The ability of New Mexico’s public and private colleges and universities to offer online programs beyond the state borders just increased considerably and includes target states from coast to coast.
The state Higher Education Department (HED) announced that the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) – of which New Mexico is one of 16 members – unanimously approved New Mexico for membership in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). SARA is a relatively new interstate instrument launched in January of last year that is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by higher education institutions in other states.
Once an application and fee has been accepted by HED, the institution can offer online distance learning courses in the 22 other SARA states – a number which is expected to continue growing. Without SARA, every institution seeking to offer online education in another state had to file for a separate authorization in each state and pay those states a separate authorization fee.