NC-SARA
Jackson State Community College is a proud 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.
Choose from the sections below to get started!
"NC-SARA ensures quality standards for distance education programs"
Jackson State Community College is a proud 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.
Why NC-SARA Matters:
- 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 for higher education opportunities.
- Provides valuable oversight of distance education programs.
- Shares out-of-state learning experience data like clinical hours and practice teaching.
Before you begin your chosen licensure program:
Do you have intent on being licensed outside the State of Tennessee? If so, do the following:
- Jackson State Community College has not determined whether or not the curriculum meets the State educational requirements for licensure or certification for states outside of Tennessee. We recommend you contact the appropriate licensing agency in the U.S. States and territories where licensure is intended. This will enable you to obtain the most up-to-date information about licensure requirements.
- Contact the Program Director listed below to discuss our program’s curriculum.
State Portal Contact Information
If a student wishes to contact the state portal entities for his or her home state, contact information for state information liaisons in each SARA state can be found on the NC-SARA website.
Grievance Resolution
Complaint Policies for Certain Distance Education Students
The below policies apply to students who are:
- non-Tennessee residents in State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (“SARA”) states and who are enrolled in a distance education program/course or
- who are attending an out-of-state learning placement in a SARA state
The nature of complaints to be addressed through these policies include violations of SARA policies and dishonest or fraudulent activity. These policies do not apply to complaints concerning student grades or student conduct violations. For more information on complaint subject matter see SARA Policy Manual Sections 4.2 and 4.3.
Jackson State Community College students can find the Student Grievance Policy and Procedures including grade appeal procedures, in the 2024-2025 Catalog.
Additional Complaint Policies
- Tennessee Higher Education Commission (“THEC”)
- Students (as described above) must complete the institution complaint process before appealing to THEC.
- Students who are not satisfied with the institution’s resolution of their complaint may appeal the institution decision to THEC using the Request for Complaint Review form. Additional information on the THEC complaint process is available at THEC Complaint Review Process. Students may also contact RCD@tn.gov with questions.
- The appeal to THEC must be filed within two (2) years of the incident about which the complaint is made.
- Out-of-state students may also contact their home state higher education authority, although students may be referred to THEC. See State Portal Entity Contacts | NC-SARA for a listing of SARA states and contacts.
- Students residing in non-SARA states, currently California only, should consult their respective state of residence for further instructions for filing a complaint.
- For THEC authorized institutions: Any person claiming damage or loss as a result of any act or practice by an authorized postsecondary educational institution or its agent that is a violation of Title 49, Chapter 7, Part 20 or Rule Chapters 1540-01-02 or 1540-01-10, may file a complaint with THEC after exhausting the institution complaint process. More information is available at THEC Complaint Review Process, 312 Rosa Parks Ave., 9th Floor, Nashville, TN, 37243, (615) 741-3605. Students may also contact RCD@tn.gov with questions.
Agency Contact
Julie M. Woodruff
(615) 253-8857
julie.woodruff@tn.gov
Secretary of State Contact
Tre Hargett: Business Filings and Information
(615) 741-2286
TNSOS.CORPINFO@tn.gov
Jackson State Community College Accreditation
Jackson 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 Jackson 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
Jackson State Community College has multiple measures to ensure the college can operate effectively in a crisis.
Jackson 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 Management Plan (EMP) is designed to deal with actual or potential emergencies or crises on campus. The EMP conveys the operational, communication, and crisis response plans.
Also, the college utilizes a third-party vendor to aid in preparing and housing the departmentally developed business continuity plans. These plans include contacts, critical functions, essential resources, information technology, and faculty preparedness.
The above examples of operational continuity measures, along with annual employee/staff and student training, aid in preparing the campus for handling disruptive situations.
Jackson State Community College utilizes the National Student Clearinghouse to ensure students have access to transcripts in the event of a catastrophic event or unanticipated closure of the institution. The Transcript Ordering Center can be found at https://tsorder.studentclearinghouse.org/school/select.
Online Students Living in Tennessee
Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) serves as the official state entity that receives 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 Jackson State Community College, will be forwarded to the appropriate agency for action. If you are unable to resolve your complaint through Jackson State Community College's grievance procedures, please consult the THEC Request for Complaint Review. The complaint form can be found here. If you have any questions regarding the complaint process, you may contact Julie Woodruff at julie.woodruff@tn.gov or 615.253.8857.
Complaint Process for Tennessee Department of Justice
If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the complaint process at Jackson State Community College, you may choose to file a complaint with the Tennessee Department of Justice. To file a complaint with the Tennessee Department of Justice, please visit the Department of Justice Complaints webpage.
Want to Earn College Credits While Attending High School?
Did you know you can earn college credit while in high school? Our course credits transfer to Tennessee public institutions, allowing you to accelerate your college journey where you choose.