Directory of State Authorization and Lead Contacts for Individual States

Below is contact information for contacts regarding state authorization and grievances. You can also find information on state reciprocity by visiting the NC-SARA States & Institutions website.


Alabama
Dr. Jim Conely, Senior Program Officer
Alabama Commission on Higher Education

100 North Union Street
Montgomery, AL 36104
Telephone: (334) 242-2235
Email: jim.conely@ache.edu
Website: https://www.ache.edu/index.php/non-resident-institution-authorization

Alaska
Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education

P.O. Box 110505
Juneau, AK 99811-0505
Telephone: (800) 441-2962
Email: ACPE@alaska.gov
Website:  https://acpe.alaska.gov/Institutional-Authorization/SARA 

Arizona
Keith Blanchard, Deputy Director
Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education
1740 W. Adams, Suite 3008
Phoenix, AZ  85007
Telephone: (602) 542-5709
Email: keith.blanchard@azppse.gov
Student Grievance Link: https://ppse.az.gov/resources/policy-state-authorization-and-student-complaint-process

Arkansas
Alana Boles, Associate Director for Academic Affairs
Arkansas Department of Higher Education

101 E. Capitol Avenue Street, Suite 300
Little Rock, AR 72201
Telephone: (501) 371-2060
Email: alana.boles@adhe.edu
Website: https://www.adhe.edu/students-parents/student-grievance-form

California
Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education

P.O. Box 980818
West Sacramento, CA 95798-0818
Telephone: (916) 263-1896
Email: bppe.enforcement@dca.ca.gov
Website: https://www.bppe.ca.gov/enforcement/complaint.shtml

Colorado
Lorna A. Candler, Chief Occupational Education Officer/Director
Colorado Department of Higher Education

1600 Broadway, Suite 2200
Denver, CO 80202
Telephone: (303) 862-3001
Email: lorna.candler@dhe.state.co.us
Website: https://cdhe.colorado.gov/complaint-procedures

District of Columbia
Amy Spies, Education Compliance Specialist
District of Columbia Higher Education Licensure Commission
Office of the State Superintendent of Education
 
1050 First Street NE 
Washington, DC 20002
Telephone: (202) 727-6436
Email: amy.spies@dc.gov
Website: https://helc.osse.dc.gov/topic/helcadmin/institutions/state-authorization-reciprocity-agreement-sara

Connecticut
Emily Bjornberg, SARA Coordinator
Office of Higher Education, State of Connecticut
 
450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 707
Hartford, CT 06103-1841
Telephone: (860) 947-1800
Email: emily.bjornberg@ct.gov
Website: https://www.ohe.ct.gov/POSA/StudentInfo.shtml#Complaint

Delaware
Leigh Weldin, College Success Program Administrator
Delaware Department of Higher Education

The Townsend Building
401 Federal Street, Suite 2
Dover, DE 19901-3639
Telephone: (302) 735-4000
Email: ihe@doe.k12.de.us
Website: https://www.doe.k12.de.us/sara

Florida
Brady Lyon, Educational Policy Director
Commission for Independent Education
 
325 W. Gaines Street, Suite 1414
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400
Telephone: (850) 245-3200
Email: brady.lyon@fldoe.org
Website: https://www.fldoe.org/sara/

Georgia
Adam Hawk, Deputy Director/GA-SARA Coordinator
Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission
  (GNPEC)
2082 East Exchange Place 
Tucker, GA 30084
Telephone: (770) 414-3300
Email: GASARA@gnpec.org
Website: https://gnpec.georgia.gov/authorization/state-authorization-reciprocity-agreement-sara

Hawaii
Catherine P. Awakuni Colon, Director Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs of Hawaii
Hawaii Post-Secondary Education Authorization Program (HPEAP)
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs

335 Merchant Street, Room 310
Honolulu, HI 96813
Telephone: (808) 586-7327
Email: hpeap@dcca.hawaii.gov
Website: https://cca.hawaii.gov/hpeap/hpeap-sara-complaint-process

Idaho
Tamara Baysinger, State Authorization Program Manager
Idaho State Board of Education

PO Box 83720
650 West State Street, Suite #307
Boise, ID 83720
Telephone: (208) 334-2270
Email: tamara.baysinger@osbe.idaho.gov
Website: https://boardofed.idaho.gov/higher-education-private/private-colleges-degree-granting/state-authorization-reciprocity-agreement-sara/

