Program Integrity: Gainful Employment-Debt Measures; Correction, 3121-3123 [2012-1245]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 14 (Monday, January 23, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 3121-3123]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-1245]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

34 CFR Part 668

RIN 1840-AD06
[Docket ID ED-2010-OPE-0012]


Program Integrity: Gainful Employment--Debt Measures; Correction

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Final regulations; correction.

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SUMMARY: On June 13, 2011, the Secretary of Education (Secretary) 
published a notice of final regulations in the Federal Register for 
Program Integrity: Gainful Employment--Debt Measures (Gainful 
Employment--Debt Measures) (76 FR 34386). In the preamble of the final 
regulations, we used the wrong data to calculate the percent of total 
variance in institutions' repayment rates that may be explained by 
race/ethnicity. Our intent was to use the data that included all 
minority students per institution. However, we mistakenly used the data 
for a subset of minority students per institution. We have now 
recalculated the total variance using the data that includes all 
minority students. Through this document, we correct, in the preamble 
of the Gainful Employment--Debt Measures final regulations, the errors 
resulting from this misapplication. We do not change the regression 
analysis model itself; we are using the same model with the appropriate 
data. Through this notice we also correct, in the preamble of the 
Gainful Employment--Debt Measures final regulations, our description of 
one component of the regression analysis. The preamble referred to use 
of an institutional variable measuring acceptance rates. This 
description was incorrect; in fact we used an institutional variable 
measuring retention rates. Correcting this language does not change the 
regression analysis model itself or the variance explained by the 
model. The text of the final regulations remains unchanged.

DATES: These regulations are effective July 1, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Kolotos or David Bergeron for 
general information only. Telephone: (202) 502-7805. Any other 
questions or requests for information regarding these final regulations 
must be submitted to: GEQuestions@ed.gov.
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
(800) 877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We make the following corrections to the 
Gainful Employment--Debt Measures final regulations:
    On page 34460, third column, we correct the phrase ``(i.e., 72 
percent for 4-year public institutions; 57 percent for 2-year nonprofit 
institutions; and 56 percent for 4-year nonprofit institutions).'' to 
read ``(i.e., 71 percent for 4-year public institutions; 64 percent for 
2-year nonprofit institutions; and 61 percent for 4-year nonprofit 
institutions).''
    On page 34461, first column, first paragraph, we correct the 
sentences ``Similarly, in four of the nine models, the proportion of an 
institution's student body that was represented by students identified 
as racial/ethnic minorities was a statistically significant predictor. 
However, in no case did it explain more than approximately 13 percent 
of variance in repayment rates.'' to read ``Similarly, in eight of the 
nine models, the proportion of an institution's student body that was 
represented by students identified as racial/ethnic minorities was a 
statistically significant predictor. Across those models, it ranged 
from explaining 6.5 percent (4-year, for-profit institutions) to 37.8 
percent (2-year, nonprofit institutions) of the variance in repayment 
rates.''
    On page 34461, second column, first full paragraph, we correct the 
phrase ``72 percent'' to read ``71 percent''.
    On page 34461, second column, first full paragraph, we correct the 
sentence ``However, when used as a sole predictor, the percentage of 
Pell Grant recipients was not a statistically significant predictor.'' 
to read ``An institution's percentage of minority students explained 29 
percent of the variance in repayment rates when used as a sole 
predictor.''
    On page 34461, second column, second full paragraph, we correct the 
phrase ``56 percent'' to read ``61 percent''.
    On page 34461, third column, carryover paragraph, we correct the 
phrase ``less than 2 percent'' to read ``31 percent''.
    On page 34461, third column, first full paragraph, we correct the 
phrase ``22 percent'' to read ``27 percent''.
    On page 34461, third column, first full paragraph, we correct the 
sentence ``The racial/ethnic composition of an institution's student 
body was not a statistically significant predictor when used alone to 
model repayment rates, and, although the percentage of students 
receiving Pell Grants was predictive, it explained only 7 percent of 
the variance in repayment rates.'' to read ``Both the

[[Page 3122]]

racial/ethnic composition of an institution's student body and the 
percentage of the students receiving Pell Grants were predictive when 
used alone in separate models, each explaining about 7 percent of the 
variance in repayment rates.''
    On page 34461, third column, second full paragraph, we correct the 
phrase ``13 percent'' to read ``17 percent''.
    On page 34461, third column, second full paragraph, we correct the 
phrase ``(around 1 percent and 3 percent, respectively)'' to read 
``(around 8 percent and 3 percent, respectively)''.
    On page 34462, first column, first paragraph, we correct the phrase 
``57 percent'' to read ``64 percent''.
    On page 34462, first column, second paragraph, we correct the 
phrase ``44 percent'' to read ``47 percent''.
    On page 34462, first and second columns, we correct the sentence 
``Share of racial/ethnic minority enrollment was not a statistically 
significant predictor when used in its own model to predict repayment 
rates.'' to read ``Share of racial/ethnic minority enrollment explained 
approximately 19 percent of the variance in repayment rates when used 
alone in a model to predict repayment rates.''
    On page 34462, second column, first full paragraph, we correct the 
sentences ``Overall, our regression model was not statistically 
significant for less-than-2-year public institutions. When used as the 
only predictor of repayment rates, share of racial/ethnic minority 
enrollment was statistically significant, explaining approximately 4 
percent of the potential variance. The share of students receiving Pell 
grants was not statistically significant in its stand alone model.'' to 
read ``Overall, none of our regression models was statistically 
significant for less-than-2-year public institutions.''
    On page 34462, second column, second full paragraph, we correct the 
phrase ``39 percent'' to read ``42 percent''.
    On page 34462, second and third columns, we correct the sentence 
``Share of racial/ethnic minority enrollment was not a statistically 
significant predictor.'' to read ``Share of racial/ethnic minority 
enrollment explained approximately 11 percent of the potential 
variance.''
    On page 34462, third column, first full paragraph, we correct the 
phrase ``27 percent'' to read ``28 percent''.
    On page 34462, third column, first full paragraph, we correct the 
sentence ``The percentage of students identified as racial/ethnic 
minorities was not statistically significant.'' to read ``Share of 
racial/ethnic minority enrollment explained approximately 14 percent of 
the potential variance.''
    On page 34462, third column, second full paragraph, we correct the 
phrase ``1 percent'' to read ``20 percent''.
    On page 34511, first column, paragraph (d), we correct the phrase 
``And, among 4-year institutions, a measure of institutional 
selectivity: An institutions acceptance rate (AcceptRate08)'' to read 
``And, among 4-year institutions, measures of part-time 
(ptfall08cohortretained) and full-time (ftfall09cohortretained) 
retention.''
    On page 34461, Table 4 is corrected to read as follows:
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[[Page 3123]]


    On page 34464, Chart B is corrected to read as follows:
    [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR23JA12.006
    
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    Source: NSLDS and IPEDS.
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    Dated: January 18, 2012.
Eduardo M. Ochoa,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2012-1245 Filed 1-20-12; 8:45 am]
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