Home 9 State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)

STATE AUTHORIZATION RECIPROCITY AGREEMENT (SARA)

Kellogg Community College must comply with a state’s regulations before any educational activity can occur within that state. Those regulations determine whether KCC may offer you a place in a course or program. The range of educational activities regulated includes offering 100% online courses and programs to online and/or campus-based courses that include activities such as internships, externships, co-ops, field experiences, student teaching and clinical placements.

KCC participates in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). Michigan became a SARA state in August 2015. Kellogg Community College became a SARA institution in April 2016 and joined the Michigan State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (M-SARA) state portal agency and the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC).

Kellogg Community College has been approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements. This allows students from NC-SARA approved states to enroll in:

  • Online degree programs, certificates and endorsements that include internships, externships, co-ops, field experiences, student teaching and clinical placements
  • Campus-based courses with out-of-state internships, externships, co-ops, field experiences, student teaching and clinical placements

Professional Licensure Information

Kellogg Community College programs leading to licensure and/or advanced practice certification/endorsement, whether delivered online or face-to-face, satisfy the academic requirements for those credentials set forth by the State of Michigan.

Requirements for licensure and/or advanced practice certification/endorsement eligibility vary from one profession to another and from state to state. For students who wish to practice in a state other than Michigan, please contact the program director or chair to discuss if you will need to satisfy additional requirements to practice in that state.

Campus-Based Courses

Kellogg Community College’s campus-based programs that require or offer internships, externships, co-ops, field experiences, student teaching or clinical placements as part of the program are available to students in all SARA states.

If you reside or plan to be educated in California, please check with the program chair or director to be sure that there is not a restriction in this non-SARA state.

 

Additional Information

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State Status


As a SARA institution, KCC can enroll residents from states and U.S. territories that are members of SARA in all programs and in all courses with on-ground educational experiences. All states, with the exception of California, currently participate in SARA.

If you are attending KCC and reside in California or plan to obtain employment in California after obtaining a license or certification from KCC, please contact your department chair or director. Please also refer to the Complaint Process section on this page for additional information.

SARA FAQs

Below are answers to frequently asked questions about the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

What Is State Authorization?

States may require out-of-state institutions to obtain authorization to offer postsecondary education in accordance with their laws and regulations. State regulations vary from minimal to very strict requirements. In the majority of states, the need to seek authorization depends on the specific combination of that state’s laws and the activities an institution is conducting in that state. Those activities derive from how the state defines “operating,” “physically located” or “physical presence.”

What Does It Mean to “Operate” in a State or to Have a Physical Presence “Trigger”?

Each state statute defines “operating,” “physically located” or “physical presence” differently, including but not limited to:

  • Offering distance education
  • On-ground recruiting
  • Advertising and marketing
  • Test proctoring
  • Employing faculty in that state
  • Internships, externships, field experiences and clinical practicums.

Kellogg Community College must comply with all regulations and receive authorization from a state before allowing students to participate in any educational activities through the College. While these regulations initially applied only to online education, it now applies to courses in campus-based programs that include internships, co-ops, student teaching, clinical placements and/or field experiences occurring in states outside of Michigan. Conducting state authorization analysis is necessary any time a student is engaging in educational activities outside the state of Michigan.

States expect that institutions obtain approval before enrolling students, advertising, marketing or performing other regulated activities in their state. The requirements as to which activities need authorization, the application processes and the costs to comply vary greatly from state to state.

What Is the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)?

The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) established uniform standards for physical presence. Michigan became a SARA state in August 2015.  Through reciprocity, an institution authorized under SARA in its home state would be considered authorized in all other SARA states. Currently, the only non-SARA state is California. Refer to the NC-SARA Institution Directory for state-specific information.

Additional Information 

SARA Resources for Faculty & Staff


Through reciprocity, an institution authorized under SARA criteria in its home state would be considered authorized in all other SARA states. Michigan became a member in August 2015, and Kellogg Community College became a SARA institution in April 2016.

Currently, 49 states are members of SARA. See the State Authorization website for current information. 

SARA Requirements for Reporting Student Location

Under SARA, the College is required to track and report on the states in which students engage in educational activities. The Office of Institutional Compliance Reporting is responsible for reporting out-of-state placements on an annual basis.

Issues SARA Does Not Address

SARA has no effect on state professional licensing requirements. Academic programs in fields that require state licensure may need approval from the boards overseeing those professions in that state. Students attending an institution that is not approved by the appropriate boards in their state may be restricted from participating in clinical experiences or kept from sitting for the licensure exam.

The National Council for SARA and the four regional compacts that administer SARA require that any college offering courses or programs potentially leading to professional licensure keep all students informed as to whether such offerings actually meet state licensing requirements.

SARA also does not deal with offerings provided free and beyond the scope of current regulation of the degree programs of accredited academic institutions (free, non-credit MOOCs, etc.). Nor does it explicitly deal with non-credit instruction, although if an institution participates in SARA, its for-credit and non-credit activities in SARA states are covered by the agreement.

Complaint Process


If you are a student in an online program and you have concerns and/or complaints, please contact your program area chair or director.

Kellogg Community College is dedicated to providing accessible, high-quality education to enrich our community and the lives of individual learners. When an issue is brought to our attention, KCC will intervene in the matter to seek resolution. Most complaints can be resolved utilizing the internal processes available.

Student rights and expectations are described in the Student Code of Conduct. If you have further questions, please contact KCC’s Student Ombudsperson.

External Resources

If an issue cannot be resolved internally and you are residing in a SARA state, pursuant to the SARA Student Complaint Process, please contact the Michigan SARA State Portal Agency.

If you are a student in a program at KCC, you may file a grievance with the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. Students may also contact our accrediting agency, the Higher Learning Commission.

Resources for Military Students, Veterans & Dependents

For online support, visit the IRT Help Desk page at kellogg.edu/help.