Grievance Policy
Step 1 — Informal Action
Seek resolution first through direct, informal communication with the responsible person (Matthew 18:15). Discussion between those involved is encouraged at all stages, but is essential in the early stages of resolution. Following an unsuccessful attempt to resolve the conflict one on one, students are encouraged to discuss the matter with their faculty mentor or with Student Services, as appropriate. After the student has made every available effort to resolve the conflict in an informal manner, formal action may be taken.
Step 2 – Formal Action
- State the grievance in writing (write a complaint) within 60 days of the alleged event and submit the complaint to the Vice President of Student Services. No special form is needed, but the complaint must include:
- The date you submit the complaint;
- A description of the grievance that includes all relevant information such as date(s) when the problem was evident, evidence substantiating the grievance, and witnesses; and
- A proposed resolution, that is, what you want to happen to resolve the grievance.
- The Vice President of Student Services has two working days from the date of receipt to forward the grievance to the administrator who will serve as mediator to resolve the matter. Care will be taken to ensure that the mediator has the expertise necessary to resolve the grievance.
- The mediator has two working days from the date of receipt to:
- Send to the student an acknowledgement that briefly summarizes the grievance and informs the student that a resolution will be sent within ten working days, and
- Forward to the President and Executive Vice President a copy of the grievance and acknowledgement.
- The mediator has ten working days from the date of receipt to:
- Investigate the alleged basis for the complaint;
- Investigate previous efforts taken to resolve the grievance
- Investigate any contingencies and take such action that may help resolve the grievance;
- Send to the aggrieved student a formal response (a statement describing what was or will be done to resolve the grievance); and
- Forward to the President and Executive Vice President a copy of the formal response.
- If the student is satisfied with the formal response, the grievance is resolved.
- If the student is not satisfied with the formal response, a request for a hearing may be made to the Grievance Committee, which:
- Shall be given a copy of the case to date;
- Shall schedule a hearing date and time within seven working days of the request and notify all concerned (but not necessarily invite them to attend);
- May invite the student and any witnesses to attend the hearing the student does not have a right to attend;
- Shall conduct the hearing as informally as possible, while reviewing and evaluating the case;
- Shall keep its deliberations confidential; and
- Shall, by majority vote, recommend to the President and Executive Vice President a course of action to finally resolve the grievance.
- The President will issue a decision, which shall be final, in writing to the student within three working days of the hearing. The Office of the Vice President of Student Services is tasked with the overall responsibility for collecting and securing documentation, and for ensuring confidentiality of all matters related to any filed grievance or complaint.
In accordance with requirements issued by the U.S. Department of Education, any student who has already followed the Grievance/Complaint Procedures as noted above, and feels the issue is not resolved, may contact our accrediting agency:
Transnational Association of Christian Colleges & Schools (TRACS)
15935 Forest Road, Forest, Virginia 24551
Phone: 434-525-9539
Fax: 434-525-9538
Email: info@tracs.org
Website: tracs.org
OR may make a complaint to the State of Texas by contacting:
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
1801 N. Congress Ave., Suite 12.200, Austin, TX 78701
PO Box 12788, Austin, TX 78711-2788
Main: 512-427-6101 || Fax: 512-427-6127
Student Loans: 800-242-3062
Website: Click Here
Student Complaint Form: Click Here
For states and territories other than Texas:
NC-SARA
Grace School of Theology has been approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). SARA provides a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education. SARA’s policies help protect students and provide benefits to both states and institutions carrying out distance education in multiple states. Over 2,100 colleges and universities participate in SARA.
