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SARA Information and Disclosures

State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement

State and federal law require colleges and universities to be authorized to offer online degree programs for students in states other than their own.

Important: Must be reviewed by all out-of-state students

To help oversee the delivery of postsecondary distance education, the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) has established comparable national standards for the interstate offering of distance-education courses and programs. The NC-SARA is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. The state of Iowa participates in SARA and Loras College is an approved SARA institution through the Midwestern Higher Education Compact. This approval allows Loras College to accept students and deliver online education to students who reside in other NC-SARA participating states. NC-SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education. The terms and conditions of SARA can be found in SARA Policies and Standards.

For Online or distance-education students, the state agency depends on the student’s state of residence.

Information regarding states not participating in SARA

California is the only state not currently participating in NC-SARA.  Based on U.S. Department of Education regulations, students from California enrolled in online programs at Loras College are ineligible for Title IV aid. California Title IV Aid

International Students

Loras College welcomes international students to online degree programs. While we monitor issues related to international authorization, the student is responsible to understand current circumstances or requirements regarding whether an online degree is recognized in a country other than the United States. Students may also need to be aware that some countries may not formally recognize foreign online degrees, which may have implications for those who later seek to enroll in other educational programs.

Refund Policy

The Loras College refund policy can be found here: Refund Policy.

Grievance Process

Loras College is dedicated to providing a quality education and student experience and is committed to the growth and development of its students and to upholding the dignity of each individual. Distance education students who have a grievance with Loras College should first attempt to resolve the issue through institutional processes.  The Loras College Grievance Policy outlines the process for filing a grievance and includes a link to the Student Grievance Policy.

If the grievance is not resolved satisfactorily after following institutional processes,  distance education students who reside in a SARA member state may file their grievance with the Bureau of Iowa College Aid:

Bureau of Iowa College Aid

Iowa Department of Education

400 E 14th Street

Des Moines, IA 50319

Phone: (877) 272-4456

 

Student Complaint Information

Additional information about the SARA student complaint process may be found here.

Complaint Process Non-SARA State

Please see below for complaint information if you reside in California.

California

Loras College is not required to seek approval from the Bureau for Private Post-secondary Education and can offer 100% online programs to residents of California, however, these students are not eligible for Title IV aid. Internships, externships, and clinical placements are permitted in California for online and campus-based courses and programs.

California Student Complaint Process Contact:
California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education
PO Box 980818
West Sacramento, CA  95798-0818
bppe@dca.ca.gov

Resources for military students, veterans, and their dependents

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Resources for students regarding financial aid

For additional resources, feel free to visit the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA).

Loras College Consumer Information