{"id":8863,"date":"2023-05-19T15:51:04","date_gmt":"2023-05-19T20:51:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/compliance\/?page_id=8863"},"modified":"2026-04-13T11:45:21","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T16:45:21","slug":"sara","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/compliance\/sara\/","title":{"rendered":"State Authorization of Distance Education"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t\t\t
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In response to the growing demand for distance education opportunities across the U.S. and the increase in federal regulatory enforcement of state authorization requirements, the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)<\/strong> was created. This state reciprocity agreement provides a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education. SARA’s policies help protect students and provide benefits to both states and institutions carrying out distance education in multiple states. In December 2013, the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA)<\/strong> was established to oversee the national implementation of SARA. NC-SARA is a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with a board of directors.<\/p>\n

All accredited degree-granting institutions in SARA member states \u2013 public, private, independent, non-profit, and for-profit \u2013 have the opportunity to participate in SARA. In order to participate, institutions must agree to comply with specific requirements that are monitored and enforced by the state in which the institution is located. SARA’s standards are designed to enhance quality and strengthen oversight of distance learning programs for the benefit of all students.<\/p>\n

States who seek to become NC-SARA members are required to have a “state portal entity” with state authority and jurisdiction over institutions within their state that seek to participate in SARA. Wisconsin’s state portal entity is the Wisconsin Distance Education Authorization Board (DLAB) <\/strong>(more information is available below). Wisconsin became a member of NC-SARA in 2016.<\/p>\n

Today, more than 2,400 colleges and universities in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands all voluntarily participate in and are members of SARA. California is the only non-member state in the U.S.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t

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Wisconsin Distance Learning Authorization Board (DLAB)<\/h3>

State Portal Entity<\/h4>

In 2015, the State of Wisconsin adopted legislation (Wis. Stat. 39.85-87, et al) that authorized the creation of the State of Wisconsin Distance Learning Authorization Board (DLAB). DLAB serves as Wisconsin’s “state portal entity” for purposes of NC-SARA membership and has statutory jurisdiction to regulate and enforce the requirements of a voluntary, reciprocity agreement, commonly known as the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) toward any postsecondary institution that seeks to offer distance education to students who reside in other NC-SARA member states. Wisconsin joined NC-SARA in August of 2016. All U.S. states and territories, except California, are members of NC-SARA.<\/p>\n

DLAB is responsible for processing the annual applications of Wisconsin-located institutions that seek to participate in SARA, determining whether those institutions meet all SARA Policy Manual criteria and requirements, approving or denying said applications, receiving and responding to complaints filed by students who are enrolled in a Wisconsin institution’s distance learning program and located in another member state, verifying institutional compliance with the SARA student consumer protection provisions, and filing for the renewal of its NC-SARA membership every other year.<\/p>\n

DLAB is comprised of five members representing the following five entities: University of Wisconsin System (UWS), Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS), Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (WAICU) for private, nonprofit institutions, Wisconsin\u2019s Tribal Colleges, and the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services for proprietary institutions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

DLAB Agendas, Minutes, and Annual Reports<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t

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\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Institution<\/th>\nSARA Coordinator<\/th>\nTitle<\/th>\nEmail<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
UW-Eau Claire<\/td>\nJason Spraitz<\/td>\nInterim Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs<\/td>\nspraitjd@uwec.edu<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UW-Green Bay<\/td>\nCourtney Sherman<\/td>\nAssociate Provost for Academic Affairs<\/td>\nshermanc@uwgb.edu<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UW-La Crosse<\/td>\nSandy Grunwald<\/td>\nAssociate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs<\/td>\nsgrunwald@uwlax.edu<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UW-Madison<\/td>\nKaren Mittelstadt<\/td>\nInstitutional Academic Planner<\/td>\nmittelstadt@wisc.edu<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UW-Milwaukee<\/td>\nCheryl Andres<\/td>\nInstitutional Academic Planner<\/td>\ncandres@uwm.edu<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UW-Oshkosh<\/td>\nAllison Kunde<\/td>\nAcademic Program Planner<\/td>\nkundeaj@uwosh.edu<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UW-Parkside<\/td>\nAmber Handy<\/td>\nAssociate Vice Provost<\/td>\nhandy@uwp.edu<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UW-Platteville<\/td>\nRandy Mentz<\/td>\nAdministrative Manager<\/td>\nmentzr@uwplatt.edu<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UW-River Falls<\/td>\nCaroline Baker<\/td>\nInterim Associate Provost<\/td>\ncaroline.baker@uwrf.edu<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UW-Stevens Point<\/td>\nTodd Huspeni<\/td>\nInterim Associate Vice Chancellor for Teaching, Learning, & Strategic Planning<\/td>\nthuspeni@uwsp.edu<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UW-Stout<\/td>\nBrenda Krueger<\/td>\nAssociate Director<\/td>\n kruegerbr@uwstout.edu<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UW-Superior<\/td>\nShevaun Stocker<\/td>\nAssociate Dean of Academic Affairs<\/td>\nsstocker@uwsuper.edu<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UW-Whitewater<\/td>\nKaty Casey<\/td>\nDirector of Academic Assessment<\/td>\n caseyk@uww.edu<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UW Administration<\/td>\nOAA<\/td>\nOffice of Academic Affairs; Diane Treis<\/td>\n oaa@wisconsin.edu<\/a>; diane.treis@wisconsin.edu<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UW Administration<\/td>\nPaige Smith<\/td>\nChief Compliance and Risk Officer<\/td>\npaige.smith@wisconsin.edu<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
WOAC<\/td>\nMeredith Thomsen<\/td>\nDean of Graduate & Extended Learning; Representative for the Wisconsin Online Advisory Council<\/span><\/td>\nmthomsen@uwlax.edu<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
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To update your institution’s contact information, please fill out and complete this form<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>

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SARA Learning Center<\/h4>

Helpful information for new or existing SARA Coordinators<\/p>\n

More Information<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t

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Professional Licensure Disclosures<\/h4>

Information regarding professional licensure disclosure requirements for SARA participating institutions.<\/p>\n

Programs Leading to Licensure<\/a><\/p>\n

Professional Licensure Checklist\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

More Information<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t

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NC-SARA Resources<\/h4>

Find helpful information, resources, webinars, updates and more on the NC-SARA official website.<\/p>\n

Visit NC-SARA Website<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t

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SARA Policy Manual<\/h4>

View Manual<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t

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Institution Application Renewal Process and Forms<\/h4>

Information for SARA Coordinators on application renewal process and forms<\/p>\n

SARA Institutional Applications Quick Start Guide<\/a><\/p>\n

SARA Institution Renewal Application Process 2025-26<\/a><\/p>\n

Application Renewal Form<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t

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Student Complaint Process and Form<\/h4>

Information on filing a complaint with the Wisconsin Distance Learning Authorization Board (DLAB)<\/p>\n

Visit Site<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t

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NASASPS Best Practice Guide for Professional Licensure<\/h4>

More Information<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t

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Additional Resources<\/h4>

Checklist for SARA Compliance<\/a><\/p>\n

Compliance Checklist for UW SARA Coordinators<\/a><\/p>\n

Best Practices for SARA Coordinators<\/a><\/p>\n

The Bookmark Orientation<\/a><\/p>\n

The Bookmark License Types<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":5449,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-8863","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","cfct-can-haz-build"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/compliance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8863","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/compliance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/compliance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/compliance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5449"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/compliance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8863"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/compliance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8863\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11267,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/compliance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8863\/revisions\/11267"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/compliance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8863"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}