SARA participation is voluntary for states and institutions. SARA participating states recognize the college home state authorization authority. ACHS joined SARA through the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Council (HECC), a member of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) SARA Regional Compact in February 2015.  As a SARA institution, ACHS has agreed to abide by the Interregional Guidelines for the Evaluation of Distance Education Programs (Online Learning)