Alabama
Alabama Private Licensure Division
Complete the form to file a complaint: Click Here
Alaska
Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education
PO Box 110505
Juneau, AK 99811-050
Website: education.alaska.gov
Arizona
Arizona Department of Education
Phone: (602) 542-5393
Address: 1535 W. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007
Website: https://www.azed.gov
Additional Information:
Main Switchboard (800) 352-4558
Arkansas
State of Arkansas
501 Woodlane, Suite 201
Little Rock, AR 72201
Email: tss@arkansas.gov
501-319-6565
State of Arkansas Grievance Form: Click Here
California
Department of Consumer Affairs and the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education
P.O. Box 980818
West Sacramento, CA
95798-0818
Online Complaint submission link: Click Here
Colorado
Colorado Department of Education
1600 broadway, Suite 2200
Denver, CO 80202
Phone & Fax
Main: (303) 862-3001
Fax: (303) 996-1329
Colorado Department of Education: Click Here
Feedback or complaint form: Click Here
Connecticut
Connecticut State Department of Education
450 Columbus Boulevard
Hartford, CT 06103
Phone Number: 860-713-6543
Connecticut State Department of Education: Click Here
Delaware
Delaware Department of Education
401 Federal Suite 2
Dover, DE 19901, USA
Phone: +1 302-735-4000
Delaware Department of Education: delaware.gov
Student Complaint form: Click Here
District of Columbia
District of Columbia Office of the Superintendent of Education
1050 First Street, NE
Washington 20002
Agency Contact Email: osse@dc.gov
Agency Contact Phone: (202) 727-6436
District of Columbia Office of the Superintendent of Education: Click Here
Specialized Education State Complaints Form: Click Here
Florida
Commission for Independent Education 325 W. Gaines Street, Suite 1414
Tallahassee, FL. 32399-0400
Or E-mail: CIEINFO@fldoe.org
Or Fax: 850-245-3238
Florida Department of Education: Click Here
Georgia
Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission2082 East Exchange Place
TUCKER, GA 30084
Phone: (770) 414-3300
Fax: (770) 414-3309
Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission: gnpec.georgia.gov
File a complaint: Click Here
Hawaii
Hawaii Post-secondary Education Authorization Program
Student Complaint Process and Form
Website: Click Here
Idaho
Idaho State Board of Education
650 West State Street, 3rd Floor
Boise, ID 83702
Phone: 208-334-2270
Fax: 208-334-2632
Email: board@osbe.idaho.gov
Student Complaint Procedures: Click Here
Illinois
Students can file a complaint with the state of Illinois via the Illinois Board of Higher Education’s (IBHE) Complaint System or to the IBHE
Address: 431 E. Adams, 2nd Floor Springfield, IL 62701-1404
Complaint Hotline: 217-557-7359
Students can also file a complaint with our accrediting agency, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, using their Complaint Procedures: Click Here
Indiana
Indiana Commission for Higher Education
101 W Ohio St # 300, Indianapolis, IN 46204, USA
Phone: +1 317-464-4400
Indiana Commission for Higher Education
Student Complaints: Click Here
Iowa
Iowa College Aid
475 SW Fifth St., Suite D, Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone: 515.725.3400 and 877.272.4456
Email: info@iowacollegeaid.gov
Iowa College Aid: Click Here
Complaint Form: Click Here
Kansas
Kansas Board of Regents
1000 SW Jackson Street, Suite 520
Topeka, KS 66612-1368
785.430.4240
PRIVATE POSTSECONDARY COMPLAINT PROCESS: Click Here
Kentucky
Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education
100 Airport Road, Third Floor, Frankfort KY 40601
Phone: 502-573-1555
Fax: 502-573-1535
Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education
Complaint Form: Click Here
Louisiana
Board of Regents State of Louisiana
1201 N. Third St., Suite 6-200
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Phone: (225) 342-4253
Email: ConsumerInfo@ag.louisiana.gov
Student Complaint Process: Click Here
Maine
Maine Department of Education
Special Services Team
23 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0023
Fax: 624-6641
Filing a Complaint: Click Here
Maryland
MARYLAND HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION
6 North Liberty Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone: (410) 767-3300
Toll Free: (800) 974-0203
Student Complaint Process: Click Here
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Department of Higher Education
One Ashburton Place, Rm. 1401
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 994-6950
Submit a complaint: Click Here
Michigan
Office for Civil Rights Cleveland Office
U.S. Department of Education
1350 Euclind Avenue, Suite 325 Cleveland, OH 44115
Telephone: (216) 522-4970
Fax: (216) 522-2573
Email: ocr.cleveland@ed.gov
Michigan Department of Education: Click Here
Minnesota
Minnesota Office of Higher Education
1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 350
St. Paul, MN 55108-5227
Phone: 651.642.0567 or 800.657.3866
File a Complaint: Click Here
Mississippi
Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning
3825 Ridgewood Road
Jackson, MS 39211
Phone: 601.432.6198
Student Complaint Process: Click Here
Missouri
Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development
301 W. High Street P.O. Box 1469
Jefferson City, MO 65102-1469
Phone: (573) 751-2361
Fax: (573) 751-6635
Email: info@dhewd.mo.gov
Student Complaint Process: Click Here
Montana
Montana University System
Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education
560 N. Park Ave, PO Box 203201 Helena, MT 59620-3201
Montana University System: Click Here
Nebraska
Office of the Attorney General
2115 State Capitol, Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2682
