Student Assistance General Provisions, the Secretary's Recognition of Accrediting Agencies, the Secretary's Recognition Procedures for State Agencies, 27404-27492 [2019-12371]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 113 (Wednesday, June 12, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 27404-27492]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-12371]



[[Page 27403]]

Vol. 84

Wednesday,

No. 113

June 12, 2019

Part II





Department of Education





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34 CFR Parts 600, 602, 603, et al.





Student Assistance General Provisions, the Secretary's Recognition of 
Accrediting Agencies, the Secretary's Recognition Procedures for State 
Agencies; Proposed Rule

Federal Register / Vol. 84 , No. 113 / Wednesday, June 12, 2019 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 27404]]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

34 CFR Parts 600, 602, 603, 654, 668, and 674

RIN 1840-AD36, 1840-AD37
[Docket ID ED-2018-OPE-0076]


Student Assistance General Provisions, the Secretary's 
Recognition of Accrediting Agencies, the Secretary's Recognition 
Procedures for State Agencies

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary proposes to amend the regulations governing the 
recognition of accrediting agencies, certain student assistance general 
provisions, and institutional eligibility, as well as make various 
technical corrections.

DATES: We must receive your comments on or before July 12, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments through the Federal eRulemaking Portal 
or via postal mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. We will not 
accept comments submitted by fax or by email or those submitted after 
the comment period. To ensure that we do not receive duplicate copies, 
please submit your comments only once. In addition, please include the 
Docket ID at the top of your comments.
    If you are submitting comments electronically, we strongly 
encourage you to submit any comments or attachments in Microsoft Word 
format. If you must submit a comment in Adobe Portable Document Format 
(PDF), we strongly encourage you to convert the PDF to print-to-PDF 
format or to use some other commonly used searchable text format. 
Please do not submit the PDF in a scanned format. Using a print-to-PDF 
format allows the Department to electronically search and copy certain 
portions of your submissions.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov to 
submit your comments electronically. Information on using 
regulations.gov, including instructions for accessing agency documents, 
submitting comments, and viewing the docket, is available on the site 
under ``Help.''
     Postal Mail, Commercial Delivery, or Hand Delivery: The 
Department strongly encourages commenters to submit their comments 
electronically. However, if you mail or deliver your comments about the 
proposed regulations, address them to Mr. Jean-Didier Gaina, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW, Mail Stop 294-20, 
Washington, DC 20202.
    Privacy Note: The Department's policy is to make comments received 
from members of the public available for public viewing on the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov. Therefore, commenters should 
include in their comments only information that they wish to make 
publicly available.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information related to 
recognition of accrediting agencies, Herman Bounds at 
[email protected] or by phone at (202) 453-7615 or Elizabeth Daggett 
at [email protected] or (202) 453-6190. For further information 
related to state authorization, Scott Filter at [email protected] or 
(202) 453-7249 or Sophia McArdle at [email protected] or (202) 453-
6318. For all other information related to this NPRM, Barbara 
Hoblitzell at [email protected] or (202) 453-7583 or Annmarie 
Weisman at [email protected] or by phone at (202) 453-6712. If 
you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll-free, at 
(800) 877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Executive Summary

Purpose of This Regulatory Action

    Through this regulatory action, the U.S. Department of Education 
(Department) proposes to: (1) Strengthen the regulatory triad by more 
clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of accrediting 
agencies, States, and the Department in oversight of institutions 
participating in the Federal Student Aid programs authorized under 
title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (title IV, HEA 
programs); (2) establish ``substantial compliance'' as the standard for 
agency recognition; (3) increase academic and career mobility for 
students by eliminating artificial regulatory barriers to work in a 
profession; (4) provide greater flexibility for institutions to engage 
in innovative educational practices more expeditiously and meet local 
and national workforce needs; (5) protect institutional autonomy, honor 
individual campus missions, and afford institutions the opportunity to 
build campus communities based upon shared values; (6) modify 
``substantive change'' requirements to provide greater flexibility to 
institutions to innovate and respond to the needs of students and 
employers, while maintaining strict agency oversight in instances of 
more complicated or higher risk changes in institutional mission, 
program mix, or level of credential offered; (7) clarify the 
Department's accrediting agency recognition process, including accurate 
recognition of the geographic area within which an agency conducts 
business; (8) encourage and enable accrediting agencies to support 
innovative practices, and provide support to accrediting agencies when 
they take adverse actions; and (9) modify the requirements for State 
authorization.

