State Authorization

Overview

The US Department of Education (DoE) sets regulations regarding program integrity and student financial aid for distance education programs. These regulations introduce guidance for institutions and acknowledge the authority of each state to determine criteria for institutions operating or offering education within that state. These regulations also offer institutions guidelines to maintain student eligibility for federal financial aid.

State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA)

The University of Minnesota participates in State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA), which allows the University to increase student access by offering education programs to learners in other participating states and territories. SARA also allows for University of Minnesota students to have learning experiences (clinicals, internships, student teaching, etc.) outside of Minnesota, and for federal financial aid to used in support for those learning activities. The National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), is a member supported nonprofit organization which coordinates and communicates DoE regulations on behalf of members and also eases the way for institutions to offer learning activities outside of their home state.

Out-of-State Educational Activities

Federal regulations require academic programs to report when students are placed outside of the State of Minnesota in certain learning activities required for degree completion.

Examples of these activities may include:

  • internships
  • field experiences
  • clinical placements
  • student teaching, etc.

Academic programs are required to record out-of-state educational activities for the previous calendar year (January-December) to NC-SARA each spring.

Please use this Google Form to record out-of-state educational activities in your academic area for the previous calendar year. You will be required to enter the program CIP code, the location of the placement (State), and number of students placed in the state. Please complete this report by the first Friday in April.

Professional Licensure Disclosures

The US Department of Education requires that any academic program that leads to a license required for a profession must disclose if that program does or does not meet the requirements for licensure for each state and territory (34 CFR 668.43(a)(5)(v)) . Academic programs can link to this page to meet the public disclosure requirement or post professional licensure disclosure information on the program website. 

Academic programs must also make direct disclosures to prospective and enrolled students about whether the program does or does not meet the education requirements for licensure in the student’s location. Students from any state or territory where a program does not meet licensure requirements must sign a letter of attestation of their intent to seek licensure in a place where the program meets, OR the program cannot enroll the student. The Office of Distributed learning has drafted the sample language for program areas to use in their direct disclosure communications with students. 

Licensure Programs by campus

Crookston | Duluth | Morris | Rochester

University of Minnesota Twin Cities

University of Minnesota Crookston

University of Minnesota Duluth

University of Minnesota Morris

University of Minnesota Rochester

Student Complaint Resolution

University of Minnesota students enrolled in online and distance courses should attempt to resolve complaints by following the Academic Grievance Procedure as outlined in their campus catalog (Crookston, Duluth, Morris, Rochester, and Twin Cities).

For distance education students residing outside of Minnesota, if a complaint cannot be resolved at the campus level, students may address complaints to the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.

Students from NC-SARA states other than Minnesota may also contact their state agency for further information about resolving complaints.