Student Consumer Complaints

Complaints Process

Pacific College of Health and Science (PCHS) has an established process for handling complaints and concerns from students and prospective students. In most cases, complainants should first attempt to resolve their concerns with the individual(s) most directly involved. Students and prospective students may take their concerns to a Complaint Administrator at any time by emailing [email protected] or by submitting a Complaint Form. Detailed information on the College’s Complaint Procedures can be found in the Academic Catalog.

PCHS strives to resolve student complaints and grievances within the College. Students not satisfied with the final disposition of the complaint process may contact the College’s accrediting agencies and/or the relevant state authority in which the student resides. Please see below for contact information.

Distance Education Programs

State Authorizations

Pacific College of Health and Science (PCHS) is approved by the state of New York to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). NC-SARA 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 helps raise the bar on student consumer protections, requiring all SARA-participating institutions and member states to adhere to a set of common standards designed to enhance quality and strengthen oversight of distance learning programs. SARA Student Consumer Protections are crucial to maintain educational quality, ensure financial protection, enhance access, and foster transparency. These protections collectively contribute to a more reliable and trustworthy multi-state distance education system.

Learn more about NC-SARA Student Consumer Protections: Key NC-SARA Student Consumer Protections

PCHS is committed to investigating consumer protection concerns raised by students in distance education programs/ courses and follows the complaint resolution policies and procedures outlined within the SARA Policy Manual and summarized here: https://www.nc-sara.org/sara-student-complaints-0 .

As of December 16, 2024, 49 states (all but California), the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are members of SARA. Please visit the SARA website for the most current NC-SARA directory of participating states and institutions, and a detailed description of SARA.

Complaint Process for Out-of-State Students in SARA Member States and Territories

PCHS distance education students residing outside of New York State who have a consumer protection related complaint regarding distance education programs and courses should first seek to resolve such a complaint within the College. Complaints/grievances may be submitted to a Complaint Administrator at any time by emailing [email protected], or by going to the StudentHub, and clicking on Contact Us.

Detailed information on the College’s Complaint Procedures can be found in the Academic Catalog.

If the complaint remains unresolved after all institutional procedures have been exhausted, a student residing in a SARA states/territory may direct the complaint to the New York SARA State Portal Entity. Students may appeal the institution decision to the SARA State Portal Entity in New York State within two years of the incident about which the complaint is made. (Please note, SARA Policies do not cover complaints regarding grades or student conduct violations.)

For detailed information about the New York State Education Department complaint process, visit https://www.nysed.gov/college-university-evaluation/complaints   

New York State Portal Entity Contact:
Andrea Richards, Supervisor of Higher Education Programs
New York State Education Department | 89 Washington Avenue | Albany, NY 12234
518-474-1551 | [email protected]

Students residing in California: California is not a member of NC-SARA, students can direct complaints to California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education.

 Accreditors: Accrediting Agencies Contact Information

State Contact Information: State Contact Information for Student Complaints for all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. This information should not be construed as informative of what agencies regulate Pacific College of Health and Science or in what states the College is licensed or required to be licensed.