Out-of-State Learning Placements

What are out-of-state placements?

Out-of-state learning placements refer to educational activities where students from one state participate in learning experiences, such as internships, clinical rotations, or field placements, in another state. 

Benefits of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements 

Participating in State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) offers numerous benefits for educational institutions. SARA includes a provision that covers out-of-state learning placements associated with distance education programs. This means that as a SARA participating institution, under specified conditions, VCU may place a limited number of students in learning placements in other SARA states without securing prior authorization for those placements. 

Notification and Reporting Requirements 

VCU needs to provide notification to the State Council for Higher Education of Virginia regarding any intended out-of-state learning placements. This may involve submitting relevant information, such as the location, nature, and duration of the placements. In addition, prior approval by the other state’s professional licensure board may be required for placements that are part of a degree program intended to prepare students for professional licensure in another state.

SARA requires VCU to report specific information related to out-of-state learning placements on an annual basis. The data must include the numbers of their students engaged in certain experiential learning placements (rotations, internships, student teaching, etc.), disaggregated by state, and the two-digit Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes as assigned by the U.S. Department of Education.