New on WCET Frontiers
Policy
What Might Happen to the Department’s Pending Regulations and Guidance?
Published by: WCET | 11/14/2024
The direction for regulations and guidance for digital and distance education shifted greatly with the recent election. As you may recall, the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) was planning to release sweeping regulatory changes on distance education, accreditation, state authorization reciprocity, and mandatory fees for books and materials. They also planned changes to guidance […]
Policy
Meeting the Looming Web Accessibility Regulations: The Time to Start Was Yesterday
Published by: WCET | 11/7/2024
A recent NWHeat webinar highlighted that public institutions must mobilize immediately (if not sooner) to meet the coming U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) accessibility guidelines. Released in April 2024, the new regulation requires “state and local governments to make their websites and mobile applications accessible for people with disabilities.” These rules encompass all public colleges and universities. […]
Practice
What’s Trending in Digital Learning for Fall 2024
Published by: WCET | 9/19/2024
This weekend marks the official end of summer and the beginning of fall. Pumpkin spice is back (everywhere), hopefully everyone is settling into the new semester well, my fantasy football team is already doing poorly, and it’s time for one of my favorite traditions—a back-to-school post on Frontiers! As we roll into the fall semester […]
Practice
Words From the Wise: Tips for Success from Experienced Distance Education Compliance Professionals
Published by: WCET | 9/12/2024
Distance Education or State Authorization Compliance refers to the set of rules, regulations, and standards that educational institutions must follow when offering remote (often online) learning opportunities to students. Ensuring institutional compliance is an arduous task, as rules, standards, and legal requirements are ever- evolving and can vary depending on the state or territory. Recently, […]
Policy
Last Chance to Shape 2024 Distance Education Federal Regulations – Join the Rulemaking Process Now!
Published by: WCET | 9/5/2024
There is one last chance for you to participate in the rulemaking process for the recently released distance education-related regulations to inform the U.S. Department of Education (Department) of any concerns prior to the Department issuing the final regulations. We maintain, as discussed in our July WCET Frontiers Post and our public comment, that the […]
Policy
Survey on New DOJ Regulation on Accessibility of Web Information and Services
Published by: WCET | 8/29/2024
On August 2, WCET published our post, Accessibility in the Spotlight: Department of Justice Regulations, on the Department of Justice (DOJ) final rule revising the regulation implementing Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The new regulation establishes requirements for making accessible the services, programs, and activities offered by state and local government […]
Policy
Buckle Up. ED is Off to the Races with Its NPRM
Published by: WCET | 7/22/2024
We’ve been waiting with bated breath to see if the U.S. Department of Education would surprise us when they released the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) and proposed regulations related to the most recent negotiated rulemaking. Spoiler alert, they have now released the NPRM with proposed rules on distance education. We know that there are […]
Policy
Recent Supreme Court Decisions: Chevron, Loper Bright, and Corner Post… What Are These and How Do They Affect Distance Education?
Published by: WCET | 7/18/2024
In the last month, you may have seen a flurry of articles indicating the demise of the Federal regulatory landscape as we know it. This is due to a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Loper Bright Enterprises vs. Raimondo and Relentless Inc. v. Department of Commerce. Many articles argue that the sky is falling […]
Policy
Survey of a State Authorization Professional
Published by: WCET | 7/9/2024
Essential Requirements and Critical Roles In today’s ever-evolving landscape of higher education, Distance Education/State Authorization Compliance[1] plays a crucial role in ensuring institutions follow laws, regulations, and guidelines. This process: Distance Education/State Authorization compliance can be a complex and time-consuming process, as each state has its own set of regulations and requirements for out-of-state institutions. […]
Policy
Navigating State Barriers: Challenges for Formerly Incarcerated Students in Licensing Programs
Published by: WCET | 6/27/2024
Higher education has an important role to play when it comes to providing information to students searching for educational programs that leads to a license or certification. In that light, what information should be provided by the institution to formerly incarcerated students who are looking for professional or licensure programs? While some states do have […]