State Authorization
State Authorization Compliance
State authorization is a legal issue regarding an educational institution’s adherence to the requirements necessary to secure authorization to offer instruction and other educational endeavors outside of their home state. Every state has the authority to regulate which postsecondary institutions offer education within its boundaries, including online programs and courses. State authorization compliance is a federal regulatory program (Higher Education Act of 2008, Amended 2010) that requires all institutions of higher education, as a condition of receiving funding for federal financial aid, to be authorized in and by each state in which they offer educational activities. The need to seek state authorization for educational activities depends on a combination of each state’s laws and the activities that a course, program or institution is conducting in that state. Educational activities include, but are not limited to: advertising, clinical placements, Distance Education programs, externships, faculty residing outside of North Carolina, internships, marketing, non-classroom experiences, online degree & courses, practica, proctoring, professional licensure, recruiting.
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. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered in other states, to give them confidence that programs in other states are properly authorized and thus to improve the quality of online education.
North Carolina is a member state of SARA, through the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB). Elizabeth City State University is a participating institution of SARA and authorized to offer distance education courses and programs to students located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.
Student grievances against Elizabeth City State University, including claims that their rights under law or university policy have been violated, may be resolved by a two-step process.
Step 1 – All Students (Excluding Military Affiliated Students; see below):
The initial responsibility for the complaint resides with the institution. Thus, your
first step as a student, regardless of location, is to follow Elizabeth City State University Student Grievance Procedures. Student complaints and grievances can be submitted by using the ECSU Fillable Complaint Form.
Contact Information for Student Complaints and Grievance Process
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Mrs. Dana Poole
Interim Executive Director of Student Success and Retention dvbrown@ecsu.edu |
Contact information relating to non-academic grievances can be found on the Safe ECSU website. (For Nature of Report, select Other).
Step 2 – Your Location Determines Your Next Step:
- Most Out-of-State Students: If your complaint is not resolved at the institutional level (Step 1), then out-of-state students residing in NC-SARA (National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement) states, which includes all states except California, may submit complaints to SARA-North Carolina. SARA-North Carolina operates under NCSEAA (North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority). Access the Complaint Form at SARA-North Carolina Student Complaint Process web page.
- Contact Information for NCSEAA c/o SARA North Carolina:
North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaints
c/o Student Complaints
223 S. West Street, Suite 1800
Raleigh NC 27603
Toll free: 855.SARA.1.NC (727.2162)
Local: 919.549.8614, ext. 4667
Fax: 919.248.6667
Email: information@saranc.org
Although students are required to file their complaints with SARA-NC, students can
also submit a complaint to their home state as well. Students who reside in California
must file a complaint against the institution in their home state of California.
Students living outside of North Carolina, also have the right to file a complaint
in their home state as well. If you wish to file a complaint in your home state regarding
an institutional complaint, please view your State and agency Contacts.
- North Carolina Residents: If your complaint is not resolved at the institutional level (Step 1), then you may refer your complaint to the North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaint Process of the Licensure Division of the University of North Carolina System Office. The policy is at Student Complaint Policy (PDF); the complaint form is at Student Complaint Form (PDF).
- Contact Information for North Carolina Post Secondary Education Complaints:
North Carolina Post Secondary Education Complaints
c/o Student Complaints
University of North Carolina System Office
910 Raleigh Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27515-2688
Phone: 919.962.4558
Email: studentcomplaint@northcarolina.edu
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Trina Gregory
University Program Specialist tlgregory3@ecsu.edu |