A replay of Post-Election Analysis – Federal Regulatory and Legislative Impacts on College and University Operations is now available for viewing.
Webinar: Post-Election Analysis: Federal Regulatory and Legislative Impacts on College and University Operations
Duane Morris will present the next entry in its webinar series, Boot Camp for Education Legal Leadership: Higher Education at the Political and Legal Crossroads: Protecting Your Institution’s Mission During a Time of Uncertainty, Post-Election Analysis – Federal Regulatory and Legislative Impacts on College and University Operations, to be held on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern | 11:00 a.m. Pacific.
Continue reading “Webinar: Post-Election Analysis: Federal Regulatory and Legislative Impacts on College and University Operations”Webinar: Plan for Change: Regulations and Guidance with Significant Operational Impact
Duane Morris will present the third session of our Boot Camp for Education Legal Leadership webinar series, Plan for Change: Regulations and Guidance with Significant Operational Impact, to be held on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, from 2:00 p.m. Eastern/11:00 a.m. Pacific.
Webinar Replay: The Regulatory Landscape ‒ A Dynamic and Disruptive 12 Month
Webinar: The Regulatory Landscape ‒ A Dynamic and Disruptive 12 Month
Duane Morris will present Boot Camp for Education Legal Leadership, Session 1: The Regulatory Landscape ‒ A Dynamic and Disruptive 12 Months, on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time/11:00 a.m. Pacific time.
The past 12 months have been one of the most active in recent memory for the U.S. Department of Education in publishing new regulations and issuing new policy guidance in the area of Title IV, Higher Education Act compliance. Join the Education Industry Group at Duane Morris for review and analysis of these developments and how they impact your institution, both now and in the near future.
Continue reading “Webinar: The Regulatory Landscape ‒ A Dynamic and Disruptive 12 Month”
Department of Education’s Final Rule on Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment Published
On October 10, 2023, the U.S. Department of Education published the final rule on financial value transparency and gainful employment (88 Fed. Reg. 70004). The regulation restores and expands an accountability framework for career-specific training programs. At the same time, the regulation creates, for the first time, a new disclosure framework applicable to educational programs offered by all institutions participating in the Title IV, Higher Education Act (HEA) federal student aid funding programs.
This summary provides an overview of important facts and key elements of the final rule.
Read the full Alert on the Duane Morris LLP website.
Department of Education Expands Regulatory Jurisdiction Over Service Providers for Institutions of Higher Education
Institutions of higher education (IHEs) and companies providing services to IHEs (including so-called online program managers or OPMs) should take careful note of two announcements by the U.S. Department of Education that could significantly impact the institution/service provider relationship and the Department’s oversight of that relationship.
First, and most immediately effective, the Department has revised its subregulatory guidance regarding the activities that make an entity providing services to an IHE a “Third Party Servicer” (TPS) for Title IV purposes. In a significant expansion over prior guidance, an OPM providing services to an IHE related to student recruiting and retention, providing software products and services involving Title IV administration activities, or providing educational content and instruction are now defined as a TPS. Being defined as a TPS comes with significant increased risk and compliance obligations by the third party and the institution. There is an open public comment period on this change through March 17, 2023.
Read the full text of this Alert on the Duane Morris website.
Important Update: On February 28, 2023, the Department published an update to Dear Colleague Letter 23-03 that makes clear the guidance does not become effective until September 1, 2023. The reporting deadline for institutions and third-party servicers to report to the Department is also extended until September 1, 2023. Further, the Department extended the comment period through March 30, 2023.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Proposes Mandatory Registration of Terms and Conditions: Nonbank Student Loan Servicers Among Those Potentially Impacted
On January 11, 2023, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB” or the “Bureau”) announced designs to create a public registry of terms and conditions in form contracts. Under the proposed rule (“Rule”), certain nonbank entities, including nonbank student loan servicers, would be required to register and submit information related to its terms and conditions that purport to waive or limit consumer rights and protections, along with identifying company information. The Bureau has opened up the Rule for a sixty-day comment period (closing on March 13, 2023), after which decisions will be made on its final form. Continue reading “Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Proposes Mandatory Registration of Terms and Conditions: Nonbank Student Loan Servicers Among Those Potentially Impacted”
Webinar Replay: What the Midterm Election Results Mean for Higher Education
A video replay is now available for the webinar “What the Midterm Election Results Mean for Higher Education,” recently presented by Duane Morris’ Education Team.
For more information, please visit the event page.
Temporary Expanded SNAP Benefits for College Students
Expanding access to postsecondary education for low income students includes more than just assistance with tuition and fees. Many low income students also need help with daily food costs while they pursue higher education. That need can adversely impact academic progress if not addressed. Needs have been exacerbated by the pandemic and high unemployment, and impact students whether they study on ground or online. Food insecurity among college students is gaining more attention, with the opening of college food pantries and other community support initiatives. The federal government is also stepping up. The U.S. Department of Education, in coordination with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has issued new guidance to postsecondary institutions to raise awareness about temporarily expanded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility for students and urges institutions to make students aware of this resource. The expansion of benefits will be in effect until 30 days after the COVID-19 public health emergency is lifted. The new guidance can be found here: https://ifap.ed.gov/electronic-announcements/022321SNAPbenefitseligiblestudsCOVID19pandemic