15 Years of Connection: How the State Authorization Network Built a National Compliance Community
Published by: WCET | 4/30/2026
For 15 years, the State Authorization Network has supported higher education institutions navigating the complexities of interstate compliance for distance education. SAN currently serves more than 975 institutions and organizations nationwide. What began as a response to emerging federal regulations in late 2010 has grown into a national community of practice, connecting professionals, shaping institutional approaches, and advancing shared understanding across an evolving regulatory landscape.
This anniversary offers an opportunity to reflect on how SAN has built that community through collaboration, resources, and engagement; strengthened connections across key higher education organizations; and expanded its work to support institutions managing increasingly complex state, federal, and professional licensure requirements.
In 2010, when institutions across the country were expanding online offerings and facing the first iteration of federal regulations for state authorization of distance education, the staff supporting this work discovered that crossing state lines meant navigating a patchwork of different requirements, rules, and expectations with very little shared guidance. Often, the responsibility fell to a single staff member tasked with making sense of it all.
New regulatory requirements and a changing higher education landscape quickly revealed a need for education, connection, and collaboration. Institutions didn’t just need to comply—they needed to learn from one another—to have a state authorization “buddy.” This confluence spurred WCET to develop SAN, of which it continues to be a part of its network today.
15th SANiversary Celebrations
SAN members held a virtual celebration on April 7, full of creative limericks, member-submitted videos, and special guest presenters.
An in-person celebration was held at the recent NASASPS conference in Dallas. Thank you to everyone for the camaraderie and laughter to acknowledge this important milestone!
A number of SANiversary celebration attendees were gifted plush purple blankets, embroidered with the phrase, “SAN’s got you covered.”
Networking Is Key
From the beginning, SAN has been more than simply a resource hub; it helped establish state authorization into a recognized field of practice, giving structure and a sense of community to those often working alone. This was documented by SAN, in partnership with Western Governors University, through its 2017 report (updated in 2023), in 2023 Profile of a State Authorization Professional: An Analysis of a Growing Field in Higher Education.
As the field evolved, SAN expanded its connections across the higher education landscape. Engagement with the SARA community, including compact directors, state portal entities, and the NC-SARA Office, as well as collaboration with NASASPS (National Association of State Administrators and Supervisors of Private Schools), and regular presentations and interactions with the Council of College and Military Educators (CCME), United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA), and National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) strengthened alignment across policy, practice, and student access.
These connections help institutions move beyond siloed approaches and toward more coordinated, informed decision-making. SAN fosters this community through twice-monthly virtual meetings and in-person gatherings at the NASASPS and WCET annual meetings, ensuring ongoing collaboration in an increasingly complex environment.
Leadership Development, Professional Growth, and Acknowledgment of Excellence
SAN members are invited to join several initiatives designed to strengthen expertise, share actionable insights, and advance the profession. The development of the SAN Advisory Group, comprised of elected members representing user groups, ensures that the network remains grounded in the real-world needs of practitioners. Further, members are encouraged to explore and participate with one or more of the three Special Interest Teams, each focused on a critical and evolving area of compliance: professional licensure, global compliance, and institutional engagement.
That spirit of innovation is also recognized through the SANsational Awards, established in 2015. Each year, SAN awards institutions advancing creative, effective approaches to managing compliance. In a field often defined by regulation, these awards celebrate problem-solving, adaptability, and leadership.
Resources Built to Help Mitigate Risk
Over time, SAN’s work has expanded alongside the increasing complexity of the regulatory environment. Institutions are no longer just managing where they can enroll students; they are determining whether a program meets educational requirements for licensure in each state, along with identifying and complying with state-specific approvals and responsibilities. This adds a significant layer of responsibility and risk to the role.
To that end, SAN has become a one-stop shop for resources and publications to support compliance, including:
- The Getting Started webpage contains a robust list of resource links, including topical one-pagers, infographics, and whitepapers that break down complex requirements related to interstate activity into actionable guidance.
- The Professional Licensure Handbook helps institutions navigate educational requirements and disclosure obligations for licensure programs.
- The State-to-State Approval Handbook offers guidance on navigating the varying state requirements for institutional approval for institutions operating outside of reciprocity through SARA.
- Between the Lines, Behind the Work: Survey Findings on the True Scope of Licensure Compliance report examines how institutions are managing the growing demands of professional licensure compliance following the release of 2024 federal certification requirements.
Finally, to mark the organization’s 15th anniversary, SAN released the third edition of the SAN Blue Book: State Authorization of Colleges and Universities: A Handbook for Institutions and Agencies, authored by Alan L. Contreras, with contributing authors Sharyl J. Thompson, Russell Poulin, and Cheryl Dowd. This updated edition serves as a comprehensive reference for institutional state authorization practices. (Order your copy on Amazon.)
Stay tuned for SAN’s upcoming Global Compliance Handbook, a publication that will expand support for institutions offering courses and programs outside of the United States.
Reflection and Celebration
What was once a role defined by uncertainty is now a recognized area of professional expertise, supported by a network where practitioners learn, share, and solve challenges together.
Fifteen years in, the work is still complex but no longer isolating. Having the SAN community to lean on strengthens institutional practice, reduces duplication of effort, and supports better outcomes for students, even as requirements evolve. The regulations may have sparked the need, but the community is what makes the work possible.
For more information about the State Authorization Network, please visit the SAN website or contact us at san-info@wiche.edu.
