Kentucky and Pennsylvania Join Ed Agreement
This week, Kentucky and Pennsylvania were approved by the
Southern Regional Education Board to join the State Authorization
Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). These states bring the number
of participating states to 44, plus the District of Columbia.
“Joining the SARA initiative will increase options for
Pennsylvania students to pursue the quality higher education
opportunities that meet their needs academically and personally,
while also expanding the market and reducing costs for
Pennsylvania colleges and universities,” Pennsylvania Education
Secretary Pedro. A. Rivera said. “The Commonwealth is pleased to
join this national effort that will benefit both students and the
state’s institutions.”
“SARA increases access to education — especially for adult
students who juggle other responsibilities when they return to
complete degrees,” said SREB President Dave Spence. “Distance
education remains critical to state goals to increase college
completion rates and build a better-educated workforce.”
SARA makes it easier for states to regulate interstate distance
education, and it eliminates approval costs for colleges and
universities that are often passed to students. Institutions in
the two new SARA states may now join the clearinghouse through
the reciprocity agreements.
Louisiana, Virginia and West Virginia were renewed as SARA
participants. Alana Boles of the Arkansas Department of Higher
Education was elected chair of the SREB SARA Steering
Committee.
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The National Council for State
Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) is a
voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary
distance education. The initiative is administered by the
country’s four regional higher education compacts (MHEC, NEBHE,
SREB and WICHE) and overseen by NC-SARA. Participating states and
institutions operate under common standards and procedures,
providing a uniform and less costly regulatory environment for
institutions, more focused oversight responsibilities for states
and better resolution of student complaints. www.nc-sara.org
The Midwestern Higher Education Compact is a nonprofit regional
organization assisting Midwestern states in advancing higher
education through interstate cooperation and resource sharing.
MHEC seeks to fulfill its interstate mission through programs
that expand postsecondary opportunity and success; promote
innovative approaches to improving institutional and system
productivity; improve affordability to students and states; and
enhance connectivity between higher education and the workplace.
Member states are: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan,
Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota
and Wisconsin. www.mhec.org
The New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) promotes
greater educational opportunities and services for New England
residents. It works across the six New England states to engage
and assist leaders in the assessment, development and
implementation of sound education practices and policies of
regional significance; promote policies, programs and best
practices to assist the states in implementing important regional
higher education policies; promote regional cooperation and
programs that encourage the efficient use and sharing of
educational resources; and provide leadership to strengthen the
relationship between higher education and the economic wellbeing
of New England. www.nebhe.org
The Southern Regional Education Board works with 16 member states
to improve public education at every level, from pre-K through
Ph.D. SREB is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization headquartered
in Atlanta. SREB states participate in SREB’s Electronic Campus
Regional Reciprocity Agreement, and SREB is working closely with
SARA to expand reciprocity nationwide. Member states are:
Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South
Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. www.sreb.org
The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education and its 16
members work collaboratively to expand educational access and
excellence for all citizens of the West. By promoting innovation,
cooperation, resource sharing and sound public policy among
states and institutions, WICHE strengthens higher education’s
contributions to the region’s social, economic and civic life.
WICHE members are: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii,
Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South
Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands (the first of the U.S. Pacific
territories and freely associated states to participate).
www.wiche.edu
More information:
Beth Day, (404) 879-5544