State Authorizations
State Authorizations
Shorter University is currently authorized or is exempt from state regulations and permitted to accept students to all online/distance education programs in all 50 states.
As of April 1st, 2016, Shorter University has been approved by the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary
Education Commission (GNPEC) to participate in the National Council for State Authorization
Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), a nationwide reciprocity agreement that grants approval
for Shorter to conduct online education activities in member states. As of June 2017,
Shorter University is permitted to accept students in all NC-SARA member states/providences,
which are listed below:
| Alabama | Louisiana | Ohio |
| Alaska | Maine | Oklahoma |
| Arizona | Maryland | Oregon |
| Arkansas | Massachusetts | Pennsylvania |
| Colorado | Michigan | Rhode Island |
| Connecticut | Minnesota | South Carolina |
| Delaware | Mississippi | South Dakota |
| District of Columbia | Missouri | Tennessee |
| Florida | Montana | Texas |
| Georgia | Nebraska | U.S. Virgin Islands |
| Hawai’i | Nevada | Utah |
| Idaho | New Hampshire | Vermont |
| Illinois | New Jersey | Virginia |
| Indiana | New Mexico | Washington |
| Iowa | New York | West Virginia |
| Kansas | North Carolina | Wisconsin |
| Kentucky | North Dakota | Wyoming |
For more information on NC-SARA, please visit http://nc-sara.org/.
Shorter University is also either approved, exempt, or not subject to approval to operate distance education in California based on a lack of physical location in those states or other state regulations. However, please note that online programs that require internships and practicums may require additional state authorization requirements in these states.
Please contact online@shorter.edu if you have any questions regarding program availability for your state/providence.
To file a student Complaint or Grievances
For more information on NC-SARA, please visit Registering Student Complaints 2026 Updates.
Situations may arise in which a student believes that he or she has not received fair
treatment from a representative of the University or has a complaint about the performance,
actions, or inaction of staff or faculty. The procedure for bringing these issues
to the appropriate person or body is outlined below.
1. Students are encouraged to seek assistance from their advisors or another member
of the faculty or staff in evaluating the nature of their complaints or deciding on
an appropriate course of action.
2. A complaint should first be directed to the person or persons whose actions or
inactions have given rise to the problem within three weeks of the incident.
For complaints in the academic setting,
1. The student should talk personally with the instructor. Should the student and
instructor be unable to resolve the conflict, the student may then turn to the chair
of the department involved for assistance.
2. The chair (or dean) will meet with both parties, seek to understand their individual
perspectives, and, within a reasonable amount of time, reach a conclusion, share it
with both parties, and reach a final resolution.
3. See the policies related to academic procedures in the University Catalog or posted
on Scholar.
Students having complaints outside the academic setting, and who have been unable
to resolve the matter with the individual directly involved,
1. should process the complaint in a timely manner through the administration channels
of the appropriate unit. Students uncertain about the proper channels are encouraged
to seek advice from faculty advisors, deans’ offices, or the office of the Vice President
for Student Affairs.
2. Complaints that rise to the level of a grievance may be heard, as a final appeal,
before a committee, chaired by an appropriate person chosen by the President and including
a representative of the faculty and a member of the student body.
3. The grievance must be filed in writing. Grievances not deemed frivolous by the
committee will be heard.
4. The student may be assisted during the hearing by a member of the University community.
The complaint/grievance process outlined above is meant to answer and resolve issues
arising between
individual students and the University, and its various offices, from practices and
procedures affecting that relationship. In many cases, there are mechanisms already
in place for reporting and resolution
of specialized complaints (sexual harassment for instance), and these should be fully
utilized where appropriate.
Violation of student conduct rules should be addressed through the Student Conduct
process specifically designed for that purpose. Complaints and grievances related
to non-academic employees of the University should be made to the supervisor of the
employee or the Vice President for that area.:
1. Complaints and grievances related to student life, residence life, student support
services, health services, campus safety, or campus ministry should be made to the
Vice President for Student Affairs
2. Complaints and grievances related to admissions practices and recruitment should
be made to the Vice President for Enrollment Management.
3. Complaints and grievances related to financial aid, accounts payable, or the business
office should be made to the Vice President of Finance.
4. Complaints and grievances related to athletics should be made to the Athletic Director.
5. Complaints and grievances related to program accessibility for individuals with
disabilities should be made to the Director of Student Support Services. Grievances
unresolved at this level may be forwarded to the Vice President for Student Affairs.
6. Complaints and grievances related to sexual harassment involving faculty should
contact the provost, if involving staff, the Vice President of Finance or if involving
students, the Vice President for Student Affairs. Please refer to the sexual harassment
section of the Student Conduct and Community Standards under Residence Life.
Retaliation Shorter University prohibits retaliation against any student based upon the filing of a grievance under the above-mentioned grievance procedures or based upon the student’s participation in the investigation of any grievance. Any act of retaliation may result in disciplinary action up to and including suspension or expulsion from the University. Any student, or University employee, who has filed a grievance, or participated in the investigation of a grievance, may file a complaint with the University’s Vice President of Student Affairs if they feel that they have been subjected to retaliation. If a student believes he or she has been harassed or otherwise discriminated against because of race, color, gender, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, age, disability, or military service, the student should report the matter immediately to the Vice President for Student Affairs. Note: Due to federal regulations, the University generally only corresponds with students and not parents or guardians. See www.shorter.edu for FERPA details. Procedures Complaints should be presented orally to the appropriate University official.
If an informal discussion of the matter is not satisfactory, a written statement of
the complaint will be requested. A formal grievance/complaint form may be picked up
in the appropriate University office. A written statement should contain the following:
1. The exact nature and details of the grievance.
2. The date, time, and place of the grievance.
3. The names of witnesses or persons who have knowledge of the grievance.
4. Any available written documentation or evidence that is relevant to the grievance.
5. A description of steps already attempted to resolve concern through informal procedures.
6. The resolution being sought by the student.
7. Student signature and contact information.
The University official who receives the written complaint will investigate the complaint, take whatever action is necessary and appropriate, and will respond to the student in a timely manner. If a student has followed the grievance policy process and remains dissatisfied with the response to the complaint, the student may appeal to the Appeals Committee. Decisions by the Appeals Committee are subject to review by the President. The President may take whatever action he deems necessary and appropriate. The President’s conclusions and actions regarding the complaint are final.
If a fair and reasonable resolution cannot be reached through the processes outlined
above, the individual may file a complaint with:
1. GA-SARA (Complaints Against an Institution | Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education
Commission).
Procedures for Complaint to Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission
on Colleges (SACSCOC)
1. Persons wishing to file a complaint about an institution accredited by the Commission
on Colleges should read the Commission policy “Complaint Procedures for the Commission
or Its Accredited Institutions” at www.sacscoc.org.
2. The complaint form should be downloaded and mailed to: Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges 1866 Southern Lane Decatur, GA 30033
Procedures for state complaints. If unable to resolve issues with the university using
Shorter University’s complaint and appeals channels, and the student wishes to file
a complaint.
1. GA-SARA is designated as the state agency responsible for receiving such complaints.
2. More information and the online complaint form are available at Complaints Against
an Institution | Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission.
3. Complete the online complaint form.
To file a student Complaint or Grievance, please use the following form:Complaint Grievance Form