NC-SARA & State Authorization
Augusta University (AU) has taken steps to protect its students and operations by participating in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). NC-SARA is a national initiative to provide more access to programs and courses while maintaining compliance standards with state regulatory agencies.
As an NC-SARA-approved institution, AU can offer our programs to students living in SARA member states/territories. Although the SARA agreement simplifies the authorization process, it does not entirely remove the need for institutions to obtain additional permissions from other states or to provide specific information to students. For instance, institutions may be required to get authorization from states that do not participate in SARA. Moreover, particular conditions related to field placements may require institutions to seek further approval. Additionally, institutions offering programs that lead to professional licensure must inform students whether these programs meet the educational requirements of relevant state professional boards. See the Professional Licensure Program Authorization section below for more information on our ability to offer those programs.
Student Location and Eligibility
If you anticipate a change in your current location, please get in touch with the Registrar's Office as soon as you know the new anticipated location(s). Residing in a state where our programs do not meet educational requirements will adversely affect your eligibility for federal student aid, military tuition assistance, or continued enrollment in your program. These potential issues apply to summer courses, internships, clinicals, or other field experiences outside an approved state. Remember, as a student, you have the power to ensure your eligibility by providing accurate and updated information regarding your current location to the institution.
Early notification helps the institution minimize, though not eliminate, the potential for program delays. If you will be residing internationally or have any questions regarding the content of this page, please contact the Office of the Vice Provost for Instruction at 706-721-3256.
Complaints
Augusta University seeks to resolve concerns and complaints in a fair and prompt manner. Generally, starting from the lowest level and working your way up is a good rule of thumb. If your complaint is academic, this means first speaking with your professor, then the academic department head, and then the dean of the college. Before pursuing external options, exhaust all internal avenues of complaint resolution by first completing the Augusta University Complaint Form. Students in SARA member states may file a complaint with the Georgia State Portal Entity (GA-SARA) . Students residing in non-SARA states or territories may file a complaint with the state or territory where they reside.
If a complaint cannot be resolved after exhausting Augusta University’s procedure described above, the student may file a complaint with the following agencies:
Address: 2082 East Exchange Place, Suite 220 Tucker, GA 30084
Phone: 770-414-2644
Email: mrivers@gnpec.ga.gov
Address: 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033
Phone: (404) 679-4500
Visit the Complaints Against Institutions: Information Sheet and Form to inform SACSCOC of a complaint.
Jump to: Accreditation & Approval Student FAQs Faculty & Staff FAQs Professional Licensure Program Authorization
Augusta University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. Questions about the accreditation of Augusta University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC's website.
Augusta University is an institutional participant in The National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) initiative. With this membership, Augusta University programs are available to students who reside in all the 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
California
Augusta University may offer courses or programs to students located in California,
even though this state is not a member of NC-SARA. Programs and courses in licensed
fields (i.e. nursing, teacher preparation, etc.) may require additional approval from
professional licensure board(s). The California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education does not regulate out-of-state public institutions. Therefore, Bureau approval for
Augusta University to offer educational activities in California is not required.
Augusta University distance education programs have no previous, current, or pending adverse actions initiated by any state agencies within the past five calendar years.
Augusta University distance education programs have no previous, current, or pending adverse actions initiated by any accrediting agencies within the past five calendar years.
The Augusta University Refund Policy follows the University System of Georgia Board of Regents policy in the USG Policy Manual 7.3.5. Students who matriculate online from their state of residence may be governed by refund policies mandated by the particular state in question. Please contact the Business Office for more information.
State authorization regulations do not apply to students accessing courses or programs while located outside of the United States. While we carefully track issues related to international authorization and licensure, it is a student’s responsibility to understand requirements related to whether Augusta University degree will be recognized in a country other than the United States, how the collection of student data may be used in another country, and whether withholding taxes (in addition to the price of tuition) will apply. Some countries may not formally recognize foreign online degrees, which may have implications for students who later seek to enroll in other educational programs, or for those who seek employment with that country’s government or other employers requiring specific credentials.
International students considering an academic program that leads to a professional license should first confirm with the appropriate professional licensing board in their country of residence or the country where they intend to work as to whether an Augusta University degree will be recognized when seeking licensure or certification.
Yes, Augusta University is authorized to place students in educational experiences across all NC-SARA member states and territories. However, there are specific limitations on the number of students that can be placed at any one facility at the same time in SARA states, and additional requirements and limitations apply in Colorado. Augusta University is also required to annually report on our out-of-state field placements. It is essential that your college is informed of the state where you are completing your field experience.
Augusta University works to provide global access to its online programs. While Augusta University Online carefully tracks issues related to international authorization, we advise students to understand regulations and requirements related to online programs in their country of residence. This includes whether the country will recognize an online degree, if there are additional withholding taxes (in addition to tuition) in your country, and whether the program meets any license or certification requirements in your country.
There may be restrictions on the number of online credit hours that an international student may count toward a full course of study each semester. Please contact the Office of Admissions or the Registrar’s Office for more information.
State authorization applies to all for-credit, out-of-state educational activities, including online courses or programs, and out-of-state field experiences such as internships, clinicals, and practicums.
In order to offer educational opportunities to students outside Georgia, Augusta University must comply with state and federal authorization laws. Federal regulations require an institution to be authorized in every state where a student resides in order for the institution to participate in Title IV federal financial aid programs. Please view this short video to learn about state authorization and why participation is important for institutions and students.
As a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), which provides a voluntary regional approach to state authorization of postsecondary distance education, Mason is required to report to NC-SARA the enrollments of out-of-state online students and Out-of-State Learning Placements (OOSLP) of both on-ground and online students.
Augusta’s Office of Institutional Reporting maintains data regarding out-of-state online student populations for the first of these reports. For the second report, i.e., OOSLP, we will reach out to each of the colleges/schools annually for assistance in gathering data for the OOSLP report.
NC-SARA has established the following criteria for OOSLP reporting:
Programs of study that typically require additional licensure or certification to practice in the field may require us to gain programmatic authorization within a state before we are authorized to serve residents. Additionally, these programs may need to review their curriculum to determine if it aligns with licensure requirements in other states. If your department’s program does not fit licensure requirements in another state, you should refrain from enrolling students in that state. The most common fields listed by states as requiring programmatic approval/licensure are: nursing, social work, psychology, and education. Some states list engineering and allied health programs, as well. As Augusta University continues to develop and launch new online programs and course offerings, collaborations between departments and coordinators will help us identify potential authorization triggers while maintaining our good faith compliance efforts and growing our programs.
Augusta University makes every effort to ensure information about educational requirements for licensure and/or certification is current; however, state requirements may change. Separate from educational requirements, state licensure boards may require applicants to complete professional examinations, background checks, years of professional experience, jurisprudence exams, training, etc.
Augusta University cannot enroll students who reside in states where our programs do not meet the educational requirements for licensure or certification in that state. Students who live in one of these states have two options available to them. Option one: Students who do not intend to return to their home state after graduation may elect to submit an attestation, prior to admission, acknowledging their intent to seek licensure/certification in a state where the program meets licensure/certification requirements upon graduation. Option two: Students may elect not to pursue enrollment at Augusta University.
If you are planning to pursue professional licensure or certification in a state other than Georgia after graduation, it is strongly recommended that you contact the appropriate licensing entity in that state to seek information and guidance regarding licensure or certification requirements before enrolling in an academic program.
Review the programs below to see if the program you’re interested in meets the educational requirements for licensing/certification in your home state (or state where you intend to work upon graduation).