From Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org Thu Apr 2 10:52:15 2020 From: Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org (Elisa Jaden) Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2020 15:52:15 +0000 Subject: [S-SARA] SREB COVID-19 Resources Message-ID: Greetings from Southern Regional Education Board, With continued uncertainty during this public health crisis, we introduce you to SREB’s COVID-19 Resources page. Compiled in this page are resources relevant to K-12, postsecondary, and CTE, as well as information and best practices from the other compacts. [cid:image001.png at 01D608DC.EBC19CD0] You can access the resources page at SREB’s website. These resources are reviewed regularly for updates to keep this page current. We hope you find these resources from our education colleagues helpful. External COVID-19 Resources WCET/SAN Resources Accreditor Weblinks COVID-19 Institutional (formerly regional) Accreditor Guidance COVID-19 Programmatic Accreditor Guidance Resources, WCET Event Updates, & External Resources COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Updates & Resources Licensing Weblinks COVID-19 Licensure Board Guidance - National Associations for State Licensure Boards SHEEO Resources State Higher Education Agency Responses https://sheeo.org/covid-19-state-plans/ FSA Resources COVID-19 and Federal Student Aid What We Know - NASFAA Webinar from March 17, 2020 Recording Available Here! Slides Available Here! S-SARA Southern Regional Education Board (404) 879-5517 SARA at sreb.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 19DB325D67BD46E489E3467F91FB91FF.png Type: image/png Size: 30053 bytes Desc: 19DB325D67BD46E489E3467F91FB91FF.png URL: From Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org Mon Apr 6 10:18:27 2020 From: Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org (Elisa Jaden) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2020 15:18:27 +0000 Subject: [S-SARA] April 6, 2020 UPDATE from USDOE on Guidance for Interruptions of Study Related to Coronavirus In-Reply-To: <010001714d064855-2d680e93-2d46-4f38-8499-5232386d07ad-000000@email.amazonses.com> References: <010001714d064855-2d680e93-2d46-4f38-8499-5232386d07ad-000000@email.amazonses.com> Message-ID: Hello WCET members – On Friday April 3, the U.S. Department of Education issued "Updated Guidance for interruptions of study related to the... -posted to the "WCET News" community Courtesy of WCET News and Russ Poulin On Friday April 3, the U.S. Department of Education issued "Updated Guidance for interruptions of study related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19)" that updates information originally released on March 5 and updated on March 20. Included is new information regarding compliance expectations, resources, waivers for institutional approvals, accrediting agency approvals, and other federal financial aid regulations. Items of note are as follows: * Extended Timeline: The Department extended the flexibilities provided to courses that began face-to-face then transitioned to distance learning due to the need for social-distancing. The Department stated: "We thus extend those flexibilities to any payment period or term beginning between March 5, 2020, and June 1, 2020, inclusive." * FERPA: The Department reminds us to follow FERPA requirements and suggests several resources including "…toolkits, letters, and Q&As on information security best practices, the use of the school official exception under FERPA, classroom observations, and the use of emails, videos, and other virtual learning tools." * Accessibility (be sure to read Section 504 of the Americans with Disabilities Act in its entirety). The Department states both: * The Department Understands – the Department acknowledged the “unique and ever-changing environment of these exceptional circumstances may affect how education, including needed accommodations for students with disabilities, is provided. Institutions should not decline to provide distance instruction, at the expense of most students, to address matters pertaining to accommodations for students with disabilities...the Department understands that, during this national emergency, postsecondary institutions may not be able to provide services in the same manner as they typically would for the rest of the academic year.” * The Department Expects Accommodations –the Department expects students with disabilities to be served, stating that "Postsecondary students with disabilities must receive academic adjustments, auxiliary aids and services, and reasonable modifications to policies, practices, and procedures, where doing so would not impose an undue burden nor cause a fundamental alteration…Whether an institution serves students in a brick-and-mortar or an online environment, the institution must ensure that students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to access educational programs, consistent with protecting the health and safety of the student and those providing that education to the student." S-SARA Southern Regional Education Board (404) 879-5517 SARA at sreb.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org Tue Apr 7 08:40:15 2020 From: Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org (Elisa Jaden) Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2020 13:40:15 +0000 Subject: [S-SARA] NC-SARA Webinar Recording In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Good morning S-SARA Members and Guests, For those who missed last week’s NC-SARA Webcast on 2020 Data Reporting, here are the presentation slides, recorded webinar and Q&A: https://nc-sara.org/resources/2020-data-reporting-webinar-april-2-2020 This information is located on the NC-SARA website on the RESOURCES webpage under Presentations: [cid:image001.png at 01D60CC0.261DA720] S-SARA Southern Regional Education Board (404) 879-5517 SARA at sreb.