[S-SARA] Accreditor Distance Education Approval

Thu Jul 1 10:41:35 CDT 2021

Good morning all,

I don't know of an institutional accreditor that does not require institutions to be approved for DE before offering programs by DE.  But the Department of Education's rule recently changed with a repeal of earlier guidance that only required accreditor approval if 50% of a program was offered by Distance. That rule has now changed and the determination is to be made at the course level.  So institutions must have DE approval by their accreditors (with DE in their recognized scope) for any amount of DE offered.

Of course there is flexibility for institutions to offer DE without accreditation approval during the national emergency and for 180 days after it ends.  However, most of the institutional accreditors that I am aware of have either required or strongly suggested that institutions apply for approval now since the end of the national emergency and the temporary Department of Ed approval for DE is uncertain.

I hope this is helpful.

Elise
Elise Scanlon Law Group
1101 17th Street, NW
Suite 808
Washington, D.C.  20036
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Elise.scanlon at elisescanlonlawgroup.com<mailto:Elise.scanlon at elisescanlonlawgroup.com>
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From: S-SARA <s-sara-bounces at lists.onenet.net> On Behalf Of Lee, Angela (OSSE)
Sent: Thursday, July 1, 2021 11:16 AM
To: s-sara at lists.onenet.net
Subject: Re: [S-SARA] Accreditor Distance Education Approval

Good morning everyone,

This raises an interesting topic (and honestly a concern for me).

I would contend that simply because the accreditor is recognized by the US DOE to oversee distance education that does not mean that the institution is qualified to offer distance education.

Playing off of SARA's use of the driver's license analogy;
I am a licensed driver (accreditor).  That does not make my daughter (institution) eligible to drive.

Why wouldn't we want the institution to be fully approved for distance education prior to approving them for SARA?

Have a great day all,
Angela

Angela H. Lee
Executive Director
Higher Education Licensure Commission<https://helc.osse.dc.gov/>
202-412-4705 (direct)

Click here<https://forms.gle/u3HRxEkLyp1MDi727> to complete a customer experience survey

From: S-SARA <s-sara-bounces at lists.onenet.net<mailto:s-sara-bounces at lists.onenet.net>> On Behalf Of Elise A Scanlon
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2021 4:26 PM
To: s-sara at lists.onenet.net<mailto:s-sara at lists.onenet.net>
Subject: Re: [S-SARA] Accreditor Distance Education Approval

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One thought is that the institution is offering DE under the Department of Education's COVID flexibilities which will remain in place until 180 days after the national emergency is declared ended by the President.  Ultimately, they will have to receive the approval of their accreditor to continue offering DE.  It might be worth asking the institution to explain the discrepancy.

From: S-SARA <s-sara-bounces at lists.onenet.net<mailto:s-sara-bounces at lists.onenet.net>> On Behalf Of Elisa Jaden
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2021 4:17 PM
To: s-sara at lists.onenet.net<mailto:s-sara at lists.onenet.net>
Subject: Re: [S-SARA] Accreditor Distance Education Approval

Good afternoon,

It is my understanding that as long as the accrediting agency's scope of recognition includes distance education, the institution is covered should they offer or choose to begin offering DE courses/programs. But I am curious to hear from the SPEs on their interpretation/implementation of this policy.

Elisa Jaden
Interim SARA Director
Regional Program Coordinator
Education Technology and Multistate Cooperative Programs
Southern Regional Education Board
Phone  (404) 879-5517
E-mail: elisa.jaden at sreb.org<mailto:elisa.jaden at sreb.org>

From: S-SARA <s-sara-bounces at lists.onenet.net<mailto:s-sara-bounces at lists.onenet.net>> On Behalf Of Adam Hawk
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2021 3:59 PM
To: s-sara at lists.onenet.net<mailto:s-sara at lists.onenet.net>
Subject: [S-SARA] Accreditor Distance Education Approval

Good afternoon everyone,

I have an initial applicant that is seeking SARA membership. They are SACSCOC accredited, but when I reviewed their information on the SACSCOC website, it does not list a Distance Education Approval Date. When looking at the NC-SARA manual, it does not specifically say that they have to be approved by their accreditor to offer distance education to be eligible to participate.  It states, "whose scope of recognition, as specified by the U.S. Department of Education, includes distance education". Has anyone had this issue or have thoughts on eligibility if the institution is accredited by an accreditor whose scope includes distance education, but they do not show they been approved to offer distance education?  Hopefully you can see the screenshots below.

[cid:image005.jpg at 01D76E6E.0BAA3140]

[cid:image006.jpg at 01D76E6E.0BAA3140]

Thank you for the feedback.

Adam Hawk | Program Manager/GA-SARA Coordinator
Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (GNPEC)
2082 East Exchange Place, Suite 220
Tucker, Georgia 30084
770.414.3310 | www.gnpec.georgia.gov<https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gnpec.georgia.gov%2F&data=04%7C01%7Celisa.jaden%40sreb.org%7C1ea33bba87f44ee91f3108d93c0187b6%7Ceb20950b168c497a98452b099844f3ef%7C0%7C0%7C637606799546622689%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=VZZ23BnmffsClD7kkRgyccuEBO%2Bco%2BX2OQccLyoiFmw%3D&reserved=0>

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