Summary of the Major Provisions of This Regulatory Action

    The proposed regulations would--
     Revise the requirements for accrediting agencies in their 
oversight of member institutions and programs to be less prescriptive 
and provide greater autonomy and flexibility in order to facilitate 
agility and responsiveness and promote innovation;
     Revise the criteria used by the Secretary to recognize 
accrediting agencies to focus on education quality and allow 
competition;
     Revise the Department's process for recognition and review 
of accrediting agencies;
     Clarify the core oversight responsibilities among each 
entity in the regulatory triad--accrediting agencies, States, and the 
Department--to hold institutions accountable;
     Establish the roles and responsibilities of institutions 
and accrediting agencies in the teach-out process;
     Establish that the Department recognizes an institution's 
legal authorization to operate postsecondary educational programs when 
it is exempt from State authorization under the State constitution or 
by State law as a religious institution with a religious mission;
     Revise the State authorization requirements for 
institutions offering distance education or correspondence courses; and
     Remove the regulations related to the Robert C. Byrd 
Honors Scholarship Program, which has not been funded in many years.

Costs and Benefits

    As further detailed in the Regulatory Impact Analysis, the benefits 
of the proposed regulations would include providing transparency and 
improving institutional access for students, honoring the autonomy and 
independence of agencies and institutions, restoring focus and clarity 
to the Department's agency recognition process, integrating risk-based 
review into the recognition process, improving

[[Page 27405]]

teach-outs for students at closed or closing schools, improving 
outcomes, and restoring public trust in the rigor of the accreditation 
process and the value of postsecondary education. The potential costs 
associated with the proposed regulations include some burden associated 
with required disclosures and developing polices about accreditation 
decision-making, enforcement of standards, and substantive change 
reporting requirements. While not the anticipated outcome, it is 
possible agencies would utilize reduced regulatory burden without 
redeploying resources towards greater oversight of institutions. 
However, the more likely scenario is that this regulation will actually 
reduce the need to hire outside firms to prepare materials for 
submission to the Department. Increased competition among accreditors 
could have the unintended consequence of encouraging some accreditors 
to lower standards. It is therefore incumbent on the Department and 
NACIQI to utilize new accountability and oversight tools provided for 
in these regulations to properly monitor agencies and mitigate these 
risks.
    Invitation to Comment: We invite you to submit comments regarding 
these proposed regulations.
    To ensure that your comment has maximum effect in developing the 
final regulations, we urge you to clearly identify the specific section 
or sections of the proposed regulations that your comment addresses, 
and provide relevant information and data whenever possible, even when 
there is no specific solicitation of data and other supporting 
materials in the request for comment. We also urge you to arrange your 
comments in the same order as the proposed regulations. Please do not 
submit a comment that is outside the scope of this notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM), as we are not required to respond to such comments.
    We invite you to assist us in complying with the specific 
requirements of Executive Orders (E.O.) 12866 and 13563 and their 
overall requirement of reducing regulatory burden that might result 
from these proposed regulations. Please let us know of any further ways 
we could reduce potential costs or increase potential benefits while 
preserving the effective and efficient administration of the 
Department's programs and activities.
    During and after the comment period, you may inspect all public 
comments about the proposed regulations by accessing regulations.gov. 
You may also inspect the comments in person at 400 Maryland Ave. SW, 
Washington, DC, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday 
through Friday of each week except Federal holidays. To schedule a time 
to inspect comments, please contact one of the persons listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    Assistance to Individuals with Disabilities in Reviewing the 
Rulemaking Record: On request, we will provide an appropriate 
accommodation or auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability who 
needs assistance to review the comments or other documents in the 
public rulemaking record for the proposed regulations. To schedule an 
appointment for this type of accommodation or auxiliary aid, please 
contact one of the persons listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT.

