State Authorization, Disclosures & Student Complaints

Authorization 

Sacred Heart University, as a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), is authorized to offer distance programs in all states and United States Territories that participate in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

SARA is a voluntary agreement of states and United States Territories that has established comparable standards for distance education programs offered across state lines. Only accredited, federally-recognized institutions are able to offer distance education programs under SARA.

Sacred Heart University’s institutional participation was granted by the State of Connecticut Office of Higher Education on January 11, 2017 and has been maintained each subsequent year. California is the only state that does not participate in SARA. As a non-profit institution, Sacred Heart University is exempt from approval from the California Bureau of Post-Secondary Education. 

Participation in SARA does not absolve Sacred Heart University programs from the need to meet applicable state licensing and certification requirements. Prospective students are advised to refer to a program-specific webpage for information about state professional licensing and certification requirements, states in which clinical placements are either limited or restricted and potential consequences of relocating to a different state at any time after admission to a degree program.

Change in Location

Current and prospective students who intend to relocate to a different state at any point after admission to a degree program are advised to review the information below to determine if Sacred Heart University offers the program in the student's new state. If a student moves to another state, the requirements for certification and licensure may be different from the state where they lived when they were admitted to the program. Students are responsible for determining the licensure or certification requirements in any state where they live or plan to relocate. Students are also responsible for remaining up-to-date on changes to licensure or certification requirements. Students are required to file a change of address form to notify the university should their address change.

Students are responsible for understanding the specific educational and other requirements, for licensure and certification in, the state in which they intend to apply and practice.

Student Complaint Processes 

Sacred Heart University believes every student has the right to file a complaint or grievance. Students should first attempt to resolve the complaint or grievance with the university. If a resolution is not achieved at the institution level, the student should contact the Office of Higher Education, which is Connecticut’s state portal for SARA. They can be reached by phone at 860-947-1837 or by mail at Office of Higher Education, 450 Columbus Blvd, Suite 707, Hartford, CT 06103-1841. Please note that this process refers only to non-academic complaints.

The policy and procedures for academic complaints/grievances are also outlined in the SHU Graduate and Undergraduate Catalogs.

Individual state complaint webpages can be found under each state below.

Clinical Site Requirements

Sacred Heart University’s programs may require successful completion of practicum hours at an approved clinical site. Clinical agency partners and clinical sites typically require criminal background checks, fingerprinting, and/or drug screening prior to starting a clinical rotation. Some clinical agencies/sites will mandate additional testing requirements, such as for color blindness.

A criminal background or felony conviction may affect the student’s ability to secure a site for practicum hours. An inability to complete the required practicum/clinical hours would prohibit program completion. In addition, states may restrict or prohibit individuals with a criminal background from obtaining a professional license and/or eligibility to sit for licensing/certification examinations.  

Some Sacred Heart University programs require a cleared criminal background check result as part of the initial application process. For program-specific information, refer to the program’s webpage.

State Required Trainings, Exams & Specific Coursework

States may require additional training, coursework or examinations in addition to the educational requirements required for licensure. For example, some states may require training in CPR or additional coursework on state statutes and regulations. Students will need to research their own state licensure requirements to determine what those additional requirements may be and are responsible for completing those requirements on their own.

Program Specific Disclosure Pages

For more information regarding specific program disclosures, visit the following webpages:

• College of Business & Technology
• College of Education & Human Development
• College of Nursing
• College of Health Professions
• School of Social Work
• Certificate of Advanced Study in Play Therapy
• Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• School Counseling
• Athletic Training
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Occupational Therapy
• Physician Assistant Studies

Contact

The information on this page is reviewed yearly. For questions pertaining to information found on this page or your state authorization requirements, reach out to Vincent Cataudella at cataudellav@sacredheart.edu.

Licensure & Disclosures by State