Student Grievances
Out-Of-State Student Complaint Information
Students taking classes at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga should attempt to resolve any issues or complaints with the University first using the procedures described in the Office of the Dean Of Students. For cases that cannot be satisfactorily resolved internally, the University is required to provide both current and prospective students with contact information for filing complaints with the appropriate agency in the state where the student resides. Please click on your state to be connected to the contact form should you have a complaint about UTC.
If you have questions about inter-state authorization, visit the UT System State Authorization page.
Complaint Resolution Policies and Procedures for Non-Tennessee Resident Students in State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement States, commonly known as SARA:
Student complaints relating to consumer protection laws that involve distance learning education offered under the terms and conditions of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), must first be filed with the institution to seek resolution.
Complainants not satisfied with the outcome of the Institution’s internal process may appeal, within two years of the incident about which the complaint is made, to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (https://www.tn.gov/thec/bureaus/student-aid-and-compliance/postsecondary-state-authorization/request-for-complaint-review.html).
THEC has no jurisdiction to investigate a complaint against a Tennessee public institution unless the complaint concerns issues related to SARA and the student resides out of state, is enrolled in a distance education program, and has exhausted the institution’s grievance process.
For purposes of this process, a complaint shall be defined as a formal assertion in writing that the terms of SARA or the laws, standards or regulations incorporated by the SARA Policies and Standards (http://www.nc-sara.org/content/sara-manual) have been violated by the institution operating under the terms of SARA.
For a list of SARA member States, please visit the NC-SARA website (http://nc-sara.org/sara-states-institutions). Students residing in non-SARA states should consult their respective State of residence for further instruction for filing a complaint.