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: DFE5AB6D2BBC49FD9B7E00F4B9AD674A.png Type: image/png Size: 34071 bytes Desc: DFE5AB6D2BBC49FD9B7E00F4B9AD674A.png URL: From Elise.Scanlon at elisescanlonlawgroup.com Tue Apr 7 08:55:55 2020 From: Elise.Scanlon at elisescanlonlawgroup.com (Elise A Scanlon) Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2020 13:55:55 +0000 Subject: [S-SARA] NC-SARA Webinar Recording In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <642049f04bec46e3a547c2c2a5b79371@elisescanlonlawgroup.com> Thank you! Elise From: S-SARA On Behalf Of Elisa Jaden Sent: Tuesday, April 7, 2020 9:40 AM To: s-sara at lists.onenet.net Subject: [S-SARA] NC-SARA Webinar Recording Good morning S-SARA Members and Guests, For those who missed last week's NC-SARA Webcast on 2020 Data Reporting, here are the presentation slides, recorded webinar and Q&A: https://nc-sara.org/resources/2020-data-reporting-webinar-april-2-2020 This information is located on the NC-SARA website on the RESOURCES webpage under Presentations: [cid:image001.png at 01D60CC2.BB19B060] S-SARA Southern Regional Education Board (404) 879-5517 SARA at sreb.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 34071 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org Thu Apr 9 13:26:04 2020 From: Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org (Elisa Jaden) Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2020 18:26:04 +0000 Subject: [S-SARA] SREB Policy & Practice: Connecting to Campus | Teachers Pitch in | COVID-19 Recommendations In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: View this email in your browser [https://gallery.mailchimp.com/c67c5841e2df804cf1c9ea093/images/ae5f4a04-7d46-4803-a8db-72ac6bf56b33.jpg] COLLEGE STUDENTS Connecting America's Loneliest Generation Even before the coronavirus pandemic, today's college students were struggling with unprecedented anxiety, depression and feelings of isolation. Now campuses have closed, classes have moved online, and many students have left the dorms for their parents' homes. A growing number worry they will not be able to afford to return to complete their degrees. [https://mcusercontent.com/c67c5841e2df804cf1c9ea093/images/71f0d07b-78bd-48a1-aee5-ed4629492462.jpg]In anxious and uncertain times, students need structure, predictability and a sense of control. Colleges need to pull out all the stops to keep them connected to their campus communities so they fare well academically and emotionally. Read suggestions from SREB leaders for engaging students in online classes and virtual campus events in Belonging From a Distance > CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION Look for the Helpers [3-d printed mask, greenbrier, west virginia]All over the country, career and technology centers are finding ways to help each other and their communities. Teachers are donating masks, gowns and gloves from their nursing, cosmetology and auto classes. Centers are designing and making shields and masks for medical workers with their 3-D printers. And students are researching local needs and helping fill them ─ including writing letters to cheer isolated nursing home residents. Read the stories > RURAL SCHOOLS Closing the Distance in Distance Learning [https://mcusercontent.com/c67c5841e2df804cf1c9ea093/images/e05fd9a1-9d1d-4734-90ca-421e803aa0c7.jpg]Rural schools are struggling with how to keep students learning amid school closures. SREB instructional coaches are collaborating with educators on specific challenges, and they share ideas and inspiration in a new blog post. Be sure students know you care about them. Maintain as much consistency as possible, but find ways to reach every student with learning materials. And lean on fellow teachers for support and encouragement. Read the article from SREB Instructional Coach Amanda Merritt > COLLABORATION Learning From One Another and Putting Students First [https://mcusercontent.com/c67c5841e2df804cf1c9ea093/images/97037463-24cb-4fd7-989b-b49a2ad10469.jpg]SREB President Stephen Pruitt shares how states, faculty and schools are sharing innovation and moving quickly to adapt policies that help students during the COVID-19 crisis that affects every aspect of our lives. "When we pool what we know, we can do so much more." Better Together > ADVANCED DEGREES [https://mcusercontent.com/c67c5841e2df804cf1c9ea093/images/918caf27-6d85-4378-9ea9-37887e3562a1.jpg]Practical Advice for Mental, Emotional Health Now more than ever, graduate students need strategies for coping with life's trials on top of the pressures of pursuing a Ph.D. Read stories of how doctoral scholars learned to find support, plus practical advice for self-care during trying times. Ph.D. Graduates, Experts Urge Self-Care > In Case You Missed It Teacher Licensure SREB offers a wealth of resources and recommendations on teacher licensure policy. [If state and business leaders do not act 18 million adults in the South could be unemployable or stuck in low-wage jobs] Unemployable At least 18 million people in the South could be unemployable in a workforce transformed by automation. These reports show the workforce outlook in each SREB state. State Financial Aid for Undergraduates What's the mix of state-funded financial aid in your state? SREB tracks