State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement
The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) is an agreement among member states, districts and territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by post-secondary institutions based in another state. SARA is overseen by a National Council and administered by four regional education compacts. The Connecticut Office of Higher Education became a member of SARA in 2017, thus allowing Asnuntuck Community College to apply to be a member of SARA and to accept students from all SARA approved states.
Student Complaints
Pursuant to federal regulations and the terms of SARA, the Office of Higher Education is responsible for the investigation and resolution of out-of-state students’ complaints against institutions of higher education based in Connecticut and offering distance education via SARA. Note that issues regarding student life, such as discipline, grading, etc., fall solely within the purview of the institution and are not generally investigated. Additionally, the Office of Higher Education does not investigate anonymous complaints or provide legal advice. Currently, SARA institutions are to:
- Apply the tuition refund policies of their home state to students located in other SARA states; and
- For students located in non-SARA states, follow any relevant tuition refund policies of those states.
Within two years of the incident complained of, out-of-state students enrolled in a Connecticut institution via SARA may file a complaint in accordance with the following steps:
- The student must attempt to resolve the complaint by exhausting the institution’s established internal grievance procedures. These are usually published in the institution’s catalog, student handbook and/or posted on the institution’s website. Absent extenuating circumstances, the Office of Higher Education will not investigate complaints filed by students who have not first sought a resolution with the institution.
- If all remedies at the institutional level have been exhausted and the complaint is not resolved, the student may file a complaint with the Office of Higher Education. To file a complaint, please follow these procedures. All documentation for review related to the complaint must be provided by the student as part of the filing.
- The Office of Higher Education will process the complaint and provide copies of all documents filed with the complaint to the institution. The institution has 20 days to respond. After receiving a response and conducting an investigation, the Office of Higher Education will issue a findings report to all parties. The findings report is final.
If a Connecticut student is enrolled in a distance education program offered by a SARA institution based in another state, the student should contact the portal agency in that state to pursue the complaint process. Connecticut students enrolled in Connecticut institutions must first exhaust an institution’s established internal grievance procedures, and then should contact the Office of Higher Education prior to filing a complaint.
All correspondence, including institutional applications and student complaints, should be sent Emily Bjornberg, Senior Consultant for Academic Affairs with the CT Office of Higher Education, via email or post to: https://veoci.com/v/p/181953/workflow/gjrt4qhrrvkv#
SARA Coordinator
Office of Higher Education
450 Columbus Blvd, Suite 510
Hartford, CT 06105
www.ohe.ct.gov
NC-SARA Program Licensure Status
Professional Licensure or Certification
The US Department of Education regulations require disclosures to students enrolled in, or considering programs leading to professional licensure/certification, regardless of whether the program is offered on-campus or online.
These disclosures fall into one of three disclosure status notification categories as indicated below:
- The program curriculum meets educational requirements for licensure in your state.
- The program curriculum does not meet educational requirements for licensure in your state.
