Recent amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965 include changes in regulation for State Authorization that may impact online, distance, and correspondence education providers. The relevant language includes:

 

If an institution is offering postsecondary education through distance or correspondence education to students in a State in which it is not physically located or in which it is otherwise subject to State jurisdiction as determined by the State, the institution must meet any State requirements for it to be legally offering postsecondary distance or correspondence education in that State. An institution must be able to document to the Secretary the State's approval upon request. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1001 and 1002)

 

Rowan University’s Global Learning & Partnerships is taking measures in order to comply with these new regulations so we can continue providing educational access to students across the country. In compliance with the language passed in the Higher Education Opportunities Act of 2008, the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) conducted a Negotiated Rule Making Process in 2010 determining that institutions offering distance education must provide enrolled and prospective students with contact information for filing complaints with its accrediting agency and with the appropriate state agency for handling complaints in the student's state. Below is a state-by-state list of the agencies in each state responsible for complaints regarding out-of-state distance education programs. Students who intend to file a complaint must do so with the agency listed for their state of residence.

 

State Consumer Complaint Contact Information

Alabama

Alabama Commission on Higher Education
P.O. Box 302000
Montgomery, AL 36130-2000
http://ache.edu/Content/
Departments/NRI/federal-reg.pdf

Alabama Community College System
P.O. Box 302130
Montgomery, AL 36130-2130
https://www.accs.cc/default/assets/
File/DPE_ISS/Student%20
Complaint%20Process%20FINAL.pdf

Alaska

Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education
P.O. Box 110505
Juneau, AK 99811-0505
EED.ACPE-IA@alaska.gov
http://acpe.alaska.gov/ABOUT_US/Consumer_Protection

 

Alaska Office of Attorney General
Consumer Protection Unit
1031 W. Fourth Avenue, Suite 200
Anchorage, AK 99501
attorney.general@alaska.gov
http://www.law.state.ak.us/pdf/consumer/FORM_complaint.pdf

Arizona

Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education
1400 W. Washington Street, Room 260
Phoenix, AZ 85007
https://ppse.az.gov/complaint

Arkansas

State Board of Private Career Education
Arkansas State Board of Private Career Education
501 Woodlane, Suite 312S
Little Rock, AR 72201
sbpce@arkansas.gov
http://www.sbpce.arkansas.gov/
complaint-process

Higher Education Coordinating Board
Department of Higher Education
114 East Capitol Avenue
Little Rock, AR 72201
ADHE_Info@adhe.edu
http://www.adhe.edu/
students-parents/
colleges-universites/
student-grievance-form/

California

California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education
P.O. Box 980818
W. Sacramento, CA 95798
bppe@dca.ca.gov
http://www.bppe.ca.gov/forms_pubs/complaint.pdf

Colorado

Colorado Department of Higher Education
1560 Broadway, Suite 1600
Denver, Colorado 80202
http://highered.colorado.gov/Academics/Complaints/default.html
http://highered.colorado.gov/DPOS/Students/complaint.html

Connecticut

Connecticut Office of Financial and Academic Affairs for Higher Education
61 Woodland Street,
Hartford, CT 06105
860-947-1800
edinfo@ctohe.org

 

Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection
450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 901
Hartford CT 06103
dcp.frauds@ct.gov
http://www.ct.gov/dcp/lib/dcp/pdf/forms/
consumer_statement_cpfr-2_frauds-15-12-23.pdf

Delaware

Delaware Higher Education Office
The Townsend Building
401 Federal Street, Suite 2
Dover, DE 19901
dheo@doe.k12.de.us

 

Delaware Attorney General - Fraud & Consumer Protection Division
The Carvel State Building
820 N. French Street, 5th Floor
Wilmington, DE 19801
consumer.protection@state.de.us

District of Columbia

District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education
Education Licensure Commission
810 First Street, NE, 2nd Floor
Washington, DC 20002
https://osse.dc.gov/service/higher-education-licensure-commission-helc

Florida

Florida Commission for Independent Education
325 W. Gaines Street, Suite 1414
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400
http://www.fldoe.org/policy/cie/file-a-complaint.stml

