Out-of-State Online Students

Digital Learning

Student Complaint Information & Procedures for Online Education

For Students Residing Outside New York State and Taking Distance Education Courses

Nassau Community College is a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), a private nonprofit organization [501(c)(3)] that helps expand students’ access to educational opportunities and ensure more efficient, consistent, and effective regulation of distance education programs. NCC follows the complaint resolution policies and procedures outlined within the SARA Policy Manual and the Student Complaint Process on the NC-SARA website. 

Every student deserves a positive educational experience. Sometimes a student’s experience may not be what was anticipated, and the student may have a concern or a complaint. Student complaints relating to consumer protection laws offered under the terms and conditions of NC-SARA, must first be filed with the institution to seek resolution.

Students taking online classes offered by NCC while residing in states other than New York should attempt to resolve any issues or complaints through the Office of the Dean of Students for investigation and resolution.

If a student is dissatisfied with the campus-based resolution, a concern may be submitted with the SUNY Administration through the Student Concerns web page. And, if still not satisfied, a complaint may be submitted within two years of the incident about which the complaint is made, to the SARA State Portal Entity in New York State.

Effective July 1, 2026, a student may submit a complaint to the SARA State Portal Entity of the state in which the student is located and this entity will provide to the student the contact information of the SARA office at the New York State Education Department.

Please note, this process is only for consumer protection issues (for examples, see section 4 of the SARA Policy Manual. This process does not include complaints related to grades or student conduct violations, both of which are to be fully addressed via non-SARA campus processes and procedures, not through the NC-SARA complaint resolution procedures.

Additionally, this process is only for distance education students located in another SARA-participating state (as of January 1, 2026, this includes all states except California). Distance education students located in a non-participating SARA state, or those located in New York State, should follow non-SARA processes.

Helpful Resources

Programs Leading to Professional Licensure

Any student planning to take an online course as part of a degree program that leads to professional licensure should read the detailed information on our Professional Licensure Disclosures webpage.

In-Person Program Complaints

Students, or prospective students, in New York who are enrolled in an in-person program may still use this website: Filing a Complaint About a College or University | New York State Education Department.