Common use of Solution Clause in Contracts

Solution. The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (XXXX) establishes a state-level reciprocity process that will support the nation in its efforts to increase the educational attainment of its people by making state authorization: • more efficient, effective, and uniform in regard to necessary and reasonable standards of practice that spans states; • more effective in dealing with quality and integrity issues that have arisen in some online/ distance education offerings; and • less costly for states and institutions and, thereby, the students they serve. Key Points • XXXX is voluntary for states and institutions. • Administered by the four regional higher education compacts (Midwestern Higher Education Compact, New England Board of Higher Education, Southern Regional Education Board, and the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education). • Once states are approved by their compacts, they can begin to enroll eligible institutions. • Membership is open to degree- granting postsecondary institutions from all sectors (public colleges and universities; independent institutions, both non-profit and for-profit) accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. See xxx.xx-xxxx.org Benefits to Students • Expands access to educational offerings. • Participating institutions meet XXXX requirements and agree to meet specific quality standards. • Provides better resolution of complaints from students in XXXX states. • Reduces a rapidly growing institutional cost that can be passed along to students. • Enhances overall quality of distance education. Benefits to States • Expands educational offerings to state residents. • Allows XXXX states to focus on their home-state institutions, rather than on institutions from many other states. • Maintains state regulation of on-the-ground instruction offered by out-of-state institutions. • Other XXXX states will help resolve complaints. (XXXX states commit to resolving complaints from distance education offered by their institutions.) • Reduces costs for institutions, lessening this particular need to raise fees and thereby supporting affordability. • States pay no fees to join. Benefits to Institutions • Enables more efficient provision of distance education to a broader market. • Reduces number of other-state regulations to continually monitor and track. • Reduces number of applications and individual state requirements. • Reduces costs. » Applications, surety bonds, agent licenses, etc. » Staff (payroll and time). » Reduced costs = potentially lower fees for students. For more information, contact: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx, Ph.D. Executive Director National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000 Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 303.848.3283 • xxxxx@xx-xxxx.org xxx.xx-xxxx.org Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq. Director, N-XXXX New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) 00 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000 617.533.9524 • xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx xxx.xxxxx.xxx/xxxx Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, M.Ed. Director, S-XXXX Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) 000 00xx Xxxxxx X.X. Xxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000 404.875.9211 ext. 219 • xxxx.xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx xxx.xxxx.xxx/xxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Ph.D. Director, W-XXXX Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000 Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 303.848.3764 • xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx xxx.xxxxx.xxx/xxxx Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, M.A. Director, M-XXXX Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000 Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 612.287.5131 • xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx xxx.xxxx.xxx/xxxx MHEC NEBHE NC- XXXX XXXXX SREB National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements A voluntary, regional approach

Solution. The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (XXXX) establishes a state-level reciprocity process that will support the nation in its efforts to increase the educational attainment of its people by making state authorization: • more efficient, effective, and uniform in regard to necessary and reasonable standards of practice that spans states; • more effective in dealing with quality and integrity issues that have arisen in some online/ distance education offerings; and • less costly for states and institutions and, thereby, the students they serve. Key Points • XXXX is voluntary for states and institutions. • Administered by the four regional higher education compacts (Midwestern Higher Education Compact, New England Board of Higher Education, Southern Regional Education Board, and the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education). • Once states are approved by their compacts, they can begin to enroll eligible institutions. • Membership is open to degree- granting postsecondary institutions from all sectors (public colleges and universities; independent institutions, both non-profit and for-profit) accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. See xxx.xx-xxxx.org Benefits to Students • Expands access to educational offerings. • Participating institutions meet XXXX requirements and agree to meet specific quality standards. • Provides better resolution of complaints from students in XXXX states. • Reduces a rapidly growing institutional cost that can be passed along to students. • Enhances overall quality of distance education. Benefits to States • Expands educational offerings to state residents. • Allows XXXX states to focus on their home-state institutions, rather than on institutions from many other states. • Maintains state regulation of on-the-ground instruction offered by out-of-state institutions. • Other XXXX states will help resolve complaints. (XXXX states commit to resolving complaints from distance education offered by their institutions.) • Reduces costs for institutions, lessening this particular need to raise fees and thereby supporting affordability. • States pay no fees to join. Benefits to Institutions • Enables more efficient provision of distance education to a broader market. • Reduces number of other-state regulations to continually monitor and track. • Reduces number of applications and individual state requirements. • Reduces costs. » Applications, surety bonds, agent licenses, etc. » Staff (payroll and time). » Reduced costs = potentially lower fees for students. For more information, contact: Xxxxxxxx X. XxxxXxxx Xxxxxxxx, Ph.D. President and Chief Executive Director