About SARA
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)
Hawaii is approved to be a member of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
SARA is an agreement among member states, districts and territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of post-secondary distance education courses and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by post-secondary institutions based in another state.
For more information about SARA, please visit:
https://www.wiche.edu/sara
https://nc-sara.org/
Hawaii’s authorized schools can review the Hawaii SARA policies here and the fee schedule here.
The membership participation form is available here*.
*Please note that after receiving notification of your request to apply we will provide instructions on how to upload supporting documents online. Mahalo!
Approved Hawaii SARA Institutions
Chaminade University (participation expiration 3/22/2026)
Hawaii Community College (participation expiration 3/3/2026)
Hawaii Medical College (participation expiration 3/14/2026)
Hawaii Pacific University (participation expiration 11/2/2026)
Honolulu Community College (participation expiration 8/9/2026)
Institute of Clinical Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (participation expiration 11/30/2026)
Kapiolani Community College (participation expiration 7/15/2026)
Kauai Community College (participation expiration 8/6/2026)
Leeward Community College (participation expiration 1/26/2026)
Pacific Rim Christian University (participation expiration 11/30/26)
Touro University Worldwide (participation expiration 11/4/2026)
University of Hawaii at Hilo (participation expiration 1/23/2026)
University of Hawaii at Manoa (participation expiration 5/9/2026)
University of Hawaii – West Oahu (participation expiration 8/25/2026)
University of Hawaii Maui College (participation expiration 4/18/2026)
Windward Community College (participation expiration 10/20/2026)
HPEAP SARA Complaint Process
A SARA complaint is a complaint by an out-of-state distance education student* enrolled in a post-secondary institution in Hawaii, which is an approved SARA institution (see list of SARA-approved institutions). Complainants must first go through the institution’s complaints process before the complaint is brought to HPEAP.
Complaints regarding student grades or student conduct violations are governed entirely by institutional policy.
Complaints that can be resolved under this process include:
• Allegations of dishonest or fraudulent activity by an institution, including the provision of false or misleading information.
• Allegations that an institution has failed to comply with the Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions (C-RAC) Interregional Guidelines for the Evaluation of Distance Education https://www.nc-sara.org/sites/default/files/files/2019-08/C-RAC%20Guidelines%282011%29.pdf.
Upon receipt of your complaint, HPEAP will determine whether your complaint was properly filed and whether it warrants investigation. If a complaint warrants investigation, HPEAP forwards the complaint to the institution. The institution has 30 days to respond in writing. During the 30-day period, the institution, with HPEAP’s assistance, may attempt to resolve the complaint with you. If HPEAP determines at any time that the complaint no longer warrants investigation, HPEAP will dismiss the complaint. If a complaint is not resolved, HPEAP may 1) dismiss the complaint based on the response of the institution or 2) investigate and where appropriate, take disciplinary action in a manner consistent with Hawaii Revised Statutes chapter 91.
Here is the link to our complaint form:
https://cca.hawaii.gov/hpeap/files/2013/08/Student-Complaint-Form.pdf
*A current or former student may file a complaint; provided that if a former student files a complaint, the complaint shall be filed within two years after the former student discontinued enrollment at the institution.