merit-based, need-based and non-grant-based aid in SREB states. See the reports > Webinar: Paying for College How counselors and educators can help students sign up for a new $25 million College Board scholarship program. April 15 > [COVID-19 Resources for Faculty, Teachers, Counselors and Leaders] [Twitter] [Facebook] [LinkedIn] Policy & Practice brings you news about improving education across the continuum, early childhood through doctoral education, in SREB states. Contact us with questions and suggestions. P&P 82 | 040920 Copyright © 2020 Southern Regional Education Board, All rights reserved. You are receiving this message because of your interest in news from the Southern Regional Education Board. Our mailing address is: Southern Regional Education Board 592 10th St., NW Atlanta, GA 30318 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org Fri Apr 10 11:42:00 2020 From: Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org (Elisa Jaden) Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2020 16:42:00 +0000 Subject: [S-SARA] BREAKING NEWS -- The US DOE Releases Information on the CARES Act: Student Support Funds In-Reply-To: <0100017160b6cd2b-dffa9a07-a978-4db1-8b43-ec10fc7bb871-000000@email.amazonses.com> References: <0100017160b6cd2b-dffa9a07-a978-4db1-8b43-ec10fc7bb871-000000@email.amazonses.com> Message-ID: Courtesy of WCET News and Russ Poulin Yesterday, April 9, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education released more information about funds flowing to institutions and their students as outlined in the recent Congressional action, the CARES Act. More than $6 billion dollars will be transmitted to institutions, tentatively beginning next Wednesday, to be distributed in direct aid for students. On the Department's Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) webpage, next steps are outlined: * A letter from Secretary DeVos briefing institution presidents about the background and the process for claiming the funds. * Access to a "certificate" that institutions must complete and file before obtaining the funds. As there is some turn-around time between submitting the document and its final approval, institutions should consider quick action if they wish to access the money early. * A list of how much funding is allocated to each institution. There will also be another $6+ billion allocated for institutions to offset some of the costs of transitioning to remote learning and other expenses experienced due to the pandemic. More information will be provided on the institution-focused funding soon. NASFAA, the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, provides additional details in its coverage of this breaking news. S-SARA Southern Regional Education Board (404) 879-5517 SARA at SREB.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org Mon Apr 13 15:02:33 2020 From: Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org (Elisa Jaden) Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2020 20:02:33 +0000 Subject: [S-SARA] SARA Manual 20.2 Updates Conference Call Notes In-Reply-To: References: <1B8884D1-85DC-4CC1-848E-FF1CFCB5443D@arkansas.gov>, , Message-ID: Good afternoon S-SARA Members and Guests, Attached are notes from the teleconference SREB hosted to discuss the SARA Manual 20.2 Updates. The notes are compiled in a WORD that was submitted to NC-SARA per their request for comments/responses from the SPEs. Elisa Jaden Program Coordinator Southern Regional Education Board 592 Tenth Street NW Atlanta, Georgia 30318 Phone (404) 879-5517 Fax (404) 872-1477 E-mail: elisa.jaden at sreb.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: SREB Proposed Manual Changes Response 033020.docx Type: application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document Size: 66087 bytes Desc: SREB Proposed Manual Changes Response 033020.docx URL: From Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org Wed Apr 15 10:52:35 2020 From: Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org (Elisa Jaden) Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2020 15:52:35 +0000 Subject: [S-SARA] NC-SARA Sends Letter to Stakeholders Regarding Continued Use Federal Financial Responsibility Score Message-ID: NC-SARA Maintains the Importance of Student Consumer Protections throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic The National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) issued a letter to higher education stakeholder groups, to include the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) and the American Council on Education (ACE), that have raised concerns to NC-SARA about the continued use of the federal financial composite score as part of NC-SARA's evaluative process for initial and renewed membership. As well, the letter also offers key flexibility measures for institutions. Dr. Lori Williams, NC-SARA President and CEO, is in the process of soliciting feedback from state portal entity staff through May 1, 2020, on the consideration of a temporary emergency change to the current policy regarding the Federal Financial Composite Score requirement. Read the full press release at the NC-SARA website under News and Events. SARA Southern Regional Education Board (404) 879-5517 SARA at sreb.