Purchase College, SUNY determines student location for purposes of state authorization, participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA), and the administration of distance education and related out-of-state educational activities. This policy applies to prospective and enrolled students participating in online, hybrid, or other educational activities that may occur outside New York State and applies only to student location determinations for state authorization and NC-SARA compliance. This policy does not apply for any other determination of student location, including tuition residency, IPEDS reporting, or other purposes.

For purposes of state authorization and disclosure of information about licensed programs, Purchase College, SUNY determines a student’s initial location based on the reported permanent address on the admission application. Following registration in courses, the College determines a student’s location based on the address information in the student information system. Students living on campus are determined to be located in New York. Determination of student location for all other students is based on reported local address and then permanent address if a local address is missing.

Students are responsible for maintaining accurate and current address information, and the College may rely on the address on file when making determinations under this policy. A student’s location remains in effect until a change is officially submitted and recorded by the College. The effective date of a revised location is the date the change is recorded in College systems.

Out-of-state internships, field experiences, and other supervised educational activities may be subject to state authorization or NC-SARA requirements and must be reviewed and approved through the College’s designated processes before they begin. Purchase College participates in NC-SARA through New York State, and complaints related to distance education are addressed through the College’s published Complaint Resolution for Out-of-State Distance Education Students procedure. 

This policy is administered by Academic Affairs in coordination with the Office of the Registrar, Admissions, and other relevant offices.