Complaints Process for Students

Nashotah House Complaints Process

Beginning July 1, 2011, the U.S. Department of Education regulations to improve the integrity of programs authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act (HEA), as amended (the “Program Integrity Rule”), take effect. The Program Integrity Rule requires, among other things, that each college or university authorized to offer postsecondary education in one or more States 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 relating to the quality of education or other State or accreditation requirements.

Nashotah House, as an institution authorized to provide postsecondary education in the State of Wisconsin, is committed to full compliance with the Program Integrity Rule, and provides the following confirmation to all current and/or prospective students:

The Commission on Accrediting of The Association of Theological Schools accredits Nashotah House. Review the seminary’s accreditation status.

Accreditation Status

Complaint Process:

Nashotah House seeks to resolve all student concerns in a timely and effective manner. To that end, this complaint process serves as an ongoing means for students to discuss concerns or register formal complaints that pertain to 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 relating to the quality of education or other State or accreditation requirements.

Direct complaints to:
Senior Director of Operations and Student Services
Jason Terhune
262-646-6518
E-mail

The U.S. Department of Education (USDE) established a deadline of July 1, 2011, for colleges and universities to comply with the “state approval authority” provisions of the larger Program Integrity rulemaking.

As part of the overall rule, colleges must be “legally authorized” by their state in order to offer postsecondary education. Legal authorization consists of three separate compliance requirements: (1) An institution must be authorized by name by an official state action such as a state charter, state legislation, or articles of incorporation; (2) the state within which the institution operates must have an independent complaints process whereby a state agency or agencies would be expected to handle student consumer complaints related to any State laws including, for example, laws related to fraud or false advertising; and (3) each institution must, as part of its institutional information under 34 CFR § 668.43 (Institutional information), provide its students or prospective students with contact information for filing complaints with any State official or agency that would appropriately handle a student’s complaint.

As a result of the U.S. Department of Education’s October 2010 Program Integrity/State Authorization final rule, each college and university must be authorized by the State of Wisconsin in order to offer postsecondary education in this state. All Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (WAICU) members are in compliance, including Nashotah House.

The association of Nashotah House with WAICU is explained in the following State of Wisconsin Executive Order #370 and related materials.

It is expected that students will fully utilize any/all of the seminary’s administrative procedures to address concerns and/or complaints in as timely a manner as possible. On occasion, however, a student may believe that these administrative procedures have not adequately addressed concerns identified under the Program Integrity Rule. In those select cases, the following independent procedures are provided:

The Division of Trade and Consumer Protection of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (the “Division”) is prepared to receive and review student consumer complaints regarding alleged fraudulent or abusive practices by a college or university in the delivery of postsecondary academic programs and activities, including, for example, fraud or false advertising. Complaints may be filed with the Division in written or electronic form.
The Office of the Attorney General for the State of Wisconsin is authorized to investigate and prosecute violations of State consumer laws, including laws relating to deceptive advertising, credit, charitable solicitations, telecommunications, telemarketing and sales. The Office cooperates with other States, the Federal Trade Commission and other federal agencies in addressing national consumer protection issues. Further, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Office of Consumer protection litigates cases that are referred to the Department by other States agencies.Complaints may be filed with the Wisconsin Department of Justice Office of Consumer Protection.
The Commission on Accrediting of The Association of Theological Schools is an independent body responsible for the accreditation of programs offered by seminary. ATS relies on constant contact with the seminary to ensure quality higher learning. Accredited institutions are required to submit progress reports, monitoring reports, contingency reports, and annual reports, as well as to participate in focus visits. Each year, ATS receives a number of complaints from students or other parties. When a complaint raises issues regarding an institution’s ability to meet accreditation criteria, ATS will forward a copy of the complaint to the institution and request a formal response. Complaints may be filed with The Association of Theological Schools on page 36.