Portal Agency is:

GA-SARA Coordinator
Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (GNPEC)
2082 East Exchange Place, Suite 220
Tucker, GA 30084
Tel: 770.414.2644
Email: gasara@gnpec.ga.gov

SARA membership allows VSU to offer distance education in other member states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. California is not a member of SARA and does not regulate distance education offered through public institutions. Residents outside of the United States must follow their country or province's distance education rules and regulations.

Professional Licensure Disclosures

Valdosta State University offers degree and certificate programs that fulfill the educational requirements for professional licensure or certification in Georgia. However, completion of a program may not satisfy licensure or certification requirements in other states or U.S. territories.

Because licensure and certification requirements vary by profession and jurisdiction, students are encouraged to contact the appropriate licensing agency in the state where they intend to seek employment to determine applicable requirements.

VSU has evaluated its professional licensure programs and assigned one of the following disclosure statuses for a state and U.S. territory:

• Meets Requirements - (a student attestation is not required)
• Does Not Meet Requirements - (a student attestation is required)

Students seeking enrollment in a program designated as Does Not Meet Requirements for their state or territory must complete VSU's attestation process and acknowledge their intent to seek employment in a state where the educational requirements are met.

College of Education

• Professional Licensure or Certification Disclosure: Fully Online Educator Preparation Programs

College of Nursing and Health Sciences

• Professional Licensure or Certification Disclosure: Fully Online Nursing Certifications

Professional Licensure Directory

The National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), in collaboration with SARA State Portal Entities and regional compacts, maintains the Professional Licensure Directory. The directory provides contact information for state licensing boards and agencies related to professional licensure programs offered by VSU.

Students should consult the directory to identify the appropriate licensing agency in the state where they intend to practice. The directory provides agency contact information but does not interpret state-specific licensure requirements.

Licensure Information by Program**

The links below provide state-by-state licensure disclosure information for programs that may lead to professional licensure or certification.

Complaints and Grievances Process

Valdosta State University is dedicated to providing the best student experience by ensuring its policies and procedures are fair, reasonable, and well-publicized. VSU encourages students to resolve concerns through the University's established complaint and grievance procedures whenever possible.

The U.S. Department of Education's Program Integrity regulations require states to provide a process for resolving student complaints in order for institutions to remain eligible to participate in Title IV federal financial aid programs. As a participant in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), VSU complies with the complaint resolution procedures established through the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

Students residing outside the State of Georgia while enrolled in VSU online programs should first seek resolution through the University's complaint and grievance procedures.

Student Complaint Resolution Process

The following complaint procedures apply to students who reside in SARA states:

1. Submit a Complaint to VSU:
   
   Students should submit an initial complaint using VSU's Student Concerns and Complaints/Grievances process. This website provides information about student complaint procedures, grievance processes, and available avenues for resolution. Students should exhaust all applicable institutional remedies before pursuing a complaint through state authorization agencies. Note: Grade appeals, academic decisions, and student conduct matters are governed by separate university policies and are not eligible for review through the SARA complaint process.
   
   
2. Appeal through the Georgia SARA Portal Agency:
   
   If a student residing in another SARA member state is not satisfied with VSU's resolution of a complaint related to distance education, the student may appeal to the Georgia SARA Portal Agency, the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (GNPEC).
   

   Complaints must generally be filed within two years of the incident giving rise to the complaint.

   1. • GA-SARA Student Complaint Rules
      • GA-SARA Online Student Complaint Form

   Decisions made through the Georgia SARA complaint process are final.

Non-Georgia Resident Online Student Complaint Resolution

VSU follows the complaint procedures established by the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA). Only complaints arising from distance education courses, activities, and operations offered by SARA-participating institutions to students located in other SARA member states fall within the scope of the SARA complaint process.

Complaints concerning activities occurring within Georgia or issues not covered by SARA are governed by applicable institutional policies and state regulations rather than SARA procedures.

If a student's complaint is not satisfactorily resolved through VSU's internal complaint process, an eligible out-of-state student may submit a complaint to Georgia's SARA Portal Entity (GNPEC) for review and resolution.

SARA Student Complaint Resources

Students are encouraged to review the following resources before filing a SARA complaint:

• SARA Participating Institutions Directory
  
  
• SARA Student Complaints Quick Start Guide (PDF)
  
  
• GA-SARA Student Complaint Rules
  
  
• GA-SARA Online Student Complaint Form

California Resident Online Student Complaints

California is not a member of SARA and does not regulate distance education provided by public institutions through the SARA framework.

Students residing in California who are enrolled in an online program at VSU and believe they have exhausted the University's complaint procedures without satisfactory resolution may file a complaint with the California Department of Consumer Affairs.

Additional Information

VSU seeks to resolve student grievances, complaints, and concerns in an expeditious, fair, and amicable manner. Students are strongly encouraged to utilize institutional complaint procedures first, as most concerns can be resolved through direct communication with the appropriate department, college, or university office. Only after institutional remedies have been exhausted should students pursue external complaint processes when applicable.