- We have not determined whether the program curriculum meets educational requirements for licensure in your state
Area | Program | Program Type | Licensure required to gain employment in field | Disclosure Status for All States Unless Otherwise Noted |
Continuing Education | Certified Patient Care Technician (Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant) | Non-credit | No (but must be a CNA to work as a PCT) |
3 |
Continuing Education | Certified Pharmacy Technician | Non-credit | No | 3 |
Continuing Education | Certified Professional Coder (Certified Professional Coder Apprentice) | Non-credit | No | 3 |
Continuing Education | Dental Assistant (Radiation Health and Safety & Infection Control Exam Certificate) | Non-credit | Yes | 3 |
Continuing Education | Electrocardiogram (ECG) Technician | Non-credit | No | 3 |
Continuing Education | Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) | Non-credit | Yes | 3 |
Continuing Education | Medical Interpreter | Non-credit | No | 3 |
Continuing Education | Ophthalmic Assistant | Non-credit | No | 3 |
Continuing Education | Personal Trainer | Non-credit | No | 3 |
Continuing Education | Sterile Processing Technician | Non-credit | No (must attain within 2 years of employment) |
3 |
Continuing Education | Veterinary Assistant | Non-credit | No | 3 |
Continuing Education | Cosmetology | Non-credit | Yes | MA = 1 All Other States = 3 |
Continuing Education | Esthetician | Non-credit | Yes | MA = 1 All Other States = 3 |
Continuing Education | Nail Technician | Non-credit | Yes | MA = 1 All Other States = 3 |
Continuing Education | Real Estate (Residential Salesperson Licensure) | Non-credit | Yes | 3 |
Academic Affairs | Accounting | AS | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
Business Administration |
AS | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs | Communications | AS | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs | Communications: Broadcasting Option | AS | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs | Communications: Journalism Option | AS | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs | Criminal Justice | AS | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
Early Childhood Education |
AS | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
Engineering Science |
AS | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
General Studies |
AS | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
Human Services |
AS | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
Liberal Arts |
AA | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
Liberal Arts: Fina Arts Option |
AA | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
Massage Therapy |
AS | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
Registered Medical Assistant |
AS | No | 3 |
Advanced Manufacturing |
Technology Studies |
AS | No | 3 |
Advanced Manufacturing |
Technology Studies: Electro-Mechanical Maintenance |
AS | No | 3 |
Advanced Manufacturing |
Technology Studies: Electronics Technology |
AS | No | 3 |
Advanced Manufacturing |
Technology Studies: Machine Technology Option |
AS | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
Accounting Assistant |
Certificate | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
Business Administration |
Certificate | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
Certified Administrative Medical Office Skills |
Certificate | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
Certified Phlebotomy Technician |
Certificate | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
Early Childhood Administration |
Certificate | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
Early Childhood Education Certificate |
Certificate | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
Early Childhood Education Infant Toddler Certificate |
Certificate | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
Entrepreneur |
Certificate | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
Gerontology |
Certificate | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
Health Career Pathway |
Certificate | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
Health Information Management Technician |
Certificate | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
Human Services Management |
Certificate | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
Marketing |
Certificate | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
Office User Specialist |
Certificate | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
Registered Medical Assistant |
Certificate | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
Web Designer |
Certificate | No | 3 |
Advanced Manufacturing |
Advanced Manufacturing Machine Technology |
Certificate | No | 3 |
Advanced Manufacturing |
Advanced Welding |
Certificate | No | 3 |
Advanced Manufacturing |
Electro-Mechanical Maintenance |
Certificate | No | 3 |
Advanced Manufacturing |
Electronics Technology |
Certificate | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
CSCU Pathway Transfer Degree: Art Studies |
AA | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
CSCU Pathway Transfer Degree: Biochemistry Studies |
AA | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
CSCU Pathway Transfer Degree: Biology Studies |
AA | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
CSCU Pathway Transfer Degree: Business Studies |
AA | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
CSCU Pathway Transfer Degree: Chemistry Studies |
AA | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
CSCU Pathway Transfer Degree: Communications Studies |
AA | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
CSCU Pathway Transfer Degree: Criminology Studies |
AA | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
CSCU Pathway Transfer Degree: Early Childhood Teacher Credential Studies |
AA | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
CSCU Pathway Transfer Degree: English Studies |
AA | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
CSCU Pathway Transfer Degree: History Studies |
AA | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
CSCU Pathway Transfer Degree: Mathematics Studies |
AA | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
CSCU Pathway Transfer Degree: Physics Studies |
AA | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
CSCU Pathway Transfer Degree: Political Science Studies |
AA | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
CSCU Pathway Transfer Degree: Psychology Studies |
AA | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
CSCU Pathway Transfer Degree: Social Work Studies |
AA | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
CSCU Pathway Transfer Degree: Sociology Studies |
AA | No | 3 |
Academic Affairs |
CSCU Pathway Transfer Degree: Spanish Studies |
AA | No | 3 |