Online Student Consumer Protection

Alfred University participates in the National Council’s State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA), which allows AU to provide distance education to students residing in other NC-SARA states. For a list of participating states and institutions, you may visit the SARA Directory.

How SARA Impacts Out-of-State Distance Education Students with Respect to Consumer Protection Complaints

Provisions of the SARA Policy Manual, including those for consumer protection and the resolution of complaints, apply to interstate distance education offered by participating SARA institutions to students in other SARA states. Only those complaints resulting from distance education courses, activities, and operations provided by SARA-participating institutions to students in other SARA states come under the coverage of SARA. Complaints about a SARA institution’s in-state operations are to be resolved under the state’s normal provisions, not those of SARA (SARA Policy Manual).

NC-SARA requires AU to provide distance education students residing in other NC-SARA states with the opportunity to file grievances. A student may file a grievance if they feel they have been misled, or did not receive the educational experience they expected. Out-of-state distance education students may have their complaints investigated in accordance with SARA policies. The following grievance procedure must be followed:

  1. The student must first file the complaint at the institutional level, with the University Ombuds Officer. Information on the handling of internal grievances is available on AU's Ombuds Officer web page.
  2. If a student is not satisfied with the result of the institutional complaint process, they may file a complaint with NYSED, which is the NC-SARA State Portal Entity. NYSED will investigate and resolve allegations of misleading or false information. Students may appeal the institution's decision to the State Portal Entity in New York State within two years of the incident about which the complaint has been made.

Additional information on the SARA Student Complaint Process and recommended procedure is available from NC-SARA.

Any complaints made by students residing within New York State are not subject to NC-SARA involvement, and should be directed to the University Ombuds Officer. Any complaints made regarding grades or student conduct are governed by Alfred University policy and are not subject to NC-SARA involvement.

Any individuals interested or involved in Alfred University programs leading to professional licensure are encouraged to visit AU's web page on Professional Licensure Disclosures.

Quick Links for Consumer Protection & Grievances