State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)
Lane College is a participating institution of the federally recognized national Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA), a voluntary regional approach to state oversight of distance education. Through NC-SARA membership, Lane College can deliver distance education courses and programs in NC-SARA member states. Forty-nine states, excluding California, are members of NC-SARA who adheres to a common set of standards for postsecondary distance education.
For more information about SARA, please visit http://www.nc-sara.org/.
Student Complaint Policy and Procedures
Lane College is committed to maintaining a learning environment that promotes student academic excellence and personal development.
Lane College policies and procedures for appeals and complaints can be found in the Academic Catalog and the Student Handbook.
Out-of-State Students
Out-of-state students enrolled in distance education courses or programs offered by Lane College should seek resolution for concerns or complaints first through Lane College’s procedures.
Complaint Resolution Policies and Procedures for Non-Tennessee Resident Students in State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement States, commonly known as SARA.
The National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA) is a voluntary agreement among member states and U.S. territories that authorizes colleges and universities to offer online degree programs in states other than their own.
Student complaints relating to consumer protection laws that involve distance education offered under the terms and conditions of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), must first be filed with the institution to seek resolution.
Lane College policies and procedures for appeals and complaints can be found in the Academic Catalog (page 67) and the Student Handbook (page 58).
Complainants not satisfied with the outcome of the Institution’s internal process may appeal, within two years of the incident about which the complaint is made, to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (https://www.tn.gov/thec/bureaus/student-aid-and-compliance/postsecondary-state-authorization/request-for-complaint-review.html).
For purposes of this process, a complaint shall be defined as a formal assertion in writing that the terms of SARA or the laws, standards or regulations incorporated by the SARA Policies and Standards (https://nc-sara.org/resources/guides) have been violated by the institution operating under the terms of SARA.
For a list of SARA member States, please visit the NC-SARA website (https://nc-sara.org/directory). Students residing in non-SARA states should consult their respective State of residence for further instruction for filing a complaint.
Professional Licensure Disclosures
Prospective and current students should be aware that licensure and certification requirements vary from state to state and are subject to change. Lane College has not made a determination whether the College’s programs will meet all requirements in each state.
Lane College highly recommends that students who are not Tennessee residents and considering an academic program leading to licensure or certification in state other than Tennessee to contact the appropriate licensing agency or board of that state and the Lane College relevant academic department for applicable requirements, rules, and regulations prior to enrollment.