Search Results for keywords:"Higher Education Act"

The Department of Education has announced a new Computer Matching Agreement with the Department of Defense. This agreement aims to identify children of military service members who died in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001, to see if they qualify for increased financial aid under the Higher Education Act. The agreement will be effective from March 1, 2021, and will remain active for 18 months, with the possibility of extending for an additional 12 months if certain conditions are met. The matching program uses data such as Social Security Numbers and birth dates to identify eligible students.

The U.S. Department of Education has decided to end the process for making new rules about state authorization, cash management, and accreditation for educational institutions. This decision was made to allow more time to understand recent changes and evaluate their impact. The Department aims to gather more data and consider industry practices before establishing any new regulations. They emphasized the importance of deliberative policymaking and responding to public feedback received during the process.

The Department of Education has announced the process for determining eligible colleges and universities for certain federal programs and is seeking applications for waivers from eligibility requirements for the 2025 fiscal year. These programs, under Titles III and V of the Higher Education Act, provide funding to strengthen institutions serving minority and underserved student populations. Eligible colleges may receive grants or waivers for some financial aid requirements even if they don't receive certain types of grants. Institutions can check their eligibility status online and apply for waivers if needed. Applications are due by April 7, 2025, and must be submitted electronically unless there's no internet access.

The U.S. Department of Education has decided to withdraw a proposal that aimed to offer student loan debt relief to borrowers facing financial hardship. Initially, the proposal sought to clarify how the Secretary of Education could use existing powers to waive student loan debts in certain difficult situations. However, due to challenges in implementing these rules, as well as the need to focus on other priorities like helping borrowers return to repayment after a break, the Department has chosen to stop pursuing these changes. This decision does not reflect a change in the Department's beliefs about their authority to provide debt relief under existing laws.

The U.S. Department of Education has released a notice listing the members of the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI). This committee, established under the Higher Education Act, consists of 18 members chosen for their experience and knowledge in higher education. Members are appointed by different officials including the Secretary of Education, the Speaker of the House, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, serving six-year terms. The committee holds meetings at least twice a year to offer advice on accreditation standards and related educational issues.

The U.S. Department of Education has decided to withdraw a proposed rule that aimed to offer targeted student debt relief, clarify existing debt collection regulations, and specify conditions under which the Secretary could use their authority to waive student loan repayments. The Department received almost 150,000 comments on the proposal but identified operational challenges in implementing the changes. With the current administration focusing on helping borrowers return to repayment, especially after a recent support period, the decision to withdraw allows the Department to reconsider its approach and maintain flexibility for future initiatives. The decision does not change the Department's belief in its authority under the Higher Education Act to offer such debt relief.

The Department of Education, through Federal Student Aid, is seeking public comments by January 27, 2025, on an extension of a current information collection requirement related to the readmission of servicemembers to educational institutions. This extension would maintain requirements under the Higher Education Act of 1965 for colleges to readmit servicemembers to their prior academic status and charge them the same tuition as when they left. The Department is looking for feedback on the necessity, timeliness, and burden of this collection, as well as ways to enhance its quality and minimize burdens on respondents.

The Department of Education has issued final regulations aimed at improving program integrity and institutional quality for programs under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. These regulations focus on two key areas: distance education and the return of Title IV funds. They introduce new requirements for institutions to report the enrollment status of students in distance and correspondence courses and streamline the process for returning unearned Title IV funds when a student withdraws. These changes, effective July 1, 2026, seek to enhance data collection and oversight while simplifying administrative procedures for educational institutions.

The Department of Education's Federal Student Aid division announced a proposal to extend a current information collection effort related to the Income Based Repayment (IBR) plan, without any changes. This is being done under the Paperwork Reduction Act and concerns the notifications that loan holders must send to borrowers who qualify for this repayment plan. They are seeking public comments by January 21, 2025, about the necessity, timeliness, burden estimate, and potential improvements for the information collection process. This effort affects state, local, and tribal governments as well as the private sector, with nearly 958,240 expected annual responses and 76,665 anticipated annual burden hours.

The U.S. Department of Education announced the list of members in the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI). NACIQI, composed of up to 18 members, advises on accreditation and other regulations regarding higher education. Members of the committee are appointed by the Secretary of Education, the Speaker of the House, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, with terms ranging from six years. The document was signed by Miguel A. Cardona, Secretary of Education, on November 8, 2024, and includes specific roles and appointment details for each member.