State regulations require legal authorization for post-secondary institutions to offer distance education degrees, certificates, and courses, to students who are located outside the institution’s home state.

State Authorization for Online Classes/Programs

Chesapeake College is an approved institutional member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). Participation in NC-SARA is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. With the exception of California, all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are NC-SARA member states. For more information about NC-SARA, including the states currently participating in the agreement, visit http://www.nc-sara.org/. Chesapeake College is offering distance education in compliance with all other states laws.

Therefore, at this time, Chesapeake is able to accept students from all 50 states and the District of Columbia as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Professional Licensure and Certifications

Professional licensure is a process of state or other governmental entities that establish standards of practice and give legal permission to practice a profession by providing licenses or certifications to individuals who meet those standards. Requirements for professional licensure in fields, such as accounting, education, and nursing, and many others, vary from state to state. Certain credit and noncredit programs offered by the college are designed to meet licensure or certification requirements in the state of Maryland and may not meet requirements from other states. 

Laws regarding distance education and professional licensure requirements vary by state; consequently, compliance with state authorization and professional licensure requirements is an ongoing process and subject to change. We encourage you to contact that state’s licensing board to determine whether the Chesapeake College program of study, and required courses, meet the requirements for licensure or certification in that state. 

Additional Information

Chesapeake College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission.

Student complaint procedures may be found here.

 

Chesapeake College has been approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.

*State laws regarding distance education vary by state; consequently, compliance with state authorization requirements is an ongoing process and subject to change.

Student Grievance Process for Out-of-State Students

Chesapeake College is committed to providing clearly stated, timely, and accessible methods for resolving student grievances. Students who attend Chesapeake College, but reside outside of Maryland should follow Chesapeake College’s established student grievance process in order to file a grievance. Students should file a complaint with the NC-SARA State Portal Entity for Maryland in the event that the College’s grievance process has been exhausted and the student remains unsatisfied with the outcome. The NC-SARA Complaint Process for Maryland can be downloaded from the Maryland Higher Education Commission website. Complaints regarding student grades or conduct violations are governed by the institution and the laws of the institution’s home state. The NC-SARA process does not affect grading policies or conduct violations appeals. For more information about NC-SARA, please visit the NC-SARA website.

To file complaints or make other contact with applicable regulatory agencies, contact the Maryland Attorney General’s Office, Consumer Protection Division.

MHEC Contact Information

Students who wish to file a complaint with MHEC should refer to MHEC’s website for complete information.

MHEC’s contact information is

Maryland Higher Education Commission
6 North Liberty Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Toll-Free: 800-974-0203
Phone: 410-767-3300

Filing Complaints with Your State

Under SARA, students may choose to work through their own state’s portal entity for complaint resolution; however, MHEC is responsible for overseeing the investigation and complaint resolution. Each state’s portal entity can be found on NC-SARA’s website by clicking on your state. Students who are residents of California, a non-NC-SARA state, and who are engaged in distance education with Chesapeake College should contact their home state’s educational agency for information on how to file a complaint.