State Authorizations and Individual State Disclosure Statements
States have long had the authority to regulate institutions offering education within each state’s boundaries, regardless of the educational modality (face-to-face, distance, other) being used.
Maine was the 36th state to join the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), an initiative that will make distance-education courses more accessible to students across state lines and make it easier for institutions to participate in interstate distance education. Participation in SARA was approved in the statute by the 127th Maine Legislature, allowing the State Board of Education to enter into the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) regional compact, designating Maine DOE as the portal agency for SARA.
What is SARA?
Saint Joseph's College of Maine has been approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.
The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement is an agreement among member states, districts and territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. SARA is overseen by a National Council and administered by four regional education compacts. For further information, please visit the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) website at http://nc-sara.org/content/basic-questions-about-sara.
At the time, Maine’s Acting Education Commissioner, Bill Beardsley said, “SARA facilitates Maine’s interface with education opportunities across the country while bypassing the old case-by-case burdensome course approval system. Maine students benefit and state red tape is minimized with no loss of accountability. It is a state consortium approach we value.”
Professional Licensure
It is important to note that NC-SARA does not deal with professional licensing board approval for any courses or programs leading to professional licensure. Saint Joseph’s College of Maine cannot know nor guarantee where our coursework will meet requirements for professional licensure, endorsements, or license renewal in states outside of Maine. If you are planning on using our coursework towards a license or credential in your state, we recommend that you consult with the appropriate licensing agency or board in the state for which you seek to obtain licensure.
Links to Professional Licensure Boards/Requirements
National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards
Consumer Grievance Information
The following are links to consumer information notices and disclosures provided in accordance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act with the reauthorized Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.
Consumer Grievance Contact Information
Consumer Grievance Form and Release
Saint Joseph’s College is authorized or exempted from authorization in all 50 states. Please read state-specific disclosure language below.
SARA States & Institutions
View updated SARA States and Institutions.