State Authorization

BC3 participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.

BC3 is a SARA-approved institution through the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), and a member in good standing with the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA).

The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) is a voluntary agreement among its member states and U.S. territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs.  Distance education, for the purpose of SARA, means:  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 (iTV) and correspondence courses or programs.

NOTE:  For purposes of SARA, distance education also  includes a limited number of group activities conducted for short periods on the ground in states other than Pennsylvania, including supervised field experiences for students such as field trips, practica, student teaching, clinicals, and internships.

SARA is intended to make it easier for students to take distance education courses and/or programs offered by postsecondary institutions that are based in a state other than the state where a student is physically located.  The student's physical location is determined by where the student participates in the distance education activity, regardless of whether or not it is the student's legal state of residence.  Such cases may include:  military assignments, temporary employment relocation, incarceration, etc.

SARA policy is intended to be consistent with federal law and is therefore subject to change based on federal rulemaking.  For more information on SARA and the policies and procedures set forth by the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), please visit:  https://www.nc-sara.org  

 

APPROVED STATES AND TERRITORIES

As a SARA institution, BC3 is approved to offer distance education to students in the following states and territories of the United States of America:

STATES

1. Alabama
2. Alaska
3. Arizona
4. Arkansas
5. Colorado
6. Connecticut
7. Delaware
8. Florida
9. Georgia
10. Hawaii
11. Idaho
12. Illinois
13. Indiana
14. Iowa
15. Kansas
16. Kentucky
17. Louisiana
18. Maine
19. Maryland
20. Massachusetts
21. Michigan
22. Minnesota
23. Mississippi
24. Missouri
25. Montana
26. Nebraska
27. Nevada
28. New Hampshire
29. New Jersey
30. New Mexico
31. New York
32. North Carolina
33. North Dakota
34. Ohio
35. Oklahoma
36. Oregon
37. Pennsylvania
38. Rhode Island
39. South Carolina
40. South Dakota
41. Tennessee
42. Texas
43. Utah
44. Vermont
45. Virginia
46. Washington
47. West Virginia
48. Wisconsin
49. Wyoming

TERRITORIES

1. Washington D.C. (District of Columbia)
2. Puerto Rico
3. U.S. Virgin Islands

RESTRICTED STATES AND TERRITORIES

At this time, BC3 cannot offer distance education to students in the following states and territories of the United States of America:

STATES

1. California

TERRITORIES

1. American Samoa
2. Guam

For the most up-to-date list of SARA approved states, please visit:  https://www.nc-sara.org/state-actions-regarding-sara

 

CONSUMER PROTECTION

Please see the STUDENT CONSUMER INFORMATION page for applicable BC3 policies and related information.

 

ACADEMIC/OUT-OF-STATE GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

Complaints that imply BC3 is operating contrary to the policies and procedures provisioned by NC-SARA apply only to distance education courses or programs offered to out-of-state students.  Complaints regarding student grades or student conduct violations are governed entirely by BC3's institutional policy and the laws set forth by the state of Pennsylvania.

NOTE:  Complaints about BC3's in-state operations are to be resolved under the state of Pennsylvania's provisions, not those of SARA.

BC3 makes every effort to resolve student complaints internally using the policies and procedures outlined in the College's STUDENT HANDBOOK. The BC3 Student Complaint and Academic Grievance procedure is the same for all students regardless of physical location.

 

How to File a Complaint:

1)  Complaints by out-of-state distance education students against BC3 must first go through the institution's own procedures for resolution of grievances.

If a grievance is academic in nature, for example, complaints about BC3 distance education instructors, courses, grades or requirements, the College's policy for academic grievances will apply.  Please review the STATEMENT OF RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR MEMBERS OF THE COLLEGE COMMUNITY for BC3's academic/out-of-state student grievance procedure.

 

2)  If an out-of-state student is not satisfied with the outcome of the institutional process for handling a complaint resulting from distance education courses offered by BC3, the SARA consumer protection provisions require the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Pennsylvania designated "Portal" entity, to investigate and resolve allegations of dishonest or fraudulent activity by BC3, including the provision of false or misleading information.

To file a complaint with the state of Pennsylvania, please submit a completed HIGHER EDUCATION COMPLAINT FORM to:

Pennsylvania Department of Education
Division of Higher Education, Access, and Equity
333 Market Street, 12th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333
Fax: 717-772-3622
E-mail:  RA-pls@pa.gov (for submission of form or questions)

SUPERVISED FIELD EXPERIENCES

For purposes of SARA, distance education also includes a limited number of group activities conducted for short periods on the ground in states other than Pennsylvania, including supervised field experiences for students such as field trips, practica, student teaching, clinicals, and internships.

NOTE:  BC3 is not permitted to place more than ten (10) students from an individual academic program  simultaneously at one clinical or practicum site outside of the state of Pennsylvania, unless approval for a larger number has been provided by the host state's SARA portal entity. 

If  supervised field experiences are required for programs leading to professional licensure and/or certification, additional approvals by the student's home state's professional licensing/certification agencies or boards may be necessary.   Please see additional information below regarding programs leading to professional licensure.

Independent off-campus study, e.g. independent field work for a thesis or dissertation, by individual students not engaged in a supervised field experience or in direct contact with the student's institution is exempt from requirements of SARA.

 

PROGRAMS LEADING TO PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE

SARA has no effect on the professional licensing requirements in SARA member states.  Please see the  PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE INFORMATION page for more details and information on programs at BC3 that customarily lead to professional licensure/certifications.