State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)

In the Fall of 2015, Rose State College began participating in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). SARA is an agreement among member states, districts, and territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offerings of postsecondary distance education courses and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by post-secondary institutions based in another state. SARA is overseen by a National Council and administered by four regional education compacts.

States belong to SARA, not institutions or students. The college “operates underneath” or “participates in” SARA. Each institution within a state will determine whether it wants to participate in SARA. Colleges or universities in a SARA state only need their home state authorization to offer distance education to any other SARA member state.

Several states do not participate in SARA. If you reside in one of these states, you will not be able to enroll for online classes through Rose State College. These states are:

• California
• Northern Mariana Islands