State Authorization General Disclosures
Lenoir Community College, LCC, is a participant in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements and through this participation is authorized to offer online courses to residents of SARA-member states and territories.
State Authorization
U.S. Department of Education regulation 600.9(c) requires that if an institution is offering distance education in a state where it is not physically located, the institution must meet individual state requirements for offering distance education to students within that state.
Lenoir Community College, LCC, is approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). As a result, LCC is authorized to offer online courses to students in states and territories that participate in NC-SARA, which includes all states except California and also includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Grievance (Complaint) Procedure
U.S. Department of Education regulations requires Lenoir Community College to provide students with contact information for filing complaints at various levels.
LCC faculty and staff attempt, in good faith, to resolve complaints and problems as they arise. However, if a matter remains unresolved, the purpose of the Student Grievance Procedure is to provide a procedure for resolving student complaints. This procedure applies to all student complaints, including but not limited to academic issues, student services or administrative concerns, or matters involving any form of discrimination or harassment. To file a complaint, submit an the online Student Grievance Form.
If you have questions about LCC’s complaint process, please contact:
Kimberly Hill
Dean of Student Services/Title IX Coordinator
Administration (Building 003), Room 140C
Phone: (252) 527-6223, ext. 301
Fax: (252) 233-6893
Email: krhill01@lenoircc.edu
Students also may file a complaint at the state level or with Lenoir Community College’s accrediting agency. Information about these complaint options is listed below. In most cases, the student is required to exhaust all complaint avenues by using the college’s internal procedure before a complaint can be filed at the state or accrediting agency level. As such, students are advised to first attempt to resolve complaints with LCC using the online Student Grievance Form.
NC Office of Post-Secondary Education Complaint Process
Students located in North Carolina may file a complaint with the North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaints unit. First review the NC Post-Secondary Student Complaints webpage. Then print and complete the NC Post-Secondary Education Student Complaint Form and submit the complaint to:
North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaints
c/o Student Complaints
223 S. West Street, Suite 1800
Raleigh, NC 27603
Telephone: 919-962-4550
Website: https://www.northcarolina.edu/post-secondary-education-complaints/
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement – North Carolina (SARA-NC) Complaint Process
Students not residing in North Carolina and enrolled in a North Carolina institution that operates under SARA North Carolina, SARA-NC, may submit complaints to the state portal agency, NCSEAA, only after completing the Lenoir Community College complaint process. Students should follow the SARA-NC Complaint process and use the SARA-NC Complaint Form.
SARA-NC Contact Information:
Terrence R. Scarborough, M.P.A. – Director of SARA North Carolina
SARA North Carolina
North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority
P.O. Box 41349
Raleigh, NC 27629
Telephone: 919-248-4667
Email: complaint@saranc.org
Website: www.saranc.org
Additional resources for students located outside North Carolina:
SACSCOC Student Complaint Process
Lenoir Community College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, online at sacscoc.org, or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Lenoir Community College. Complaints may be filed with the Commission only if there is evidence that appears to support significant non-compliance with a SACSCOC requirement or standard by LCC. For information on filing a complaint with this body, students should consult page 10 of the SACSCOC Complaint Procedure (PDF).
The contact information for SACSCOC is:
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
1866 Southern Lane
Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097
Telephone: 404-679-4500
Website: http://www.sacscoc.org
Professional Licensure and Certification
Certain LCC programs prepare students to sit for applicable licensure and/or certification examinations in North Carolina. In order to comply with U.S. Department of Education regulations regarding distance education and professional licensure, LCC is required to make the following disclosure with respect to professional licensure or certification outside the state of North Carolina.
Students should contact the respective department at the College to discuss program enrollment and professional licensure options.
Distance Learning/Identification Fee
LCC does not charge a separate distance learning/identification fee to students.