Officer National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000 Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 303.848.3283 • xxxxx@xx-xxxx.org xxxx@xx-xxxx.org xxx.xx-xxxx.org Xxxxx Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq. Director, N-XXXX New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) 00 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000 617.533.9524 • xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx xxx.xxxxx.xxx/xxxx Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, M.Ed. Director, S-XXXX Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) 000 00xx Xxxxxx X.X. Xxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000 404.875.9211 ext. 219 000-000-0000 • xxxx.xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx xxx.xxxx.xxx/xxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Ph.D. Director, W-XXXX Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000 Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 303.848.3764 • xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx xxx.xxxxx.xxx/xxxx Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, M.A. Director, Associate Director of M-XXXX Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000 Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 612.287.5131 612.287.2770 • xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx xxx.xxxx.xxx/xxxx MHEC NEBHE NC- Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Director of Policy Initiatives and State Authorization Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000 Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 303.541.0238 • xxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx xxx.xxxxx.xxx/xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Associate Director, N-XXXX XXXXX SREB New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) 00 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000 617.533.9503 • xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx xxx.xxxxx.xxx/xxxx National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements A voluntary, regional approach

Solution. The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (XXXX) establishes a state-level reciprocity process that will support the nation in its efforts to increase the educational attainment of its people by making state authorization: • more efficient, effective, and uniform in regard to necessary and reasonable standards of practice that spans could span states; • more effective in dealing with quality and integrity issues that have arisen in some online/ distance education offerings; and • less costly for states and institutions and, thereby, the students they serve. Key Points • XXXX is voluntary for states and institutions. • Administered by the four regional higher education compacts (Midwestern Higher Education Compact, New England Board of Higher Education, Southern Regional Education Board, and the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education), which will begin accepting applications from states in their regions by early 2014. • Once states are approved by their compactsapproved, they can begin to enroll eligible institutions. • Membership is open to degree- granting postsecondary institutions from all sectors (public colleges and universities; independent institutions, both non-profit and for-profit) accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. See xxx.xx-xxxx.org Benefits to States Benefits to Institutions Benefits to Students • Expands access to educational offerings. • Participating institutions meet XXXX requirements and agree to meet specific quality standards. • Provides better resolution of complaints from students in XXXX states. • Reduces a rapidly growing institutional cost that can be passed along to students. • Enhances overall quality of distance education. Benefits to States • Expands educational offerings to state residents. • Allows XXXX states to focus on their home-state institutions, rather than on institutions from many other states. • Maintains state regulation of on-the-ground instruction offered by out-of-state institutions. • Other XXXX states will help resolve complaints. (XXXX states commit to resolving complaints from distance education ed. offered by their institutions.) • Reduces costs for institutions, lessening this particular need to raise fees and thereby supporting affordability. • States pay no fees No cost to joinstates. Benefits to Institutions • Enables more efficient provision of distance education to a broader market. • Reduces number of other-state regulations to continually monitor and track. • Reduces number of applications and individual state requirements. • Reduces costs. » Applications, surety bonds, agent licenses, etc. » Staff (payroll and time). » Reduced costs = potentially lower fees for students. For more information, contact: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx, Ph.D. Executive Director National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000 Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 303.848.3283 • xxxxx@xx-xxxx.org xxx.xx-xxxx.org Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, EsqExpands access to educational offerings. Director, N-• Should lead to better resolution of complaints from students in XXXX states. • Reduces a rapidly growing institutional cost that is passed along to students. • Should enhance overall quality of distance education. WICHE REGIONAL COMPACTS MHEC NEBHE SREB MHEC Midwestern Higher Education Compact NEBHE New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) 00 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000 617.533.9524 • xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx xxx.xxxxx.xxx/xxxx Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, M.Ed. Director, S-XXXX SREB Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) 000 00xx Xxxxxx X.X. Xxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000 404.875.9211 ext. 219 • xxxx.xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx xxx.xxxx.xxx/xxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Ph.D. Director, W-XXXX Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000 Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 303.848.3764 • xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx xxx.xxxxx.xxx/xxxx Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, M.A. Director, M-XXXX Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000 Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 612.287.5131 • xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx xxx.xxxx.xxx/xxxx MHEC NEBHE NC- XXXX XXXXX SREB National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements A voluntary, regional approachBoard

