SARA Policy Announcements

On this page, you will find SARA Policy-related announcements and updates, with the most recent at the top. 

Registration Open for NC-SARA’s 2024 Fall Board Meeting Public Session - Board to Vote on SARA Policy Modification Proposals

The public is invited to view a livestream broadcast of the public session of NC-SARA's 2024 Fall Board Meeting.

NC-SARA Board Meeting - Public Session
Thursday October 24, 2024: 1:45 p.m. Eastern Time until complete (not to exceed 3:45 p.m.)

REGISTRATION IS OPEN

Ten 2024 SARA Policy Modification Proposals were unanimously approved by the four regional compacts through their regional steering committees [Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC); New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE); Southern Regional Education Board (SREB); Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE)].

To view the proposal votes and rationales, please visit the SARA Policy Portal.

During the public session, the NC-SARA Board will review the ten proposals in detail, consider their implications, and vote on each of them.

If you have questions about the SARA Policy Modification Process, please visit the Participate in SARA Policy Modifications webpage, or you may contact info@nc-sara.org.

10 SARA Policy Modification Proposals Approved by the Four Regional Compacts Through Their Regional Steering Committees

We are excited to announce that the four regional compacts through their regional steering committees (RSCs) have officially approved ten SARA proposals. These proposals reflect the dedication and collaborative efforts of the SARA community. 

Key highlights of the RSC-approved SARA proposals:

  • Student Consumer Protections
    • Clarifies that institutions that lose SARA participation must meet state-specific authorization requirements 
    • Aligns SARA policy with federal requirements regarding professional licensure
  • State Oversight
    • Increases options for a state to place a SARA-participating institution on provisional status
    • Requires public sharing of reason for a SARA-participating institution placed on provisional status 
  • SARA Student Complaints
    • SARA-participating institutions must provide SARA student complaint resolution policies on their website and in their catalog
    • Improves SARA student complaint data collection and reporting to include complaint type and student location

Results of the RSC voting are available to the public, along with a rationale for any decision not to approve a proposed SARA policy modification. ​​​​​

The final step in the SARA Policy Modification Process is for the NC-SARA Board to vote on these ten SARA policy proposals during the Fall 2024 NC-SARA Board Meeting.

November 6, 2023: NC-SARA Board Approves Five SARA Policy Modifications!

The NC-SARA Board met on October 24 and 25 in New Orleans, Louisiana. During the meeting the Board approved five SARA Policy Modification Proposals, including:

  1. PMP-0330: Require NC-SARA to Notify Public of Institution Status [Implementation date: July 1, 2024]
  2. PMP-0331: Institutional Disclosure Requirements [Implementation date: January 1, 2025]
  3. PMP-0368: SARA Policy Manual [Implementation date: January 1, 2024]
  4. PMP-0373: Provisional Notification - Add (i) to Section 3.2 [Implementation date: July 1, 2024]
  5. PMP-0383: Modification of Language: Arbitration Agreements [Implementation date: July 1, 2024]

The NC-SARA Board considered and approved a recommendation by the Board Policy Committee that the sixth proposal – PMP-0356: SPE Removal of Provisional Status – not be approved due to a procedural issue and that it be reviewed by the proposer and reconsidered for submission during the 2024 SARA Policy Modification Process cycle.

In accordance with the timeline published in December 2022, the status of all proposed policy modifications reviewed by the NC-SARA Board will be published on the NC-SARA website by December 1, 2023, and the revised SARA Policy Manual will be published on the NC-SARA website by December 31, 2023.

In January 2024, the SARA Policy Modification Process cycle for 2024 will begin. Information about the process and the timeline will be forthcoming.

September 6, 2023: Six SARA Policy Modifications Approved by the Regional Compacts through their Regional Steering Committees (RSCs)!

The deadline for the Regional Compacts (through their RSCs) to review and vote to approve or not approve each proposed policy modification concluded on September 1, 2023. As of September 2, 2023, the results of the voting were available to the public along with a rationale for any decision not to approve a proposed policy modification. 

Six proposals were approved by all four regional compacts through their RSCs:

  1. Modification   PMP-0356: SPE removal of provisional status
  2. Modification   PMP-0368: SARA Policy Manual
  3. Modification   PMP-0373: Provisional Notification - Add (i) to Section 3.2
  4. Modification   PMP-0383: Modification of Language: Arbitration Agreements
  5. New Policy      PMP-0330: Require NC-SARA to notify public of institution status
  6. New Policy      PMP-0331: Institutional disclosure requirements

The final step in the SARA Policy Modification Process is for these six policy proposals to be placed on the agenda of the Fall 2023 NC-SARA Board meeting for a review and vote of the NC-SARA Board. 

July 6, 2023 Update: Proposed SARA Policy Modifications Remaining

As of July 6, 2023, following the July 5, 2023 deadline to amend or withdraw proposed SARA Policy modifications, 44 proposals remain for Regional Compact / Regional Steering Committee review and voting. One proposal (PMP-0342) is about NC-SARA Board Governance and has been forwarded to the NC-SARA Board Governance and Nominations Committee for consideration. 