Background

    Under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), the 
Department serves an important role in ensuring that all academically 
ready students can attend the educational institution of their choice. 
However, Congress has prohibited the Department from intervening in the 
curricular decisions of an institution or attempting to exert control 
over its faculty, administration, or academic programs. The Department 
of Education Organization Act affirms, ``No provision of a program 
administered by the Secretary or by any other officer of the Department 
shall be construed to authorize the Secretary or any such officer to 
exercise any direction, supervision, or control over the curriculum, 
program of instruction, administration, or personnel of any educational 
institution, school, or school system . . . .''
    Instead, Congress has assigned the role of overseeing the quality 
and academic sufficiency of instructional programs to accrediting 
agencies. Accrediting agencies are independent, membership-based 
organizations that rely on peer review to ensure that member 
institutions or programs meet certain standards for academic quality 
and rigor. The aim of accreditation is not to ensure that all 
institutions or programs accredited by a given agency are identical or 
that all students who attend those institutions or programs reach for 
the same goals or achieve the same outcomes. Instead, accrediting 
agencies ensure that students have access to qualified instructors, an 
adequate curriculum, and necessary support services to enable them to 
meet their personal, academic, intellectual, and career goals.
    Postsecondary accreditation is a voluntary process in that a 
college or university need not be accredited in order to provide 
instruction or confer academic degrees. Generally, the permission to 
operate as a degree-granting institution comes from States. However, 
because colleges and universities may not participate in the title IV, 
HEA programs unless they are accredited, institutions are rarely able 
to attract students without this seal of approval.
    Moreover, accreditation is increasingly critical to ensuring that 
employers and other institutions recognize and value their degrees and 
that students can transfer their credits to another institution or 
continue their education and pursue additional credentials at other 
institutions upon graduation.
    Accrediting agencies are one important part of the regulatory triad 
that oversees higher education quality. The others are State 
authorizing agencies, which ensure compliance with State educational 
requirements and consumer protection laws; and the Department, which 
oversees adherence to rules of participation in title IV, HEA programs. 
Unfortunately, over time, States and the Department have shifted some 
of their responsibilities to accrediting agencies, which has forced 
accrediting agencies to devote significant resources and attention to 
oversight of issues outside of their core mission and expertise.
    In addition, accrediting agencies and the institutions they oversee 
have too often been forced into regulation-induced conformity. The 
volume of regulatory requirements limits innovation and diversity among 
institutions in their approach to issues such as mission, curriculum, 
and instructional methods.1 2 3 4 It is not simply that the 
sheer volume of regulatory requirements may limit innovation--though 
that is certainly a concern--but also that many regulatory

[[Page 27406]]

