SARA Policy Announcements

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

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. 

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, 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. 

• Directions for Amending or Withdrawing Proposals (June 8 - July 5, 2023)​​​​​​​

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

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. 

• Guidance for Presenting in Public Forum #2 - If you are a proposer / presenter, please read! 
• Schedule of SARA Policy Public Forum presentations on June 7 - All times are Mountain Time - Forum schedule coming in early June! 

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.

• Guidelines for Submitting a Public Comment 

The public comment period closes on May 17, 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.

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. 

• Directions for Amending or Withdrawing a Proposed SARA Policy Modification: March 2 – April 5, 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 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. 

• Schedule of SARA Policy Public Forum presentations on March 1 - All times are Mountain Time

POLICY PROPOSAL PRESENTERS: 

• Guidance for Presenting in Public Forum #1

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.

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.

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. 

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