Education Department to Publish NPRM on Distance Education, R2T4, and Federal TRIO Programs
By Hugh T. Ferguson, NASFAA Managing Editor
The Department of Education (ED) on Wednesday unveiled proposed regulations for the federal TRIO programs, distance education, and Return to Title IV (R2T4).
According to the department, the forthcoming Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) will be published in the Federal Register in the “coming days” which will formally kick off the 30-day comment period.
ED noted that these proposed regulations would seek to “increase college access for high school students, provide better public data on student outcomes, including to increase oversight over distance education programs, and ensure the student aid programs work in the best interests of students.”
Specifically, the regulations would impact how institutions report enrollment in distance education programs to help ED determine eligibility for closed school discharges and to permit ED to more easily examine student outcomes from distance education programs, expand eligibility for certain federal TRIO programs, and aim to simplify calculations for R2T4 when a student withdraws from a program.
“The regulations proposed today, if enacted, would help expand both access and affordability to our most disadvantaged students: those from low-income backgrounds, students without immigration status, and students with disabilities,” said Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. “By broadening eligibility for federal programs and placing guardrails that help protect against situations that leave students with debt but no degree, we can open more doors to the life-changing potential of higher education.”
Wednesday’s proposals were shaped during a recent negotiated rulemaking committee where negotiators dove into R2T4 and Distance Education as well as the federal TRIO programs.
Stay tuned to Today’s News for more details on this NPRM.
Publication Date: 7/18/2024
You must be logged in to comment on this page.