Georgia

Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission
2082 E. Exchange Place #220
Tucker, GA 30084-5334
https://gnpec.org/gnpec-authorized-school-complainant-form/

Hawaii

Hawaii State Board of Education
P.O. Box 2360
Honolulu, Hawaii 96804
ocp@dcca.hawaii.gov
http://hawaii.gov/dcca/ocp/consumer_complaint

 

Hawaii Postsecondary Education Authorization Program (HPEAP)
P.O. Box 541
Honolulu, Hawaii 96809
hpeap@dcca.hawaii.gov
http://cca.hawaii.gov/hpeap/student-complaint-process/

Idaho

Idaho State Board of Education
Attn: State Coordinator for Private Colleges and Proprietary Schools
650 West State Street, P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0037
https://boardofed.idaho.gov/priv_col_univ/student_complaint.asp

Illinois

Board of Higher Education
Illinois Board of Higher Education
1 N. Old State Capitol Plaza
Springfield, Illinois 62701-1404
info@ibhe.org
1-217-557-7359
Complaints may be reported to The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) through the online complaint system: http://complaints.ibhe.org/

State Board of Education
Private Business and Vocational Schools
Illinois State Board of Education
100 N 1st Street
Springfield, Illinois 62777
http://webprod1.isbe.net/
contactisbe
(email)

 

Illinois Attorney General
Consumer Fraud Bureau
500 South Second Street
Springfield, IL 62706
1-800-243-0618
http://www.illinoisattorney
general.gov/consumers/
filecomplaint.html

Indiana

Board for Proprietary Education
Indiana Commission for Higher Education
Attn: Director of Regulatory Compliance
101 West Ohio Street, Suite 300
Indianapolis, IN 46204
http://www.in.gov/che/2744.htm

Iowa

Iowa Student Aid Commission
430 East Grand Ave, Floor 3
Des Moines, IA 50309
1-515-725-3400
https://www.iowacollegeaid.gov/sdrf-start

Kansas

Kansas Board of Regents
1000 SW Jackson Street, Suite 520
Topeka, KS 66612-1368
http://www.kansasregents.org/academic
_affairs/private_out_of_state/complaint_process

Kentucky

Kentucky Commision on Proprietary Education
300 Sower Boulevard, 4th Floor
Frankfort, KY 40601
kcpe@ky.gov
http://kcpe.ky.gov/forms/
FormtoFileaComplaint.pdf

Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education
1024 Capital Center Drive #320
Frankfort, KY 40601
http://cpe.ky.gov/ourwork/
consumerprotection.html

 

Office of the Attorney General
700 Capitol Avenue, Suite 118
Frankfort, KY 40601-3449
consumer.protection@ag.ky.gov
http://ag.ky.gov/family/
consumerprotection/
complaints/Pages/default.aspx

Louisiana

Louisiana Attorney General Office
Consumer Protection Section
P.O. Box 94005
Baton Rouge, LA 70804
1-800-351-4889
ConsumerInfo@ag.louisiana.gov
https://www.ag.state.la.us/Home/ComplaintDocument

Maine

Maine Department of Education
Director of Policy and Programs
23 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0023

 

Maine Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
6 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
http://www.maine.gov/ag/consumer/
complaints/complaint_form.shtml

Maryland

Maryland Higher Education Commission
6 North Liberty Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
1-800-974-0203
http://mhec.maryland.gov/institutions_training/
Pages/career/pcs/complaint.aspx

 

Maryland Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
200 St. Paul Place
Baltimore, MD 21202
1-888-743-0023
consumer@oag.state.md.us
http://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/Pages/CPD/complaint.aspx

Massachusetts

Massachusetts Board of Higher Education
One Ashburton Place
Room 1401
Boston, MA 02108
1-617-994-6950
http://www.mass.edu/forstufam/complaints/complaints.asp

Michigan

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Bureau of Commercial Services, Licensing Division
Proprietary School Unit Staff
201 N. Washington Square
Lansing, MI 48913
http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-61343_35395_35396---,00.html

