College of Coastal Georgia Catalog

The College of Coastal Georgia adheres to the nondiscrimination provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Higher Education Act of 1972, along with subsequent amendments.

The College provides equal opportunity and equal access and does not discriminate based on race, creed, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, parental status, or other protected categories in its programs or employment.

In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the University System of Georgia (USG) prohibits discrimination based on sex in any of its educational programs, activities, or employment. The USG is committed to ensuring the highest ethical conduct of the members of the its community by promoting a safe learning and working environment. More information on Title IX and the USG Sexual Misconduct Policy is available at http://www.ccga.edu/title-ixsexual-misconduct/.

The College of Coastal Georgia’s Title IX Coordinator is Dr. Michael Butcher, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, located in the Campus Center. For inquiries regarding Title IX compliance, please contact mbutcher@ccga.edu or call 912-279-5815.

The Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Officer is Kristine Bennett, Assistant Vice President for Human Resources, located in the Hargett Administration Building. She can be reached at kbennett@ccga.edu or 912-280-7750.

In compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, the College does not release student records or information restricted by the Act without student consent.

The College complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, ensuring equal access to educational programs and employment for individuals with disabilities. Requests for accommodations should be directed to Tashania Garner, Director of Student Well-Being and Support, via email at tgarner@ccga.edu or by calling 912-279-5806.

The College of Coastal Georgia is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate and baccalaureate degrees. The College of Coastal Georgia also may offer, other credentials such as certificates at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of the College of Coastal Georgia may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, by calling 404-679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC's website (www.sacscoc.org). Inquiries to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges should only address the following: the accreditation status of the College of Coastal Georgia; the filing of a third-party complaint at the time of Coastal Georgia's decennial review; the filing of a complaint for alleged non-compliance with a requirement or standard.

As a member of the University System of Georgia, the College is approved to certify Veterans' benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice, Georgia Department of Education, and Georgia Board of Nursing.

The College provides support services for veterans and military-affiliated students, including assistance with VA benefits, academic advising, and transition resources. For more information, visit the Veterans Affairs Office by contacting the Financial Aid Specialist/Veteran Affairs Certifying Official at 912-279-5773.

In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, the College publishes an annual security and fire safety report, which includes crime statistics, safety policies, and procedures. The report also includes hazing statistics and prevention information in accordance with the Stop Campus Hazing Act of 2024. The report statistics are derived from incident reports initiated and maintained by the Campus Police Department. Data are compiled each calendar year, and the report is published and disseminated annually in September. Only crimes recognized under the Student Right to Know Act are included, while incidents such as petty theft, the most prevalent on-campus criminal activity, and other minor offenses are not enumerated. The annual security and fire safety report is available at https://www.ccga.edu/annual-reports/.

For serious crimes or safety-related incidents requiring immediate notification, the Campus Police Department will activate the emergency notification system and take necessary protective measures. The annual security and fire safety report is available at https://www.ccga.edu/about/offices/publicsafety.

Institutional Complaint Process for Out-of-State Students Enrolled in Distance Education

In compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 and NC-SARA requirements, the College of Coastal Georgia provides distance education students with clear procedures and contact information for filing complaints (see NC-SARA here). The College aims to resolve student grievances, complaints, and concerns in a timely and fair manner through its internal processes; students should first use the College’s academic and non-academic complaint pathways before pursuing external options. For step-by-step instructions, including NC-SARA and state-specific contacts, see the “Institutional Complaint Process Regarding Distance Education (NC-SARA)” section below, which outlines internal resolution (Step 1), external resolution through GNPEC/NC-SARA (Step 2), and state-specific exceptions and licensure-related complaints (Step 3).

Student Complaint Policy – Distance Education

Step 1: Seek Resolution Within the College

Distance education students must first pursue resolution through the College of Coastal Georgia’s internal complaint pathways. Academic complaints (for example, grading disputes, curriculum issues, academic decisions) should begin with the course instructor or department chair. If unresolved, they should be escalated to the Office of Academic Affairs here. Non-academic complaints (for example, financial aid, disability accommodations, student conduct) should begin with the appropriate office (such as Financial Aid, Registrar, or Student Affairs). If unresolved, they should be escalated to the Dean of Students (mbutcher@ccga.edu). Internal resolution must be attempted before moving to external complaint options.

Step 2: External Resolution (NC-SARA)

As a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), the College follows NC-SARA’s student complaint resolution procedures for distance education students. If a complaint remains unresolved after completion of the College’s internal process, students may contact the Georgia NC-SARA State Portal Agency, the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (GNPEC). Complaints may be submitted using GNPEC’s “Complaints Against an Institution” resources here, or via the GNPEC complaint forms here. GNPEC may also be contacted by phone at 770-414-3300 or by email at info@gnpec.ga.gov.

Note: This process is available only to students residing in other states who are enrolled in College of Coastal Georgia distance education courses.

Step 3: State-Specific Exceptions

Because California is not an NC-SARA member, California residents with distance education complaints about the College should file with the California Department of Consumer Affairs – Office of Consumer Protection. Students may use the department’s website here, or its Consumer Information Center contact page here. California residents may also call the Consumer Information Center at 800-952-5210 for assistance.

Important Regulatory Update (Effective January 1, 2026)

Beginning January 1, 2026, institutions operating under SARA policies must provide both their own and SARA’s complaint resolution policies and procedures to all students taking courses under SARA policies on the institution’s website and in the institution’s catalog or equivalent information provided in print or electronically at the time of enrollment (see NC-SARA student complaint guidance here). The College of Coastal Georgia meets this requirement by publishing this Institutional Complaint Process Regarding Distance Education (NC-SARA) in its HEOA consumer information and by including parallel information in the College catalog.

Professional Licensure Complaints

NC-SARA does not govern professional licensure reciprocity requirements or guarantee that licensure boards will accept a program for licensure purposes in any state (see the SARA Policy Manual and student complaint resources here). Students enrolled in programs that may lead to professional licensure should consult the appropriate licensing board in the state where they intend to practice for information about authorization, licensure eligibility, and complaint procedures. Complaints related specifically to professional licensure requirements should be directed to the relevant state licensing board rather than to NC-SARA.

Policies and Disclosures