Southern Regional Education Board Corpus Christi, Texas April 3, 2014 State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) A Regional and National View Texas Distance Learning Association (TxDLA) Conference

Southern Regional Education Board SREB’s Electronic Campus A gateway to e-learning opportunities and online services for adult learners wishing to start, continue, or complete their education.

Southern Regional Education Board SREB’s Electronic Campus - Why Often forgotten about – but part of 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 had passed the review process. ..first step in its creation was to conduct a survey. The resulting report, SREB State Regulations as They Apply to Distance Learning, found that “… there appear to be no significant regulatory considerations that would halt the development of such a regional approach.” Thus, in January 1998, the Electronic Campus was launched.

Southern Regional Education Board SREB’s Electronic Campus (EC)  Launched in 1998 with 100 courses.  Fall 2013: Close to 10,000 courses  March 2014: 2,312 degree programs  All SREB states participate in EC  Institutions are regionally accredited, not-for- profit and chartered in a SREB state  State review and approval by SHEEO agency  Institutions meet Principles of Good Practice and Common Standards

Southern Regional Education Board SREB’s Electronic Campus (EC) State Approval Process

Southern Regional Education Board SREB’s Electronic Campus Regional Reciprocity Agreement (SECRRA)  In 2012 all 16 SREB states were asked to re-affirm original reciprocity arrangement in writing  Voluntary for states and institutions  Institutions participate only if state participates  RECIPROCAL…states not agreeing to participate will be required to seek approval in other SREB states

Southern Regional Education Board SREB’s Electronic Campus Regional Reciprocity Agreement (SECRRA)  SECRRA reinforces the past Electronic Campus arrangement (approval process, Principles of Good Practice and Common Standards)  Limited to for-credit online courses and programs activated on the EC  SECRRA was the only regional reciprocity agreement in the nation until 2014  All SREB states to be participating by Summer 2014

Southern Regional Education Board Moving from SECRRA to SARA SREB is fully supportive of the national State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) Thanks to Lumina Foundation SREB is committed to “leave no state behind” during the transition from SECRRA to SARA Cannot have a ‘competing’ process for reciprocity

Southern Regional Education Board Moving from SECRRA to SARA – Differences Consistent use of Physical Presence All degree-granting postsecondary institutions from all sectors Student Complaint Process finalized Reduced authorization “costs” for institutions

Southern Regional Education Board Moving from SECRRA to SARA – When? SARA implementation in SREB states Electronic Campus State Coordinators will continue with current processes and procedures in order to maintain participation in SECRRA SECRRA and SARA parallel for the next couple of years

Southern Regional Education Board TxDLA Conference For more information NC-SARA website: To receive the newsletter, sign up at: sara.org SREB