In October 2010 the U.S. Department of 教育 cr吃ed a set of approval and reporting requirements for online programs in educational institutions. One of the regulations was 34 C.F.R. 600.9, which is commonly referred to as State Authorization. This regulation provided that institutions that offer online education outside of their home state must be authorized, 许可, or otherwise allowed to participate in states where their students are, even if the institution has no physical location there. This regulation has been on hold for the past few years as it has been challenged in federal court—however, institutions have been encouraged to continue to seek state authorizations as the courts continue to rule and the Department of 教育 considers its position.

The University of North Alabama has been working toward getting authorization from all 50 states, and initial contact has been made with each one. Information on authorizations is on file in the Office of Online 教育, Stevens Hall Room 103 A and may be obtained on request.

On July 1, 2014, the State of Alabama officially became part of the Southern Regional 教育 Board’s Electronic Campus Regional Reciprocity Agreement (SECRRA).

In accordance with this reciprocity agreement, institutions in Alabama (including the University of North Alabama) that offer academic programs which are delivered 100% online do not need to seek authorization from other SREB states to enroll students from those states as long as the academic programs are registered in the SREB’s electronic campus.  SREB states in addition to Alabama include Arkansas, 特拉华州, 佛罗里达, 乔治亚州, 肯塔基州, 路易斯安那州, 马里兰, 密西西比州, 北卡罗莱纳, 俄克拉何马州, 南卡罗来纳, 田纳西州, 德州, 维吉尼亚州, and West 维吉尼亚州.

State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)

Every student deserves a positive educational experience.

Sometimes a student’s experience may not be what they anticipate, and the student may have a concern or a complaint.

A student has the right to lodge a complaint or grievance.  UNA ensures that all concerns and complaints of students are addressed fairly and are resolved promptly. Student complaints relating to consumer protection laws offered under the terms and conditions of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), must first be filed with the institution to seek resolution. http://www.nc-sara.org/student-complaints-process

SARA consumer protection provisions require the Institution’s Home State, through its SARA 门户网站 Entity, to investigate and resolve allegations of dishonest or fraudulent activity by the state’s SARA-participating institutions, including the provision of false or misleading information.

The student should begin the complaint process with the institution and if resolution is not found, the student would contact the Institution’s Home State SARA 门户网站 Entity. The SARA State 门户网站 Entities are listed at http://www.nc-sara.org/state-portal-entity-contacts

Additional information can be found in Section 4 of the 莎拉手册.

UNA is a member of Southern Regional 教育 Board's Electronic Campus. For more information about the Electronic Campus, please visit http://www.sreb.org/electronic-campus.

UNA has been approved by Alabama to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements. NC-SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education.