Illinois
Dr. Nkechi Onwuameze, Assistant Director for Academic Affairs, Illinois SARA Coordinator
Illinois Board of Higher Education

1 N. Old State Capitol Plaza, Suite 333
Springfield, IL 62701-1377
Telephone: (217) 782-2551
Email: sara@ibhe.org
Website: https://www.ibhe.org/sara.html

Indiana
Ross Miller, Director of State Authorization and Reciprocity
Indiana Commission for Higher Education/
Indiana Board for Proprietary Education

101 W. Ohio Street, Suite 300
Indianapolis, IN 46204-4206
Telephone: (317) 232-1033
Email: rmiller@che.in.gov
Website: https://www.in.gov/bpe/

Iowa
Lisa Pundt, Postsecondary Authorization Administrator
Iowa College Aid

475 SW Fifth Street, Suite D
Des Moines, IA 50309
Telephone: (877) 272-4456
Email: lisa.pundt@iowa.gov
Website: https://www.iowacollegeaid.gov/SchoolAuthorization

Kansas
Jennifer Armour, Associate Director, Academic Affairs
Kansas Board of Regents

1000 SW Jackson, Suite 520
Topeka, KS 66612-1368
Telephone: (785) 430-4240
Email: jarmour@ksbor.org
Website: https://www.kansasregents.org/academic_affairs/sara

Kentucky
Jevonda Keith, Director of State Authorization and Reciprocity
Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education

100 Airport Road, 3rd Floor
Frankfort, KY 40601
Telephone: (502) 573-1555
Email: jevonda.keith@ky.gov
Website: https://cpe.ky.gov/campuses/sararequest.html

Louisiana
LeAnn Detillier, Assistant Commissioner for Academic Program Administration
Louisiana Board of Regents

1201 N. Third St., Suite 6-200
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Telephone: (225) 342-4253
Email: LeAnn.Detillier@laregents.edu
Website: https://www.laregents.edu/sara/

Maine
Michael Perry, Acting Director, Higher Education
Maine Department of Higher Education

23 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0023
Telephone: (207) 441-1718
Email: michael.t.perry@maine.gov
Website: https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/highered/sara

Maryland
Bryson Barksdale, Online Education Analyst
Maryland Higher Education Commission

6 North Liberty Street, 10th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21201
Telephone: (410) 767-3297
Email: collegiatecomplaint.mhec@maryland.gov
Website: https://mhec.maryland.gov/institutions_training/Pages/acadaff/sara.aspx

Massachusetts
Tiamekia Johnson, Paralegal & Regulatory Affairs Specialist
Massachusetts Department of Higher Education

One Ashburton Place, Room 1401
Boston, MA 02108
Telephone: (617) 994-6910
Email: tjohnson@dhe.mass.edu
Website: https://www.mass.edu/foradmin/sara/home.asp

Michigan
James R. Farhat, Departmental Specialist
Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity
P.O. Box 30805
Lansing, MI 48909
Telephone: (517) 256-8670 
Email: farhatj@michigan.gov
Website: https://www.michigan.gov/leo/bureaus-agencies/wd/pss

Minnesota
Kate McCartan, Institutional Monitoring Specialist
Minnesota Office of Higher Education

1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 350
Saint Paul, MN 55108-5227
Telephone: (651) 259-3965
Email: kate.mccartan@state.mn.us
Website: https://www.ohe.state.mn.us/mPg.cfm?pageID=2149

Mississippi
Dr. Casey Prestwood, IHL Assoc. Commissioner for Academic
Mississippi Instructions of Higher Learning
 
3825 Ridgewood Road
Jackson, MS 39211
Telephone: (601) 432-6501
Email: cprestwood@mississippi.edu
Website: http://www.mississippi.edu/mcca/sara.asp

Missouri
Dr. Laura Vedenhaupt, Director of Academic Affairs
Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development

301 W. High Street
P.O. Box 1469
Jefferson City, MO 65101
Telephone: (573) 751-2361
Email: laura.vedenhaupt@dhewd.mo.gov
Website: https://dhewd.mo.gov/DistanceEducation.php

Montana
Joseph "Joe" Thiel, Director of Academic Policy and Research
Montana University System-Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education
 
P.O. Box 203201
Helena, MT 59620
Telephone: (406) 449-9124
Email: stateauthorization@montana.edu
Website: https://mus.edu/che/arsa/StateAuthorization/

Nebraska
Dr. Kathleen L. Fimple, Academic Programs Officer
Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education

