State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement
Overview
St. Thomas University became a member of NC-SARA, or the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements, on January 9, 2018. NC-SARA provides national leadership over the reciprocity agreements for distance education regulation among U.S. member states. NC-SARA makes it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. Current authorized SARA member states include the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and all states except California.
Licensure/Certification Information for Prospective Students
Prospective students who reside outside of the state of Florida and are interested in a St. Thomas University online program which may lead to a professional licensure/certification should contact the applicable state credentialing authority in their home state to familiarize themselves with its specific requirements and determine if St. Thomas University’s program meets its eligibility criteria. St. Thomas University cannot guarantee whether a program meets requirements for professional licensure/certification in states other than Florida. For additional information, see the NC-SARA’s Professional Licensure Directory.
Student Complaint/Grievance Procedures
For academic complaints/grievances, out-of-state distance education students are expected to follow the Academic Grievance Process found in the St. Thomas University student handbook. Additional information is provided on the online Student Complaint Form.
In the event the student feels the complaint was not managed properly by St. Thomas University, students may file a complaint with the following state of Florida contact:
Office of Articulation
Department of Education
articulation@fldoe.org
850-245-0427
In the event the student feels the complaint was not managed properly by the state of Florida contact, out-of-state distance education students who have completed the internal institutional grievance process, and the applicable state of Florida grievance process, may appeal non-instructional complaints to the FL SARA PRDEC Council at FLSARAinfo@fldoe.org. For additional information on the complaint process, please visit FL‐SARA Complaint Process webpage.
Accreditation
St. Thomas University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC). Information regarding SACSCOC’s complaint process can be found on the SACSCOC website.
