The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) establishes a state level reciprocity process that makes state authorization more efficient, effective and uniform in regards to necessary and reasonable standards of practice across states as well as more effective in dealing with quality and integrity issues for online learning. The State of Florida is a member of SARA agreement. Webber International University has been approved and has joined the Florida State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (FL-SARA)

Important note for prospective students:
If you are considering an academic program that leads to a professional license in your state, it is highly recommended that you first seek guidance from the appropriate licensing agency in your home state BEFORE beginning the academic program located outside your state.

Students needing IT support should email webbersupport@webber.edu. Students will receive an automated response from Webber International University Technical Support acknowledging receipt of the support request email. A 2nd email with further instruction from the IT staff will follow within 24 hours.

Webber International University is committed to fostering a University environment where the rights and responsibilities of all students are respected and protected. Therefore, in order to ensure success of each individual, the University has established high expectations for ethical student conduct.

All students are expected to:

1. Follow all regulations and guidelines as prescribed in the Student Handbook, found at https://webber.edu/current-students/

2. Be honest in all situations, academic and non-academic
3. Respect the rights and property of others
4. Live in a manner that brings credit to you and your University
5. Follow all state, local and federal laws
6. Take advantage of every opportunity to expand one’s mind and to contribute positively to the university environment

Webber International University attempts to maintain an environment where problems are dealt with honestly, openly, collaboratively and as close to the source as is possible. In addition to a wide array of informal resolution strategies, students have the right to file a written complaint.

Students are encouraged to address a grievance with the professor or staff member for resolution. If there is no resolution, the student may submit a written complaint. The complaint must be a clear and concise written description of the evidence upon which the allegation is based, names and contact information for those with personal knowledge of the facts of the matter, information on any attempt for resolution prior to submission of the written complaint and a description of any external channels the complainant is pursuing.

Through the following link you will find an excerpt of current policy as it pertains to student complaints. It provides the necessary information on how and to whom a written complaint would be sent – Webber Written Complaints Policy. The full policy is available on the Webber intranet. Online students may begin the process by completing the Online Complaint Form.

If a satisfactory resolution cannot be first reached internally through the institution resolution procedures listed above, distance education students may appeal non-instructional complaints to the FL-SARA Post-secondary Distance Education Coordinating Council. Students out of the State of Florida would file with the appropriate state agency or accrediting body. See links below for contact information.

Agency Contact Information for Florida Students –

The Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) serves as the source of education data from Florida school districts, community colleges, universities and independent post-secondary institutions. As a private non-profit university, Webber International University is under the jurisdiction of the Commission for Independent Education.

The FL-SARA Complaint Review Policy:
http://www.fldoe.org/sara/complaint-process.stml

The Florida Department of Education Commission on Independent Education can be found at www.fldoe.org/policy/cie/file-a-complaint.stml, to file a complaint, follow the procedure for nonpublic post-secondary institutions.

State Agency Contact Information for Students Residing Outside of Florida –

The US Department of Education requires each state to have a process to handle complaints for all institutions in the state. The State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO) has compiled a list of Student Complaint Procedures by state and Agency.

Chart – Student Complaint Information by State & Agency

If a satisfactory resolution cannot first be reached internally through the institution resolutions procedures and the applicable state grievance process, distance education students may appeal non-instructional complaints to the FL-SARA Post Secondary Distance Education Coordinating Council, PRDEC Council. Students must first go through the institutional complaint procedures. The student may appeal the complaint decision to the PRDEC Council by sending an email to FLSARAinfo@fldoe.org.

Webber International University (including its branch campuses, St. Andrews University and St. Andrews at Sandhills) is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College to award degrees at the associate, bachelor, and master levels. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, call 404-679-4500 or go to http:www.sacscoc.org for questions about the accreditation of Webber International University.

Unresolved grievances may be registered at http://www.sacscoc.org/pdf/081705/complaintpolicy.pdf