Postsecondary State Authorizations and SARA

Grand Canyon University (GCU) offers programs in compliance with the laws and regulations of the state in which it operates as defined by the jurisdiction’s laws. GCU may be authorized, licensed, registered, exempt or not subject to approval depending upon the laws of the relevant state.

State Authorizations

GCU is licensed in Arizona by the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education.

Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education (AZPPSE)
1740 W. Adams St., Suite 3008
Phoenix, AZ 85007

Phone: 602-542-5709
ppse.az.gov

GCU is licensed to operate by the Nevada Commission on Postsecondary Education (CPE) as a private postsecondary educational institution at the following location within the state of Nevada.

Grand Canyon University
2485 Village View Drive, Suite 300
Henderson, NV 89074

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing: Pre-Licensure, Accelerated (ABSN) program is the only program offered at this location. As a result, GCU is authorized to offer the laboratory and simulation courses of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing: Pre-Licensure, Accelerated (ABSN) program at this location.

GCU encourages students to follow the appeals process outlined in the University Policy Handbook. However, students enrolled in the ABSN Henderson (Las Vegas area) program version may file a complaint with the Nevada Commission on Postsecondary Education by filling out the student complaint form at the following link: cpe.nv.gov

This form can be submitted via email, fax, or mailed to the following address:

Nevada Commission on Postsecondary Education
2800 E. St. Louis Ave.
Las Vegas, NV 89104

GCU has been granted a certificate of State Authorization as a registered postsecondary school from the Utah Division of Consumer Protection. As a result, GCU is authorized to offer laboratory and simulation components of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing: Pre-Licensure, Accelerated (ABSN) program at the following location:

Grand Canyon University
150 Civic Center Drive, Suite 100
Sandy, UT 84070

GCU encourages students to follow the appeals process outlined in the University Policy Handbook. However, students enrolled in the ABSN Sandy (Salt Lake City area) program version may file a complaint with the Utah Division of Consumer Protection by following the instructions which can be found at the following link: dcp.utah.gov

Utah Division of Consumer Protection
160 E. 300 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Phone: 801-530-6601
dcp.utah.gov

GCU has been granted a Chapter 30 license by the Wyoming Department of Education (WYDOE) to offer educational services to Wyoming students. For more information, please visit the Wyoming Department of Education website.

Wyoming Department of Education
122 W. 25th St., Suite E200
Cheyenne, WY 82002
edu.wyoming.gov

GCU encourages students to follow the appeals process outlined in the University Policy Handbook. However, students enrolled in the program versions offered on the military base may file a complaint with the Wyoming Department of Education by completing the student complaint form here: edu.wyoming.gov.

State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) Participant

GCU is an institutional participant in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) initiative. SARA is an agreement among member states, districts and territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. SARA is overseen by a National Council and administered by four regional education compacts. For more information and a list of member states, please visit nc-sara-org.

The following is a list of SARA member states and territories:

  • Alabama – AL
  • Alaska – AK
  • Arizona – AZ
  • Arkansas – AR
  • Colorado – CO
  • Connecticut – CT
  • Delaware – DE
  • Florida – FL
  • Georgia – GA
  • Hawaii – HI
  • Idaho – ID
  • Illinois – IL
  • Indiana – IN
  • Iowa – IA
  • Kansas – KS
  • Kentucky – KY
  • Louisiana – LA
  • Maine – ME
  • Maryland – MD
  • Massachusetts – MA
  • Michigan – MI
  • Minnesota – MN
  • Mississippi – MS
  • Missouri – MO
  • Montana – MT
  • Nebraska – NE
  • Nevada – NV
  • New Hampshire – NH
  • New Jersey – NJ
  • New Mexico – NM
  • New York – NY
  • North Carolina – NC
  • North Dakota – ND
  • Ohio – OH
  • Oklahoma – OK
  • Oregon – OR
  • Pennsylvania – PA
  • Puerto Rico – PR
  • Rhode Island – RI
  • South Carolina – SC
  • South Dakota – SD
  • Tennessee – TN
  • Texas – TX
  • U.S. Virgin Islands – VI
  • Utah – UT
  • Vermont – VT
  • Virginia – VA
  • Washington – WA
  • West Virginia – WV
  • Wisconsin – WI
  • Wyoming – WY

SARA Grievance Process

GCU is a SARA participating institution. The Arizona SARA Council has jurisdiction over Arizona SARA-approved institutions in relation to non-instructional complaints. Instructional complaints, such as grade grievances, are not reviewed by the Council and should not be submitted for review. Distance education students who reside in SARA states (see list of SARA states at nc-sara.org), may file a non-instructional complaint with the Arizona SARA council. However, non-instructional complaints may only be filed with SARA after student’s have first utilized GCU's appeals process (see University Policy Handbook - University Appeal Procedures) and the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education’s complaint process. Non-instructional complaints may be submitted to AZ-SARA via azsara.arizona.edu/complaints.

GCU Accreditation and Licensure

GCU is a fully accredited university, with regional and programmatic accreditations. To view GCU’s accreditation and licensure, please visit our University Accreditation page. For information on our licensure, visit our Professional Licensure and Certification page.

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