State Authorization

Institutional Accreditation

Bowling Green State University [BGSU] is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.  The Higher Learning Commission is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. BGSU has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 01/01/1916. The most recent reaffirmation of accreditation was received in 2023. BGSU is committed to complying with all federal and state regulations. Federal and state regulations require all institutions of higher education comply with existing state laws. 

State Authorization (NC-SARA)

As of July 15, 2016 - BGSU is approved by the Ohio Department of Higher Education to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). NC-SARA is an agreement among member states, districts and territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. NC-SARA is overseen by a National Council and administered by four regional education compacts. Institutions that are members of NC-SARA are authorized to provide online education to students from all NC-SARA member states. For more information about the NC-SARA initiative and the progress of state and institutional membership, please visit http://nc-sara.org/sara-states-institutions.

Benefits to Students

• Expands access to educational offerings
  Lead to better resolution of complaints from students in SARA states
• Improves coordination between states on higher education opportunities
  Reduces institutional cost and bureaucracy that is at times passed along to students
  Enhances overall quality of distance education
• Provides valuable oversight of distance education programs.
• Access to out-of-state learning experience data like clinical hours and practice teaching

Complaint Resolution

BGSU is committed to providing all students with an exceptional educational experience and strives to work with students to resolve any issues that may arise. United States Department of Education regulations (34 CFR 668.43(b)) require institutions of higher education to have a process to handle complaints for prospective and enrolled students. Students are encouraged to pursue BGSU's internal complaint process for any grievances before contacting external sources for resolution.  

BGSU has established procedures for handling complaints including grade changes, discrimination, other classroom allegations, and academic dishonesty charges. Detailed information regarding policies and procedures is available for students and faculty in the Student Handbook. If a conflict arises, students are encouraged to reach out to appropriate personnel to discuss concerns, grievances and complaints.  

Complaints specifically related to institutional effectivess or distance education may be emailed to jlommel@bgsu.edu or institutionaleff@bgsu.edu 

Grade appeals

Students have a right to appeal decisions on grades. The student should first contact the department from which the grade was received. A member of each department, who is not a major departmental administrator, is designated to hear complaints, gather information, talk with both students and faculty, mediate disputes or identify appropriate channels for solving problems. If the dispute cannot be resolved at this level then the student should state the full particulars of the appeal in writing and submit them to the department chair or policy committee. If the matter is not resolved at the department level, the student may request a hearing before the academic arbitration board of the appropriate school or college. However, the sole responsibility and authority for determining grades rests with the faculty member who assigned the grade. This appeals procedure also may be used if a student believes an opportunity should be provided to make up work missed during absence from classes.

Procedures for Filing Allegations of Discrimination and Sexual Harassment

Bowling Green State University strives to create and maintain a positive academic and social environment both on-campus and in the greater community. There are times, however, when members of our community may feel that others have engaged in actions that diminish either the environment or disrespect the individual. In these instances, members of the community have the right to file a complaint with the University. The procedures outlined below address how and where a complaint involving discrimination or harassment in any form should be documented and filed with the University, as well as the procedures utilized by the University to investigate and resolve the complaint. Questions regarding any step of the process should be directed to the Office of Equity, Opportunity & Compliance (419-372-6872) or the Office of the Dean of Students (419-372-2843).
If you have concerns about any of the processes listed above or do not know where to go or with whom to speak with, you may contact the Title IX Coordinator or file a report: Complaint Form.

External Resources

Pursuant to 34 CFR 668.43(b), U.S. Department of Education's Federal Integrity Rules, requires Bowling Green State University to provide students with contact information for filing complaints with its accreditor and with its state approval or licensing entity if an issue cannot be resolved by BGSU's internal process. Students who reside in NC-SARA States may choose to file a complaint with the Ohio Department of Higher Education. Students residing in states not participating in NC-SARA may appeal to their state of residence. Please see below to find the contact information for each state agency that would handle the complaint.   

The Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, IL  60604
800-621-7440
https://www.hlcommission.org

Ohio Board of Regents
25 South Front Street
Columbus, OH  43215-3414
614-466-6000
https://www.ohiohighered.org/students/complaints

State Agency Contact Information

Alabama
Alabama Commission on Higher Education
http://www.ache.alabama.gov

Alaska
Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education
http://acpe.alaska.gov/

Arizona
Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education
https://www.azppse.gov

Arkansas
Arkansas Department of Higher Education
http://www.adhe.edu

California
California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education
https://www.dca.ca.gov

Colorado
Colorado Department of Higher Education
https://highered.colorado.gov/

Connecticut
Connecticut Office of Higher Education
http://www.ctdhe.org

Delaware
Delaware Department of Education
https://www.doe.k12.de.us

District of Columbia
District of Columbia Education Licensure Commission
http://osse.dc.gov/service/education-licensure-commission-elc

Florida
Florida Commission for Independent Education
https://www.fldoe.org

Georgia
Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission
https://gnpec.georgia.gov/

Hawaii
Hawaii Postsecondary Education Authorization Program
http://cca.hawaii.gov/hpeap/

Idaho
Idaho State Board of Education
https://boardofed.idaho.gov/

Illinois
Illinois Board of Higher Education
http://www.ibhe.org/sara.html

Indiana
Indiana Commission for Higher Education
http://www.in.gov/bpe/2457.htm

Iowa
Iowa College Student Aid Commission
http://www.iowacollegeaid.gov

Kansas
Kansas Board of Regents
https://www.kansasregents.org/

Kentucky
Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education
http://www.ky.gov

Louisiana
Board of Regents, State of Louisiana
http://regents.state.la.us/

Maine
Maine Department of Education
http://www.maine.gov

Maryland
Maryland Higher Education Commission
http://www.mhec.state.md.us/institutions_training/Pages/default.aspx

Massachusetts
Massachusetts Department of Higher Education
http://www.doe.mass.edu/

Michigan
Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
http://www.michigan.gov/lara/

Minnesota
Minnesota Office of Higher Education
https://www.ohe.state.mn.us/mPg.cfm?pageID=2149

Mississippi
Mississippi
http://mississippi.edu

Missouri
Missouri Department of Higher Education
https://dhe.mo.gov/

Montana
Montana University System
http://www.montana.edu

Nebraska
Nebraska's Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education
https://www.nebraska.gov

Nevada
Nevada Commission on Postsecondary Education
http://www.cpe.state.nv.us

New Hampshire
New Hampshire Department of Education - HEC
https://www.education.nh.gov/

New Jersey
New Jersey Secretary for Higher Education
http://www.state.nj.us/highereducation/

New Mexico
New Mexico Higher Education Department
http://www.state.nm.us

New York
New York Office of College and University Evaluation
http://www.nysed.gov

North Carolina
University of North Carolina Board of Governors

https://www.northcarolina.edu/offices-and-services/academic-affairs/licensure-department/

North Dakota
North Dakota University System
https://ndus.edu/state-authorization-sara/

Ohio
Ohio Department of Higher Education
https://www.ohiohighered.org/

Oklahoma
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
http://www.osrhe.edu

Oregon
Oregon Office of Degree Authorization
http://www.state.or.us

Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Department of Education
http://www.education.pa.gov/postsecondary-adult/pages/default.aspx

Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Council on Higher Education
PO Box 1900
San Juan, PR 00910-1900

Puerto Rico Department of Justice
PO 9020192
San Juan, PR 00902-0192

Rhode Island
Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education
http://www.ribghe.org

South Carolina
South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
http://www.che.sc.gov

South Dakota
South Dakota Secretary of State's Office
https://sdsos.gov/

Tennessee
Tennessee Higher Education Commission
http://www.tn.gov

Texas
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/

The Texas Workforce Commission
http://www.texasworkforce.org/careerschools

Utah
Utah Division of Consumer Protection
http://www.dcp.utah.gov

Vermont
Vermont State Board of Education
http://www.state.vt.us

Virginia
Virginia State Council of Higher Education
http://www.schev.edu/

Washington
Washington Student Achievement Council
http://www.wsac.wa.gov

West Virginia
West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
http://www.wvhepc.edu/

Wisconsin
Wisconsin Educational Approval Board
https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/Programs/EducationalApproval/Default.aspx

Wyoming
Wyoming Department of Education
http://www.wyo.gov