State Approvals

State Authorization Regarding Online and Distance Education

The following information explains Charter Oak State College’s status regarding offering online education to students outside of Connecticut. Students located in any state may enroll in all online programming offered by Charter Oak State College.

State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)

Charter Oak State College is an institutional participant in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). As a participating institution, it adheres to a common set of standards for offering postsecondary distance education among member states, districts, and territories. The Agreement establishes comparable national standards for the interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs. Charter Oak State College continues to monitor developments in the relevant laws in each state. If authorization or licensure is or becomes necessary, Charter Oak State College will take the necessary steps to gain approval.

NC-SARA Member States, Districts, and Territories

The chart below lists all current participating SARA states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Information on SARA states is available at http://nc-sara.org/sara-states-institutions.

Out-of-State Educational/Field Experience

Courses and programs incorporating a “supervised field experience” are covered by SARA provisions. SARA defines a “supervised field experience” as a learning experience under the oversight of a supervisor, mentor, faculty member or other qualified professional, located in the host state, who has a direct or indirect reporting responsibility to the institution where the student enrolled. Examples are internships, practica, or field experiences.

State Boards of Nursing may require additional notifications and requirements related to field and clinical experiences. Students will work with the clinical coordinator and compliance officer within American Sentinel School of Nursing and Health Science to ensure all requirements are met.

California Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF)

Charter Oak State College is authorized by the California Bureau for Private Post-Secondary Education (CA BPPE) to offer distance education programs, certificates and online courses.

California established the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) to relieve or mitigate economic loss suffered by a student in an educational program at a qualifying institution who is or was a California resident while enrolled or was enrolled in a residency program, if the student enrolled in the institution, prepaid tuition, and suffered an economic loss.

Unless relieved of the obligation to do so, you must pay the state-imposed assessment for the Fund STRF, or it must be paid on your behalf, if you are a student who is a California resident in an educational program or are enrolled in a residency program and prepay all or part of your tuition.

You are not eligible for protection from the STRF and you do not have to pay the STRF assessment if you are not a California resident or enrolled in a residency program. It is important that you keep copies of your financial aid documents, receipts, or any other information that documents the amount paid to the school. Direct all questions regarding the STRF to the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, 2535 Capitol Oaks Drive, Suite 400, Sacramento, CA 95833, 916.431.6959 or 888.370.7589.

To be eligible for STRF, you must be a California resident or enrolled in a residency program, prepaid tuition, paid or deemed to have paid the STRF assessment, and suffered an economic loss as a result of any of the following:

1. The institution, a location of the institution, or an educational program offered by the institution was closed or discontinued, and you did not choose to participate in a teach-out plan approved by the Bureau or did not complete a chosen teach-out plan approved by the Bureau.
2. You were enrolled at an institution or a location of the institution within the 120-day period before the closure of the institution or location of the institution, or were enrolled in an educational program within the 120-day period before the program was discontinued.
3. You were enrolled at an institution or a location of the institution more than 120 days before the closure of the institution or location of the institution in an educational program offered by the institution as to which the Bureau determined there was a significant decline in the quality or value of the program more than 120 days before closure.
4. The institution has been ordered to pay a refund by the Bureau but has failed to do so.
5. The institution has failed to pay or reimburse loan proceeds under a federal student loan program as required by law, or has failed to pay or reimburse proceeds received by the institution in excess of tuition and other costs.
6. You have been awarded restitution, a refund, or other monetary award by an arbitrator or court, based on a violation of this chapter by an institution or representative of an institution, but have been unable to collect the award from the institution.
7. You sought legal counsel that resulted in the cancellation of one or more of your student loans and have an invoice for services rendered and evidence of the cancellation of the student loan or loans.

To qualify for STRF reimbursement, the application must be received within four (4) years from the date of the action or event that made the student eligible for recovery from STRF. A student whose loan is revived by a loan holder or debt collector after a period of non-collection may, at any time, file a written application for recovery from STRF for the debt that would have otherwise been eligible for recovery. If it has been more than four (4) years since the action or event that made the student eligible, the student must have filed a written application for recovery within the original four (4) year period, unless the period has been extended by another act of law. However, no claim can be paid to any student without a social security number or a taxpayer identification number.

California Student Complaint Process for Online Students

If you are enrolled as an online student living in California, which is not a member SARA, and you have a complaint that cannot be resolved through Charter Oak State College’s internal complaint process, you may file a complaint with the California Department of Consumer Affairs (CADCA). On behalf of California student residents, CADCA will evaluate complaints, identify the appropriate accrediting agency or governmental entity to handle the complaint, and request a response from the entity regarding the final disposition of the complaint. The address and contact information for CADCA are below:

California Department of Consumer Affairs Consumer Information Center

1625 North Market Blvd., Suite N-112
Sacramento, CA 95834
Phone: (833) 942-1120
Email: dca@dca.ca.gov
File a complaint with CDCA

International Students

International students are advised to understand and be apprised of the rules, regulations, and requirements related to online distance education programs in their country of residence. Students are advised to understand if their countries will recognize the online certificates or degrees and if it they will meet any licensure or certification requirements. International students are encouraged to contact their admissions representative if they have any questions.

Registering a Complaint with a State

To register a complaint in a student’s state of residency, please visit our State-By-State Complaint Process section.