Celebrating excellence across the network.
SANsational Awards
SANsational Awards
Innovative Solutions to State Authorization Challenges
The SANsational Awards recognize innovative, effective solutions to state authorization and compliance challenges across the SAN network. These awards celebrate achievements, highlight promising practices, and provide opportunities for others to learn from successful approaches.
2026 SANsational Award Recipients
Congratulations to the 2026 SANsational Award recipients! Their projects demonstrate creative, practical approaches to addressing compliance challenges and offer valuable examples for others across the SAN network.
- University of Michigan | Compliance Innovations
Michigan Online Compliance Review Framework - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University | Compliance Innovations
Compliance Intelligence Dashboard - Post University | Licensure Programs
Follow Your Licensure Path Guides
Award Categories and Nominations
SANsational Awards recognize innovative approaches in three categories:
- Licensure Programs: Managing state approvals, disclosures, and notifications.
- Location: Identifying and reporting student location.
- Compliance Innovations: Developing policies, tools, or practices to support compliance management.
Eligibility and Nominations
Institutions and organizations enrolled in SAN and in good standing may self-nominate. Projects should demonstrate effective solutions to compliance challenges that others could adapt or replicate.
The 2026 self-nomination period is closed. Information about future nomination opportunities will be shared when available.
Review the 2026 Call for Nominations
2026 Awards Committee
Thank you to the 2026 SANsational Awards Committee for sharing their time and expertise in reviewing nominations and recognizing innovative approaches to compliance challenges.
- Shari Miller, Attorney
- Ramsey Itani, Rio Salado College
- Bryanne Ostoyich, Aims Community College
- Jeannie Yockey-Fine, Attorney
Previous SANsational Award Recipients
Explore past SANsational Award recipients and their innovative approaches to state authorization and compliance challenges.
Select the plus (+) sign next to each year to view award-winning projects, discover promising practices, and access available recordings and resources.
2025 Awardees
- Campbell University | Licensure Programs
Training Manual to Document State Professional Licensure Educational Requirements | Project Lead: Bill Hall - Dakota State University | Licensure Programs
Licensure Landscape: Mapping Requirements by Location | Project Lead: Annette Miller - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University | Location
Automating Accountability: Dynamic Enrollment Agreements for State-Level Compliance | Project Lead: Will Miller - Aims Community College | Compliance Innovations
Aims All In on Accessibility: A College-Wide Digital Accessibility Initiative and Framework | Project Lead: Bryanne Ostoyich - University of Kentucky | Compliance Innovations
Software Solutions for Streamlined State Authorization and Licensure Data Management | Project Lead: Shuiping Jiang - Southern New Hampshire University | Compliance Innovations
Operationalizing Compliance: Coordinating an Institution-Wide Solution for Consumer Disclosures | Project Lead: Nikki Bryant
2024 Awardees
- Post University | Licensure Programs
Maintaining Databases in Support of Personalized Student Licensure Advising - University of Kentucky | Licensure Programs
Certification Procedures Planning Project: Collaborating Across Campus for Effective Regulatory Implementation - Southern New Hampshire University | Location
Identifying Student Location and Reporting Such Information - University of Nevada, Las Vegas | Location
Accuracy in Data Collection (ADC) for the Out of State Learning Placements (OOSLP) - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University | Compliance Innovations
Creating Efficiencies and Ensuring Effectiveness through a SharePoint-Based Change Management Process - Rio Salado College | Compliance Innovations
College Compliance Calendar Tool: Free Accountability for Us All - University of Kentucky | Compliance Innovations
The Global Compliance Pilot Project: The Evolution of Distance Education Global Compliance
Press Release for the 2024 SANsational Awards (PDF)
2024 SANsational Award Winning Project Presentations
Inside the 2024 SANsational Awards: Meet this Year’s Winners!, WCET Frontiers
2023 Awardees
- University of Louisville | Compliance Innovations
Elevating the Importance of Academic Compliance: A Paired Approach to Change - Sinclair Community College | Location
Professional Licensure Disclosures (Location of Students) - The Chicago School | Location
Embracing Purposeful Engagement for a California Institution - Post University | Licensure Programs
Personalized Licensure Advising and Disclosure - The Chicago School | Licensure Programs
The Licensure Story: When Obstacles & Challenges Lead to Wins
2022 Awardees
- Campbell University | Compliance Innovations
Utilizing Accreditation Documentation to Demonstrate Compliance with C-RAC Guidelines - University of Cincinnati | Compliance Innovations
State Authorization Working Group (SAWG) - Utah Tech University | Compliance Innovations
Implementing a Professional Licensure Database for Automatic Individual Disclosures
Press Release for the 2022 SANsational Awards (PDF)
2022 SANsational Award Winning Project Presentations
2022 SANsational Award Winners Present Promising Compliance Solutions, WCET Frontiers
2021 Awardees
- East Carolina University | Location
Where Are ECU's Students? - Franklin University | Compliance Innovations
Slate Customer Relationship Management (CRM) as a Tool for Compliance Management for Professional Licensure Programs – A Partnership Between Offices - Slippery Rock University | Compliance Innovations
Bringing Order to Chaos – SARA Data Collection - University of South Dakota | Compliance Innovations
Robust, Minimal Cost Tools for State Authorization and Professional Licensure Compliance
Press Release for the 2021 SANsational Awards (PDF)
Webpage for Presentation Recordings for Award Winning Projects
2020 Awardees
- University of Kentucky | Licensure Programs
Licensure Disclosure Project - The Ohio State University | Compliance Innovations
State Auth 101 Online Training Module - University of Kentucky | Compliance Innovations
Field Placement Coordination - University of Michigan | Compliance Innovations
Online and Hybrid Development Playbook - University of Missouri–Kansas City (UMKC) | Compliance Innovations
The State Authorization One Stop Shop
Press Release for the 2020 SANsational Awards (PDF)
Webpage for Presentation Recordings for Award Winning Projects
2019 Awardees
- University of Louisville | Licensure Programs
- James Madison University and University of Virginia | Compliance Innovations
- Western Governors University | Compliance Innovations
Press Release for the 2019 SANsational Awards (PDF)
Recording, Slide Deck, and Transcripts of SANsational Award winning initiatives
2018 Awardees
- International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) | Compliance Innovations
- Mount Saint Mary's University | Location & Licensure Programs
- Texas Woman's University | Compliance Innovations
- University of Louisville | Location
- University of Phoenix | Licensure Programs
2017 Awardees
- University of Missouri–Kansas City | Institutional Authorization
- The Ohio State University | Location & Licensure Programs
2016 Awardees
- Northern Arizona University | Location
- University of New Mexico | Institutional Authorization
2015 Awardees
- The University of Minnesota | Licensure Programs
- Drexel University | Institutional Authorization
- New York University | Location
- University of Louisville | Location