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FEDERAL REGULATIONS FOR DISTANCE EDUCATION

SARAH PETERSON, PH.D.

THE UNIVERSITY OF OLIVET

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REASON GIVEN FOR RECENT UPTICK IN ONLINE EDUCATION REGULATIONS

  • DOE wants more data on online education
  • Protecting students and student interests
  • Protecting the use and distribution of federal financial aid

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CHANGES PROPOSED IN JULY 2024

Main Proposed Changes

    • Take Attendance to track participation
    • Expand eligibility for TRIO programs to non-citizen
    • Remove asynchronous options for clock-hour programs
    • Regulations impacting NC-SARA
    • “Virtual Location” for online student reporting

NC-SARA Response

    • Elected new members
    • Revised Student Complaint policy process and posting

Final Changes

    • Institution reporting of distance ed. Students and financial aid

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MOST RECENT REGULATION

    • Institutions are required to report which students receiving federal financial aid are enrolled in distance education or correspondence courses to the National Student Loan Data System [NSLD]
      • Implementation date: July 1, 2026, with first reporting on July 1, 2027

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    • This ruling excludes much of the July 2024 proposed changes, and ultimate implementation depends on the Trump administration

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RECENT DISTANCE EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

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STUDENT LOCATION POLICY

    • 34 CFR 668.43(c)(3)(ii) requires institutions to have a written policy and documented process for establishing location of prospective students and students that must be applied consistently.
    • Both policy and process should have regular, frequent review and updates as needed.
    • Olivet: Added policy to our Academic Catalog and posted on website
      • Policy includes:
        • “student location” and “time of enrollment” definitions
        • Process of recording location, as well as frequent check-ins and updates

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LICENSURE: PPA CERTIFICATION

    • Institutions may only enroll distance education students in licensure programs that “meets” states/territories
      • Implemented July 1, 2024,
    • Olivet: changed out marketing logarithms and put a “ping” whenever a student applies to a licensure program in specific states

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DISCUSSION