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.
How Students May File a Formal Written Complaint
Student Complaints Process
MTSA wants to ensure all students have a positive educational experience, are treated fairly by faculty and staff, and are provided an outlet to address circumstances that concern them.
Any student who believes he or she has been treated unfairly by a school employee or process may seek resolution through the Director of Human Resources. A complaint must be submitted in writing using the Student Complaint-Grievance form available on the MTSA website. Complaints should be addressed to:
Office of Executive Vice President
Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia
P.O. Box 417
Madison, TN 37116
Download» Complaint-Grievance Form
MTSA Student Complaints Policy»
Complaints and appeals are to be well-documented and move through the appropriate campus supervisory structure before appealing to any off-campus authority.
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Complaints relating to quality of education or accreditation requirements shall be referred to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), (https://sacscoc.org/about-sacscoc/faqs/) or the Council on Accreditation (COA) (https://www.coacrna.org/contact-us/)
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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);
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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/commerce/section/consumer-affairs).
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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: Request for Complaint Review
Distance Education and State Authorization
As an institution that participates in federal financial aid programs under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, MTSA is required to comply with regulations regarding distance education. MTSA’s distance education is authorized on a state level primarily through the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. MTSA participates in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), which is an agreement among states that establishes national standards for the interstate offering of postsecondary distance-education courses and programs. This authorization is required by both state and federal law. See below information regarding MTSA’s membership and participation in NC-SARA:
Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia NC-SARA Approval (https://www.nc-sara.org/directory)
Distance Education Complaint Process
Students with a grievance regarding their distance education should seek a resolution of all matters through MTSA’s complaint structure first. A complaint must be submitted in writing using the Complaint-Grievance form. Complaints should be addressed to:
Office of Executive Vice President
Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia
P.O. Box 417
Madison, TN 37116
Download» Complaint-Grievance Form from the website
Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia Complaint Policies for Certain Distance Education Students Enrolled Through the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (“SARA”)
The below policies apply to students who are:
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non-Tennessee residents in State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (“SARA”) states and who are enrolled in a distance education program/course or
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attending an out-of-state learning placement in a SARA state other than Tennessee
The nature of complaints to be addressed through these policies include violations of SARA policies and dishonest or fraudulent activity. These policies do not apply to complaints concerning student grades or student conduct violations. For more information on complaint subject matter see SARA Policy Manual Sections 4.2 and 4.3.
Institution Complaint Policy:
Student Complaint/Grievance Policy
Additional Complaint Policies
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Tennessee Higher Education Commission (“THEC”)
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Students (as described above) must complete the institution complaint process before appealing to THEC.
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Students who are not satisfied with the institution’s resolution of their complaint may appeal the institution decision to THEC using the Request for Complaint Review form. Additional information on the THEC complaint process is available at THEC Complaint Review Process. Students may also contact THEC.RCD@tn.gov with questions.
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The appeal to THEC must be filed within two (2) years of the incident about which the complaint is made.
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Out-of-state student may also contact their home state higher education authority; although student may be referred to THEC. See State Portal Entity Contacts | NC-SARA for a listing of SARA states and contacts.
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Students residing in non-SARA states, currently California only, should consult their respective state of residence for further instructions for filing a complaint.