and sub-regulatory requirements demand adherence to the orthodoxy of 
the day. Moreover, the growing list of administrative responsibilities 
conferred upon accrediting agencies reduces the time and attention they 
can devote to academic rigor and the student experience.
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    \1\ Keiser, A. (March 2018). Report to the U.S. Secretary of 
Education: 2018 Accreditation Policy Recommendations on Regulatory 
Reform. Retrieved from https://sites.ed.gov/naciqi/files/2018/02/Regulatory-Reform-Recommendations-FINAL.pdf.
    \2\ Eaton, J. (April 2017). Position Paper: Regulatory Relief 
for Accreditation. Retrieved from https://www.chea.org/sites/default/files/other-content/Regulatory-Relief.pdf.
    \3\ Broad, M. (April 30, 2015). Comments On Accreditation White 
Paper, American Council on Education. Retrieved from https://www.acenet.edu/news-room/Documents/Comments-Alexander-Accreditation.pdf.
    \4\ Senate Task Force on Federal Regulation of Higher Education 
(February 28, 2015). Recalibrating Regulation of Colleges and 
Universities. Retrieved from https://www.help.senate.gov/imo/media/Regulations_Task_Force_Report_2015_FINAL.pdf.
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    Policymakers and institutions increasingly ask accrediting agencies 
to give their imprimatur to educational innovations as institutions 
search for more efficient and effective ways to meet the academic needs 
of more students. Yet, the Department holds accrediting agencies 
accountable for ensuring that programs and institutions meet quality 
standards that are well-accepted among a group of qualified peers. A 
risk-averse, peer-oriented review process often discourages innovations 
that challenge the status quo in higher education. The status quo 
avoids risk, but innovation cannot exist without it. More must be done 
to determine which risks may be acceptable in order to move higher 
education forward.
    The Department and accrediting agencies must provide reasonable 
assurances to students, parents, and taxpayers that investments of time 
and money will not go to waste at an institution that does not deliver 
on its promises or maintain a level of rigor appropriate to ensure that 
a credential from that institution provides value.
    The goal of our negotiated rulemaking has been to examine the 
Department's accreditation regulations and processes to determine which 
are critical to assessing the quality of an institution and its 
programs and to protecting student and taxpayer investments. We believe 
these proposed regulations are an important first step, and we are 
eager to further inform and refine our recommendations through input 
from the public. Our goal continues to be to question why we recognize 
accrediting agencies the way we do, why they evaluate institutions or 
programs the way they do, and what alternatives might generate better 
results and create new efficiencies, cost savings, or improved 
outcomes.
    When we drafted the initial regulatory proposals we presented to 
negotiators before they met for the first time in January 2019, we 
first considered the recommendations made by the National Advisory 
Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI), the Council 
for Higher Education Accreditation, the American Council on Education, 
and the Senate Task Force on Federal Regulation of Higher Education 
(convened by Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Senator Barbara Mikulski 
(D-MD), Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Senator Richard Burr (R-NC)) 
to understand what these leading voices considered to be important 
steps the Department might take to improve accreditation. Our analysis 
revealed some common themes among those recommendations, including the 
following:
     Clarify roles among the regulatory triad, and reaffirm 
their system of checks and balances;
     Restore focus and clarity to the Department's agency 
recognition process and requirements;
     Integrate risk-based review into the recognition process;
     Eliminate unnecessary minutia in the agency recognition 
process;
     Confine the scope of review of accrediting agencies to the 
express regulatory requirements;
     Simplify the recognition criteria and put a higher 
priority on activities directly related to the student experience;
     Honor the autonomy, independence, and mission of 
accrediting agencies and institutions;
     Reform substantive change requirements to enable 
institutions to respond more quickly to changing programmatic needs;
     Allow agencies to utilize standards that align with 
institution's mission and goals; and
     Clarify the issues on which the Department seeks NACIQI's 
policy input.
    In December 2017, the Secretary convened a diverse group of 
stakeholders for a Rethinking Higher Education summit to learn about 
innovations in education delivery that can reduce cost and better 
prepare students for the demands of contemporary work and life. 
Participants highlighted opportunities currently under development and 
the need to leverage these innovations to serve a more diverse group of 
students, accelerate credential completion, and improve student 
learning. We also heard from many innovators that accreditation has 
steep barriers to entry that may serve to protect market share for 
established educational providers, even when these providers' student 
outcomes may not be impressive. The Department is concerned that 
accrediting agency reluctance to support or approve innovations in 
higher education may be the result of the Department's past tendency to 
dictate policies and practices to accrediting agencies and second-guess 
even the most measured and responsible actions that accrediting 
agencies have taken to support reform. For example, in 2010, the 
Department changed its compliance review process to an ``all-or-
nothing'' standard that finds an agency to either be fully compliant or 
fully noncompliant. This means that even when there is a minor error or 
omission that could be easily corrected, the agency must be found out 
of compliance. This approach fails to differentiate between an agency 
that is guilty of negligent disregard for academic rigor and an agency 
that is using policy language that differs slightly from the 
Department's regulations or is missing a document or signature. Current 
regulations lack the flexibility and mechanisms to fully acknowledge 
agencies that are substantially compliant and that can become fully 
compliant within a reasonable timeframe.
    In performing our review and engaging in negotiated rulemaking, we 
asked the following questions:
     Which areas of the Department's accreditation regulations 
and guidance are most directly related to education quality and the 
student experience? Which are ambiguous, repetitive, or unnecessarily 
burdensome?
     How do we strengthen the triad and clarify the roles and 
responsibilities of each entity? How do we eliminate duplication of 
oversight responsibilities among two or more members of the triad to 
reduce burden and to ensure that the appropriate entity is held 
accountable when it fails to fulfill its duties?
     How can we embrace and support innovation without exposing 
students and taxpayers to unreasonable risk?
     How can we reduce the size of petitions for recognition or 
for renewals of recognition and still comprehensively review the work 
of an agency and ensure the consistent application of its standards?
     Can the Department provide more support and information to 
accrediting agencies to help them do their jobs more effectively? If 
so, what form should that take?
     Has the Department or NACIQI become too prescriptive 
regarding student achievement, despite the statutory prohibitions on 
prescribing accrediting standards and the ability of accrediting 
agencies to establish different standards for different institutions? 
Are there better options that we should explore?
    We first posed these questions at the May 2018 NACIQI meeting, 
hoping to generate conversation and receive feedback on our questions 
and concerns. We similarly presented a summary of our concerns in 
remarks before the University Professional and Continuing Education 
Association 2018 Annual Conference, as well as in remarks

