1. Florida Association of Veteran Education Specialists (FAVES 2016)

2. Presenter
Mary Larson Director Student Access Programs and Services Southern Regional Education Board

3. The Current SARA Landscape
SARA establishes a state-level reciprocity process that will support the nation in efforts to increase the educational attainment of its people by making state authorization:
more efficient, effective, and uniform in regard to necessary and reasonable standards of practice that could span states;
more effective in dealing with quality and integrity issues that have arisen in some online/distance education offerings; and
less costly for states and institutions and, thereby, the students they serve.
Open to degree-granting postsecondary institutions from all sectors: public colleges and universities; independent institutions, both non-profit and for-profit.
Sets forth a reasonable, uniform set of triggers of “physical presence”.
Preserves state approval and oversight of on-the-ground campuses.
Distance education providers must obtain authorization in every state where students are taking the course or doing field experience!
Do you know where your students are?

4. A Closer Look: MHEC Midwestern Higher Education Compact -
All states have passed SARA legislation

5. A Closer Look: NEBHE
New England Board of Higher Education

6. A Closer Look: WICHE
Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE)
Hawaii joined SARA in May.

7. A Closer Look: Districts and Territories

8. A Closer Look: SREB
Before an institution can decide if SARA is right for them, they must know where their students are.
Presentation Title / Presenter First Name Last Name

9. SREB’s Electronic Campus Regional Reciprocity Agreement (SECRRA)
All 16 SREB states participate
Voluntary for states and institutions
Institutions participate if state joins
Limited to for-credit online courses and programs activated on the EC
only regional reciprocity agreement until 2014
In 1997 SREB began the work of finding a way to allow students in the SREB region to move forward with online education, create a agreement among the states to reduce the burden of state authorization on institutions and ensure quality courses and programs were listed. RECIPROCAL , all SREB states agree to participate and recognize approval from other SREB states. Courses and programs have to be activated on the EC to ensure they have been through the approval process at the institution, state and reviewed by EC staff.
Why not a larger reciprocity agreement?
Consistent use of Physical Presence
All degree-granting postsecondary institutions from all sectors
Student Complaint Process formalized
Institution approved
Not specific courses and programs
Reduced authorization “costs”
Presentation Title / Presenter First Name Last Name

10. After June 30, 2017
Institutions in SREB states that do not join SARA will need to seek authorization from all states including the SREB region.
Non-SARA institutions in SARA states in SREB region will need to seek authorization from all states including the SREB region.
What was the policy implication for EC creation? State Authorization
The driving force creating the Electronic Campus was reciprocity for the courses and programs listed on the EC – because they met the Principles of Good Practice and Common Standards
SREB's Electronic Campus Regional Reciprocity Agreement (SECRRA)
Presentation Title / Presenter First Name Last Name

11. SARA Member States
37 states as of last week

12. Participating Institutions

13. Participating Institutions
As of December 31, 2015

14. Participating Institutions
As of December 31, 2015

15. Financial Status of the Sara Initiative
SARA work by all SARA partners (NC-SARA, MHEC, NEBHE, SREB and WICHE) is now almost fully dependent on fee revenue
Current and projected revenues are sufficient to support SARA
Consequently, NC-SARA has determined to keep fees at current levels through June, 2018
Fee is based on an institution’s total full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment:
$2,000/year if fewer than 2,500 FTE students
$4,000/year if between 2,500-9,999
$6,000/year if 10,000 or more FTE
NC-SARA will keep fees at current levels through June, 2018

16. What’s Ahead for SARA?
Complaint and enrollment reporting and publication:
Continuation of complaint reporting every quarter;
SARA institutions will report their out-of-state enrollments in May, 2016, with publication shortly thereafter;
Planned - Database of programs offered by SARA institutions
NC-SARA’s version of SREB’s Electronic Campus

17. Now That We’re Past the “Easy” Stuff…
Continue to add states and institutions
Implications and implementation of IRS 501 (c)(3) status for NC-SARA
Establish independent budgeting, accounting, auditing and IT systems
Establish appropriate staffing levels
Responding to “down-in-the-weeds” questions and policy issues
Physical presence
Experiential learning
Etc., etc., etc.

18. SARA: A Negotiated Compromise
Institutions’ goals
Regulators’ concerns
Accreditors
Before an institution can decide if SARA is right for them, they must know where their students are.
Voluntary for states and institutions.
Acknowledges the traditional roles within higher education’s “accountability triad”: federal government, states, and accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Presentation Title / Presenter First Name Last Name

19. SARA & Professional Licensure
Requirements remain Increase focus on student notification
SARA does not affect/effect Professional Licensure….
SARA is State Authorization…
Presentation Title / Presenter First Name Last Name

20. June 30, Reminder
Non-SARA and SARA institutions – to maintain student coverage - SECRRA institutions will continue to maintain SECRRA and reciprocity with the other SREB states.
Non-SARA institutions in SREB states will need to seek authorization from all states including the SREB region.
Start NOW
In 1997 SREB began the work of finding a way to allow students in the SREB region to move forward with online education, create a agreement among the states to reduce the burden of state authorization on institutions and ensure quality courses and programs were listed. RECIPROCAL , all SREB states agree to participate and recognize approval from other SREB states. Courses and programs have to be activated on the EC to ensure they have been through the approval process at the institution, state and reviewed by EC staff.
Why not a larger reciprocity agreement?
Presentation Title / Presenter First Name Last Name

21. Questions?
As always, feel free to contact with any additional questions or comments
Mary Agnes Larson
Director, Student Access Programs and Services or
Presentation Title / Presenter First Name Last Name