Category: Higher Ed
ED Issues Sweeping Proposed Rules on Borrower Defense
Jonathon Glass, Mike Goldstein and Kate Lee Carey
Almost four months after the marathon negotiated rulemaking ended in March without consensus, the US Department of Education (ED) has released a massive Notice of Proposed Rulemaking describing how it plans to refocus the rules governing the Borrower Defense to Repayment (BDTR) provision of the Higher Education Act (HEA).
Challenges to Gainful Employment Student Completer Lists Due July 28
Jonathon Glass and Kate Lee Carey
The US Department of Education has set the deadline for institutions to file corrections to their “student completer lists” as the next major step in ED’s effort to publish the first set of rates under the Gainful Employment Rule.
ED to Propose New Rules for Online Education
Mike Goldstein, Nancy Anderson and Matt Johnson
Last week, the Department of Education (ED or the Department) submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) proposed new or amended state authorization regulations. The proposed regulations relate to state authorization requirements that would become a condition of Title IV eligibility, including state approval requirements for distance education programs.
Rulemaking Panel Proposes Process for Student Debt Forgiveness Under BDTR
Jonathon Glass, Mike Goldstein and Kate Lee Carey
This memo discusses the proposed process for students to file claims to have their federal loans forgiven, as well as the role of institutions in that process, under the Final Draft of the BDTR Rule.
New Student Debt Standards Could Allow Massive Loan Forgiveness
Jonathon Glass, Mike Goldstein and Kate Lee Carey
This memo discusses the new federal standards for students to have their federal loans forgiven under the Final Draft of the BDTR Rule.
ED to Issue First Set of Gainful Employment Rates
Jonathon Glass and Kate Lee Carey
The US Department of Education just announced its intent to issue the first set of official Debt to Earnings Rates (D/E Rates) under the Gainful Employment Rule (GE Rule) in January 2017.
Negotiations on New Defense to Repayment Rules Fail: It’s All Up to ED Now
Jonathon Glass, Mike Goldstein, Kate Lee Carey and Vince Sampson
Following a highly charged, often contentious three days of debate, the third session of the Negotiated Rulemaking on Borrower Defense to Repayment (DTR) ended as it started, without consensus. The Department of Education (ED) is now free to promulgate the regulations it wants, entirely independent of the DTR negotiations.
ED Adds New Letter of Credit Requirements to Student Loan Negotiations
Jonathon Glass and Kate Lee Carey
The US Department of Education and appointed negotiators representing higher education and legal groups are preparing for the second round of negotiations to expand the “Borrower Defense to Repayment” regulations, with the next session to run from Wednesday, February 17 through Friday, February 19.
Restrictions Remain on Certain Academic and Research Activities for Cuba and Iran
Jonathon Glass, Mike Goldstein, Kevin King and Shannon MacMichael
Much has been written recently about the lifting of the US embargoes targeting Iran and Cuba. Despite recent liberalization in discrete areas (e.g., travel, family remittances, and internet based communications), comprehensive restrictions remain in place on the types of academic activities that US persons can undertake, as well as what US persons can export or transfer to these countries and their nationals.
Timeline for First Set of Gainful Employment Rates Slips Further
Jonathon Glass and Kate Lee Carey
The US Department of Education has announced another delay in the distribution of the Completer Lists for Gainful Employment programs until Spring 2016, which is bound to push back the date for ED to issue the first set of Draft GE Rates and, ultimately, Final GE Rates.
Beware of Predatory Student Debt Relief Advertisements that Target Your School
Kate Lee Carey, Jonathon Glass, David Mills, Jay Vaughan, Matt Johnson and Alyssa Saunders
In a recent trend, student debt relief scammers are engaging in aggressive marketing tactics by placing advertisements that target student loan borrowers from a specific institution of higher education.