Higher Education Community Offers Response to Proposed State Authorization of Distance Education Regulations

Earlier this summer, the six presidential higher education associations jointly submitted comments to the Department of Education regarding the proposed state authorization of distance education regulations.

The submitted comments raised four specific points regarding the Department’s proposal:

• The confusion that arises from instances in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that do not appropriately distinguish between educational “programs” and “courses” that are offered via distance by domestic institutions;
• How authorization to operate additional locations and branch campuses physically located in foreign countries is handled;
• The disclosure of information related to “adverse actions” by accrediting agencies and states; and
• The feasibility of, and related burden associated with, institutional disclosures regarding state complaint processes and professional licensure requirements.

Further analysis of the NPRM can be found here.

The Department is considering the submitted comments as it prepares the final regulations. In order for the final regulations to take effect for the 2017-18 academic year, they must be published in the Federal Register by October 31, 2016.

Interested parties can visit the Docket Folder to access all available information related to the regulations, including all 139 comments submitted by interested stakeholders.