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delivered at the Council for Higher Education Accreditation 2018 
Federal Policy Roundtable. These early conversations helped us to gauge 
the relevance of our questions and to expand them to address concerns 
articulated by our stakeholders. Through our various outreach 
activities, as well as through opportunities for public comment and 
this negotiated rulemaking process, we have sought to question the 
usefulness, effectiveness, and efficiencies of all elements of the 
accreditation program. We further seek to leverage the experience of 
the community to streamline and reduce unnecessary costs associated 
with accreditation while improving its outcomes. Finally, we aim to 
restore public trust in the rigor of the accreditation process and the 
value of postsecondary education.

Public Participation

    On July 31, 2018, we published a notice in the Federal Register (83 
FR 36814) announcing our intent to establish a negotiated rulemaking 
committee to prepare proposed regulations for the title IV, HEA 
programs. We also announced our intention to create three subcommittees 
for this rulemaking effort. In addition, we announced three public 
hearings at which interested parties could comment on the topics 
suggested by the Department and could suggest additional topics that 
should be considered for action by the negotiating committee. The 
hearings were held on September 6, 2018, in Washington, DC; September 
11, 2018, in New Orleans, LA; and September 13, 2018, in Sturtevant, 
WI. Transcripts from the public hearings are available at: www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/reg/hearulemaking/2018/.
    We also invited parties unable to attend a public hearing to submit 
written comments on the proposed topics and to submit other topics for 
consideration. Written comments submitted in response to the July 31, 
2018, Federal Register notice may be viewed through the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov, within docket ID ED-2019-
OPE-0076. Instructions for finding comments are also available on the 
site under ``Help.''

