Academic Approval
State Authorization for Distance Education Activities
The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville delivers online education programs and courses throughout the United States and internationally. All programs have been approved by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. Many states have prescribed an “authorization” process for out-of-state institutions delivering online programs to its state residents to ensure quality post-secondary education, to preserve the integrity of an academic degree, and to instill greater consumer protection for its student citizens.
The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, through the Global Campus, has taken steps
to protect its students and operations through nationwide compliance: by participation
in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA). SARA allows member states
and participating institutions to offer distance education in other member states
and some U.S. territories so long as the institution adheres to SARA's quality and
consumer protection standards.
Except for California, all U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and
the U.S. Virgin Islands are members of SARA. Although California is not a SARA member,
UofA is not subject to the regulations of the California Bureau of Private Postsecondary
Education due to our out-of-state public institution status. Therefore, the University
of Arkansas can offer programs to individuals located in California without seeking
additional institutional authorization. Visit NC SARA website for more information.
Although the University of Arkansas is authorized to offer distance education in other
SARA member states, program-specific considerations may affect program availability.
These restrictions are typically due to state licensing board requirements or other
state agency requirements and often impact the availability of field placements in
these locations. Participation in SARA does not exempt the University from these requirements.
Prospective and current students should keep in mind that licensing and authorization
requirements vary by state and relocating during the course of a program to another
state could impact whether that student can continue in the program and/or meet the
eligibility requirements of that state. Please contact your program to check for authorization
and licensure eligibility requirements before you relocate during the course of a
program.
If you are considering a program that leads to licensure or certification, it is essential
to understand that although a given program may be authorized to be offered in your
state, this does not indicate or guarantee your eligibility for professional licensure
or certification in that state. Please review the Professional Licensure section for
further information.
As of September 28, 2015, the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville is approved by
the Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE) to participate in the National
Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). NC-SARA is a voluntary,
regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education. Institutions
that are members of SARA are authorized to provide online education to students from
all SARA member states. States and institutions that choose to become members of
SARA operate under a set of policies and standards overseen by the National Council
for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements and administered by four regional higher
education compacts. For more information about the SARA initiative and the progress of state and institutional membership.
Select a state below to view authorization status and other important information.
NC-SARA member statesNon-member states
This institution’s Graduate Resident Center at Hurlburt Field, Florida, is operating under regular licensure by the Florida State Board of Independent Colleges and Universities:
Commission for Independent Education
325 W. Gaines Street, Suite 1414
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400
(850) 245-3200
This institution’s Graduate Resident Center at Naval Support Activity/Mid-South at Millington, is authorized for operation as a postsecondary educational institution by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC). This authorization must be renewed each year and is based on an evaluation by minimum standards concerning quality of education, ethical business practices, health and safety, and fiscal responsibility. If a complaint is not settled at the institutional level, the student may contact THEC:
Tennessee Higher Education Commission
Division of Postsecondary School Authorization
Parkway Towers, Suite 1900
404 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0830
(615) 741-5293
Professional Licensure Information
University of Arkansas often prepare students to pursue a professional or occupational license. Occupational licenses generally require an educational component and often require successfully completing an exam or completing internship hours in the specific profession. View a list of degrees here that could potentially lead to a professional license and each degree program’s ability for a student to pursue licensure in a specific state.
Professional license regulations change often, so please be sure to check with your state occupational licensing board to confirm that a degree or certificate allows you to pursue licensure in each state.
Depending on your program, you may be interested in pursuing professional licensure or certification following graduation. Professional licensure refers to an official process, usually administered at the state level, that is required by law for an individual to practice a specific profession. Licensure may require formal postsecondary education, passage of a licensure examination, and/or completion of qualifying work experience.
All the University of Arkansas’ programs designed to lead to professional licensure
meet the educational requirements for licensure in the state of Arkansas. To determine
whether our programs meet educational requirements for licensure in other U.S. states
and territories, please review our publicly available professional licensure disclosures
on each program’s webpage.
The University of Arkansas makes every effort to ensure information about educational requirements for programs are current; however, licensure requirements are always subject to change. Licensure information is reviewed and updated annually during the fall term. Changes in state requirements after the review period could impact the University of Arkansas’s determination of whether the program meets educational requirements in a particular state.
Students should always check with their state licensure board to confirm licensure
requirements. Separate from educational requirements, state licensure boards may
require applicants to complete professional examinations, background checks, years
of professional experience, state-specific topical training, etc.
Prospective and current students should keep in mind that because licensing and authorization requirements vary by state, relocating during a program to another state could impact whether a student meets eligibility requirements. Students should notify their program advisor and check authorization and licensure eligibility requirements before relocating to another state during the course of a program.
The following sites contain links to state licensing boards in their listed disciplines:
| Profession | National Body | Website |
|---|---|---|
|
Education/Teaching |
U.S. Department of Education |
|
|
Nursing |
National Council of State Boards of Nursing |
|
|
Social Work |
Association of Social Work Boards |
|
U.S. Department of Education
Student Grievance Procedures
University of Arkansas works diligently to find positive outcomes to student concerns.
Please try to exhaust all possible internal avenues of complaint resolution outlined in your Catalog of Studies and the Office of Equal Opportunity and Compliance before going outside the University. If you are not satisfied with the outcome of
the University process, you may be able to file an appeal with the appropriate state
agency. If your complaint arose while you were in Arkansas or a NC-SARA member state,
please contact the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. SARA member states are shown on the map. If your complaint arose while you were
in a state not a NC-SARA member, please contact that state’s agency. Non NC-SARA member
states contact information is provided through the map.
The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville is not regulated in Texas under Chapter 132
of the Texas education Code.
For further assistance with the university’s grievance process please call 479-575-6483
Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Examples of types of student complaints that may be brought forward include, but are not limited to, complaints regarding accuracy of tuition or fee information, accreditation, whether a program meets licensure requirements, or course transfer information.