Online Student Complaints and Appeals

As required by Federal regulations, FVSU provides students with the contact information for filing complaints with the appropriate agency in the state where the student resides.

Online Student Complaints and Appeals

  1. For grievances involving any aspect of your online educational experience, begin by following the FVSU Student Complaints and Conduct Procedures . This process asks that you first try to reach a resolution with your instructor or other party involved in the issue, before taking the issue to the dean, and, finally, the Provost's Office.
  2. If the FVSU Complaints and Conduct Procedures resolution is not satisfactory, a student may then appeal to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges OR the Georgia State Authorization Portal (GA-SARA).

SACSCOC Student Complaint Process

FVSU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Students may follow the SACSCOC Complaint Procedure .

NOTE: SACSCOC will not investigate a complaint unless the student has exhausted all available grievance procedures outlined by the institution.

The contact information for SACS is:

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
1866 Southern Lane
Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097
Telephone: 404-679-4500
Website: https://sacscoc.org/

GA-SARA Complaint Process

FVSU is a member of the Georgia State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (GA-SARA). Students may follow the GA-SARA Student Complaint Rules and use the GA-SARA Online Student Complaint Form . NOTE: GA-SARA does not resolve complaints about student grades and student conduct violations. These complaints fall under the jurisdiction of institutional policy.

The contact information for GA-SARA is:

State SARA Website
Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (GNPEC)
2082 E Exchange Pl, Suite 220
Tucker, GA 30084

NC-SARA Student Complaints

For additional information regarding the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) student complaint process, please visit the NC-SARA Student Complaints webpage.

Continuity of Educational Services During Significant Disruptions

Fort Valley State University (FVSU) is committed to maintaining educational services during significant disruptions, including natural disasters, public health emergencies, technology outages, or other catastrophic events.

Continuity of Instruction

FVSU will make every reasonable effort to continue instruction through available learning technologies and alternative delivery methods when feasible. The university's online learning environment supports the continuation of academic activities and student engagement.

Communication with Students

During a disruption, the university will provide updates regarding instructional delivery, academic operations, and student services through available communication channels, including university email, the FVSU website, learning management systems, and emergency notification systems.

Academic Records

FVSU is committed to protecting student academic records and maintaining essential registrar services, including access to transcripts, enrollment verification, and academic records management.

Student Support and Protection

If a significant disruption affects the university's ability to provide educational services, FVSU will make every reasonable effort to:

  • Continue instruction through available methods when feasible.
  • Communicate timely information to students.
  • Maintain access to academic records and support services.
  • Identify appropriate academic, administrative, or financial remedies if educational services cannot be delivered as planned, consistent with applicable University System of Georgia requirements and State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) expectations.

Related Resources

Notice: This Continuity of Educational Services Plan is provided to inform students of existing institutional resources and practices that support continuity of instruction and student services during significant disruptions to university operations. The university may update this information as institutional procedures and resources evolve.