NC-SARA engages with several advisory committees and working groups to guide our work. This collaborative framework ensures that the work produced by these groups directly informs the five entities responsible for nationwide implementation. These stakeholders provide the expertise that drives our organization forward. Their contributions help us achieve our mission – Serving SARA.

SARA Data Advisory Committee

The purpose of the SARA Data Advisory Committee is to collaborate with and advise NC-SARA and the regional education compact staff about data and research needs; to make recommendations on reporting requirements; to consider data reporting comments/questions submitted by states and institutions; to provide direction on potential research projects; and to act as a sounding board on data issues in general.

SARA SPE Advisory Committee

The purpose of the SPE Advisory Committee is to collaborate with and advise NC-SARA and the regional education compact staff about SPE training needs and priorities, educational programs, SPE surveys, and data reporting. The committee also serves as an important component of the SARA Learning Community to help harvest from and share effective practices across the field, and to get feedback from SPEs on ideas for SPE outreach and engagement.

SARA Institution Advisory Committee (IAC)

The purpose of the SARA Institution Advisory Committee is to collaborate with and advise NC-SARA and the regional education compact staff about needs, engagement priorities, and programming for institutions (workshops, webinars, online training modules, etc.). The committee will serve as an important component of the SARA community to help harvest from and share effective practices across the field to support SARA compliance.

SARA Portal Advisory Committee

The purpose of the SARA Portal Advisory Committee is to collaborate with and advise NC-SARA and the regional education compact staff about essential technical insights and policy recommendations that drive portal excellence. It was created to provide a dedicated space for “super users” to focus on the technical details of the Salesforce portal, allowing the SPE Advisory Committee to focus on broader engagement and training. By collaborating the committee ensures the portal remains technologically robust and policy-sensitive.

SARA Policy Modification Process Implementation Team 2026

The SARA Policy Modification Process Implementation Team is represented by Regional Steering Committee (RSC) members and Regional Education Compact SARA Staff from all four regions, members of the NC-SARA Board of Directors, and NC-SARA staff. Members of this committee meet every other month during the PMP cycle, providing input and feedback. They also ensure engagement and bring back discussion topics and updates to the broader RSC groups in each region.

Working Groups

SARA Policy Modification Process Implementation Team Working Group 2026

The SARA Policy Modification Process Implementation Team Working Group is responsible for leadership and day-to-day administration of the SARA Policy Modification Process. The team also keeps their RSCs apprised during all stages of the SARA PMP cycle, soliciting input and feedback, and ensuring engagement with each region’s regional steering committee.

SARA Institutional Closures Working Group

The SARA Institutional Closures Working Group was created at the direction of the NC-SARA Board to the regional education compact SARA staff to work together to draft proposed SARA-wide institutional closure requirements that will allow for a strategic, structured, and transparent process for managing closures of SARA-participating institutions, prioritizing the interests of students while ensuring regulatory compliance and maintaining institutional integrity. Three committee subgroups were created to focus on teach-out plans/agreements, academic records/records retention, and financial arrangements that protect students’ investments.