Federal Compliance and Student Consumer Information

Federal Compliance and Student Consumer Information

Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) Reporting

The Higher Education Opportunity Act (Public Law 110-315) (HEOA) was enacted on August 14, 2008, and reauthorizes the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended. A disclosure requirement is information that a post-secondary institution is required to make available to current students, current employees, prospective students, and prospective employees. This page was created to provide quick access to this data. The following are general information subject areas intended to provide quick access to consumer information.

Institutional Complaint Process

One of the requirements of the Program Integrity Rule amendment of Title IV of the Higher Education Act is that post-secondary institutions ensure access to a complaint process that will permit student consumers to address the following: alleged violations of state consumer protection laws that include but are not limited to fraud and false advertising; alleged violations of state laws or rules relating to the licensure of postsecondary institutions; and complaints regarding the quality of education or other state or accreditation requirements. To learn more about South Georgia State College's full compliance with the Program Integrity Rule, please visit HEOA Filing Complaints.

Distance Education

In compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, institutions offering distance education must provide students with contact information for filing complaints with accrediting agencies and the appropriate state agencies for handling complaints. The College wants to resolve student grievances, complaints, and concerns involving e-learning expeditiously and fairly. Complaints regarding any aspect of South Georgia State College operations should be filed initially with Academic Affairs. Students who wish to appeal the resolution of a complaint may direct an appeal (except for complaints about grades or student conduct violations) within 90 days of the institution's resolution being made to the Georgia Portal Agency by reviewing the GA-SARA Student Complaint Rules and submitting a GA-SARA Online Student Complaint Form. The resolution of the complaint by the Georgia Portal Agency is final. Students should note that California is not a member of SARA and does not currently regulate distance education offered through public institutions. If students in the state of California wish to file a complaint, they should visit the State of California’s Department of Consumer Affairs.

Important Regulatory Update

Beginning January 1, 2026: Institutions operating under SARA policies shall provide their and SARA’s complaint resolution policies and procedures to all students taking courses under SARA policies on the institution’s website and in the institution’s catalog or equivalent information provided either in print or electronically to students when they enroll.

Professional Licensure Complaints

NC-SARA does not cover professional licensure reciprocity compliance. Students seeking professional licensure should consult the relevant state licensing board in the state where they intend to practice.

Title IX

South Georgia State College is committed to providing an educational, living, and working environment free of all forms of sex discrimination and harassment. See the Office of Title IX for more information.

Educational Loan Disclosure

The College does not have a preferred lender arrangement for either Title IV or private educational loans, so this is not a compliance issue for South Georgia State College. Consequently, the institution does not provide resource information for the following topics: private education loan disclosures; self-certification form; code of conduct for education loans; preferred lender lists; preferred lender arrangements; private education loans; and annual report on preferred lender arrangements.

• Availability of Institutional and Financial Aid Information
  • Notice of Availability of Institutional and Financial Aid Information

    • Each year, South Georgia State College distributes to all enrolled students a notice of the availability of information required pursuant to specific requirements under the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), as amended, and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. A paper copy of any of the information provided is available upon request by emailing jim.lynch@sgsc.edu.

• Contact Information for Assistance in Obtaining Institutional or Financial Aid information
  • For institutional information about South Georgia State College, please email the Director of Institutional Effectiveness & Accreditation at jim.lynch@sgsc.edu.

• General Institutional Information

  1. Academic Calendars
  2. Academic Programs
  3. Accreditation
  4. Appropriate Use Policy
  5. Campus Calendar
  6. Consumer Information on College Navigator Website
  7. Disability Services
  8. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
  9. News & Updates
  10. Transfer Pathways 
       
• Student Financial Assistance
  1. Assistance Available from Federal, State, Local, and Institutional Programs
  2. Cost of Attendance
  3. Net Price Calculator
  4. Refund and Repayment Guidelines
  5. Veterans Benefits 
• Health & Safety
  1. Annual Security Report(Clery Act)
  2. Campus Security
  3. Drugs, Alcohol & Weapons
  4. Emergency Preparedness
  5. Ethics and Compliance Reporting
  6. Immunization
  7. Title IX 
      
• Student Life
  1. Athletics
  2. Campus & Community Expectations
  3. Career Planning
  4. Clubs and Organizations
  5. Life at SGSC
  6. New Student Orientation & Registration
  7. Residence Life and Housing
  8. Residence Life Handbook
  9. Student Complaint Process
  10. Student Conduct
  11. Student Handbook
  12. Wellness
• Student Outcomes
  1. Degrees Conferred
  2. One-Year Retention Rates
  3. Three-Year Graduation Rates
  4. Transfer Rates
  5. National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) Licensure Pass Rates
  6. Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) instrument Licensure Pass Rates

• Intercollegiate Athletics
  • South Georgia State College Equity in Athletics Report (EADA) lists the number of participants in varsity athletics, information on the coaching staff, including salaries, athletically related student aid, and information on revenues and expenses team and in total.
  • Student-Athlete 3-Year Graduation Rates

• Constitution Day
  • President George W. Bush signed a bill on December 8, 2004, which designates every September 17 as Constitution Day; all educational institutions receiving federal funding are required to hold an educational program about the U.S. Constitution.
  • To celebrate the United States Constitution and to encourage students to learn and understand more about the documents that have formed and informed the United States, here are several useful online resources about the Constitution:
  • The National Constitution Center offers an internet portal with links to various Constitution Day resources.
  • The National Constitution Center also provides an online Interactive Constitution.
  • The National Archives provides an online feature about the Constitution and biographical sketches of the thirty-nine signers of the Constitution.

• State of Georgia Voter Registration
  • https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/