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State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)

For Dakota State University (DSU) to offer online course/programs or experiential learning activity to students outside of the state of South Dakota, DSU must seek approval from the state the student is physically located in and/or the state the activity is taking place in. State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement is a national initiative that increases student access to distance education courses and programs while maintaining compliance with state regulations. SARA is the permission Dakota State University has to offer programs to student in U.S. states and territories. South Dakota participates in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), and DSU is an institutional member of NC-SARA.  As a participant in NC-SARA, DSU shares a distance learning opportunity with 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education does not regulate out-of-state public institutions. Bureau approval for Dakota State University to offer distance education programs to students located in California is not required so DSU is able to offer programs in California.

International Compliance 

 Please be advised that certain countries do not fully recognize credentials earned online from a foreign university. Please check to ensure an online degree will serve its intended purpose in your country. If a country does not formally recognize foreign online degrees and certificates, this may have implications for students who later seek to enroll in other educational programs, seek employment with that country’s government, or other employers requiring specific credentials. The Ministry of Education – Government website will assist you in researching whether an online degree would be approved. Any costs of foreign degree equivalence documentation would be the candidate's expense. It is your responsibility to check with the Ministry of Education to ensure that an online degree can be recognized in your country. Proof of documentation can be emailed to StateAuthorization@dsu.edu. Some programs may not be available depending on one's location.