NC-SARA, SARA, and SAN: The Power of Collaboration

The National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) and the State Authorization Network (SAN) are two national, nonprofit organizations established to improve the quality, accessibility, and reach of postsecondary education opportunities for learners across the nation. 

The two organizations achieve this by providing leadership, guidance, and support as we work closely with states, higher education institutions, policymakers, and other organizations participating in various aspects of distance learning. 

The terms SARA and NC-SARA are often used interchangeably but are in fact not the same. SARA is an agreement, and NC-SARA is an organization. NC-SARA coordinates the implementation of SARA with the regional education compacts. 

It’s not uncommon for SAN staff or NC-SARA staff to be asked about the relationship between the two organizations, where they overlap, what is unique to each, the value they bring, and how they work together and support one another. We will touch on those topics below but defining State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) is an important preliminary step.[...]