UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State is again co-hosting a free virtual workshop in November on the topic of state authorization that addresses issues for Pennsylvania institutions that participate in State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements, or SARA.
The PA-SARA Workshop will be held from 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 16. Penn State Outreach and Online Education's Office of Compliance and Contracts and the Pennsylvania Department of Education are the co-hosts for the eighth straight year.
Each year the workshop brings together higher education professionals from across Pennsylvania who work in the field of state authorization for distance education to hear news and updates from national and state leaders and to network and ask questions.
Registration is open until Nov. 10.
"With the regulatory landscape always changing and evolving, this event brings together those in the field to discuss what is on the horizon and how we might move forward together," said Teri Spence, director of the Outreach and Online Education Office of Compliance and Contracts.
This year’s speakers include the following:
- Marianne Boeke, president for NC-SARA.
- Elisa Jaden, director of the Southern Regional Education Board region for NC-SARA.
- Lynette Kuhn, division chief of higher education, access and equity for the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
- Jana Walser-Smith, director of interstate compliance and member outreach for the State Authorization Network.
- Gina Wetten, higher education associate for the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
- Jeannie Yockey-Fine, general counsel for NC-SARA.
“We continue to look at new technologies and ways to involve the attendees,” said Shawna Pryle, compliance specialist in the Office of Compliance and Contracts. “Each year we try something new, adjust the agenda and take into consideration evaluation feedback from the previous year to make the event better than the year before.”
The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements provide a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education. States that join SARA agree to follow uniform processes for approving their eligible institutions' participation and for dealing with other states' institutions. More than 2,300 colleges and universities nationwide participate in SARA.
Visit the workshop’s website to register and find more information.