Distance Education

State Authorization - What Does It Mean?

Beaufort County Community College is working to achieve compliance as established in HEOA 600.9 (c) which states:
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 [of Education] the State's approval upon request. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1001 and 1002)

For more information on consumer and student information regulations, see the following resources:

• Code of Federal Regulations, Title 34, Part 668.43xiv: Institutional Information
• Code of Federal Regulations Title 34, Part 600.9xv: State Authorization
• Federal Student Aid: Consumer Information Disclosures at a Glancexvi
• Program Integrity Questions and Answers xvii - State Authorization

State Authorization at BCCC

Beaufort County Community College is currently authorized, or is exempt from authorization requirements, in the following states:

Student Complaint Process - Internal

Students who desire to resolve a grievance should first follow the Beaufort County Community College's complaint process as outlined in the Student Concern/Complaint Process Procedure and Distance Education Online Student Complaint Procedure. Student input regarding the programs, services, and operations of BCCC are welcomed by the administration, faculty, and staff.

Student Complaint Process - External

If a complaint cannot be resolved through BCCC’s grievance procedures, students may file a complaint with the following additional resources:

• The University of North Carolina System Office

North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaints
c/o Student Complaints
University of North Carolina General Administration
910 Raleigh Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27515-2688
Phone: 919-962-4450
Website: North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaints
Email: studentcomplaint@northcarolina.edu

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Beaufort County Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates. Students who file a complaint with the accrediting agency should follow the SACSCOC Complaint Procedure (PDF). 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 BCCC. 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: www.sacscoc.org

• State of Residency Lead Contact

If an issue cannot be resolved through the grievance procedure, a student who resides outside the state of North Carolina may file a complaint with their state of residence.