The National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) is a private nonprofit organization [501(c)(3)] that helps expand students’ access to educational opportunities and ensure more efficient, consistent, and effective regulation of distance education programs.
Recognizing the growing demand for distance education opportunities, higher education stakeholders – including state regulators and education leaders, accreditors, the U.S. Department of Education, and institutions – joined together in 2013 to establish the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA), which streamline regulations around distance education programs.
In partnership with four regional compacts, NC-SARA helps states, institutions, policymakers, and students understand the purpose and benefits of participating in SARA. Today, more than 2,400 institutions in 49 member states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands all voluntarily participate in SARA.
Interested Students
Out-of-state applicants or students should confirm if you reside in a NC-SARA state by visiting the NC-SARA website. Please review the status of the state where you are currently residing for any special restrictions which may exist for your academic program of interest. If your prospective program is excluded, please check back frequently as information may change.
Guidance on Catastrophic Events & Continuity of Operations
Crisis and emergency management preparation is an essential function for the University of Rhode Island (“URI”). URI maintains and adheres to specific policies and procedures regarding crisis situations, catastrophic events, and program discontinuances in order to minimize the length of time that students’ educational activities are disrupted and, when applicable, minimize the length of time that students, faculty, and staff are displaced. For more information, visit this webpage.
Student Concerns
The Rhode Island Office of Post-secondary Commission can answer questions or resolve concerns. For more information, visit their website.