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Issues

STATE AUTHORIZATION

  1. Tennessee State Authorization:  This authorization is required by both State and Federal law.  It demonstrates that an educational institution is authorized to offer post-secondary degrees in Tennessee.  According to Tennessee Code Annotated § 49-7-2004(d) ,the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) is empowered to perform such authorization and maintain a list of qualified institutions.  This authorization works to satisfy Federal Title IV recertification and other federal state authorization requirements.  This web link provides a list of non-profit institutions authorized to provide post-secondary degrees in Tennessee which includes all TICUA members: 

THEC Regulatory Exemption Filing:  TICUA members meet the requirements to be exempt from Tennessee state regulatory oversight.  In order to maintain this status, members must complete the THEC Request for Information Form.  This form updates THEC’s information related to your status as a regulatory exempt institution.  Please note:  In the past THEC required that this form be completed annually, however, it is our understanding that an annual filing is not necessary.  TICUA also has been assured by the Kansas City, DOE Regional Office that this approach meets their requirements.

Once completed you may either mail hard copies or electronically send a PDF file. Hard copies of the form and all attachments may be mailed to: Attn: Stephanie Bellard Chase Tennessee Higher Education Commission Parkway Towers, Suite 1900 404 James Robertson Parkway Nashville, TN 37243-0830 OR PDF copies of the form and all attachments may be e-mailed to: thec.dpsa-application@tn.gov with the subject: Information Request Form-TCA§49-7-2004(a)(6)

Questions concerning this form should be submitted to the THEC/DPSA official at (615)253-6287. 

  1. National Council – State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA): This authorization allows institutions to offer certain academic programs in other states without seeking authorization in each NC-SARA member state.  A full explanation of the benefits and limitations can be found on the NC-SARA website (www.nc-sara.org).  There are annual participation fees required to be submitted to NC-SARA and to Tennessee Portal (THEC).  The fees are based on the size of the college/university and can be found on the NC-SARA website.  The Tennessee fee mirrors that of the NC-SARA fee. 

NC-SARA will notify the institution designee 90 days prior to the renewal deadline about the need to update information and pay the annual fees.  Within a few days of that notification, THEC will notify the contact that the institution must also complete the Tennessee State Supplemental Form and submit the state level fee.  Simply complete those forms and pay the NC-SARA and Tennessee fees prior to renewal deadline and your institution will maintain its membership in NC-SARA. 

Please also be aware that NC-SARA does require a rather simple data report which asks you to aggregate your student enrollment in each NC-SARA state.  Both the data sharing agreement and reporting guide can be found on the NC-SARA homepage in the left-hand column under Resources.

THEC NC-SARA Basics PowerPoint, July 2016

 (Archived Tennessee State Authorization Letters)

MODEL COMPLAINT PROCESS FOR TICUA MEMBER INSTITUTIONS

PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW IN RESPONSE TO U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 10.29.10 FINAL RULES

In accordance with the Department of Education’s final regulations published on October 29, 2010, the following is the complaint process related to receiving and resolving complaints for TICUA member institutions that are legally authorized to provide post-secondary education in Tennessee and are exempt from regulation by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.


COMPLAINTS

  • All complaints should first be routed through the appropriate complaint/appeals process as outlined by each university.  
  • Depending on the nature of complaint, the matter should be brought to the attention of the office directly responsible for that area of the college or university.  
  • Complaints and appeals should be well-documented and move through the appropriate campus supervisory structure prior to appealing to any off-campus authority.

OFF CAMPUS AUTHORITIES

  • Complaints relating to quality of education or accreditation requirements shall be referred to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), (http://www.sacscoc.org/pdf/081705/complaintpolicy.pdf);
  • Complaints related to the application of state laws or rules related to approval to operate or licensure of a particular professional program within a postsecondary institution shall be referred to the appropriate  State Board (i.e., State Boards of Health, State Board of Education, and so on) within the Tennessee State Government and shall be reviewed and handled by that licensing board (http://www.tn.gov, and then search for the appropriate division);
  • For students attending programs in Tennessee, complaints related to state consumer protection laws (e.g., laws related to fraud or false advertising) shall be referred to the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs and shall be reviewed and handled by that unit (http://www.tn.gov/consumer/     TN Attorney General Letter on Campus Complaints June 2017). 
  • For out-of-state students using distance learning programs, complaints related to consumer protection laws shall be filed using the Tennessee NC-SARA Portal form:  http://tn.gov/assets/entities/thec/attachments/ComplaintForm.pdf

Voter Education and Registration

Your Vote, Your Voice: The National Campus Voter Registration Project and Your Vote, Your Voice are cooperative efforts of 50 Washington, D.C.-based national higher education associations known collectively as the Washington Higher Education Secretariat and includes the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU).