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College and University Evaluation

Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵ Institutions

SARA Application Process

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The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)Ìýis an agreement among member states, districts, and territories that establishes comparable national standards for the approval of interstate postsecondary distance education courses and programs. Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵ State institutions approved to participate in SARA are authorized to conduct distance education activity in other SARA member states under the terms and provisions of SARA.Ìý

Institutions wishing to participate in SARAÌýmust first obtain approval from the Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵ State Education Department. The process for applying for approval is different for State University of Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵, City University of Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵, and independent institutions. Instructions for each of these groups are available below. Please send any questions relating to the SARA application process to IHEauthorize@nysed.gov.Ìý

SARA applications are accepted on a rolling basis and the submission and review processes are the same for both first-time and renewal applications.ÌýApplications should be downloaded from theÌý.

State University of Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵ (SUNY) Institutions
  1. Application submission
    1. Institutions and complete aÌýnewÌýparticipantÌýorÌýrenewalÌýapplication as appropriate.

      NOTE: Any questions related to the SARA application process should be directed to the and copied toÌýprogram.review@suny.edu.

    2. Institutions submit their completed SARA applications to the SUNY System Academic Program Planning Office atÌýprogram.review@suny.edu.

      NOTE: SUNY Institutions MUST submit applications to the SUNY System Academic Program Planning Office.Ìý Applications submitted directly to Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵ will be returned to the institution.

    3. The Academic Program Planning Office will review the application and follow-up with the institution to resolve any questions or errors.
    4. Once approved, the Academic Program Planning Office will send the institution’s SARA application toÌýË®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵.
  2. Payment to Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵

    At the start of the application process institutions initiate an interagency transfer of state fees to Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵ using the State Financial System (SFS). Community colleges must pay by check.

  3. Payment to NC-SARA

    After the application is approved and the state fees have been processed by Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵, NC-SARA will send an invoice to the institution for the annual participation fee.Ìý NC-SARA fees must be processed no later than 60 days after state approval to participate.

    NOTE: Do NOT send NC-SARA fees toÌýË®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵ as this may result in a significant delay in application processing.

    SARAÌýmembership commences or renews once NC-SARA has processed the Institution’s payment; institutions are then eligible to operate under the terms and provisions of the SARA agreement.

City University of Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵ (CUNY) Institutions
  1. Application submission
    1. Institutions and complete aÌýnewÌýparticipantÌýorÌýrenewalÌýapplication as appropriate.Ìý
    2. Institutions submit their completed SARA applications to the CUNYÌýOffice of Academic Affairs.

      NOTE: CUNY Institutions MUST submit applications to the CUNYÌýOffice of Academic Affairs.Ìý Applications submitted directly to Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵ will be returned to the institution.

    3. The Office of Academic Affairs will review the application and follow-up with the institution to resolve any questions or errors.
    4. Once approved, the CUNYÌýOffice of Academic Affairs will send the institution’s SARA application toÌýË®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵.
  2. Payment to Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵

    At the start of the application process institutions initiate an interagency transfer of state fees to Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵ using the State Financial System (SFS).

  3. Payment to NC-SARA

    After the application is approved and the state fees have been processed by Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵, NC-SARA will send an invoice for the annual participation fee.Ìý NC-SARA fees must be processed no later than 60 days after state approval to participate.

    NOTE: Do NOT send NC-SARA fees toÌýË®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵ as this may result in a significant delay in application processing.

    SARAÌýmembership commences or renews once NC-SARA has processed the Institution’s payment; institutions are then eligible to operate under the terms and provisions of the SARA agreement.

Independent Institutions
  1. Application submission
    1. Institutions and complete aÌýnewÌýparticipantÌýorÌýrenewalÌýapplication as appropriate.Ìý
    2. Institutions submit their completed SARA applications to IHEauthorize@nysed.gov.
  2. Payment to Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵

    At the start of the application process institutions pay state fees by sending a check and a Payment Form to Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵.

  3. Payment to NC-SARA

    After the application is approved and the state fees have been processed by Ë®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵, NC-SARA will send an invoice for the annual participation fee.Ìý NC-SARA fees must be processed no later than 60 days after state approval to participate.

    NOTE: Do NOT send NC-SARA fees toÌýË®¹ûÅÉAV½â˵ as this may result in a significant delay in application processing.

    SARAÌýmembership commences or renews once NC-SARA has processed the Institution’s payment; institutions are then eligible to operate under the terms and provisions of the SARA agreement.