Solution. The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (XXXX) establishes a state-level reciprocity process that will support the nation in its efforts to increase the educational attainment of its people by making state authorization: • more efficient, effective, and uniform in regard to necessary and reasonable standards of practice that spans states; • more effective in dealing with quality and integrity issues that have arisen in some online/ distance education offerings; and • less costly for states and institutions and, thereby, the students they serve. Key Points • XXXX is voluntary for states and institutions. • Administered by the four regional higher education compacts (Midwestern Higher Education Compact, New England Board of Higher Education, Southern Regional Education Board, and the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education). • Once states are approved by their compacts, they can begin to enroll eligible institutions. • Membership is open to degree- granting postsecondary institutions from all sectors (public colleges and universities; independent institutions, both non-profit and for-profit) accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. See xxx.xx-xxxx.org Benefits to Students • Expands access to educational offerings. • Participating institutions meet XXXX requirements and agree to meet specific quality standards. • Provides better resolution of complaints from students in XXXX states. • Reduces a rapidly growing institutional cost that can be passed along to students. • Enhances overall quality of distance education. Benefits to States • Expands educational offerings to state residents. • Allows XXXX states to focus on their home-state institutions, rather than on institutions from many other states. • Maintains state regulation of on-the-ground instruction offered by out-of-state institutions. • Other XXXX states will help resolve complaints. (XXXX states commit to resolving complaints from distance education offered by their institutions.) • Reduces costs for institutions, lessening this particular need to raise fees and thereby supporting affordability. • States pay no fees to join. Benefits to Institutions • Enables more efficient provision of distance education to a broader market. • Reduces number of other-state regulations to continually monitor and track. • Reduces number of applications and individual state requirements. • Reduces costs. » Applications, surety bonds, agent licenses, etc. » Staff (payroll and time). » Reduced costs = potentially lower fees for students. For more information, contact: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx, Ph.D. Executive Director National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000 Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 303.848.3283 • xxxxx@xx-xxxx.org xxxx@xx-xxxx.org xxx.xx-xxxx.org Xxxxx Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq. Director, N-XXXX New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) 00 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000 617.533.9524 • xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx xxx.xxxxx.xxx/xxxx Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, M.Ed. Director, S-XXXX Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) 000 00xx Xxxxxx X.X. Xxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000 404.875.9211 ext. 219 000-000-0000 • xxxx.xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx xxx.xxxx.xxx/xxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Ph.D. Director, W-XXXX Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000 Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 303.848.3764 • xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx xxx.xxxxx.xxx/xxxx Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, M.A. DirectorManager, M-XXXX Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000 Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 612.287.5131 612.287.2770 • xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx xxx.xxxx.xxx/xxxx MHEC NEBHE NC- Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Director of Policy Initiatives and State Authorization Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000 Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 303.541.0238 • xxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx xxx.xxxxx.xxx/xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Associate Director, N-XXXX XXXXX SREB New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) 00 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000 617.533.9503 • xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx xxx.xxxxx.xxx/xxxx National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements A voluntary, regional approach

Solution. The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (XXXX) establishes a state-level reciprocity process that will support the nation in its efforts to increase the educational attainment of its people by making state authorization: • more efficient, effective, and uniform in regard to necessary and reasonable standards of practice that spans could span states; • more effective in dealing with quality and integrity issues that have arisen in some online/ distance education offerings; and • less costly for states and institutions and, thereby, the students they serve. Key Points • XXXX is voluntary for states and institutions. • Administered by the four regional higher education compacts (Midwestern Higher Education Compact, New England Board of Higher Education, Southern Regional Education Board, and the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education), which began accepting applications from states in their regions in early 2014. • Once states are approved by their compactsapproved, they can begin to enroll eligible institutions. • Membership is open to degree- granting postsecondary institutions from all sectors (public colleges and universities; independent institutions, both non-profit and for-profit) accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. See xxx.xx-xxxx.org Benefits to States Benefits to Institutions Benefits to Students • Expands access to educational offerings. • Participating institutions meet XXXX requirements and agree to meet specific quality standards. • Provides better resolution of complaints from students in XXXX states. • Reduces a rapidly growing institutional cost that can be passed along to students. • Enhances overall quality of distance education. Benefits to States • Expands educational offerings to state residents. • Allows XXXX states to focus on their home-state institutions, rather than on institutions from many other states. • Maintains state regulation of on-the-ground instruction offered by out-of-state institutions. • Other XXXX states will help resolve complaints. (XXXX states commit to resolving complaints from distance education ed. offered by their institutions.) • Reduces costs for