Negotiated Rulemaking

    Section 492 of the HEA, 20 U.S.C. 1098a, requires the Secretary to 
obtain public involvement in the development of proposed regulations 
affecting title IV, HEA programs. After obtaining extensive input and 
recommendations from the public, including individuals and 
representatives of groups involved in the title IV, HEA programs, the 
Secretary, in most cases, must subject the proposed regulations to a 
negotiated rulemaking process. If negotiators reach consensus on the 
proposed regulations, the Department agrees to publish without 
alteration a defined group of regulations on which the negotiators 
reached consensus unless the Secretary reopens the process or provides 
a written explanation to the participants stating why the Secretary has 
decided to depart from the agreement reached during negotiations. 
Further information on the negotiated rulemaking process can be found 
at: www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/reg/hearulemaking/hea08/neg-reg-faq.html.
    On October 15, 2018, the Department published a notice in the 
Federal Register (83 FR 51906) announcing its intention to establish a 
negotiated rulemaking committee--the Accreditation and Innovation 
Committee--to prepare proposed regulations for the title IV, HEA 
programs. The notice set forth a schedule for the committee meetings 
and requested nominations for individual negotiators to serve on the 
negotiating committee. We also announced the creation of three 
subcommittees--the Distance Learning and Educational Innovation 
Subcommittee, the Faith-Based Entities Subcommittee, and the TEACH 
Grants Subcommittee--and requested nominations for individuals with 
pertinent expertise to serve on the subcommittees.
    The Department sought negotiators to represent the following groups 
for the Accreditation and Innovation Committee: Students; legal 
assistance organizations that represent students; financial aid 
administrators at postsecondary institutions; national accreditation 
agencies; regional accreditation agencies; programmatic accreditation 
agencies; institutions of higher education (IHEs) primarily offering 
distance education; institutions of higher education eligible to 
receive Federal assistance under title III, parts A, B, and F, and 
title V of the HEA, which include Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, American Indian Tribally 
Controlled Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native and Native 
Hawaiian-Serving Institutions, and other institutions with a 
substantial enrollment of needy students as defined in title III of the 
HEA; two-year public institutions of higher education; four-year public 
institutions of higher education; faith-based institutions of higher 
education; private, nonprofit institutions of higher education; 
private, proprietary institutions of higher education; employers; and 
veterans.
    For the Distance Learning and Educational Innovation Subcommittee, 
the Department sought individuals to represent the following groups: 
Students; legal assistance organizations that represent students; 
private, nonprofit institutions of higher education, with knowledge of 
direct assessment programs and competency-based education; private, 
for-profit institutions of higher education, with knowledge of direct 
assessment programs and competency-based education; public institutions 
of higher education, with knowledge of direct assessment programs and 
competency-based education; accrediting agencies; associations or 
organizations that provide guidance to or represent institutions with 
direct assessment programs and competency-based education; financial 
aid administrators at postsecondary institutions; academic executive 
officers at postsecondary institutions; nonprofit organizations 
supporting inter-State agreements related to State authorization of 
distance or correspondence education programs; and State higher 
education executives.
    The Department sought individuals to represent the following groups 
for the Faith-Based Entities Subcommittee: Students; faith-based 
entities eligible for title IV, HEA programs; officers of institution-
based Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program 
(GEARUP) grantees; institutions of higher education with knowledge of 
faith-based entities' participation in the title IV, HEA programs; 
institutions of higher education with knowledge of faith-based 
entities' participation in the title IV, HEA programs and that are 
eligible to receive Federal assistance under title III, parts A, B, and 
F, and title V of the HEA, which include Historically Black Colleges 
and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, American Indian 
Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native and Native 
Hawaiian-Serving Institutions, Predominantly Black Institutions, and 
other institutions with a substantial enrollment of needy students as 
defined in title III of the HEA; accrediting agencies; associations or 
organizations that focus on issues related to faith-based entities or 
the participation of faith-based entities in Federal programs; and 
financial aid administrators at postsecondary institutions.
    The Department sought individuals with expertise in teacher 
education programs, student financial aid, and high-need teacher 
education programs