During the second period to amend or withdraw proposed SARA Policy Modifications (June 8 - July 5, 2023), seventeen proposals were amended:
PMP-0328: Changes to provisional status
PMP-0329: Changes to loss of institutional eligibility
PMP-0330: Require NC-SARA to notify public of institution status
PMP-0331: Institutional disclosure requirements
PMP-0337: Changes to institutional eligibility requirements
PMP-0340: Enforcement of state consumer protection laws
PMP-0342: States must control SARA standard-setting (Governance)
PMP-0347: Refund Policy
PMP-0355: Off-ramp from provisional status
PMP-0359: Financial Responsibility
PMP-0360: Provisional Status and Renewal Periods
PMP-0363: Clarification of Authority of Explanatory Notes
PMP-0368: SARA Policy Manual
PMP-0373: Provisional Notification - Add (i) to Section 3.2
PMP-0378: 5.2 Programs Leading to Professional Licensure
PMP-0383: Modification of Language: Arbitration Agreements
PMP-0388: Student Awareness of Provisional Status

During the second period to amend or withdraw proposed SARA Policy Modifications (June 8 - July 5, 2023), eighteen proposals were withdrawn:
PMP-0327: State reviews of institutional applications
PMP-0333: Clarify use of mandatory arbitration agreements
PMP-0335: Require public notice re institution complaint data
PMP-0369: Removal of 21st Century Distance Education Guidelines
PMP-0370: Correct Implementation Deadline Language
PMP-0372: 9.3 Implementation of SARA Policy Manual Revisions
PMP-0376: More Autonomy on Placing Institutions on Provisional
PMP-0379: Consistent language
PMP-0380: Remove the word “SARA”
PMP-0381: Professional Licensure
PMP-0382: Consistent Language
PMP-0384: Acceptable FRCS Documentation
PMP-0385: Change to State Renewal Period
PMP-0392: Clarifying Quality Standards for Non-Credit Activity
PMP-0394: Eliminate Licensure Research Mandate
PMP-0397: Update "Authorized" Definition
PMP-0398: Remove "Rule" Definition
PMP-0399: Add to "Unified Agreement" Definition

The status of all proposals is publicly available on the NC-SARA website: Participate in SARA Policy Modifications

The next milestone in the process is September 1, 2023, the deadline for Regional Compacts to review and vote to approve or not approve each proposed policy modification. 

June 8 - July 5, 2023: Second Period to Amend or Withdraw Proposals

June 8, 2023 - July 5, 2023 is the second period during which people or organizations proposing modifications to SARA Policy may make amendments or withdraw their proposals. 

Spring 2023 NC-SARA Board Meeting Public Session Update

Slides from the May 10, 2023 Public Session of the NC-SARA Board Meeting, which shared an update on the SARA Policy Modification Process. 

SARA Policy Public Forum #2: June 7, 2023

On June 7, 2023, from 10am – 2pm Mountain Time, NC-SARA hosted the second of two public SARA Policy forums, during which those individuals or organizations who submitted proposals to modify SARA Policy had the opportunity to present their proposals publicly. The public forum was not recorded; it was a livestream event only. 

Public Comments Period Open April 17, 2023 - May 17, 2023

Starting Monday April 17, 2023, the proposed SARA Policy modifications are open for public comments. View the proposals on the SARA Policy Modification Process participation webpage, and then follow the guidelines to provide your comments on any of these proposals. Following these guidelines will help assure that your comments will move forward for consideration as expeditiously as possible.

The public comment period closes on May 17, 2023.

Seven Proposals Amended During First Period (March 2 - April 5, 2023)

During the first period to amend or withdraw proposed SARA Policy Modifications (March 2 - April 5, 2023), seven proposals were amended:

  1. PMP-0327: State reviews of institutional applications
  2. PMP-0337: Changes to institutional eligibility requirements
  3. PMP-0344: Requiring Evidence of Compliance at Authorization
  4. PMP-0348: State Authority to Deny or Revoke Participation
  5. PMP-0349: Addressing flaws in the Provisional Status provisions
  6. PMP-0365: Remove the C-RAC Guidelines
  7. PMP-0402: Exception for professional educator programs

No proposals were withdrawn.

Amended proposals are available to view on the Participate in SARA Policy Modifications webpage.

March 2 - April 5, 2023: Period to Amend or Withdraw Proposals

People who submitted proposals during the original submission period of January 3 - February 3, 2023 may amend or withdraw their proposals between March 2 and April 5, 2023. 

March 1, 2023 Public Forum #1 Schedule and Guidance

On March 1, 2023, from 10am – 2pm Mountain Time, NC-SARA hosted the first of two public SARA Policy forums, during which those individuals or organizations who submitted proposals to modify SARA Policy had the opportunity to present their proposals publicly. The public forum was not recorded; it was a livestream event only. 

POLICY PROPOSAL PRESENTERS: 

SARA Policy Public Forum #1: March 1, 2023

On March 1, 2023, from 10am – 2pm Mountain Time, NC-SARA hosted the first of two public SARA Policy forums, during which those individuals or organizations who have submitted proposals to modify SARA Policy had the opportunity to present their proposals publicly.

he final schedule of presentations will be posted here on this SARA Policy Announcements page. 

NOTE TO POLICY PROPOSAL SUBMITTERS: If you are a proposal submitter, you will be contacted by NC-SARA staff directly to schedule your time and receive directions and access to the “presentation room.” You will, however, need to register separately to watch the livestream presentations of others’ proposals.

SARA Policy Modification Process Is Open For 2023

The new SARA Policy Modification Process is now open (as of January 3, 2023) for proposed modifications to SARA Policy as represented in the most current SARA Policy Manual.

Individuals or organizations wishing to submit proposals to modify SARA Policy are encouraged to review the information about the SARA Policy Modification Process – including an overview of the process, an updated calendar of 2023 key dates, and a recorded webinar – prior to submitting a proposal.

The deadline for submitting proposals is February 3, 2023.

Webinar Resources: The New SARA Policy Modification Process - December 8, 2022

In this public webinar, held on Thursday, December 8, 2022, participants learned about the new SARA Policy Modification Process that will begin in January 2023. 

Slides and the recording from this webinar are available. 

Fall 2022 NC-SARA Board Meeting Public Session Update

Slides from the October 28, 2022 Public Session of the NC-SARA Board Meeting, which shared an update on the SARA Policy Modification Process.