National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA)
Consumer Protection for Distance Education
The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement is a voluntary agreement among its member states and U.S. territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance-education courses and programs. If you live outside of Texas, The National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) improves your ability to participate in distance education courses at Texas Southmost College.
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NC-SARA Approved Institution
Texas Southmost College has been approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). NC-SARA provides state oversight of postsecondary distance education courses and programs.
How NC-SARA can help you
- NC-SARA improves your ability to participate in distance education courses offered by Texas Southmost College—and other institutions of higher education—that are located outside of your state of residence.
- NC-SARA establishes a formal and common complaint process for you and other distance education students who are enrolled in NC-SARA-approved states.
- Current NC-SARA members include 49 U.S. states (excluding California), the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
NC-SARA Compliant Process
Texas Southmost College is committed to addressing student concerns and complaints. The U.S. Department of Education requires institutions offering distance education to provide enrolled and prospective students the contact information to file complaints with the institution’s accrediting agency and with an appropriate state agency in the student’s home state.
If you need to file a complaint about your distance education class, the following resources will guide you through the process:
- NC-SARA Complaint Form Process
- Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Student Complaint Portal
- Student Complaint Information by State & Agency