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org Mon Apr 20 09:43:29 2020 From: Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org (Elisa Jaden) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2020 14:43:29 +0000 Subject: [S-SARA] WCET COVID-19 Critical Updates Digest as of 4/15/2020 Message-ID: Courtesy of Lindsey Downs and Mollie McGill of WCET Critical Updates Accreditation Institutional Accreditors continue to update their guidance: * Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC): April 13, 2020- Response to Request for "Universal Pass" Grades. More available here: COVID-19 Institutional (formerly regional) Accreditor Guidance Weblinks - list of accreditor webpages Legislative Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has extended the Senate's recess until May 4th. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that Democratic legislators would like to see higher education and nonprofits have access to the $600 billion in emergency relief that the Federal Reserve will administer. Those organizations are currently not included in the Federal Reserve's dissemination plan. Department of Education The Department of Education has issued plans for the dissemination of both emergency aid for students and state discretionary funds allotted through the CARES Act. * On April 9th, Secretary DeVos announced how much money institutions would be allocated for direct emergency student aid. The process for institutions to access this funding includes signing a Certificate of Funding and Agreement. Although institutions can determine how the aid will be distributed, the Department recommends that institutions consider using the maximum Pell grant as the upper limit of individual student aid. * On April 14th, the Department of Education announced its intent to quickly make available nearly $3 billion to governors for spending on K-12 and higher education. Under the terms outlined in the CARES Act, governors have discretion on how these funds will be allocated and spent. Professional Licensing National Associations for State Licensing Boards continue to update their guidance: * Athletic Trainers - National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) - COVID-19 Update for AT Educational Programs * Law - National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) - July 2020 Bar Exam: Jurisdiction Information(per state guidance - 4/13/20) * Nursing - National Council State Board of Nursing (NCSBN) – Changes in Education Requirements in States for Nursing Programs During COVID-19(4/13/20); State Response to Covid-19 generally for licensed nurses (4/13/20) * Physician Assistants - American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) - Summary of States Offering Temporary Licenses Prior to Certification (3-26-20); Suspended/Waived Practice Requirements (4-13-20) More available here: COVID-19 Licensure Bd Guidance - National Associations for State Licensure Boards - list of weblinks to guidance ***************************** Assessment during the COVID-19 Crisis With adversity brings opportunity. Many of us are discovering some silver linings during our present stressful condition. Those opportunities may include more game time with family, finding new hiking trails, experimenting in the kitchen. One silver lining for faculty can be a refreshed focus on how they assess student learning. Even before the rush to move to temporary alternative learning, faculty have been reevaluating authentic assessments as alternatives, or supplements, long-standing assessment practices using high stakes exams. There may be several factors affecting a resurgence of assessment strategies, such more information on brain science and the cognition of learning, concerns with some proctoring technologies including accessibility and student data privacy. Today, it is critical to put students in the center of your lens about assessment. Benjamin Bloom's taxonomy has been used in course design and assessment for many years. The Bloom taxonomy of the cognitive process includes remember, understand, apply, evaluate, and finally create. Consider where your students are on this cognition continuum and design assessments that will motivate students in their courses. How can you create authentic assessments where the student can apply her/his learning to a real-life scenario? What other than the mid-term and final semester exams are possible? Yes, it takes a huge commitment of time but being creative both with strategies as well as available digital resources may set the stage for greater student success. Here are some resources and articles relate to assessment, grading, proctoring, and academic integrity: * EDUCAUSE COVID-19 QuickPoll Results: Grading and Proctoring, Susan Grajek. This article reports on a recent Quick Poll by EDUCAUSE about institutional practices on grading, proctoring, and promising practices for assessment. er.educause.edu/blogs/2020/4/.... * OU Digital Teaching. Thoughts about teaching online from an online instructor at the University of Oklahoma. #PassFailNation: Alternate Grading. Laura Gibbs. oudigitools.blogspot.com/2020/03/.... * The Ohio State University. Keep Teaching. keepteaching.osu.edu/assessments. * University of Central Florida. Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning, Assignment Design and Assessment. fctl.ucf.edu/teaching-resources/course-design/.... * Stanford University's Teaching Commons teachingcommons.stanford.edu/resources/teaching/.... SARA Southern Regional Education Board (404) 879-5517 SARA at sreb.