Out-of-State Student Complaint Process
Submit Complaint through RVC
Rock Valley College is committed to resolving student complaints in an expeditious and fair manner. Online students residing outside of Illinois should resolve any complaints with RVC by following the College's established student complaint process and submitting our Student Complaint Form.
Submit Complaint through Illinois
RVC participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), which is an agreement that establishes national standards for the offering of online courses and programs. Students from states that participate in SARA may also contact the Illinois Community College Board when seeking a resolution.
Submit Complaint through your State
Rock Valley College is a partner institution with the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) which is 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. NC-SARA improves distance education program quality nationwide, makes it easier for students to access distance education programs across state lines, reduces costs and bureaucracy for states and institutions, improves coordination between states on higher education opportunities, provides valuable oversight of distance education programs, and shares out-of-state learning experience data like clinical hours and practice teaching.
Rock Valley College and NC-SARA believe every student deserves a positive educational experience. Sometimes a student’s experience may not be what they anticipate, and the student may have a concern or a complaint. SARA consumer protection provisions require the institution’s home state, through its SARA State Portal Entity, to investigate and resolve allegations of dishonest or fraudulent activity by the state’s SARA-participating institutions, including the provision of false or misleading information.
A student has the right to lodge a complaint or grievance. The institution should ensure that all concerns and complaints of students are addressed fairly and are resolved promptly. Student complaints relating to consumer protection laws offered under the terms and conditions of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), must first be filed with the institution to seek resolution. The student should begin the complaint process with the institution and if resolution is not found, the student would contact the institution’s home state SARA Portal Entity.