Code of Massachusetts Regulations
610 CMR - BOARD OF HIGHER EDUCATION
Title 610 CMR 12.00 - Operation of Massachusetts Degree-Granting Institutions under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement
Section 12.02 - Definitions
As used in 610 CMR 12.00:
Accreditation. Accreditation as a U.S.-based institution from an accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Board. The Board of Higher Education, a state agency established pursuant to applicable provisions of M.G.L. c. 15A.
Commissioner. The chief executive and administrative officer of the Department of Higher Education and the Board of Higher Education, pursuant to M.G.L. c. 15A, § 6.
Complaint. A formal written submission to the Department asserting that the terms and policies of SARA, the laws, standards, or regulations incorporated by SARA, and/or the provisions of 610 CMR 12.00 are being violated by a person, institution, state, agency, or other organization or entity operating under SARA.
C-RAC Guidelines. The Interregional Guidelines for the Evaluation of Distance Education (Online Learning) for best practices in postsecondary distance education developed by leading practitioners of distance education and adopted by the Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions (C-RAC) in 2011.
Department. The Department of Higher Education, a state agency established pursuant to applicable provisions of M.G.L. c. 15A, § 6 and which shall serve as the portal entity for SARA in Massachusetts.
Distance Learning or Distance Education. Instruction offered by any means where the student and faculty member are in separate physical locations. It includes, but is not limited to, online, interactive video, or correspondence courses or programs. It does not include intrastate distance education activity.
Home State. The SARA member state in which an institution holds its legal domicile.
IPEDS. The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, the federal postsecondary education data collection program.
Legal Domicile. The state in which the institution's principal campus holds its institutional accreditation and, if applicable, its Federal Office of Postsecondary Education Identifier (OPEID) number.
Member State. Any state, commonwealth, district, or territory of the United States that is a participant in good standing in SARA.
National Council for SARA or NC-SARA. The National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements, the central coordinating body for SARA participation.
New England Board of Higher Education or NEBHE. The regional compact as established in the SARA Manual that administers SARA for Massachusetts.
Operating under SARA. Offering distance education courses or programs in a state other than Massachusetts under the purview of SARA, pursuant to 610 CMR 12.00 and the requirements of the SARA Manual.
Portal Entity. The single entity designated by the Commonwealth to serve as the interstate point of contact for institutional applications, questions, complaints, and other communications relating to a reciprocity agreement.
Postsecondary Institution or Institution. An institution of higher education located within Massachusetts legally authorized to award degrees at the associate level or above.
Reciprocity Agreement. A voluntary agreement that establishes reciprocity between willing states for approval of postsecondary educational services delivered by distance learning beyond state boundaries and that is consistent with the requirements set forth in 34 CFR Part 600 .
SARA Manual. The document as adopted and periodically updated by NC-SARA to administer the voluntary regional approach to state oversight of distance education.
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement or SARA. The state authorization reciprocity agreement or the voluntary program which implements reciprocity agreements among states, districts, or territories, institutions, and NC-SARA.
