SARA – State Authorization
National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements
Ohio Dominican University participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.
Ohio Dominican University must comply with a state's regulations before any educational activity can occur within that state. The range of educational activities regulated include offering 100% online courses and programs to online and/or campus-based courses that include activities such as internships, externships, co-ops, field experiences, student teaching, and clinical placements.
What is SARA?
ODU participates in the National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA). Ohio became a SARA state in March 2015. Ohio Dominican University became a SARA institution in 2015.
The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) is a voluntary agreement among its member states and U.S. 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.
Through reciprocity, an institution authorized under SARA in its home state would
be considered authorized in all other SARA states.
Ohio Dominican's home state is Ohio and as a SARA institution, ODU is able to enroll
residents from SARA states in all programs and in all courses with on-ground educational
experiences. Currently, 47 states are SARA members. The only non-SARA states are Florida,
Massachusetts, and California.
SARA states are colored in blue on the map.
Visit nc-sara.org to view participating SARA institutions.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
- SARA has no effect on state professional licensing requirements. Academic programs in fields that require state licensure may need approval from the boards overseeing those professions in that state. Students attending an institution that is not approved by the appropriate boards in their state may be restricted from participating in clinical experiences or kept from sitting for the licensure exam.
- The National Council for SARA and the four regional compacts that administer SARA require that any college offering courses or programs potentially leading to professional licensure keep all students informed as to whether such offerings actually meet state licensing requirements.
- SARA also does not deal with offerings provided free and beyond the scope of current regulation of the degree programs of accredited academic institutions (free, non-credit MOOCs, etc.). Nor does it explicitly deal with non-credit instruction, although if an institution participates in SARA, its for-credit and non-credit activities in SARA states are covered by the agreement.
Get more information about professional licensure requirements in your field.
The University considers that any problem or concern a student may have deserves attention and consideration.
Matt Exline
Assistant Director of Program Approval Operations
Ohio Board of Regents
25 South Front Street
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 728-3095
mexline@regents.state.oh.us
Questions? Contact Us
Acting Chief of Staff
Institutional Research & Accreditation Liaison Officer
(614) 251-4690
morrish@ohiodominican.edu