New on WCET Frontiers
Policy
ED’s New Proposed Regulations: Part 1, State Authorization Reciprocity
Published by: Lindsey Downs | 5/24/2023
Big changes could be in store for institutions that offer programs in other states and for the students they serve. This might surprise you as recent press articles about the Department of Education’s new proposed regulations focused solely on Gainful […]
Policy
New SARA Reciprocity Policy Modification Process Yields Proposals Intended to Increase Student Protections
Published by: Lindsey Downs | 3/21/2023
Providing uniform consumer protection for distance education students located in all member states is a hallmark of the interstate reciprocity agreement known as the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA). States that chose to join the agreement, often through state legislation […]
Policy
Public Opportunity to Participate in SARA Reciprocity Policy Modifications
Published by: Lindsey Downs | 12/15/2022
A new SARA (State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements) Policy Modification Process was approved by its oversight Board last summer. This new process will offer increased transparency and public participation in the development of SARA Policy additions and revisions to manage reciprocity […]
Practice
Excited about March Madness? Proposed Section 32 Will Excite Distance Ed Fans
Published by: Lindsey Downs | 3/21/2022
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash The annual NCAA college basketball tournament, celebrated nationally and called the “Big Dance” or “March Madness,” began last week with great hoopla. Simultaneously, another form of “competition” occurred – the final week of the […]
Policy
One Year Anniversary of the Federal Regulations for Professional Licensure Notifications – How are you Celebrating?
Published by: Lindsey Downs | 7/1/2021
Maybe it is a little cheeky to say celebrating, but we are all on this crazy journey together to manage these institutional requirements. The federal regulations require notifications in order for institutions to participate in Title IV HEA programs, and […]
Policy
Comment Period Open for “21st Century Guidelines for Distance Education”
Published by: Lindsey Downs | 6/3/2021
NC-SARA has opened a two month opportunity for SARA state members, SARA participating institutions, and members of the public to submit comments regarding the 21st Century Guidelines from June 2, 2021 through August 2, 2021. Institutions that obtain state institutional […]
Practice
Unprecedented Times Surprised Some Institution Staff with State Regulatory Compliance Requirements
Published by: Lindsey Rae Downs | 11/10/2020
These unprecedented times raised regulatory compliance challenges that may have surprised some institution personnel. However, some of these regulatory compliance challenges were not actually unprecedented. The COVID-19 pandemic induced institutions to shift from in-person to remote instruction. As a result, […]
Practice
Did Your Course Go Digital Due to COVID-19? Playbook Advises on Regulations When Making the Switch
Published by: Lindsey Rae Downs | 11/4/2020
The spring 2020 term saw an unprecedented response to an unprecedented challenge as virtually every U.S. higher education institution offering face-to-face instruction rapidly switched to remote instruction, many in as little as one to two weeks and some in a […]
Practice
Season Shifts and Policy Changes: Important Rule Changes You May Have Missed
Published by: Lindsey Rae Downs | 10/23/2020
Have you had the opportunity to notice that some parts of the U.S. have seen a change in the weather and the trees? To say that this fall has been busy is quite an understatement! We know that everyone has […]
Practice
Professional Licensure Student Disclosures – It’s the One Month Warning, with No Time-outs Remaining
Published by: Lindsey Rae Downs | 5/29/2020
Winning Isn’t Everything, but Wanting to Win is! – Vince Lombardi Excitement is in the air! There’s two minutes left in the game! You have the ball with no time outs left! What are you going to do? It is […]