NC-SARA

State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement - SARA

Mercy University is a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) and follows the complaint resolution policies and procedures outlined within the SARA Policy Manual and summarized here: https://nc-sara.org/student-complaints.

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.

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. 

Procedure for Filing Complaints (for Students Residing Outside NY)

Mercy University is committed to investigating consumer protection concerns raised by students in distance learning courses and/or programs taken outside of New York State, including but not limited to truthfulness in advertising and accuracy of data related to course offerings, job placements, tuition, fees, and financial aid.

Consumer protection complaints resulting from distance education courses, activities, and operations may be submitted to Mercy University via the following complaint form for investigation and resolution https://www.mercy.edu/about/mercy-college-policies/student-complaint-form

Student complaints will be submitted to the Office of the Provost and examined objectively and thoroughly. The Provost will convene an ad hoc committee to evaluate the merit of the complaint and make any appropriate recommendation(s) for resolution and/or redress to the Provost. The Provost will make a final determination and communicate to the student the institution’s official response to the complaint as well as any warranted redress. 

NC-SARA Complaint Process

If students at Mercy University are not satisfied with the outcome of the institution’s complaint resolution process in connection with a SARA matter, they should contact the New York State Education Department at the following webpage https://www.nysed.gov/college-university-evaluation/complaints in accordance with NC-SARA complaint procedures.

Please note, this does not include complaints related to grades or student conduct violations, both of which are to be fully addressed via Mercy University processes, not through the NC-SARA complaint resolution procedures.

Any institution operating under SARA policies that offers courses or programs potentially leading to professional licensure must keep all students, applicants and potential students who have contacted the institution about the course or program informed as to whether successful completion of such offerings will meet state licensing requirements.

Additional information can be found here: https://www.nc-sara.org/resources/professional-licensure

If needed, the first step to filing a complaint is submitting one online at: https://www.mercy.edu/student-complaint-form.

The complaint process should begin with the institution and if a complaint is not resolved, it may be appealed to the New York State SARA Portal Entity. 

Andrea Richards
Supervisor of Higher Education Programs

518.474.1551

IHEauthorize@nysed.gov

New York State Education Department
89 Washington Ave
Albany, NY 12234

Student Complaints

A list of NC-SARA State Portal Entity Contacts is available through the NC-SARA webpage.

Since California is not an NC-SARA member, students can direct complaints to the California Department of Consumer Affairs.