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org Mon Apr 20 14:00:22 2020 From: Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org (Elisa Jaden) Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2020 19:00:22 +0000 Subject: [S-SARA] NC-SARA: Data Reporting Window Extended to June 30, 2020 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: NC-SARA Update Courtesy of Marianne Boeke Data Reporting Window Extended to June 30, 2020 We would like to thank everyone for their tireless work to help students during this health and economic crisis. Given the COVID-19 pandemic, NC-SARA decided to increase the time provided for data reporting this year. The reporting window will open on May 15, 2020 and close on June 30, 2020. This change will allow SARA participating institutions time to prepare and report the most current and complete data. Further, this change is aligned with the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) - Integrated Postsecondary Education Data (IPEDS) System, 2019-20 Data Collection Schedule, which has been extended by two weeks. Data reporting this year: * For reporting enrollment data - institutions will submit disaggregated Fall IPEDS 2019 data. * For reporting out-of-state learning placement (OOSLP) data - institutions will submit learning placements reported from the 2019 calendar year. Accurate and on time data reporting is important to our commitment to the states, regional compacts, and SARA as a whole. If you have questions or need guidance regarding enrollment reporting, please refer to the NC-SARA Data Reporting Guide which can be found at https://nc-sara.org/data If you have institutional contact changes, please email those directly your state portal entity. If your institution is having trouble meeting the extended deadline for reporting, please contact Marianne Boeke at mboeke at nc-sara.org. SARA Southern Regional Education Board (404) 879-5517 SARA at sreb.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Wanda.Barker at sreb.org Wed Apr 22 09:47:36 2020 From: Wanda.Barker at sreb.org (Wanda Barker) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2020 14:47:36 +0000 Subject: [S-SARA] FW: National American University - Status Update In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Good morning, Please see the note shared from the W-SARA director concerning removal of NAU from SARA participation. Best wishes, Wanda From: Christina Sedney Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2020 9:56 AM To: Wanda Barker ; emilyj at mhec.org; Rachael Stachowiak Cc: Marianne Boeke ; mlarson at nc-sara.org; Jeannie Yockey-Fine ; Lori Williams ; Hubbart, Katie ; Shelley Plutto Subject: National American University - Status Update Good morning, I wanted to share a quick update regarding National American University and their removal from SARA participation. Please feel free to share this information with your state portal entities. As of today, April 22, 2020 National American University (NAU) is no longer a SARA member. After a year on provisional status, the school's federal financial composite score has decreased from a 1.1 to 1.0 and they remain on heightened cash monitoring with the US Department of Education. Therefore, South Dakota has decided not to renew the institution's SARA participation for the coming year. Under the provisions of SARA Manual Section 3.8, an institution that loses eligibility to participate in SARA may no longer enroll students under SARA provisions, meaning that NAU must meet the appropriate state authorization requirements in every state where any new students are admitted after the loss of SARA eligibility, effective April 22, 2020. For students who are currently enrolled under the provisions of SARA, NAU may continue to operate under SARA for 90 days or until each student enrolled under SARA in the current term has completed work for that term, withdrawn, or otherwise ceased enrollment (not to exceed six months). The longer of these two criteria will be utilized, starting from the date that NAU's SARA membership is no longer effective. Therefore, no students can be authorized through SARA starting July 21, 2020. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions, Christina Christina Sedney Director of Policy Initiatives and State Authorization Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (p) 303.541.0238 | (e) csedney at wiche.edu wiche.edu -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org Wed Apr 22 10:30:27 2020 From: Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org (Elisa Jaden) Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2020 15:30:27 +0000 Subject: [S-SARA] The Department Releases Another Round of Higher Education Funding Message-ID: Courtesy of WECT and Russ Poulin Yesterday, April 21, 2020, the Department of Education released another round of higher education funding. The first round was distributed to colleges to disburse as direct aid to students. The second round was distributed to Governors to apportion as they see fit to institutions within their states or jurisdictions. >From the Department's press release: "The CARES Act allows institutions to use up to one half of the total funds received to cover any costs associated with significant changes to the delivery of instruction due to the coronavirus." The total funding available is $6.2 Billion. During a call organized by the Department and attended by Van Davis, examples for the use of funds include: * Reimburse themselves for refunds already paid to students * Provide additional emergency student aid * Pay down student balances and/or create scholarships * Pay online fees such as proctoring on behalf of students * Pay OPM on a per student basis for making instruction available to students, but not for marketing/recruitment Learn more and find forms at the Department's website. SARA Southern Regional Education Board (404) 879-5517 SARA at sreb.