State Authorization Requirements & Complaints Resolution

State regulations require legal authorization for post-secondary institutions to offer distance degrees, certificates, and courses to students who live outside the institution's home state. This may also include online or campus-based courses that include activities such as internships, externships, co-ops, field experiences, student teaching, and clinical placements in state's outside of the institution's home state.

McDaniel is an approved institutional member of the National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA). Membership in SARA is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses/programs offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. For more information about SARA, including the states currently participating in the agreement, visit http://www.nc.sara.org.

SARA membership allows McDaniel to accept and deliver our programs/courses online to students in 49 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Students who reside in California, currently the only state not a member of SARA, should contact the admissions office prior to application to verify if you are eligible to participate in the online program of interest.

As a part of the SARA regulations, institutions must provide current and prospective students with contact information for filing complaints with its accrediting body and the appropriate state agency for handling complaints in a student's state.

A complaint may include allegations that the institution engaged in:

• Dishonest or fraudulent behavior, including giving false or misleading information to a student. Examples may include, but are not limited to:
  • Veracity of recruitment and marketing materials
  • Accuracy of job placement data
  • Accuracy of information about tuition, fees and financial aid
  • Complete and correct admission requirements for courses and programs
  • Accuracy of information about whether course work meets professional licensing requirements.
• Operating a course or program contrary to standard practices set forth in the Interregional Guidelines for the Evaluation of Distance Education Programs (Online Learning) in such a way that harms a student.

• McDaniel makes every effort to resolve student complaints internally. If you have a complaint about any of the above, please contact Steve Kerby at 410-386-4686 or skerby@mcdaniel.edu

  If your complaint is not resolved, you may file a complaint with the Maryland Commission on Higher Education, Maryland’s SARA “portal agency.” Information about how to file such a complaint can be found on MHEC’s website.

• To file a complaint in a state outside of Maryland visit the SARA Website for information about filing consumer complaints in those states.

• Please note: this policy does not apply to complaints related to course grades, academic sanctions, or discipline/conduct matters. Those matters should be handled by McDaniel's Student Grievance Procedure as outlined in the student handbook.

McDaniel College is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The Commission has authorized McDaniel College to offer baccalaureate and master’s degrees, and post baccalaureate and professional graduate certificates. For information about filing a complaint with Middle States, visit the Middle States website.