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. […]
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
Distance Education Proposed Regulations 2024: WCET & SAN Public Comment
Published by: WCET | 8/14/2024
WCET and SAN submitted an extensive public comment on the U.S. Department of Education’s proposed distance education regulations. We invite you to join us in commenting. On July 24, 2024, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) released the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) and proposed regulations related to the most recent negotiated rulemaking. The regulatory […]
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
In Defense of Distance Education – A Joint Letter to the Department of Education & Call to Action
Published by: WCET | 6/4/2024
On June 4, several leading higher education organizations jointly submitted a letter to the Department of Education outlining concerns and support for recent regulatory proposals. The letter focuses on proposals discussed during the Department’s Program Integrity and Institutional Quality negotiated rulemaking sessions. It addresses suggested new compliance requirements for postsecondary distance education courses and programs. […]
Event
Join the Conversation: Register Now for “Distance Ed at a Crossroads”
Published by: WCET | 5/29/2024
In the ever-evolving education landscape, staying informed about the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities is crucial for educators, administrators, and policymakers. We support the Department of Education’s goals in protecting students and financial aid expenditures. Some proposed changes are right on the mark while others may cause more harm than good. If you’re passionate about […]
Policy
Ready or Not, Here It Comes! New Regulations When Offering Programs Leading to a License Effective July 1!
Published by: WCET | 5/16/2024
There is no more hiding from the eventuality of the effective date for new Federal regulations affecting the institutions serving students in programs leading to a license or certification. Institutions and the U.S. Department of Education (Department) have a common goal to support a student participating in an educational program leading to a state license […]
Policy
In Defense of Reciprocity – A Joint Letter to the Department of Education & Call to Action
Published by: WCET | 5/2/2024
On May 1, leading higher education organizations jointly submitted a letter to the Department of Education (the Department) detailing concerns about recently raised proposals regarding state authorization reciprocity agreements. Earlier this year, the Department’s negotiated rulemaking sessions included several recommendations to alter the operations of such state-to-state agreements. The Department was clear that the proposals […]