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org Thu Apr 23 11:19:47 2020 From: Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org (Elisa Jaden) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2020 16:19:47 +0000 Subject: [S-SARA] NC-SARA Webinar: May 2020 NC-SARA Board Actions Summary Message-ID: Courtesy of Marianne Boeke of NC-SARA The NC-SARA Board meeting will be held May 6, 2020 as a virtual event. The Board will clarify processes within the SARA Manual and adjust policy to better align with the Federal Regulations regarding disclosures and notifications that become effective July 1, 2020. Please join us for an in-depth discussion of the actions of the May 2020 NC-SARA Board Meeting, the proposed timeline for implementation of any modifications, and when the next version of the SARA Manual will be available. Date: May 28, 2020 Time: 3pm Eastern time; 2pm Central time; 1pm Mountain time; Noon Pacific time; 11am Alaska; 9am Hawaii Who: This webinar is free and open to all - but registration is required. Platform: NC-SARA webinars take place via the Zoom platform Registration: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qZzU6vElSe6f6YoHQzPptA Moderator: Marianne Boeke, Director for Policy Research and State Support Presenters: * Lori Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer, NC-SARA * Rachael Stachowiak, Associate Director of N-SARA, NEBHE * Christina Sedney, Director of Policy Initiatives and W-SARA, WICHE * Wanda Barker, Director, Education Technology and Multistate Cooperative Programs, SREB The recorded webinar, answers to your questions and the slides will be available on the NC-SARA website. Be sure to register so that you will be notified of when the recording becomes available. SARA Southern Regional Education Board (404) 879-5517 SARA at sreb.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Wanda.Barker at sreb.org Thu Apr 23 12:34:52 2020 From: Wanda.Barker at sreb.org (Wanda Barker) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2020 17:34:52 +0000 Subject: [S-SARA] NC-SARA Webinar: May 2020 NC-SARA Board Actions Summary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Good afternoon, A couple of people have asked me if the virtual Board meeting will be open for anyone to attend, so I will respond to everyone on our S-SARA list. Here is the response from NC-SARA: "We have experienced intermittent capacity and bandwidth issues with Zoom recently. Given anticipated concerns about these issues, as well as potential security issues, we are not going to make this one open to the public. We will work between now and the next meeting to determine how best to invite public attendance at future meetings, should they also be virtual. The draft minutes of this spring 2020 meeting will be made available to the public through the usual posting on the NC-SARA website soon after the meeting." Thanks, Wanda From: S-SARA On Behalf Of Elisa Jaden Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2020 12:20 PM To: s-sara at lists.onenet.net Subject: [S-SARA] NC-SARA Webinar: May 2020 NC-SARA Board Actions Summary Courtesy of Marianne Boeke of NC-SARA The NC-SARA Board meeting will be held May 6, 2020 as a virtual event. The Board will clarify processes within the SARA Manual and adjust policy to better align with the Federal Regulations regarding disclosures and notifications that become effective July 1, 2020. Please join us for an in-depth discussion of the actions of the May 2020 NC-SARA Board Meeting, the proposed timeline for implementation of any modifications, and when the next version of the SARA Manual will be available. Date: May 28, 2020 Time: 3pm Eastern time; 2pm Central time; 1pm Mountain time; Noon Pacific time; 11am Alaska; 9am Hawaii Who: This webinar is free and open to all - but registration is required. Platform: NC-SARA webinars take place via the Zoom platform Registration: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qZzU6vElSe6f6YoHQzPptA Moderator: Marianne Boeke, Director for Policy Research and State Support Presenters: * Lori Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer, NC-SARA * Rachael Stachowiak, Associate Director of N-SARA, NEBHE * Christina Sedney, Director of Policy Initiatives and W-SARA, WICHE * Wanda Barker, Director, Education Technology and Multistate Cooperative Programs, SREB The recorded webinar, answers to your questions and the slides will be available on the NC-SARA website. Be sure to register so that you will be notified of when the recording becomes available. SARA Southern Regional Education Board (404) 879-5517 SARA at sreb.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From angela.lee at dc.gov Thu Apr 23 12:57:46 2020 From: angela.lee at dc.gov (Lee, Angela (OSSE)) Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2020 17:57:46 +0000 Subject: [S-SARA] NC-SARA Webinar: May 2020 NC-SARA Board Actions Summary In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Thanks Wanda, Do we know if SARA would be willing to post the recording of the Board Meeting after it concludes? I think some of our steering committee members are interested in hearing the SARA Board's discussion on the proposed manual amendments, not just the minutes which would likely only capture the result of the board vote. From: S-SARA On Behalf Of Wanda Barker Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2020 1:35 PM To: s-sara at lists.onenet.net Subject: Re: [S-SARA] NC-SARA Webinar: May 2020 NC-SARA Board Actions Summary CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the DC Government. Do not click on links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know that the content is safe. If you