State Authorization Resources

SHEEO has compiled a list of resources related to state authorization. Resources are categorized by type and listed in alphabetical order.

Academic Literature

Kinser, K. & Lane, J. E. (2017). An overview of authorization and quality assurance of higher education institutions. Background paper prepared for the 2017/18 Global Education Monitoring Report. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Lane, J. E., Kinser, K., & Knox, D. (2012). Regulating cross-border higher education: A case study of the United States. Higher Education Policy, 26, 147–172.

Lee, J., & Merisotis, J. (1990). Proprietary schools: Programs, policies, and prospects. ASHE-ERIC Report Higher Education Report No. 5, George Washington University. (ERIC Document No. ED 331337).

Onwuameze, N. (2017). State authorization reciprocity agreement: Participation and access to higher education. Open Learning: The Journal of Open, Distance and e-Learning, 32(2).

Ozdemir, D., & McDaniel, J. G. (2013). Evaluation of the state authorization processes for distance education. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, XV(1).

Ward, J. D., & Tierney, W. G. (2017). Regulatory enforcement as policy: Exploring factors related to state lawsuits against for-profit colleges. American Behavioral Scientist, 61(14).

Learning Community Medium Posts

Acosta, A., & Tandberg, D. A.  (2020). No Time Like the Present to Strengthen Consumer Protection. State Higher Education Executive Officers Association.

Kuhn, L. (2020). The Virtual Visit. State Higher Education Executive Officers Association.

Williams, L. (2020). How Do We Protect Online College Students as Consumers?

Dowd, C. & Poulin, R. (2020). State Authorization and Crossing State Borders, Part 2: Additional Approvals and Professional Licensure.

Dowd, C. & Poulin, R. (2020). State Authorization and Crossing State Borders, Part 1: Institutional Approvals for Out-of-State Activities. State Higher Education Executive Officers Association.

Shireman, R. (2020). Predatory Colleges In the COVID Economy: What Is a State Regulator To Do? State Higher Education Executive Officers Association.

Contreras, A. (2020). Bad actors vs. poor actors: Why it matters in state authorization of higher education. State Higher Education Executive Officers Association.

Kelchen, R. (2020). Connecting state authorization with higher education accountability. State Higher Education Executive Officers Association.

Legal Analysis

Bruckner, M.A. (2020). The Forgotten Stewards of Higher Education Quality. U.C. Irvine L. Rev. 1 – 41.

Contreras, A. (2009). The legal basis for degree granting authority in the United States. Oregon Student Assistance Commission.

Contreras, A. (2013). College and state: resources and philosophies. CraneDance Publications.

Osamudia, R. J. (2011). Predatory ed: The conflict between public good and for-profit higher education. Journal of College and University Law, 38(1), 45-106.

Schade, S. A. (2014). Reining in the predatory nature of for-profit colleges. Arizona Law Review, 56(1), 317-340.

Simmons, O. (2013). For-profits and the market paradox. Wake Forest Law Review, 48(2), 333-360.

Taylor, A. N. (2010). Your results may vary: Protecting students and taxpayers through tighter regulation of proprietary school representations. Administrative Law Review, 62(3), 729-782.

Member Agencies

Lohman, G. & Bernoteit, S. (2019). A state perspective on consumer protection in the changing higher education landscape: Practical steps and recommendations in cases of institutional closure. Illinois Board of Higher Education.

Minnesota Office of Higher Education (2020). COVID Financial Survey.

NC-SARA

About the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.

Hill, M. (2018). Comments on Failing U – A report recently issued by the Children’s Advocacy Institute. NC-SARA.

Hill, M. (2018). Improving access and cutting red tape: How SARA is reducing bureaucratic hurdles to distance education. The Evolllution

National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements, (2021). State authorization reciprocity agreements manual: Version 21.1.

National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements. (2019). Application and approval form for institutional participation in SARA.

Partner Organizations

Davis, V., Dowd, C., Poulin, R., & Silverman, D. (2020). Pursuing Regulatory Compliance for Digital Instruction in Response to COVID-19: Policy Playbook. WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies.

American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (2020). Closed or Merged Institutions: Guidance and Best Practices Pertaining to Student Education Records.

Hall, S., Curtis, R., & Wofford, C. (2020) What States Can Do to Protect Students from Predatory For-Profit Colleges. The Century Foundation.

Arnold, N., Voight, M., Morales, J., & Coleman, A. (2019). Informing improvement: Recommendations for enhancing accreditor data-use to promote student success and equity. Institute for Higher Education Policy.

Children’s Advocacy Institute (2018). Failing U: Do state laws protect our veterans and other students from for-profit postsecondary predators?

Coleman, A. L., Taylor, T. E., Little, B. M., and Lipper, K. E. (2015). Getting our house in order: Transforming the federal regulation of higher education as America prepares for the challenges of tomorrow. EducationCounsel.

Colston, J., Fowler, G., Laitinen, A., McCann, C. Studley, J., Tandberg, D., & Weeden, D. (2020). Anticipating and managing precipitous college closures. New America.

Columbus, R. (2016). Report and disclose: State oversight of institutional performance in higher education. American Enterprise Institute.

Contreras, A.L., Thompson, S.J., Poulin, R., & Dowd, C. (2017). State authorization of colleges and universities: A handbook for institutions and agencies. WICHE Cooperativefor Educational Technologies.

Harnisch, T., Nassirian, B., Saddler, A., & Coleman, A. (2016). Enhancing state authorization: The need for action by states as stewards of higher education performance. State-federal partnerships in postsecondary education. Education Commissionof the States.

Kelly, A.P., James, K.J., & Columbus, R. (2015). Inputs, outcomes, quality assurance: A closer look at state oversight of higher education. American Enterprise Institute.

Loonin, D., & McLaughlin, J. (2011). State inaction: Gaps in state oversight of for-profit higher education. National Consumer Law Center.

New America, (n.d.) State Authorization for Online Programs.

Perry, A. & Cochrane, D. (2018). Going the distance: Consumer protection for students who attend college online. The Institute for College Access & Success.

Public Advocates (2018). Why SARA is a bad deal for California’s online college students.

Shireman, R. & Mattes, M. (2018). Comments of The Century Foundation’s senior fellow Robert Shireman and policy associate Margaret Mattes regarding the authorization of New York’s postsecondary institutions to participate in the state authorization reciprocity agreement and the approval of out-of-state postsecondary institutions for distance learning. The Century Foundation.

Relevant Organizations

National Association of State Administrators and Supervisors of Private Schools (NASASPS)

National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA)

State Authorization Network (WCET-SAN)

SHEEO Resources

Hall-Martin, M.E. (2021). Capacity to protect: A survey of state authorization agencies and offices. State Higher Education Executive Officers Association.

State Higher Education Executive Officers Association. (1991). The methods and effectiveness of state licensing of proprietary institutions.  

Tandberg, D.A. (2018). Monitoring the financial health and risk of colleges and universities: Recommendations for SHEEO agencies. State Higher Education ExecutiveOfficers Association.

Tandberg, D.A., & Martin, R.R. (2019). Quality assurance and improvement in higher education: The role of states. State Higher Education Executive Officers Association.

Tandberg, D. A., Bruecker, E. M., & Weeden, D. D. (2019, July). Improving state authorization: The state role in ensuring quality and consumer protection in higher education. State Higher Education Executive Officers Association.