The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) is a new initiative designed to safeguard distance-learning students and provide them with greater access to online courses, as well as to protect state and institutional interests.

W-SARA Steering Committee Members

WICHE expresses gratitude to the members of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement Steering Committee for their efforts and for the care they took in creating a draft agreement that will help the region’s students, institutions, and states.

Sona Karentz Andrews, provost and vice president for academic affairs, Portland State University, Portland, OR
Chris Bustamante, president, Rio Salado College, Tempe, AZ, and WICHE commissioner representing Arizona
Teri Cannon, former executive vice president, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities, Alameda, CA
Heather DeLange, academic policy officer, Colorado Department of Higher Education, Denver, CO
Rhonda Epper, assistant provost, Colorado Community College System, Denver, CO
Toni Larson, executive director, Independent Higher Education of Colorado, Denver, CO
Senator Carol Liu, California State Senate, Sacramento, CA
John Lopez, vice president, state government affairs, Apollo Group, Phoenix, AZ
Jane Sherman, vice provost for academic policy and evaluation, Washington State University, and interim executive director, Council of Presidents, Olympia, WA

WICHE Staff

David Longanecker, president
Jere Mock, vice president of programs and services
Russell Poulin, deputy director, research and analysis, WCET, and member of the Presidents’ Forum/CSG drafting team

Other Participants in Steering Committee Meetings

Bruce Chaloux, executive director and CEO, Sloan Consortium, Newburyport, MA, and member of the Presidents’ Forum/CSG drafting team
Sharmila Basu Mann, senior policy analyst, State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO), Boulder, CO
Marianne Boeke, research associate, National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS), Boulder, CO
R. Crady deGolian, director, the National Center for Interstate Compacts, Council of State Governments, Lexington, KY
Kathryn Dodge, consultant, New England Board of Higher Education, Boston, MA
Marshall Hill, executive director, Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education, Lincoln, NE, and member of the Presidents’ Forum/CSG drafting team
Larry Isaak, president, Midwestern Higher Education Compact, Minneapolis, MN
Charlie Lenth, vice president for policy analysis and academic affairs, SHEEO, Boulder, CO
Chris Rasmussen, vice president for research and policy analysis, Midwestern Higher Education Compact, Minneapolis, MN
Paul Shiffman, assistant vice president for strategic and governmental relations, Presidents’ Forum of Excelsior College, Albany, NY
Dave Spence, president, SREB, Atlanta, GA
Michael Thomas, president, New England Board of Higher Education, Boston, MA