Heidelberg joins SARA

Heidelberg University has been approved by the Ohio Department of Higher Education to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). NC-SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education. The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) directly impacts Heidelberg by allowing students to engage in internships within states that are approved to participate in SARA. Additionally this membership can assist out-of-state prospective students interested in the endorsements offered through the School of Education.

“I am excited that Heidelberg is now a member of SARA,” said Provost Dr. Beth Schwartz. “The step we have taken is an opportunity for departments to explore ways to reach out further to prospective students that see our curriculum fitting their needs.” Over the next academic year, Beth hopes to work with the Faculty Development Committee to educate the faculty about SARA and to provide talking points to begin strategically planning ways for taking full advantage of the membership.

The history behind SARA:

According to the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements, which administers SARA, this agreement establishes a state-level reciprocity process that will support the national efforts for educational attainment of its people by making state authorization more efficient.

Prior to SARA, each state monitored and approved institutions operating within their state which has been in place for decades. The development of online courses and increasing across state line internships, practica and clinical placements, made it difficult for states to monitor those schools not physically present within the state. Consumer protection and education quality was the main focus for each state but many laws housed hidden or ambiguous regulations that weren’t relevant to educational delivery in the 21st century. In addition, the regulations varied widely from state to state forcing schools to retract current faculty teaching courses, forcing changes in educational delivery and mandating special tuition rates in some cases.

The SARA effort opens a pathway for states seeking a uniformed review of educational standards while ensuring quality and integrity with primarily online programming. States that join SARA can then review applications from institutions applying to SARA. The streamlined process is less costly for institutions to seek authorization in individual states since each state charged various fees when applying for authorization. Additionally, all states now follow the same regulations for institutions to adhere to for consistency.

More information about SARA can be found here.