Part Definitions

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As used in this part:

  1. “Commission” means the Tennessee higher education commission;
  2. “Complaint” means a complaint or grievance against a Tennessee SARA institution filed by a non-Tennessee student residing in a member state other than Tennessee and whose complaint is relative to a distance education course or program offered by a Tennessee SARA institution;
  3. “Institution” means an accredited postsecondary degree-granting school, college, university, or other organization;
  4. “Member state” means a United States state, territory, or district currently approved to participate in the state authorization reciprocity agreement;
  5. “NC-SARA” means the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements;
  6. “Non-Tennessee SARA institution” means an institution approved by a member state other than Tennessee for participation in SARA;
  7. “Portal agency” means the single agency designated by Tennessee to serve as the interstate point of contact for SARA questions, complaints, and other communications;
  8. “SREB” means the Southern Regional Education Board;
  9. “State authorization reciprocity agreement” or “SARA” means the agreement overseen by the National Council for SARA and administered by the Southern Regional Education Board; and
  10. “Tennessee SARA institution” means an institution approved by the commission for participation in SARA.


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