Introduction by Barbara K. Mistick

Dear Colleagues:

Two weeks ago, we reported on the Biden Administration’s release of its long-awaited proposed amendments to the rules governing how colleges and universities handle sex discrimination on their campuses.

In general, the proposed regulations expand the scope of Title IX while streamlining certain procedural requirements and providing additional protections for victims of sex discrimination. The proposed rules, which differ from both the Obama-era guidance and the Trump Administration’s regulations, would remove some requirements that apply to colleges and universities while adding new ones in their place.

NAICU has created several resources to help you and your team to better understand the Title IX Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) and the potential implications for your campus community, including: 

• An Executive Summary that describes key aspects of the NPRM.
• A Technical Summary that provides a more detailed analysis.
• A webinar scheduled for Wednesday, July 13 at 2:00 p.m. EDT. (Register)

In addition, the Education Department has provided a fact sheet and summary of the major provisions in the NPRM.

Moving forward, the NPRM is subject to a 60-day public comment period, which begins once the proposed rules are published in the Federal Register. In conjunction with the higher education community, we are planning to prepare and submit comments to the Department. After the public comment period closes, the Department will review the comments and draft final regulations, a process that is expected to take at least a year. We will keep you updated as events warrant.

Soundbites

• The Education Department this week released a proposed set of regulations designed to expand and improve student debt targeted relief programs. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) includes the following issues: borrower defense to repayment, interest capitalization, total and permanent disability discharges, closed school discharges, false certification discharges, public service loan forgiveness, mandatory pre-dispute arbitration agreements, and class action waivers. There will be a 30-day public comment period once the NPRM is published in the Federal Register, and the Department is planning to finalize these regulations by November 1, 2022. NAICU will provide more detailed information on the NPRM in the coming weeks.

“Receiving the Pell Grant has opened the door for me to receive a wonderful education at St. Thomas Aquinas College. STAC was the best fit for me, being that it was my first choice. Coming from a single-family home, with a mother who had to provide for twin girls, my sister and I were both graduating high school together and dreamed of going to college. I knew I would need financial assistance to pay for college, since just paying for our prom was a struggle. This grant allowed me to fulfill my dream of obtaining a degree, for which I am very thankful. I would not be where I am today without this financial support, and I now look forward to teaching the next generation of students.”

Franki Carr, a 2022 graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas College, as quoted in an essay on Pell Grants by Kenneth D. Daly, president of St. Thomas Aquinas College (NY).

For more information, please contact:
Barbara K. Mistick