The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) is a national initiative designed to establish consistent standards for interstate delivery of postsecondary distance education. SARA is a voluntary agreement among four regional compacts (SREB, NEBHE, MHEC, and WICHE) and member states and territories.
SARA allows accredited, degree-granting institutions to offer distance-education programs to students in other SARA member states and territories without seeking separate authorization, provided all activities remain within SARA policy limits.
The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) participates in SARA through the Virgin Islands’ affiliation to the SREB Compact. Once approved, SARA member institutions may offer distance education programs in other SARA member states without additional authorization as long as the activity is within the limitations of SARA. For more information on SARA, and for the latest listing of participating states and institutions, visit nc-sara.org.
The U.S. Virgin Islands is a member of SARA through the SREB (Southern Regional Education Board). The Territory’s designated State Portal Entity (SPE) is responsible for reviewing institutional applications, overseeing compliance, and serving as the primary point of contact for SARA-related policies.
As a SARA-approved institution, UVI may operate distance-education activities across all other SARA member states and territories without pursuing additional state-by-state authorization, as long as those activities comply with SARA definitions and restrictions regarding physical presence.
To participate in SARA, institutions must meet the following national eligibility criteria:
Be a degree-granting institution of higher education (public, private nonprofit, or proprietary).
The institution main campus must be domiciled and authorized to operate in the US Virgin Islands .
Hold accreditation from an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
For non-public institutions: maintain a Federal Financial Responsibility Composite Score of 1.5 or higher (scores between 1.0 and 1.49 may be considered with justification, per SARA policy).
Institutions that do not meet these criteria are not eligible to participate in SARA.
Any accredited, degree-granting postsecondary institution with its principal or centra administrative unit domiciliated in the USVI is eligible to apply.
To apply or renew, complete the Application and Approval Form for the Institution Participation in SARA.
The application form for institution for participation or renewal is found on the NC-SARA website.
The application and supporting documentation should be emailed to sara@uvi.edu
Following approval of the application, the Institution's SARA contacts will receive an invoice from NC-SARA for the annual fee.
Student complaints to the Commission regarding U.S. Virgin Islands degree-granting postsecondary institutions participating in SARA may be filed HERE.
National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA)
