What is State Authorization?
State Authorization ensures Reformed Theological Seminary’s compliance with national standards among participating states for offering high-quality postsecondary education courses and programs across state lines, most notably its online distance education programs offered by RTS Global Education (RTSG). State authorization requirements for out-of-state educational activities vary by state and program. Thus, RTSG must ensure it meets the state requirements and regulations for each state where its students reside. At RTSG, we are committed to quality assurance in higher education by adhering to the standards of our accrediting agencies, the federal government, and the states by maintaining proper program approvals as required.
SARA
The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) is a national initiative designed to enhance access to distance education programs and courses from state to state while maintaining compliance standards with state regulatory agencies, in a more efficient, economical, and effective manner. Institutions participating in SARA can offer distance education opportunities in all 49 SARA member states, districts, and territories without seeking separate approvals.
SARA makes it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state and seeks to ensure the quality and integrity of educational programs by incorporating standards of practice for DE.
MCCA
Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation (MCCA) has statutory authority and duty to approve all colleges and universities or other entities that offer one or more postsecondary academic degrees and are domiciled, incorporated or otherwise located in the State of Mississippi.
Reformed Theological Seminary has been approved by the MCCA to participate in the National Council for State Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA).
Complaints Procedure
RTS Global seeks to resolve concerns and complaints in a fair and timely manner. Current students, future students, or alumni who have a complaint should review and seek to resolve their concern through the Student Complaints and Appeals Process. Resolution should be sought through this internal avenue, to its fullest extent, before the student pursues external options. In the unlikely event that a complaint cannot be resolved through Reformed Theological Seminary’s internal process, students may file a complaint with the MCCA using the MCCA Student Complaint Process.
AUTHORIZATION MAP
Accreditation
ATS
The Association of Theological Schools (ATS) is a membership organization of more than 270 graduate schools that conduct postbaccalaureate professional and academic degree programs to educate persons for the practice of ministry and for teaching and research in the theological disciplines.
Reformed Theological Seminary is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada to award the MA, MAR, MAC, MACC, MATS, MABS, MDiv, and DMin degrees. RTS is approved by ATS to offer a comprehensive distance education program. At RTS, this includes 100% online MABS, MATS, and MAR degrees.
Reformed Theological Seminary’s ATS Member page.
The Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in
the United States and Canada (ATS)
10 Summit Park Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15275
USA
Telephone: 412-788-6505
Fax: 412-788-6510
Website: http://www.ats.edu/
SACSCOC
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. It serves as the common denominator of shared values and practices among the diverse institutions in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Latin America and other international sites approved by the SACSCOC Board of Trustees that award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, or doctoral degrees. The Commission also accepts applications from other international institutions of higher education. The mission of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges is to assure the educational quality and improve the effectiveness of its member institutions.
RTS is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award masters and doctorate degrees. For more details and contact information on RTS’ accreditation status with ATS and SACS-COC see https://rts.edu/site/academics/accreditation.aspx.
Reformed Theological Seminary’s SACSCOC accreditation status page
Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
1866 Southern Lane
Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097
Telephone 404-679-4500
Fax: 404-679-4558
Website: http://www.sacscoc.org/