State Authorization, Student Grievances and Professional Licensure

Students have a variety of avenues for resolving complaints.  Students with complaints should follow the University Complaint Process using the University Complaint Form.

Please try to resolve any complaints with the University before going to any outside agency. If an issue cannot be resolved internally, you may contact one of the entities below.

Accreditor Information

Mars Hill University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Questions about the accreditation of Mars Hill University or student complaints 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 (www.sacscoc.org). Students who file a complaint with the accrediting agency should follow the SACSCOC Complaint Procedure. Further information is available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

SARA North Carolina State Portal Information

Mars Hill University participates in NC-SARA (National Council for State Reciprocity Authorization Agreements) which makes it easier for students from other states to enroll in courses at Mars Hill University and to resolve complaints.  If a student is enrolled in an online course or engaged in distance education and is unable to resolve a complaint with the University, the student may appeal to the portal agency for SARA in North Carolina by following the SARA North Carolina Student Complaint Process to file a complaint form.

North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA)
ATTN: SARA North Carolina
P.O. Box 41349
Raleigh, NC 27629
Phone: 919-248-4667
www.saranc.org
Email: complaint@saranc.org

A student may also contact the state portal entity director in his or her home state by accessing the NC-SARA website.  Additionally, state by state contact information for agencies responsible for receiving student consumer complaints is available online.

North Carolina Department of Justice

If a student’s complaint cannot be resolved with the school, below is a link to the North Carolina Department of Justice, Consumer Affairs Division’s website with directions on how a consumer can reach them and with a link to the online complaint form.

North Carolina Department of Justice, Consumer Affairs Division

North Carolina Department of Justice
Consumer Protection Division
9001 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-9001

1-877-566-7226

The process for filing a complaint may be found at www.ncdoj.gov/complaint and a complaint may be filed using the General Complaint Form.

North Carolina Post-secondary Education Complaints

Students may also contact the Licensure Division of the University of North Carolina System Office, which serves as the official state entity to receive complaints concerning post-secondary institutions that are authorized to operate in North Carolina. An online complaint form may also be completed.

North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaints
c/o Student Complaints
223 S. West Street, Suite 1800
Raleigh NC 27603
(919) 962-4558

Professional Licensure

Programs at Mars Hill University (MHU) that prepare students for professional licensure are designed to meet licensure requirements in North Carolina.  Mars Hill University offers four programs (Elementary Education, Special Education, Integrated Education, and the Master of Arts in Teaching) in the Department of Education and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing in the Judge-McRae School of Nursing that lead to professional licensure. In compliance with Department of Education regulations regarding distance education and professional licensure, MHU discloses that the University does not offer any entirely (or substantially) online programs that lead to professional licensure.

Additionally, Information about state licensure is listed below.  If you live outside of North Carolina and you are considering one of these programs, it is highly recommended that you contact the program coordinator and the licensing board in the state where you reside before beginning the program.

Education

The programs in Teacher Education at Mars Hill University meet the state educational requirements for licensure or certification and are approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction making possible licensure reciprocity with 45 other states (listed below) including the District of Columbia and Guam.

Because additional requirements may exist in other states, prospective education students are encouraged to contact the licensing board in your state of residence or the NC SARA Teacher Education Directory for information about licensing in your state.

The programs at MHU meet the state educational requirements for licensure or certification in:

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

At this time, the teacher education programs at MHU do not meet the state education requirements for licensure in Alaska, Iowa, Kentucky, or Minnesota.

Mars Hill University’s Teacher Education Program is Nationally accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation https://aaqep.org/about-us

Dr. Susan Stigall
Professor
Chair, Education Department
Integrated Education Program Coordinator
Field Experience Coordinator
Mars Hill University
P.O. Box 6684
Mars Hill, NC 28754
828-689-1177
sstigall@mhu.edu

Nursing

The baccalaureate degree in nursing at Mars Hill University (Judge-McRae School of Nursing) is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.ccneaccreditation.org).

The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) allows for registered nurses (RNs) to have one multistate license, with the privilege to practice in their home state and other NLC states. Because North Carolina is a participating state, nurses meeting the requirements for licensure in NC may also practice in the states listed below. Follow this link to the NLC map for the most up-to-date list of participating states.

NLC  States

The pre-licensure BSN program at MHU meets state educational requirements for licensure or certification in these states.

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington (January 31, 2024), Wisconsin, Wyoming

The pre-licensure BSN program at MHU does not meet the state education requirements at this time for licensure in: Alaska*, California, Connecticut, Hawaii*, Illinois*, Massachusetts*, Michigan*, Minnesota*, Nevada, New York*, Oregon, or Rhode Island*.

*State pending NLC legislation and implementation.

Prospective nursing students are encouraged to contact the licensing board in your state of residence or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education for information about licensing in your state.

Dr. Deborah Wiltshire
Director of Nursing
210 Ferguson Health Science Center
Mars Hill University
P.O. Box 6678
Mars Hill, NC  28754
(828) 689-1610
dwiltshire@mhu.edu