University students wanting to enroll in out-of-state internships are being affected by new rules pertaining to all forms of distance learning that occur across state lines. The new arrangements necessitate that students who plan to participate in such internships inquire about any existing obstacles well in advance of the start of their internship programs.

State higher-education officials, accreditation agencies, and other authorities established a clearinghouse program called “State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements” (SARA). For the online and other distance-learning programs of a university to be accepted as SARA‑approved educational opportunities, the state in which the university is located must be “a member of one of the four interstate Regional Compacts that administer SARA, or must have concluded an agreement with such a compact covering SARA activity,” according to the National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements. After paying a fee to the National Council of SARA, a university will be evaluated based on whether the regional accreditation agency has placed it on probation or whether the university’s ability to fulfill its commitments is questionable for any reason. A university whose record is deemed sound will be approved for participation in SARA.

Terri E. Bell, the state-authorizations coordinator in UNG’s Distance Education and Technology Integration center, reported on April 29, “Unfortunately, University of North Georgia is not authorized to allow our students to participate in internships in North Carolina.” As of April 11, other states and territories that have not been approved for SARA participation are American Samoa, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Marianas Islands, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Utah, the Virgin Islands, and Wisconsin.

For up-to-date information, contact a department internship advisor or Lisa Geddings, career/internship specialist in Career Services, at Lisa.Geddings@UNG.edu.