State Authorization

What is State Authorization?

States maintain the authority to regulate out-of-state post-secondary institutions that offer or take part in activities located in their state. State authorization is a requirement in the 1965 Higher Education Act, which, with modifications over the years, is still in effect. To be eligible to receive Title IV Federal student aid, the legislation requires institutions to be authorized to operate in the state* in which they are “located”.

State Authorization is the process through which SIU Carbondale and educational institutions comply with the state authorization regulations and requirements of each state they operate in.

Why Authorization Matters

Authorization allows students to participate in distance education programs as well as learning placements such as internships, clinical rotations, field placements and other activities taking place outside of Illinois.

Each state has its own regulations and definitions of what is considered a “physical presence” activity in their state. It is important to note that “physical presence” is not necessarily the same as “residence;” and the need for state approval is based on where a student is actually located while participating in a program or an out-of-state activity.

Requiring authorization of distance education programs ensures that educational institutions meet the standards determined by each state’s regulatory bodies, and also protects students as consumers, by ensuring programs students invest in are legitimate, of high quality and will provide the best opportunity for success in their chosen profession.

State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)

SARA is a voluntary State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement allowing participating institutions to offer distance education programs and activities to students who reside in SARA member states without the need to obtain approval or authorization from each individual state. SARA makes the process of obtaining authorization more efficient for institutions, and easier for students to enroll in distance education programs outside of the states in which they reside.

Illinois was approved as a member state of SARA in 2015. The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) oversees the participation of eligible Illinois institutions in SARA.

SIU Carbondale is approved to participate in SARA through the IBHE. As such, SIU Carbondale has reciprocity approval for distance education and related activities for students in other SARA member states. Please visit the SARA member states website for the most recent listing.

NC-SARA (National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement) supports the work of SARA member states in fulfilling the requirements of SARA in several ways, such as collecting, analyzing and sharing annual distance education enrollment and out-of-state learning experiences.

To learn more about NC-SARA (National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement) please go to: https://www.nc-sara.org/

*For the purpose of this website, states include the District of Columbia and the U.S. protectorates, as defined in 34 CFR §600.2.