PO Box 95005
Lincoln, NE 68509-5005
Telephone: (402) 471-0030
Email: Kathleen.Fimple@nebraska.gov
Website: https://ccpe.nebraska.gov/state-authorization-reciprocity-agreements-sara

Nevada
Terina Caserto, NSHE Senior Analyst
Nevada System of Higher Education

2601 Enterprise Road
Reno, NV 89512
Telephone: (775) 784-4901
Email: tcaserto@nshe.nevada.edu
Website: https://nshe.nevada.edu/system-administration/departments/asa/sara/

New Hampshire
Dr. Nicholas Marks, Administrator Higher Education
New Hampshire Department of Education
 
25 Hall Street
Concord, NH 03301-3860
Telephone: (603) 271-3494
Email: nicholas.w.marks@doe.nh.gov
Website: https://www.education.nh.gov/pathways-education/higher-education-new-hampshire

New Jersey
Adrian Wright, Licensure Program Coordinator
New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education

1 John Fitch Plaza, 10th Floor
P.O. Box 542
Trenton, NJ 08625-0542
Telephone: (609) 633-6910
Email: adrian.wright@oshe.nj.gov
Website: https://www.state.nj.us/highereducation/SARA.shtml

New Mexico
Alicia Armijo, New Mexico SARA Coordinator
New Mexico Higher Education Department

2044 Galisteo Street Suite 4
Santa Fe, NM 87505-2100
Telephone: (505) 476-8411
Email: alicia.armijo@state.nm.us
Website: https://hed.nm.gov/students-parents/nc-sara

New York
New York State Education Department, Office of Higher Education

Education Building Annex, Room 975
Albany, NY 12234
Telephone: (518) 474-1551
Email: ocueinfo@nysed.gov
Website: http://www.nysed.gov/college-university-evaluation/state-authorization-reciprocity-agreement-sara

North Carolina 

If you were unable to resolve a complaint through the institution's grievance procedures, please review the Student Complaint Policy (PDF), print and complete the Student Complaint Form (PDF), and submit the complaint to:

North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaints
c/o Student Complaints
University of North Carolina System Office
223 S. West Street, Suite 1800, Raleigh, NC 27603
Telephone: (919) 962-4558
Email: studentcomplaint@northcarolina.edu

Website: North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaints

SARA-NC

Students may also file a complaint through SARA-NC. SARA-NC is the portal for North Carolina. Students should follow the SARA-NC Complaint Process and use the SARA-NC Complaint Form (PDF).

SARA-NC Portal Liaison Contact Information:

 Terrence R. Scarborough, M.P.A. - Director of SARA North Carolina

North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority
P.O. Box 41349
Raleigh, NC 27629
Telephone: (855) SARA-1-NC (727-2162)
Telephone: (919) 248-4660
email: terrence@saranc.org
Website: https://www5.ncseaa.edu/SARANC/index.html

North Dakota
Claire Gunwall, Director of Academic Affairs & Workforce Innovation
North Dakota University System

600 E. Boulevard Avenue, Dept. 215
Bismarck, ND 58505-0230
Telephone: (701 328-2960
Email: stateauth@ndus.edu
Website: https://ndus.edu/state-authorization-sara/

Ohio
Matt Exline, Senior Director, Program Approval Operations
Ohio Department of Higher Education

25 South Front Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Telephone: (614) 728-3095
Email: mexline@highered.ohio.gov
Website: https://highered.ohio.gov/educators/academic-programs-policies/academic-program-approval/program-approval-overview/program-approval

Oklahoma
Elizabeth Walker, Coordinator for Academic Administration
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

655 Research Parkway, Ste. 200
Oklahoma City, OK 73104
Telephone: (405) 225-9100
Email: lwalker@osrhe.edu
Website:  https://www.okhighered.org/admin-fac/sara/

Oregon
Matthew Altman, Compliance Specialist, Student Complaints
Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission
 
3225 25th Street SE
Salem, OR 97302
Telephone: (503) 881-2738
Email: matthew.altman@hecc.oregon.gov
Website:  https://www.oregon.gov/highered/institutions-programs/private/Pages/dist...

Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Department of Education

333 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17126
Telephone: (717) 783-6788
Website: https://www.education.pa.gov/Postsecondary-Adult/CollegeCareer/Pages/State-Authorization-Reciprocity-Agreement-(SARA).aspx

Puerto Rico
Norma Rodriguez, Document Administration
Puerto Rico State Dept-Board of Postsecondary Education

P.O. Box 19900
San Juan, PR  00919-1900
Telephone: (787) 722-2121
Email: nrodriguez@estado.pr.gov
Website:  https://agencias.pr.gov/agencias/cepr/inicio/Pages/default.aspx

Rhode Island
Deanna Velletri, Proprietary School Specialist
Rhode Island Office of Postsecondary Commissioner

560 Jefferson Blvd., Suite 100
Warwick, RI 02886
Telephone: (401) 736-1100
Email: Deanna.velletri@riopc.edu
Website: https://riopc.edu/policies/student-complaint-procedures/

South Carolina
Dr. Argentini Anderson, Assistant Director, Academic Affairs & Licensing
South Carolina Commission on Higher Education

1122 Lady Street, Suite 400
Columbia, SC 29201
Telephone: (803) 737-2276
Email: aanderson@che.sc.gov
Website:  https://che.sc.gov/students-families-and-military/student-resources

South Dakota
Katie Hubbart, Curriculum & Student Affairs Policy Analyst
South Dakota Board of Regents

306 East Capitol Ave., Suite 200
Pierre, SD 57501
Telephone: (605) 773-3455
Email: Katie.Hubbart@sdbor.edu
Website: https://www.sdbor.edu/administrative-offices/academics/SD-SARA/Pages/default.aspx

Tennessee
Marcie Mills, Student Complaints
Tennessee Higher Education Commission

312 Rosa Parks Avenue, 9th Floor
Nashville, TN 37243
Telephone: (615) 253-7458
Email: marcie.mills@tn.gov
Website: https://www.tn.gov/thec/bureaus/student-aid-and-compliance/postsecondary-state-authorization.html

Texas
Benita Reyes, Student Complaint Staff
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board-Office of General Counsel

P.O. Box 12788
Austin, TX 78711
Telephone: (512) 427-6438
Email: studentcomplaints@highered.texas.gov
Website: https://www.highered.texas.gov/student-complaints/

Utah
Cynthia "Cyd" Grua
Office of the Commissioner for Higher Education
Utah System of Higher Education

Board of Regents Building, The Gateway
60 South 400 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Telephone: (801) 321-7152
Email: cgrua@ushe.edu
Website:  https://ushe.edu/office-of-commissioner/state-authorization-ut-sara/

U.S. Virgin Islands
Camille A. McKayle, Ph.D., Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
University of the Virgin Islands
#2 John Brewers Bay
St. Thomas, VI 00802
Telephone: (340) 692-4022
Email: cmckayl@uvi.edu

Website: https://www.uvi.edu/

Vermont
Cassandra Ryan, Director of Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management
Vermont Agency of Education

1 National Life Drive, Davis 5
Montpelier, VT 05620-2501
Telephone: (802) 828-5535
Email: Cassandra.Ryan@vermont.gov
Website: https://education.vermont.gov/vermont-schools/school-operations/post-secondary-programs#state-authorization-reciprocity-agreements

Virginia
Darlene Derricott, Director of Academic Affairs
State Council of Higher Education for Virginia

101 N. 14th Street, 10th Floor, James Monroe Bldg.
Richmond, VA 23219
Telephone: (804) 225-2600
Email: darlenederricott@schev.edu 
Website:  https://www.schev.edu/institutions/virginia-sara

Washington
Sam Loftin, Director of Consumer Protection
Washington Student Achievement Council 
 
P.O. Box 43430
Olympia, WA 98504 
Telephone: (360) 485-1078
Email: saml@wsac.wa.gov
Website: https://wsac.wa.gov/sara

West Virginia
Lucy Kefauver, Director of Online Learning
West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission

1018 Kanawha Blvd. East, Suite 700
Charleston, WV 25301
Telephone: (304) 558-0261
Email: lucy.kefauver@wvhepc.edu
Website:  https://www.wvhepc.edu/inside-the-commission/special-initiatives/state-a...

Wisconsin
EAP School Administration Consultant
Wisconsin Educational Approval Program
 
PO Box 8366
Madison, WI 53708-8366
Telephone: (608) 266-1996
Email: dspseap@wisconsin.gov
Website:  https://dspseap.wi.gov/

Wyoming
Elaine Marces, Private School Licensing
Wyoming Department of Education

122 W. 25th Street, Suite E200
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Telephone: (307) 777-6210
Email: elaine.marces@wyo.gov
Website: https://edu.wyoming.gov/for-district-leadership/school-programs/private-school-licensing/