Dyersburg State Community College is a member of NC-SARA. The National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) is an agreement among member states, districts, and territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate postsecondary distance education.
NC-SARA
National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements
Why does DSCC participate in NC-SARA?
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- NC-SARA improves distance education program quality nationwide.
- NC-SARA makes it easier for students to access distance education programs across state lines.
- NC-SARA reduces costs and bureaucracy for states and institutions.
- NC-SARA improves coordination between states for higher education opportunities.
- NC-SARA provides valuable oversight of distance education programs.
- NC-SARA shares out-of-state learning experience data like clinical hours and practice teaching.
Professional Licensure Programs
Dyersburg State Community College offers courses, associate degree and certificate programs that may lead to professional licensure and/or certification. Students who complete one of the programs of study listed below at Dyersburg State Community College have met the curricular requirements to apply for credentialing or licensure in Tennessee. Prior to enrolling in any program at Dyersburg State Community College, prospective students living and/or working outside of Tennessee should confirm with the appropriate licensing or certifying agency whether successful completion of the program will meet the credentialing requirement of the state in which they intend to see employment. Students should carefully review the specific academic requirements for their chosen program, as well as any prequalification requirements for licensure. Please be advised that state laws, regulations and policies may change at any time and these changes could impact the program’s ability to meet educational requirements for licensure or certification.
Student Complaint and Grievance Resolution Process
In the event that a student’s educational experience is not what they anticipated, they may have a concern or complaint. Students have the right to lodge a complaint or grievance. The institution is responsible for ensuring that all complaints are addressed fairly and resolved promptly. Dyersburg State Community College students can find more information on the student complaint process in the DSCC Student Handbook. 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. If a resolution is not found, the student would contact the institution’s home state SARA Portal Entity. NC-SARA maintains an up-to-date directory of SARA State Portal Entities. Each quarter, SARA State Portal Entities report the status of all complaints to NC-SARA and these complaints are listed on the NC-SARA website by state. Normal inquiries or concerns such as those involving admission requirements, financial aid, educational programs, etc. should be addressed directly to the appropriate office at Dyersburg State Community College.
Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) serves as the official state entity to receive complaints concerning post-secondary institutions that are authorized to operate in Tennessee. Complaints received against post-secondary institutions licensed in the state of Tennessee, including Dyersburg State Community College, will be forwarded to the appropriate agency for action. If you are unable to resolve your complaint through Dyersburg State Community College’s grievance procedures, please consult the THEC Request for Complaint Review. If you have any questions regarding the complaint process, you may contact Julie Woodruff at julie.woodruff@tn.gov or 615.253.8857.
Accreditation
Dyersburg State Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees and certificates. Questions about the accreditation of Dyersburg State Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (http://www.sacscoc.org/).
Students who file a complaint with the accrediting agency should follow the SACSCOC Complaint Procedure.
Continuity Plans
Dyersburg State Community College has multiple measures to ensure the college can operate effectively in a crisis. Dyersburg State Community College follows all SACSCOC required standards for Closing a Program, Site, Branch, or Institution using the campus Substantive Change Policy, SACSCOC Policy. The school’s Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP) is designed to deal with actual or potential emergencies or crises on campus. Contact DSCC Chief of Campus Police & Security, for more information. DSCC has partnered with the National Student Clearinghouse to provide an electronic transcript request option.
