Category: Higher Ed

California Legislature Takes Summer Break With Key Higher Education Bills Still in Air

Kate Lee Carey and Caitlyn Shelby

California higher education bills remain unresolved during summer break. The seven original bills passed the Assembly, but have undergone amendments in the Senate. Read our summary of the trajectory of the bills over the past few months as we await the Legislature to reconvene on August 12.

Department Announces California Residents at Out-of-State Public and Nonprofit Institutions Ineligible for Federal Student Aid

Nancy Anderson, Mike Goldstein and Paul Thompson

The Department of Education announced yesterday that California residents enrolled in distance education programs at out-of-state public and nonprofit institutions will be ineligible from receiving federal student aid.

After Nearly a Decade of Uncertainty, Gainful Employment Rule Is Gone

Kate Lee Carey

The Department of Education released a final rule that rescinds the entirety of the Obama-era Gainful Employment Rule.

Department Confirms July 1 for New GE Disclosures + Delivery Process

Kate Lee Carey

The Department of Education confirmed that covered institutions must meet the new Gainful Employment disclosure requirements as of July 1. The pending new GE rule and its implementation remain uncertain.

Reminder: Reporting of Borrower Defense to Repayment Financial Responsibility Triggers Due May 14

Kate Lee Carey and Jonathon Glass

The deadline for affected institutions to file reports with the Department of Education under the Obama-era Borrower Defense to Repayment Rule (BDTR) is fast approaching.

Neg Reg Expands Professional Licensure Disclosure Rules in Consensus on State Authorization

Nancy Anderson, Caitlyn Shelby and Paul Thompson

The Negotiated Rulemaking committee reached consensus on revisions to the Department of Education’s state authorization rules, drawing on provisions in the 2016 state authorization rule.

Surprise: Accreditation and Innovation Neg Reg Reaches Consensus

Robin Dasher-Alston, Mike Goldstein, Naomi Harralson May and Caitlyn Shelby

The negotiated rulemaking committee focused on accreditation and innovation reached consensus on three buckets of issues.

California Presses Forward with Bill to Ban OPM Tuition Share Arrangements

Nancy Anderson, Kate Lee Carey, Mike Goldstein, Vince Sampson and Paul Thompson

The California Assembly Higher Education Committee unanimously voted to advance a bill, AB 1345, designed to exclude OPMs and service providers from tuition share arrangements.

Recent Developments in State Authorization

Nancy Anderson, Paul Thompson and Mike Goldstein

Washington State, Oregon and New York have joined California in considering state legislation to fill perceived gaps in enforcement of federal regulations by the Department of Education.

At Long Last…ED Issues Guidance Regarding Implementation of the 2016 Borrower Defense to Repayment Rules

Kate Lee Carey

The Department of Education has issued guidance to institutions on the Borrower Defense to Repayment regulations.

Nonprofits Impacted by Proposed Legislation Aimed at For-Profit Institutions

Vince Sampson and Mike Goldstein

Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) have introduced the PROTECT Students Act, which contains numerous provisions intended to target for-profit institutions; however, the collateral impact on independent institutions may be significant.

California Proposals Would Rewrite Rules for Many Nonprofit Institutions

Kate Lee Carey and Caitlyn Shelby

Part III in our series on the proposed bills in the California Assembly recaps two bills (AB1341 and AB1342) that would significantly affect both in-state and out-of-state nonprofit institutions and institutions considering a conversion to nonprofit status.