State Authorization

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Westminster College has been approved by the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) to offer distance education programs, as defined in the next paragraph. This approval includes current Westminster College students taking a Westminster online course--undergraduate or graduate--while located in a state other than Pennsylvania.

Consistent with the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Westminster College defines distance education (DE) as “education that uses one or more types of technology to deliver instruction to students who are separated from the instructor and to support regular and substantive interaction between the students and the instructor synchronously or asynchronously.” Such education, undergraduate or graduate, is delivered via the Internet (e.g., D2L courses), Zoom or similar video technology, and/or other technology platforms.

Undergraduate courses typically are offered online or through distance education during the Summer Session. The School of Business and the School of Education offer degree programs and online course instruction that may lead to and meet requirements for certification and/or licensure programs in Pennsylvania. Further, these degree programs are designed but not certified to meet requirements outlined by licensure and certification entities in states other than Pennsylvania. The decision to certify and/or license a Westminster graduate ultimately resides with the licensing and/or certifying agency. It is recommended students contact the appropriate agency, board, organization, or specific entity to ensure the correct academic requirements will be met through Westminster College graduate degree programs.

Students participating in internships, practicums, or field experiences outside of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania should seek prior approval from their department chair. This applies to both online and in- person educational opportunities outside of Pennsylvania.

NC-SARA members include institutions representing 49 states. California is not a member of NC-SARA. As a result, Westminster College is currently unable to enroll students in online courses if they plan to take the course while living in the state of California. A resident of California may complete a Westminster College online course while living in a state other than California.

 

Complaint Resolution

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Students who have a complaint about an experience in a Westminster online or distance education course should contact the course instructor, followed by the chair of the department that offers the course, and then to the Dean of the College. If a complaint cannot be resolved satisfactorily through this internal process, students may contact: https://nc-sara.org/student-complaints.

 Certification and Licensure by State or Territory

 

Helpful Links

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Information on NC-SARA and Institutional Approval: https://nc-sara.org/

Information pertaining to Westminster College and its approvals through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: https://www.education.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Information regarding Westminster College's graduate online course offerings, degree programs, and certification programs: www.westminster.edu/graduate

Westminster College is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education: 1007 North Orange Street, 4th Floor, MB #166, Wilmington, DE 19801, (267) 284-5011.

 

Westminster College participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.