Minnesota

Minnesota Office of Higher Education
1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 350
St. Paul, MN 55108-5227
1-800-657-3866
http://www.ohe.state.mn.us/mPg.cfm?pageID=1078

Mississippi

Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation
3825 Ridgewood Road
Jackson, MS 39211-6453
http://www.mississippi.edu/
mcca/downloads
/studentcomplaintform.pdf

 

Office of the Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
P.O. Box 220
Jackson, Mississippi 39205
http://www.ago.state.ms.us/
file-a-complaint-form/

Mississippi Commission of Proprietary Schools and College Registration
3825 Ridgewood Road
Jackson, MS 39211-6453
1-601-432-6185
http://www.mccb.edu/program/
psdefault.aspx

Missouri

Missouri Department of Higher Education
205 Jefferson Street, P.O. Box 1469
Jefferson City, MO 65102-1469
1-800-473-6757
info@dhe.mo.gov
https://dhe.mo.gov/documents/POLICY
ONCOMPLAINTRESOLUTION-reviseddraft.pdf

Montana

Montana Board of Regents
Office of Commissioner of Higher Education
Montana University System
2500 Broadway Street
P.O. Box 203201
Helena, MT 59620-3201
1-406-444-6570
http://mus.edu/contacts.asp

 

Montana Office of Consumer Protection
P.O. Box 200151
Helena, MT 59620-0151
1-800-481-6896
contactocp@mt.gov
https://dojmt.gov/consumer/consumer-complaints/

Nebraska

Department of Education
Nebraska Department of Education, Private Postsecondary Career Schools and Veterans Education
301 Centennial Mall South
P.O. Box 94987
Lincoln, NE 68509-4987
https://www.education.ne.gov/
ppcs/PDF%20Folders/
PDF%20Documents/
PPCS%20Forms/PPCS_
Complaint-form.pdf

Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education
P.O. Box 95005
Lincoln, NE 68509-5005
1-402-471-2847
https://ccpe.nebraska.gov/
contact-us

 

Nebraska Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
2115 State Capitol
P.O. Box 98920
Lincoln, NE 68509
1-402-471-2683
https://protectthegoodlife.
nebraska.gov/file-consumer
-complaint

Nevada

Nevada Commission on Postsecondary Education
8778 South Maryland Parkway, Suite 115
Las Vegas, Nevada 89123
1-702-486-7330
http://www.cpe.state.nv.us/CPE%20Complaint%20Info.htm

New Hampshire

New Hampshire Department of Education
New Hampshire Department of Education, Program Specialist
101 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH 03301
1-603-271-0257
Patricia.Edes@doe.nh.gov
https://www.education.nh.gov/highered/

New Jersey

Commission on Higher Education
New Jersey Commission on Higher Education
P.O. Box 542
Trenton, NJ 08625
1-609-292-4310
https://www.state.nj.us/treas/
highereducation/contactus.shtml

 

New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs
124 Halsey Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102
1-973-504-6200
http://www.njconsumeraffairs.
gov/ComplaintsForms/NJ-
Office-of-Consumer-Protection-
Complaint-Form.pdf

 

New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
1 John Fitch Plaza, P.O. Box 110
Trenton, NJ 08625-0110
schoolapprovalunit@dol.state.nj.us
http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/forms
_pdfs/edtrain/Conflict%20Resolution
%20Questionnaire.pdf

New Mexico

New Mexico Higher Education Department
2044 Galisteo Street, Suite 4
Santa Fe, NM 87505
1-505-476-8400
http://www.hed.state.nm.us/institutions/complaints.aspx

New York

Office of College and University Evaluation
New York Office of College and University Evaluation
New York State Education Department
5 North Mezzanine
Albany, NY 12234
ocueinfo@mail.nysed.gov
http://www.highered.nysed
.gov/ocue/spr/COMPLAINT
FORMINFO.html

Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision
New York Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision
New York State Education Department
89 Washington Avenue, EBA 560
Albany, New York 12234
http://www.acces.nysed.gov/
common/acces/files/bpss/
ComplaintForm.pdf

