Shepherding Change: Creating the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (Sara) • January 3rd, 2020
In 2013, a broad spectrum of our nation’s higher education institutional and policy leadership agreed to advance a newly crafted State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). SARA is an agreement that will permit each of the States and territories to accept programs and courses offered by higher educational institutions from other participating states without requiring an additional authorization in each. SARA establishes comparable national academic standards for approved participating institutions for all members of the agreement. The agreement is intended to rationalize and make more efficient individual state processes for authorizing colleges and universities, improve the capacity of each state's regulators to manage a demanding workload, save the institutions significant costs, and encourage expanded opportunities for students in all participating states to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. Implementation of SARA is managed by t
The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement:State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (Sara) • February 19th, 2019
The process in place prior to SARA has been too varied among the states to assure consistent consumer protection, too cumbersome and expensive for institutions that seek to provide education across state borders, and too fragmented to support our country’s architecture for quality assurance in higher education — the quality assurance “triad” of accrediting agencies, the federal government, and the states.
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SC SARA)State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (Sara) • January 31st, 2023
The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) is a voluntary, interstate reciprocity agreement that establishes comparable standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education. Institutional participation is voluntary and limited to accredited degree-granting institutions.
The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement:State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (Sara) • June 3rd, 2014
The process in place prior to SARA has been too varied among the states to assure consistent consumer protection, too cumbersome and expensive for institutions that seek to provide education across state borders, and too fragmented to support our country’s architecture for quality assurance in higher education — the quality assurance “triad” of accrediting agencies, the federal government, and the states.
STATE AUTHORIZATION RECIPROCITY AGREEMENT (SARA)State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (Sara) • August 9th, 2023
On September 11, 2015, Michigan State University (MSU) became an official member of the National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) and began participating in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
NEBHEState Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (Sara) • April 4th, 2024
New England Board of Higher Education was founded in 1955, when six visionary New England governors – realizing that the future prosperity of New England rested on higher education – committed their states to the shared pursuit of academic excellence. Soon thereafter, NEBHE was approved by New England’s six state legislatures and authorized by the U.S. Congress.
Montana University System State Authorization Update September 5, 2014State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (Sara) • September 5th, 2014
In August of 2014, Montana was approved as a State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) state by the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements. At this time, there are nine SARA states (Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Washington). The Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education (OCHE) is recognized as the “portal” agency for the state of Montana.
STATE AUTHORIZATION RECIPROCITY AGREEMENT (SARA)State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (Sara) • February 2nd, 2021
IMPORTANT: Massachusetts recently passed legislation to join the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA)
The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (Sara) • March 2nd, 2021
New Hampshire is a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) through the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) https://www.nc-sara.org/.
STATE AUTHORIZATION RECIPROCITY AGREEMENT (SARA)State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (Sara) • April 20th, 2016
In November 2014, the Midwest Higher Education Compact (MHEC) approved Kansas as a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). The Private Postsecondary Unit of the Board serves as the State Portal Agency (SPA) for all institutions domiciled in Kansas. In the fall of 2016, we will be working with MHEC to renew our biennial state membership.
STATE AUTHORIZATION RECIPROCITY AGREEMENT (SARA)State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (Sara) • April 20th, 2016
The Board approved application for membership to the Midwest State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (M-SARA) at its June 2014 Board meeting. In November 2014, following a change in Kansas state law, MHEC officially approved that application and Kansas is now the official “State Agency Portal” for purposes of administering the M-SARA Agreement. In order to fulfill the duties associated with that role, SARA related functions were assigned to the PPS unit.1 Institutional applicants that wish to become institutional members of M-SARA must be based in Kansas (the college’s main campus or central unit holds its principal legal domicile in Kansas) and intends to offer online degree programs to students located in other SARA member states.
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (Sara) • April 19th, 2016
State AuthorizationState Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (Sara) • August 11th, 2022
Rosemont College is a SARA-approved institution through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and a member in good standing with the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA).
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (Sara) • April 12th, 2015
Ø Complexity: States and territories regulate higher education within their borders with varying requirements and definitions of physical presence for out-‐of-‐state institutions.
NC-SARA: The National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity AgreementsState Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (Sara) • May 12th, 2020
Nationwide, the number of students who access postsecondary education opportunities online continues to grow. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, more than a third of all
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (Sara) • August 11th, 2020
Bluefield State College (BSC) continues to be a participating member of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). The purpose of SARA, as noted by our State Portal Entity, the WV Higher Education Policy Commission (WVHEPC), is to “make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state.”
What is the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)?State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (Sara) • January 10th, 2023
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. SARA is overseen by a National Council, referred to as NC-SARA, and administered by four regional education compacts.
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (Sara) • February 23rd, 2021
Colorado State University (CSU) receives Title IV funds under the Higher Education Act of 1965 and is, therefore, required to comply with regulations regarding distance education. These regulations require postsecondary institutions to obtain authorization from states and U.S. territories outside of their Home State in order to deliver educational experiences there. The authorization may come directly from the other state or through a state authorization reciprocity agreement.
BMCC is an approved State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) ParticipantState Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (Sara) • December 7th, 2017
Bay Mills Community College (BMCC) has been approved on November 13, 2017, by the State of Michigan, to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC- SARA). NC-SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education.
National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity AgreementsState Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (Sara) • October 9th, 2013
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) PA State Portal EntityState Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (Sara) • November 3rd, 2021
• The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) joined SARA in Fall 2016 and was designated by Act 35 as the SARA State Portal Entity
Agenda Item IX.A.3. Executive SummaryState Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (Sara) • February 15th, 2016
The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) is a national initiative which seeks to establish comparable national standards for the interstate offering of postsecondary distance-education courses and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by institutions based in another state by reducing the cost and administrative burden on institutions seeking authorization in various states. SARA is a voluntary agreement among regional compacts (SREB, NEBHE, MHEC, and WICHE) and member states. Each member state approves their in-state institutions on an annual basis for SARA participation. Once approved, SARA member institutions may offer distance education programs in other SARA member states without additional authorization. Membership is open to accredited, degree-granting institutions from all sectors of postsecondary education (proprietary, public, private) and is voluntary. All institutions approved by their home state are required to r
