Baruch College is a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA).

National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA)

SARA is an agreement among member states, districts and territories that establishes comparable national standards for the approval of interstate postsecondary distance education courses and programs. Baruch College online programs are approved by the New York State Education Department.

SARA Requirements: Professional Licensure Disclosure

While SARA does not address professional licensing board approval for programs leading to state licensing, SARA does require that participating institutions provide proper notification to students as to whether courses and programs will meet the professional licensure requirements in states where students are located. This is in alignment with federal regulations.

Professional Licensure

Baruch College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) (www.msche.org). The MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The Board of Regents in New York State (NYS) grants professional licensure/certificates to qualified candidates.  Baruch College is also an institutional member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA). SARA membership does not grant reciprocity or exempt Baruch College from state professional licensing/certification requirements.

Based on the U.S. Federal Regulation, 34 CFR §668.14 and §668.43, and in compliance with SARA, Baruch is required to notify prospective and current students as to whether courses or programs that lead to professional licensure will meet the professional licensure requirements in the state where the students reside.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

Baruch College academic programs have been designed to meet the accreditation and licensure/certification requirements as well as prepare students to apply for licensure/certification exams in the State of New York.  As a result, licensing/certification requirements in New York may not be recognized as sufficient to obtain licensure/certification in any other state.

Programs that lead to licensure at Baruch College include:

Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling

Baruch recommends that you contact the appropriate state licensing board where you wish to seek licensure or certification to determine whether the program you are considering will meet that state’s licensing or certification requirements. The list of state agency contacts for our program leading to licensure is attached here.

Complaint Resolution

SARA students have an avenue for filing complaints related to consumer protections and/or SARA Policy with the institution. Note: SARA complaints do NOT include complaints related to grades or student conduct violations. Additional information for filing complaints related to consumer protections can be found on the SARA Student Complaints webpage (https://www.nc-sara.org/sara-student-complaints-0).

Consumer protections complaints, as outlined by the SARA Policy Manual, may be filed internally with the Dean of Students office. Complaints are filed through an electronic filing system. Visit the Student Complaint Policy website for specific instructions. If you need assistance, students may also contact the Dean of Students Office at deanofstudents@baruch.cuny.edu.  Students should follow all internal processes at Baruch prior to filing a complaint with a state agency. You may also use the Student Grievance Policy through the Office of the Dean of Students if the issue you wish to report involves another student or discriminatory behavior.

If the situation is not resolved internally, students may file a complaint with the City University of New York (CUNY) and if still unresolved, the New York State Education Department (NYSED). The process for contacting CUNY and NYSED follows below. Please note that SARA does not assist with complaints related to grade or student conduct violations.  A student may appeal the institutional decision to the SARA State Portal Entity in New York State, but must follow the full process, including filing a complaint with CUNY, within two years of the incident about which the complaint is made. You may also learn more about student complaints and NC-SARA by visiting this site: SARA Student Complaints | NC-SARA

1.    City University of New York (CUNY) – Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

If a student is unable to reach a resolution with Baruch College, the next step is to file a complaint with the City University of New York Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. The Office of Student Advocacy and Referral can assist students with the complaint process.

City University of New York
Office of Student Advocacy and Referral
20542nd Street
New York, NY 10017
studentaffairs@cuny.edu

Students must file a complaint with CUNY before filing a complaint with the New York State Education Department.

2.  New York State Education Department (NYSED) – Office of Higher Education SARA-Student Complaint Process | New York State Education Department

The deadline for filing a SARA-related complaint with NYSED is two years.

If a person bringing a complaint is not satisfied with the outcome of the institutional process for handling complaints, the complaint (except for complaints about grades or student conduct violations) may be appealed, within two years of the incident about which the complaint is made, to the SARA Portal Entity in the home state of the institution against which the complaint has been lodged.” (SARA Policy Manual, version 25.1 July 1, 2025, “4.5 Process for Resolving Complaints,” p. 37.)

The United States Department of Education requires institutions of higher education to provide prospective and current out-of-state students with the contact information of the state agency or agencies that handle complaints against postsecondary education institutions offering distance learning within that state. Find the State Complaint Information Fall 2025 List (PDF).  Information listed for each state is subject to change and will be updated each semester.