Florida Association of Veteran Education Specialists (FAVES 2016)

Presenter Mary Larson Director Student Access Programs and Services Southern Regional Education Board mary.larson@sreb.org

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?

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

A Closer Look: NEBHE New England Board of Higher Education

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

A Closer Look: Districts and Territories

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

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

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

SARA Member States 37 states as of last week

Participating Institutions

Participating Institutions As of December 31, 2015

Participating Institutions As of December 31, 2015

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

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

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.

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

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

June 30, 2017 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

Questions? As always, feel free to contact information@nc-sara.org with any additional questions or comments Mary Agnes Larson Director, Student Access Programs and Services mary.larson@sreb.org or SARA@sreb.org Presentation Title / Presenter First Name Last Name