State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) - Related Files
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)
What is SARA?
SARA (State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements) is a national initiative which seeks to establish comparable national standards for the interstate offering of postsecondary distance-education courses and programs. SARA is a voluntary agreement among regional compacts (SRED, NEBHE, MHEC, and WICHE) and member states. Each member state approves their in-state institutions for SARA participation. Institutional membership is voluntary and open to accredited, degree-granting institutions from all sectors of postsecondary education (proprietary, public, private). Once approved, SARA member institutions may offer distance education programs in other SARA member states without additional authorization. For more information on SARA, visit NC-SARA Resources, and for the latest listing of participating states and institutions, visit NC-SARA.
SARA approved postsecondary institutions listed on the NC-SARA website may operate within Georgia without additional authorization, unless the institution is physically present based on NC-SARA policy.
Georgia became a member of SARA on November 9, 2015 through the Southern Regional Education Board Compact (SREB). The Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission has been designated the portal agency for SARA – the entity responsible for coordinating SARA activities in Georgia.
How can a Georgia Institution join SARA?
Institutional membership is voluntary and open to accredited, degree-granting institutions from all sectors of postsecondary education (proprietary, public, private), provided that its main campus or central unit is legally domiciled in the state of Georgia and that it is accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. To initiate the process for joining SARA, the institution will complete and submit the Application for Institutional Approval to Participate in SARA. You may review additional state requirements by selecting GA SARA State Supplemental Sheet below.