Fax: (402) 471-3297
Email: ago.consumer@nebraska.gov
Consumer Protection Division (toll-free): (800) 727-6432
Consumer Protection Division – En Espanol: (888) 850-7555
Nebraska’s Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education: Click Here
Nevada
Commission on Postsecondary Education
2800 E. St. Louis Avenue Las Vegas,
NV 89104
Phone: 702-486-7330
Fax: 702-486-7340
Student Grievance Policy: Click Here
Commission on Postsecondary Education Complaint Form: Click Here
New Hampshire
New Hampshire Department of Education
101 Pleasant Street | Concord, NH | 03301-3852
Telephone: (603) 271-3494 | TDD Access: Relay NH 711
New Hampshire Division of Educator Support and Higher Education: Click Here
New Jersey
Office of the Secretary of Higher Education
1 John Fitch Plaza 10th Floor, PO Box 542
Trenton, NJ 08625-0542
Phone: 609-292-4310
Instructions for Filing a Complaint about an Institution of Higher Education: Click Here
New Mexico
New Mexico Higher Education Department
2044 Galisteo Street, Suite 4
Santa Fe, NM 87505-2100
Phone: 505-476-8400
Filing a complaint: Click Here
New York
New York State Education Department
New York State Education Building
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12234
Filing a Complaint: Click Here
North Carolina
North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaints
140 Friday Center Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
Phone: (919) 962-4558
North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaints: Click Here
North Dakota
North Dakota Department of Career and Technical Education
Department 270, 600 East Boulevard Avenue
Bismarck ND 58505- 0610
Phone: 701-328-3180
North Dakota State Board for Career and Technical Education Private Career School Complaint Procedure: Click Here
Ohio
Ohio Department of Higher Education
25 S Front St, Columbus, OH 43215, United States
Phone: +1 614-466-6000
Oklahoma
655 Research Parkway Suite 200, Oklahoma City, OK 73104
405.225.9100
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education: Click Here
Student Complaint Form: Click Here
Oregon
State of Oregon State Higher Education Coordinating Commission
3225 25th Street SE
Salem, OR 97302
Student Complaints: Click Here
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Forum Building
607 South Drive
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Call PDE: 717-783-6788
Submit a question or comment to a bureau or program area at PDE via our contact us form
Student Complaints Complaint Procedure: Click Here
Puerto Rico
Departamento de Estado Oficina de Registro y Licenciamento
de Instituciones de Educación
Calle San José Esq. San Francisco Viejo San Juan
San Juan Puerto Rico 00902-3271
Postal Address:
PO BOX 9023271
San Juan, PR 00902-3271
Tel. (787) 722-2121
Website: Click Here
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner
560 Jefferson Boulevard, Suite 200
Warwick, RI 02886
Phone: 401-736-1100
Student Complaint Form: Click Here
South Carolina
South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
1122 Lady St. Suite 400
Columbia, SC 29201
803-737-2260
South Carolina Commission on Higher Education: Click Here
Complaint Form: Click Here
South Dakota
South Dakota Department of Education
800 Governors Dr., Pierre, SD
(605) 773-3134
Website: doe.sd.gov
Complaint Form: Click Here
Tennessee
Tennessee Higher Education Commission Division of Postsecondary State Authorization
Emily House, Executive Director
312 Rosa Parks Ave, 9th Floor
Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 741-3605
Website: Click Here
Complaint Form: Click Here
Texas
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
1801 N. Congress Ave., Suite 12.200, Austin, TX 78701
PO Box 12788, Austin, TX 78711-2788
Main: 512-427-6101 | Fax: 512-427-6127
Student Loans: 800-242-3062
Website: Click Here
Student Complaint Form: Click Here
Utah
Utah State Board of Education
PO Box 144200
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4200
Phone: (801) 538-7500 | (801) 538-7813
Website: schools.utah.gov
Vermont
Vermont Agency of Education
Secretary Daniel M. French
1 National Life Drive, Davis 5
Montpelier, VT 05620-2501
Phone: (802) 828-1130 | Fax: (802) 828-6430
Email: aoe.edinfo@vermont.gov
State of Vermont Agency of Education
Website: https://education.vermont.gov/
State of Vermont Agency of Education Complaint Resolution: Click Here
Virginia
State Council of Higher Education fo Virginia
101 N. 14th Street, 10th Floor
James Monroe Building
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: 804-225-2600
Website: Click Here
Complaint Form: Click Here
Washington
Washington State Board of Education
600 Washington Street SE
P.O. Box 47206
Olympia, WA 98504
Phone: 360.725.6025
TTY: 360.664.3631
Email: be@k12.wa.us
Washington State Board of Education: sbe.wa.gov
Contact Form: Click Here
West Virginia
West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
1018 Kanawha Boulevard, East – Suite 700
Charleston, WV 25301
Phone: 304-558-2101
Fax: 304-558-1011
Email: chancellor@wvhepc.edu
West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission: wvhepc.edu
Student Complaint Process: Click Here
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board
Executive Secretary
Connie Hutchison, PhD
Email: connie.hutchison@wi.gov
Phone: (608) 267-2206
HIGHER EDUCATIONAL AIDS BOARD STATE OF WISCONSIN E-GOVERNMENT
Website: Click Here
Complaint Form: Click Here
Wyoming
Wyoming Department of Education
122 W. 25th St, Ste E200
Cheyenne, WY 82002
307-777-7675
Website: Click Here
STUDENT COMPLAINT PROCESS POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTIONS: Click Here