North Carolina

Board of Governors for the University of North Carolina
Postsecondary Education Complaints
c/o Assistant Director of Licensure and Workforce
University of North Carolina General Administration
910 Raleigh Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
1-919-962-4550
studentcomplaint@northcarolina.edu
http://www.ncdoj.gov/getdoc/59be43
57-41f3-4377-b10f-3e8bd532da5f/
Complaint-Form.aspx

Community College System Office of Proprietary Schools
North Carolina Community College System Office of Proprietary Schools
200 West Jones Street
Raleigh, NC 27603
1-919-807-7061
http://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/
sites/default/files/basic-page-file-
uploads/proprietary-schools/fillable
_student_complaint_form_-arial.pdf

North Dakota

North Dakota Department of Career and Technical Education (if school is "authorized)
State Capitol
600 E. Boulevard Avenue, Dept. 270, 15th Floor
Bismarck, ND 58505-0610
1-701-328-3180
cte@nd.gov

 

North Dakota Consumer Protection Division (if school is "exempt" or not authorized)
Office of Attorney General
Gateway Professional Center
1050 E. Interstate Avenue, Suite 200
Bismarck, ND 58503-5574
https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/consumer-resources/consumer-complaints

Ohio

Ohio Department of Higher Education
25 South Front Street
Columbus, OH 43215
1-614-466-6000
https://www.ohiohighered.org/
students/complaints

 

Ohio Attorney General
Consumer Protection Section
30 E. Broad Street, 14th floor
Columbus, OH 43215-3400
1-800-282-0515
http://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/
consumercomplaint

 

Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools
30 East Broad Street, Suite 2481
Columbus, OH 43215
1-877-275-4219
http://scr.ohio.gov/ConsumerInf
ormation/FilingaComplaint.aspx

Oklahoma

Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
655 Research Parkway, Suite 200
Oklahoma City, OK 73104
http://www.okhighered.org/
current-college-students/
complaints.shtml

 

Oklahoma Office of the Attorney General
Public Protection Unit
Attn: Investigative Analyst
313 NE 21st Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
https://www.oag.ok.gov/
oagweb.nsf/ccomp.html

Oklahoma State Board of Private Vocational Schools
3700 NW Classen Boulevard, Suite 250
Oklahoma City, OK 73118-2864
1-405-528-3370
http://obpvs.ok.gov

Oregon

Higher Education Coordinating Commission
255 Capitol Street NE, 3rd Floor
Salem, OR 97310
https://www.oregon.gov/highered/
institutions-programs/private/Pages/
private-postsecondary-complaints.aspx

 

Oregon Attorney General
Financial Fraud/Consumer Protection Section
1162 Court Street NE
Salem, OR 97301-4096
https://justice.oregon.gov/
consumercomplaints/
OnlineComplaints/
OnlineComplaintForm/en

Oregon Department of Education
Private Career Schools Office
255 Capitol Street NE
Salem, OR 97310-0203
http://www.ode.state.or.us/
search/page/?id=325

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Department of Education
333 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333
http://www.education.pa.gov/pages/contact-us.aspx#tab-1

 

Office of Attorney General
Bureau of Consumer Protection
15th Floor, Strawberry Square
Harrisburg, PA 17120
https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/Quick_Links/
Pennsylvania_Attorney_General_Complaint_Forms/
Filing_a_complaint_with_the_Attorney_General_s_
Bureau_of_Consumer_Protection/

 

Rhode Island

Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education
Shepard Building
80 Washington Street
Providence, RI 02903

 

Rhode Island Department of Attorney General
Consumer Protection Unit
150 South Main Street
Providence, RI 02903
1-401-274-4400
https://riag.wufoo.com/forms/q1851amb1bdd4d5/

South Carolina

South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
1122 Lady Street, Suite 300
Columbia, SC 29201
1-803-737-2260
http://www.che.sc.gov/CHE_Docs/AcademicAffairs/
License/Complaint_procedures_and_form.pdf

