Again this week, lawmakers advanced the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement Act (SARA), which authorizes the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) and public and private higher education institutions in Tennessee to join the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA).
Why is this important? Currently, offering online programs in other states comes with tremendous administrative burden and cost. By becoming a member of NC-SARA, the administrative burden and cost of offering online programs in other states is significantly reduced, providing a more efficient approach to offering online education. This week, the House Education Administration and Planning Committee unanimously passed the SARA bill, and the full Senate approved it on a 32-0 vote. Next week, it heads to the House Finance Subcommittee. UT is very supportive of the legislation as an efficiency and cost-saving measure.
Tags: SARA, TN