believe that this email is suspicious, please forward to phishing at dc.gov for additional analysis by OCTO Security Operations Center (SOC). Good afternoon, A couple of people have asked me if the virtual Board meeting will be open for anyone to attend, so I will respond to everyone on our S-SARA list. Here is the response from NC-SARA: "We have experienced intermittent capacity and bandwidth issues with Zoom recently. Given anticipated concerns about these issues, as well as potential security issues, we are not going to make this one open to the public. We will work between now and the next meeting to determine how best to invite public attendance at future meetings, should they also be virtual. The draft minutes of this spring 2020 meeting will be made available to the public through the usual posting on the NC-SARA website soon after the meeting." Thanks, Wanda From: S-SARA > On Behalf Of Elisa Jaden Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2020 12:20 PM To: s-sara at lists.onenet.net Subject: [S-SARA] NC-SARA Webinar: May 2020 NC-SARA Board Actions Summary Courtesy of Marianne Boeke of NC-SARA The NC-SARA Board meeting will be held May 6, 2020 as a virtual event. The Board will clarify processes within the SARA Manual and adjust policy to better align with the Federal Regulations regarding disclosures and notifications that become effective July 1, 2020. Please join us for an in-depth discussion of the actions of the May 2020 NC-SARA Board Meeting, the proposed timeline for implementation of any modifications, and when the next version of the SARA Manual will be available. Date: May 28, 2020 Time: 3pm Eastern time; 2pm Central time; 1pm Mountain time; Noon Pacific time; 11am Alaska; 9am Hawaii Who: This webinar is free and open to all - but registration is required. Platform: NC-SARA webinars take place via the Zoom platform Registration: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qZzU6vElSe6f6YoHQzPptA Moderator: Marianne Boeke, Director for Policy Research and State Support Presenters: * Lori Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer, NC-SARA * Rachael Stachowiak, Associate Director of N-SARA, NEBHE * Christina Sedney, Director of Policy Initiatives and W-SARA, WICHE * Wanda Barker, Director, Education Technology and Multistate Cooperative Programs, SREB The recorded webinar, answers to your questions and the slides will be available on the NC-SARA website. Be sure to register so that you will be notified of when the recording becomes available. SARA Southern Regional Education Board (404) 879-5517 SARA at sreb.org For the latest information on the District Government's response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus), please visit coronavirus.dc.gov. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org Tue Apr 28 16:01:06 2020 From: Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org (Elisa Jaden) Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2020 21:01:06 +0000 Subject: [S-SARA] NC-SARA Update Message-ID: Courtesy of Marianne Boeke of NC-SARA NC-SARA would like to thank the Regional Compacts and each SARA state for working together to provide contact information for the five licensure boards. Thank you! MB NC-SARA is pleased to announce a new resource - the Professional Licensure Directory; which is housed in and managed centrally through the NC-SARA website. Professional licensure disclosures and approvals are subjects of all U.S. institutions, states and territories, and are a struggle to varying degrees. We are hopeful this brings some efficiency to assist institutions in providing clearer and more accurate disclosures to all students. NC-SARA worked with the SARA State Portal Entities (SPEs) and the regional compacts to create the Professional Licensure Directory, which provides contact information for the top five programs that lead to a professional license. We chose the programs with the most enrollments per the data provided by our participating institutions. At NC-SARA, our data shows that the vast majority of the programs leading to licensure among participating institutions are in these five fields: * Counseling * Nursing * Psychology * Social work * Teacher Education This resource will NOT house regulations or requirements. It is exclusively general contact information and NC-SARA will update the contact information twice annually. SARA Southern Regional Education Board (404) 879-5517 SARA at sreb.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org Wed Apr 29 15:02:19 2020 From: Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org (Elisa Jaden) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2020 20:02:19 +0000 Subject: [S-SARA] SREB Reports: How affordable is college in your state? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Updated reports cover tuition increases, net price, state funding, student borrowing and more. Rising cost of college hits low-income families hardest View this email in your browser [Information you can use now] College Costs a Heavy Burden for Low-Income Families How affordable is college in your state? April 29, 2020 — The rising cost of college hits low-income families hardest, slowing progress toward states' educational attainment goals and the workforces their economies need. The latest SREB college affordability profiles tell the story of affordability in each state. The cost of attending college demands a large share of annual earnings for the lowest-income families, which make up 13% to 31% of the population in Southern Regional Education Board states. Affordability is an important