South Dakota

South Dakota Board of Regents
306 East Capitol Ave, Suite 200
Pierre, SD 57501
info@sdbor.edu

 

South Dakota Office of Attorney General
Division of Consumer Protection
1302 E Hwy 14, Suite 3
Pierre, SD 57501-8053
http://consumer.sd.gov/complaintform.aspx

Tennessee

Tennessee Higher Education Commission
404 James Robertson Parkway, Suite 1900
Nashville, TN 37243
https://www.tn.gov/assets/entities/thec/attachments/
Complaint_Form_%28Rev._12.16%29_1-26-17.pdf

Texas

Higher Education Coordinating Board
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
1200 E. Anderson Lane
Austin, Texas 78752
http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/
index.cfm?objectid
=AC6FA0BC-F5DB-
16DE-6B667C083DFB5B98

 

Office of the Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
P.O. Box 12548
Austin, TX 78711-2548
1-800-621-0508
https://www.texasattorneygen
eral.gov/cpd/file-a-
consumer-complaint

Texas Workforce Commission
Career Schools and Colleges - Room 226-T
101 East 15th Street, Austin, Texas 78778-0001
http://www.twc.state.tx.us/
jobseekers/career-
schools-colleges-
students

Utah

Utah Division of Consumer Protection
160 East 300 South
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
consumerprotection@utah.gov
http://consumerprotection.utah.gov/
complaints/index.html

Vermont

Vermont Agency of Education
219 North Main Street, Suite 402
Barre, VT 05641

 

Vermont Attorney General's Office
109 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05609-1001

 

https://agocapcomplaint.atg.state.vt.us/forms/
consumer-assistance-program-complaint-form

Virginia

State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
101 N. 14th Street, 10th Floor
The James Monroe Building
Richmond, VA 23219
communications@schev.edu
http://www.schev.edu/index/students-and-parents/
resources/student-complaints/student-complaint-form

Washington

Washington Student Achievement Council
917 Lakeridge Way, P.O. Box 43430
Olympia, WA 98504-3430
dainfo@hecb.wa.gov
http://wsac.wa.gov/protecting
-education-consumers

 

Washington State Office of the Attorney General
1125 Washington Street SE, P.O. Box 40100
Olympia, WA 98504-0100
https://fortress.wa.gov/atg/
formhandler/ago/
ContactForm.aspx?subject=
Consumer%20Protection
(email)
https://fortress.wa.gov/
atg/formhandler/
ago/ComplaintForm.aspx
(complaint form)

Washington Workforce Training and Education
Coordinating Board
128 10th Avenue SW, P.O. Box 43105
Olympia, WA 98504-3105
workforce@wtb.wa.gov
http://www.wtb.wa.gov/
PCS_Complaints.asp
(instructions)

West Virginia

West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
1018 Kanawha Boulevard, East - Suite 700
Charleston, WV 25301

 

West Virginia Office of the Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
P.O. Box 1789
Charleston, WV 25326
http://www.ago.wv.gov/
Pages/consumercomplaint.aspx

Community and Technical College System of West Virginia
1018 Kanawha Boulevard, East - Suite 700
Charleston, WV 25301
http://wvctcs.org/
student-complaints/

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Educational Approval Board
431 Charmany Drive, Suite 102
Madison, WI 53719
eabmail@eab.wisconsin.gov
http://eab.state.wi.us/resources/complaint.asp

Wyoming

Wyoming Department of Education
2300 Capitol Avenue
Hathaway Building, 2nd Floor
Cheyenne, WY 82002-0050
https://edu.wyoming.gov/downloads/
schools/student-complaint-form.pdf

 

Attorney General's Office
2320 Capitol Avenue
The Kendrick Building
Cheyenne, WY 82002

 

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Council on Higher Education
P.O. Box 1900
San Juan, PR 00910-1900

 

Puerto Rico Department of Justice
P.O. Box 9020192
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00902-0192

 

Guam

Not yet developed

Virgin Islands

Government of the United States Virgin Islands
Department of Education, Office of the Commissioner
1834 Kongens Gade
St. Thomas, V.I. 00802

 

» Back to Top