Spirit & Life Seminary Complaint Process for Distance Education Students

Campus Policy

If a student has a grievance about enrollment, grades received, or conflict, the student should discuss the matter with the instructor. If the matter is not successfully resolved, the student must submit a written grievance to the Spirit & Life Seminary’s Academic Dean by email or letter:

• Albert Murza
• Academic Dean of Spirit & Life Seminary
• Email: amurza@slsem.org
• P. O. Box 2910
• Cleveland, TN 37320

The student may call the Academic Dean at 423-559-5502. The Academic Dean will respond to the grievance within 10 business days from the date received for successful resolution.

Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS)
If a student does not find relief at the institutional level, he/she may contact the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS), 15935 Forest Road, Forest, VA 24551 (434) 525-9539 www.tracs.org/resources.

Additional Complaint Procedures

• Complaint Resolution Policies and Procedures for Non-Tennessee Resident Students in State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement States, commonly known as SARA.
  • In some cases, students who are not satisfied with the Complaint Process for Distance Education Students (see above) may appeal the institution decision to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC). Additional information on the THEC complaint process is available HERE. Students may also contact SARA@tn.gov with questions.
  • The appeal to THEC must be filed within two years of the incident about which the complaint is made.
  • Only those complaints resulting from distance education courses, activities, and operations provided by Spirit & Life Seminary to students in non-Tennessee, SARA states are covered under SARA. See State Portal Entity Contacts | NC-SARA for a listing of SARA states and contacts.
  • This process is not applicable to complaints concerning student grades or student conduct violations. Rather the appealed complaint must allege violations of the SARA Policy Manual, including misrepresentation or fraud.
  • Questions may also be directed to the student’s home state higher education authority; although student may be referred to THEC. See State Portal Entity Contacts | NC-SARA for a listing of SARA states and contacts.
  • Students residing in non-SARA states should consult their respective State of residence for further instructions for filing a complaint.
• Should the institution not be able to resolve a student complaint, the student has the right to contact agencies and authorities outside the college, including the State of Tennessee, to determine a proper course of action. Complaints can be filed with the following agencies:
  • Complaints relating to the quality of education or accreditation requirements should be referred to the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS), 15935 Forest Road, Forest, VA 24551 (434) 525-9539 www.tracs.org/resources.
  • Complaints related to the application of state laws or rules related to approval to operate or licensure of a particular professional program within a postsecondary institution may be referred to the appropriate State Board (i.e., State Boards of Health, State Board of Education, and so on) within the Tennessee State Government.

Any person claiming damage or loss as a result of any act or practice by an authorized postsecondary educational institution or its agent that is a violation of Title 49, Chapter 7, Part 20 or Rule Chapters 1540-01-02 or 1540-01-10, may file a verified complaint on forms provided by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, Division of Postsecondary State Authorization after exhausting the grievance process at the institution. More information is available at Request for Complaint Review, 312 Rosa Parks Ave., 9^th Floor, Nashville, TN, 37243, (615) 741-3605.]