Section 20.17.016. Participation in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.

	(a)  The commission is the state approving agency for institutions domiciled in the state that seek to operate under the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (W-SARA). An institution domiciled in the state must apply for approval to operate under W-SARA, upon a form provided by the commission. To qualify for approval, the institution must  
		(1) be domiciled in the state; and  
		(2) annually document compliance with the terms of institutional participation adopted by reference in (e) of this section, including  
			(A) regional or national accreditation;  
			(B) classification by the United States Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics as a degree granting institution; and   
			(C) if the institution is a private institution, documentation of an institutional federal financial responsibility score of 1.5 or higher or a qualifying exception from the United States Department of Education under 20 U.S.C. 1099c(c).  
	(b)  An institution domiciled outside the state is exempt from authorization under AS 14.48  and from all provisions of 20 AAC 17.015 if approved to deliver distance education to residents of this state under a state authorization reciprocity agreement (SARA) by the state in which the institution is domiciled.  
	(c)  Complaints from out-of-state students participating in distance education delivered by an in-state institution authorized by the commission and accepted for participation in W-SARA will be handled in accordance with 20 AAC 17.130 - 20 AAC 17.145.  
	(d)  Complaints from out-of-state students participating in distance education delivered by an institution governed by the University of Alaska Board of Regents and accepted for participation in W-SARA will be handled by the University of Alaska and may be appealed to the commission as the state's W-SARA approving agency.  
	(e)  For purposes of this section, the definitions and terms of participation set out in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements, State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements: Policies and Standards, November 18, 2013 edition, are adopted by reference.  

Authorities

14.42.030;14.48.020;14.48.030;14.48.050;14.48.070

Notes

Authority

AS 14.42.030 AS 14.48.020 AS 14.48.030 AS 14.48.050 AS 14.48.070

History

Eff. 9/4/2014, Register 211