institutions, lessening this particular need to raise fees and thereby supporting affordability. • States pay no fees No cost to joinstates. Benefits to Institutions • Enables more efficient provision of distance education to a broader market. • Reduces number of other-state regulations to continually monitor and track. • Reduces number of applications and individual state requirements. • Reduces costs. » Applications, surety bonds, agent licenses, etc. » Staff (payroll and time). » Reduced costs = potentially lower fees for students. • Expands access to educational offerings. • Should lead to better resolution of complaints from students in XXXX states. • Reduces a rapidly growing institutional cost that is passed along to students. • Should enhance overall quality of distance education. For more information, contact: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx, Ph.D. Executive Director National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000 XxxxxxxBoulder, XX 00000 303.848.3283 • CO 80301 303.541.0283 l xxxxx@xx-xxxx.org xxx.xx-xxxx.org Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq. Director, N-XXXX New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) 00 Xxxxxx Xxxxx XxxxxxBoston, XX 00000 MA 02111 617.533.9524 • xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx xxx.xxxxx.xxx/xxxx Xxxx xxx.xxxxx.xxx Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, M.Ed. Director, S-XXXX Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) 000 00xx Xxxxxx X.X. Xxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000 404.875.9211 ext. 219 • xxxx.xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx xxx.xxxx.xxx/xxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Ph.D. Director, WX-XXXX Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000 XxxxxxxBoulder, XX 00000 303.848.3764 CO 80301 303.541.0277 • xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx xxx.xxxxx.xxx/xxxx Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, M.A. Director, M-XXXX Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000 Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 612.287.5131 • xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx xxx.xxxx.xxx/xxxx MHEC NEBHE NC- XXXX XXXXX SREB National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements A voluntary, regional approachxxx.xxxxx.xxx

Solution. The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (XXXX) establishes a state-level reciprocity process that will support the nation in its efforts to increase the educational attainment of its people by making state authorization: • more efficient, effective, and uniform in regard to necessary and reasonable standards of practice that spans could span states; • more effective in dealing with quality and integrity issues that have arisen in some online/ distance education offerings; and • less costly for states and institutions and, thereby, the students they serve. Key Points • XXXX is voluntary for states and institutions. • Administered by the four regional higher education compacts (Midwestern Higher Education Compact, New England Board of Higher Education, Southern Regional Education Board, and the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education), which began accepting applications from states in their regions in early 2014. • Once states are approved by their compactsapproved, they can begin to enroll eligible institutions. • Membership is open to degree- granting postsecondary institutions from all sectors (public colleges and universities; independent institutions, both non-profit and for-profit) accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. See xxx.xx-xxxx.org Benefits to States Benefits to Institutions Benefits to Students • Expands access to educational offerings. • Participating institutions meet XXXX requirements and agree to meet specific quality standards. • Provides better resolution of complaints from students in XXXX states. • Reduces a rapidly growing institutional cost that can be passed along to students. • Enhances overall quality of distance education. Benefits to States • Expands educational offerings to state residents. • Allows XXXX states to focus on their home-state institutions, rather than on institutions from many other states. • Maintains state regulation of on-the-ground instruction offered by out-of-state institutions. • Other XXXX states will help resolve complaints. (XXXX states commit to resolving complaints from distance education offered by their institutions.) • Reduces costs for institutions, lessening this particular need to raise fees and thereby supporting affordability. • States pay no fees No cost to joinstates. Benefits to Institutions • Enables more efficient provision of distance education to a broader market. • Reduces number of other-state regulations to continually monitor and track. • Reduces number of applications and individual state requirements. • Reduces costs. » Applications, surety bonds, agent licenses, etc. » Staff (payroll and time). » Reduced costs = potentially lower fees for students. • Expands access to educational offerings. • Should lead to better resolution of complaints from students in XXXX states. • Reduces a rapidly growing institutional cost that is passed along to students. • Should enhance overall quality of distance education. For more information, contact: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx, Ph.D. Executive Director National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000 XxxxxxxBoulder, XX 00000 303.848.3283 CO 80301 303.541.0283 • xxxxx@xx-xxxx.org xxx.xx-xxxx.org NEBHE Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq. Director, N-XXXX New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) 00 Xxxxxx Xxxxx XxxxxxBoston, XX 00000 MA 02111 617.533.9524 • xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx xxx.xxxxx.xxx/xxxx Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, M.Ed. Director, S-XXXX Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) 000 00xx Xxxxxx X.X. XxxxxxxN.W. Atlanta, XX 00000GA 30318-0000 5776 404.875.9211 ext. 219 • xxxx.xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx xxx.xxxx.xxx/xxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Ph.D. Director, W-XXXX MHEC WICHE SREB Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000 XxxxxxxBoulder, XX 00000 303.848.3764 CO 80301 303.541.0277 • xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx xxx.xxxxx.xxx/xxxx Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, M.A. Director, M-XXXX Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000 XxxxxxxxxxxMinneapolis, XX 00000 MN 55401 612.287.5131 • xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx xxx.xxxx.xxx/xxxx MHEC NEBHE NC- XXXX XXXXX SREB National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements A voluntary, regional approach