Section 12.05 - Application for Renewal of Approval to Operate under SARA(1) Approval for participation in SARA is valid for one year from the date of notification of the Board's approval of an institution's initial or renewal application. An institution is required to annually submit an application for renewal of participation in SARA.(2) An institution will receive a reminder that it must submit an application for renewal of its approval to operate under SARA 90 days prior to the expiration of its existing term of approval.(3) An institution applying for renewal must submit its complete application, along with the fee required by 610 CMR 12.08 and set forth in Board policy, to the Department no later than 60 days prior to the expiration of its existing term of approval. The Department shall make renewal application forms available on its website. An institution should submit its renewal application, along with the fee required by 610 CMR 12.08 and set forth in Board policy, to the Department. If an institution does not submit its application 60 days prior to the expiration of its existing term of approval, the Commissioner may charge the institution a late fee in the amount of $25.00 per day for up to 60 days, until the expiration of the existing term of approval.
No action will be taken on an institution's renewal application until it is deemed by the Department to be complete and all required fees have been processed.
(4) All properly submitted and complete renewal applications will be reviewed by the Department to determine whether the institution continues to meet the eligibility requirements set forth in 610 CMR 12.03 and whether the institution is in compliance with the SARA Manual, including a review of the history of complaints received regarding an institution and its compliance with the requirements of 610 CMR 2.00: Degree-granting Regulations for Independent Institutions of Higher Education, if applicable Following its review, the Department will make a determination on the renewal of an institution's approval to operate under SARA consistent with the procedures set forth in 610 CMR 12.04(5).(5) If an institution knows that it will not be applying for renewal to operate under SARA, it should provide the Department with written notice to that effect 30 days prior to the expiration of its approval to operate under SARA.(6) An institution that does not apply for renewal prior to the expiration of its approval is no longer approved to operate under SARA and may reapply to the Department for approval no earlier than 180 days from the date of the expiration of its approval.Adopted by Mass Register Issue 1361, eff. 3/23/2018.Amended by Mass Register Issue 1422, eff. 7/24/2020.