lever to help more students earn degrees and credentials that meet the requirements of a workplace transformed by technology, says SREB President Stephen L. Pruitt. "This was already an urgent need, and the COVID-19 crisis has made college affordability both more important and more difficult," Pruitt said. "Students, families, colleges and states are all facing new financial challenges." SREB analysts will offer insights from the profiles in a webinar on Wednesday, May 6 at 11 a.m. Eastern. The reports show how the costs of college are shared among families and states, and how tuition, financial aid and other measures that drive affordability have changed. They detail the share of annual earnings that families at various income levels need to cover the net price of attending public colleges and universities in each SREB state. Net price is tuition and fees, room and board, books and other expenses, minus financial aid that students receive from the institution or from federal or state grants. Find your state report Each state-specific report details: * Net price at different kinds of institutions, two-year and four-year * Average family income bands * Tuition increases over the past decade * Changes in state funding for public colleges over the past decade * State financial aid for students * Student borrowing The reports are designed to help policymakers improve affordability. SREB's Commission on College Affordability in the South recommended that states make it a priority, during times of financial distress and budget shortfalls, to protect funds for low-income students access to and success in college. Find more college affordability resources at SREB.org/Affordability SREB.org/AffordabilityProfiles [https://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block-v2/color-twitter-48.png] [https://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block-v2/color-facebook-48.png] [https://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block-v2/color-link-48.png] [Trends in College Affordability by Income: The SREB State Affordability Profiles. Register] Copyright © 2020 Southern Regional Education Board, All rights reserved. You are receiving this message because of your interest in news from the Southern Regional Education Board. Our mailing address is: Southern Regional Education Board 592 10th Street, NW Atlanta, Georgia 30318 SARA Southern Regional Education Board (404) 879-5517 SARA at sreb.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org Thu Apr 30 14:06:43 2020 From: Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org (Elisa Jaden) Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2020 19:06:43 +0000 Subject: [S-SARA] WCET/SAN COVID-19 Updates Message-ID: Courtesy of Lindsey Downs of WCET/SAN TechCongress has launched the Congressional Digital Service Fellowship, a limited term fellowship The goals of the fellowship are to: * Meet the immediate need for technical talent to help modernize the digital infrastructure of the Congress. * Capitalize on the opportunity to galvanize the institution to build a Congressional Digital Service within the institution, including by helping implement recommendations from the House Select Committee on Modernization. Fellows will be paid a competitive stipend, consistent with tech team salaries in the executive branch like the Presidential Innovation Fellowship, as well as reimbursements for health care, relocation to Washington, D.C. and any necessary travel. Learn more. A Special Report on How Tribal Colleges Are Responding to COVID-19 The Tribal College Journal of American Indian Higher Education just published a special report: "Coping with the Contagion: How Tribal Colleges Are Responding to COVID-19, A Special Report." There are many problems due to the institution's rural locations, lack of technology for students, and insufficient broadband. Accreditation Institutional Accreditors - note the 4/21/20 letter from C-RAC to the US Department of Education requesting that flexibility for distance education review requirements be extended through the 2020-2021 academic school year. Other accreditors are updating their guidance from time to time. You may wish to review: COVID-19 Guidance Weblinks - Institutional (formerly regional) Accreditors. Programmatic Accreditors - Updates are provided by the accreditors from time to time including new FAQ's. You may wish to view: COVID-19 Guidance Weblinks - Programmatic Accreditors. Professional Licensing Boards National Associations for State Licensing Boards continue to update guidance regarding education for several professions including: Nursing, Law, Physician Assistants, and Teaching. COVID-19 Licensure Bd Guidance - National Associations for State Licensure Boards. Veterans Benefits (GI Bill and Student Aid) Additional legislation was signed into law by the President on April 28, 2020 to build upon the emergency legislation that was signed into law in March. The new law will ensure that student veterans will continue to receive payments during the pandemic for work study jobs or if the institution closes or a student is forced to withdraw from school due to coronavirus related issues. The covered period remains as March 1, 2020 through December 21, 2020. Department of Labor's Veteran's Employment & Training Service have posted Frequently Asked Questions and fact sheet for student Veterans regarding unemployment compensation to their Veterans' Employment & Training Service Webpage. SARA Southern Regional Education Board (404) 879-5517 SARA at sreb.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: