Complaints and Third-Party Comments

File a Complaint

The Commission reviews complaints that an accredited institution fails to meet our standards. Before you file, it helps to know what we can review — and what we cannot.

Before You File

Almost all complaints must go through the institution’s own process first. Colleges and universities must have a procedure for handling student grievances, and the Commission expects them to use and complete that process before we become involved.

If you have not yet done that, start with your institution’s grievance or student complaint procedure. It is usually in the student handbook or on the institution’s website. In most cases, it will resolve the matter faster than we can.

What the Commission Can Review

  • Whether an accredited institution is meeting the Commission’s standards
  • Whether an institution followed its own published policies and procedures
  • Patterns that suggest a broader problem with academic quality or institutional integrity

What the Commission Cannot Review

  • Individual grades, academic decisions, or degree requirements
  • Employment matters, including hiring, discipline, and termination
  • Admissions or financial aid decisions about an individual
  • Disputes over transfer of credit between institutions

The Commission does not act as an appeals board. We cannot change a grade, reinstate a student or an employee, award a degree, order a refund, or require an institution to reverse a decision about an individual.

How to File a Complaint

Complaints must be submitted in writing, signed, and include supporting documentation. We cannot act on anonymous complaints.

  1. Complete your institution’s own complaint process and keep documentation of the outcome.
  2. Download and read the Commission’s complaint policy here.
  3. Complete the Commission’s online complaint form here.
  4. Attach supporting documentation, including correspondence with the institution.

Questions regarding the Complaint policy or procedures may be sent to complaints@sacscoc.org.

Where Else to Go

If your concern falls outside what we can review, these resources may help.

  • Your institution’s grievance or student complaint process — for most academic and administrative concerns
  • Your state’s higher education agency — for consumer protection matters and for institutions operating in your state
  • The U.S. Department of Education — for federal financial aid concerns
  • The Department’s Office for Civil Rights — for discrimination complaints
  • Your state attorney general’s office — for consumer fraud concerns
  • A licensed attorney — for matters that may be legal disputes

Third-Party Comments

SACSCOC’s policy, “Third-Party Comment by the Public”, outlines procedures for public use in the submission of third-party comments by any interested party during the formal scheduled review of the following institutions:

  • For institutions seeking initial candidacy (current applicants)
  • Institutions seeking initial accreditation with SACSCOC (current candidates)
  • Institutions seeking reaffirmation of accreditation (continued accreditation) with SACSCOC.

The policy requires appropriate notification and ample opportunity for the institution to respond to third-party comments. The “Third-Party Comment Form” should be completed and submitted to the President of SACSCOC.

To see the Third-Party Comment by the Public policy and the institutions that we are currently seeking Third-Party Comments for, please click here.


Accrediting Standards

To gain or maintain accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), an institution must comply with the standards contained in the Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement and with the policies and procedures of the Commission. SACSCOC applies the requirements of its Principles to all applicant, candidate, and member institutions, regardless of type of institution (public, private for-profit, or private not-for-profit).

To see the history of SACSCOC Accrediting Standards please click here.

For a list of Documents, please click here.