New on WCET Frontiers
Policy
The Federal State Authorization for Distance Education Regulation Still Stands
Published by: WCET | 4/12/2017
The federal state authorization for distance education regulation released in December 2016 will likely survive a little longer. Late last year, we reported that this federal regulation would likely be a victim of the Congressional Review Act (CRA). That rarely-used […]
Practice
Education Department Confirms ‘Reciprocity’ Definition Clarification
Published by: WCET | 1/19/2017
Thank you Ted Mitchell! In his last hours as the Under Secretary of Education, Mitchell wrote a letter to Marshall Hill (Executive Director, NC-SARA) and me confirming the clarifications to state authorization regulations that Department staff made to me and […]
Education Department Clarifies Its Intent on State Authorization Reciprocity
Published by: WCET | 1/9/2017
To paraphrase Mark Twain: “The report of SARA’s death was an exaggeration.” Department of Education officials recently told me that they recognize the hard work over many years in creating interstate reciprocity agreements for state authorization. They also expressed surprise […]
Department of Education State Authorization Regs – Reactions and What’s Next?
Published by: WCET | 12/21/2016
It has been a busy few days since the U.S. Department of Education released the final version of its “State Authorization of Postsecondary Distance Education, Foreign Locations” regulations. You can see Cheryl Dowd’s and my initial take on the final rules, in […]
A Lump of Coal for SARA and Other Goodies in the State Authorization Regulations
Published by: WCET | 12/16/2016
The U.S. Department of Education released its final version of the its long-awaited regulations on “State Authorization of Postsecondary Distance Education, Foreign Locations” earlier today. They will be published next week with an effective date of July 1, 2018. What […]
Will Higher Ed Regulations Weather the Perfect Storm Prepared to Sink Them?
Published by: WCET | 11/21/2016
Even George Clooney could not save the day as three storm fronts converged on his doomed fishing boat in 2000’s The Perfect Storm. Similarly, a new Republican President, Republican Congress, and an obscure law will come together to sink eight […]
Practice
A New Year, a New Administration, a New Higher Education Act Reauthorization?
Published by: WCET | 10/24/2016
Earlier this year, Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska called this election a “dumpster fire.” We were reminded of this insight by Terry Hartle (Senior Vice President, Division of Government and Public Affairs of the American Council on Education) at last […]
Practice
Interpreting what is Required for “Regular and Substantive Interaction”
Published by: WCET | 9/30/2016
As greater numbers of students move into online and competency-based education programs, we have seen new interest in understanding the Department of Education’s regulations. In particular, faculty and administrators seek to understand how the Department interprets rules requiring courses to […]
Nine Organizations Partner on Official Comments for State Authorization Regulations
Published by: WCET | 8/25/2016
Nine higher education organizations partnered to submit comments to the Department of Education regarding its proposed state authorization regulations for distance education. By working unison, we provided a strong and consistent single voice in making recommendations to the Department. The […]
Policy
Questions about EQUIP, Ed Department’s Expansion of Aid to New Providers
Published by: WCET | 8/17/2016
On Tuesday, The U.S. Department of Education announced (Department press release, Wall Street Journal story) the eight partnerships that were selected in the EQUIP (Educational QUality through Innovative Partnerships) experimental sites program. The Department sought collaborations between accredited institutions that […]