Distance Education: National Council for SARA
The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) is a national initiative to provide a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education. When states join SARA, they agree to follow uniform processes for approving their eligible institutions' participation. Participation in SARA allows institutions to provide online courses outside of their own state borders by seeking and maintaining state approvals via a streamlined process. To learn more, visit NC SARA.
New York State Education Department State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement
NC-SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education. To learn more, visit NC SARA
Current authorized SARA member states can be viewed on the SARA Interactive Map
National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC SARA)
3005 Center Green Drive, Suite 130
Boulder, Colorado 80301
T: (720) 680-1600
info@nc-sara.org
Information on Complaint Resolution Policies
Federal regulations require institutions delivering distance education courses to provide students and prospective students with contact information for filing complaints with the state approval or licensing entity in the student's state of residency and any other relevant state official or agency that would appropriately handle a student complaint.
SARA requires SUNY Oneonta to provide all students taking courses under SARA's provisions with information on the university's and SARA's complaint resolution policies and procedures. SARA applies solely to distance education activity conducted across state lines. It does not apply to distance education activities inside New York State. Only those complaints resulting from distance education courses or activities offered to students in other SARA states come under the terms of SARA. Complaints from in-state students are to be resolved under SUNY Oneonta's provisions, not those of SARA. (For complaints from NY students, see Academic Grievance Policy—Undergraduate or Academic Grievance Policy—Graduate.)
Procedure for Filing Complaints (for Students Residing Outside NY)
SUNY Oneonta is committed to investigating consumer protection concerns raised by students in distance learning courses and/or programs, including but not limited to truthfulness in advertising and accuracy of data related to course offerings, job placements, tuition, fees, and financial aid.
Student complaints submitted to the Office of the Provost will be examined objectively and thoroughly. The Provost will convene an ad hoc committee, the Committee on Consumer Protection Complaints (CCPC), comprised of representatives from the following areas: Academic Affairs, Registrar’s Office, Institutional Research Office, Office of Communication and Marketing, Financial Aid Office, and Finance and Administration. The CCPC will evaluate the merit of the complaint and make any appropriate recommendation(s) for resolution and/or redress to the Provost. The Provost will make a final determination and communicate to the student the institution’s official response to the complaint as well as any warranted redress. Students unhappy with an internal resolution of a complaint at SUNY Oneonta may appeal the complaint to SUNY administration. Students should refer to the SUNY Student Concerns webpage.
If SARA students at SUNY Oneonta are not satisfied with the outcome of SUNY Oneonta’s complaint resolution process or SUNY administration’s process, they should contact the New York State Education Department, the institution’s SARA state portal entity.
SARA students may refer to the NC SARA Student Complaints webpage for further information and resources.
Professional Licensure
Important Note for Students: Professional licensure and certification requirements often vary from state to state. Students will need to contact the state licensing board relative to their program in the state they are seeking licensure from for further information.
If you are considering an academic program that leads to a professional license in your state, it is highly recommended that you first seek guidance from the appropriate licensing agency in your home state before beginning the academic program.