Tag: U.S. Department of Education

Policy

Published by: ewalton | 5/12/2022 | 0 comments

Thank you to Kathryn Kerensky of WCET’s State Authorization Network for today’s blog, and thank you to Van Davis and Emilie Cook of Every Learner Everywhere for assistance and strategic direction. Enjoy! There is a role for everyone to play for higher education institutions to foster inclusive learning environments and increase access to the opportunities […]

Practice

Published by: Lindsey Downs | 3/24/2022 | 0 comments

Earlier this week, we shared some very important issues from recent Federal rulemaking that will likely have a big effect on distance education. You probably have heard much more about the other “bigger” issues addressed during this rulemaking such as the 90/10 Rule and Gainful Employment. Our reporting on the 2022 Institutional and Programmatic Eligibility […]

Policy

Published by: WCET Frontiers | 1/27/2022 | 0 comments

The self-proclaimed “policy nerds” at WCET and WCET|SAN began looking forward to 2022, and we started to marvel at all the policy issues for digital learning in higher education that will be in play this year. Some significant changes for online and distance learning with significant implications for student consumer protection are on the horizon. […]

Policy

Published by: WCET Frontiers | 1/26/2022 | 0 comments

The self-proclaimed “policy nerds” at WCET and WCET/SAN began looking forward to 2022, and we started to marvel at all the policy issues for digital learning in higher education that will be in play this year. Some significant changes for online and distance learning with significant implications for student consumer protection are on the horizon. […]

Policy

Published by: Lindsey Downs | 8/26/2021 | 0 comments

On July 1, 2021, the Department of Education released the final set of proposed regulations stemming from the 2019 Negotiated Rulemaking process (the Distance Education and Innovation Regulations). As part of these regulations, the definition of “distance education” in Chapter 34, §600.2 was updated, including specifically defining the critical terms: instructor, regular, and substantive.   […]

Policy

Published by: Lindsey Downs | 7/21/2021 | 0 comments

Institutions that offer programs to students who utilize Veterans Benefits must be aware of institutional compliance requirements that are to be observed by August 1, 2021. Our colleague Leah Matthews, Executive Director and CEO, Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), joins me today to explain what the law is and to highlight several sections institutions that […]

Policy

Published by: Lindsey Downs | 7/1/2021 | 0 comments

Maybe it is a little cheeky to say celebrating, but we are all on this crazy journey together to manage these institutional requirements. The federal regulations require notifications in order for institutions to participate in Title IV HEA programs, and SARA closely aligned their requirements to the Federal regulations for SARA participating institutions to address […]

Policy

Published by: Lindsey Downs | 6/18/2021 | 0 comments

We are just now figuring out that both accrediting agencies and institutions may have more work ahead of them in meeting federal requirements regarding oversight of distance learning programs. Sometimes at first look, we don’t fully comprehend the impact that a change in regulation or Department of Education (the Department) guidance might have out in […]

Policy

Published by: Lindsey Downs | 6/1/2021 | 0 comments

Regular readers of WCET Frontiers will recall that we avidly follow the U.S. Department of Education’s quest to develop regulations through the negotiated rulemaking process. Rulemaking is a complicated and intriguing process. Our colleagues, Jeannie Yockey-Fine with NC-SARA and Shari Miller with Institutional Compliance Matters are here today to assist me with sharing about an […]

Policy

Published by: Lindsey Downs | 5/27/2021 | 0 comments

This week we saw the start of what we have been expecting from the new administration – new rulemaking. Experts have shared for months that the Biden Administration and the Department of Education have prioritized several issues to address including: Title IX, Borrower Defense to Repayment, Gainful Employment, 90/10 Rule, and FAFSA Simplification. These priorities […]