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to serve as members of the TEACH Grant Subcommittee: Students who are 
or have been TEACH Grant recipients; legal assistance organizations 
that represent students; financial aid administrators at postsecondary 
institutions; State primary and secondary education executive officers; 
institutions of higher education that award or have awarded TEACH 
grants and that are eligible to receive Federal assistance under title 
III, parts A, B, and F, and title V of the HEA, which include 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving 
Institutions, American Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and 
Universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions, 
Predominantly Black Institutions, and other institutions with a 
substantial enrollment of needy students as defined in title III of the 
HEA; two-year institutions of higher education that award or have 
awarded TEACH grants; four-year institutions of higher education that 
award or have awarded TEACH grants; organizations or associations that 
represent the interests of students who participate in title IV, HEA 
programs; and organizations or associations that represent financial 
aid administrators.
    The Accreditation and Innovation negotiating committee included the 
following members:
    Susan Hurst, Ouachita Baptist University, and Karen McCarthy 
(alternate), National Association of Student Financial Aid 
Administrators, representing financial aid administrators at 
postsecondary institutions.
    Robyn Smith, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, and Lea 
Wroblewski (alternate), Legal Aid of Nebraska, representing legal 
assistance organizations that represent students.
    Ernest McNealey, Allen University, and Erin Hill Hart (alternate), 
North Carolina A&T State University, representing institutions of 
higher education that award or have awarded TEACH grants and that are 
eligible to receive Federal assistance under title III, Parts A, B, and 
F, and title V of the HEA, which include Historically Black Colleges 
and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, American Indian 
Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native and Native 
Hawaiian-Serving Institutions, Predominantly Black Institutions, and 
other institutions with a substantial enrollment of needy students as 
defined in title III of the HEA.
    David Dannenberg, University of Alaska, Anchorage, and Tina Falkner 
(alternate), University of Minnesota, representing four-year public 
institutions of higher education.
    Terry Hartle, American Council on Education, and Ashley Ann Reich 
(alternate), Liberty University, representing private, nonprofit 
institutions of higher education.
    Jillian Klein, Strategic Education, Inc., and Fabian Fernandez 
(alternate), Schiller International University, representing private, 
proprietary institutions of higher education.
    William Pena, Southern New Hampshire University, and M. Kimberly 
Rupert (alternate), Spring Arbor University, representing institutions 
of higher education primarily offering distance education.
    Christina Amato, Sinclair College, and Daniel Phelan (alternate), 
Jackson College, representing two-year public institutions of higher 
education.
    Barbara Gellman-Danley, Higher Learning Commission, and Elizabeth 
Sibolski (alternate), Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 
representing regional accreditation agencies.
    Laura King, Council on Education for Public Health, and Janice 
Knebl (alternate), American Osteopathic Association Commission on 
Osteopathic College Accreditation, representing programmatic 
accreditation agencies.
    Michale S. McComis, Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and 
Colleges, and India Y. Tips (alternate), Accrediting Bureau of Health 
Education Schools, representing national accreditation agencies.
    Steven M. Sandberg, Brigham Young University, and David Altshuler 
(alternate), San Francisco Theological Seminary, representing faith-
based institutions of higher education. Joseph Verardo, National 
Association of Graduate-Professional Students, and John Castellaw 
(alternate), University of Arizona, representing students.
    Edgar McCulloch, IBM Corporation, and Shaun T. Kelleher 
(alternate), BAM Technologies, representing employers. Daniel Elkins, 
Director, Veterans Education Project, and Elizabeth Bejar (alternate), 
Florida International University, representing veterans.
    Annmarie Weisman, U.S. Department of Education, representing the 
Department.
    The negotiated rulemaking committee met to develop proposed 
regulations on January 14-16, 2019; February 19-22, 2019; March 25-28, 
2019; and April 1-3, 2019.
    During its first meeting, the negotiating committee reached 
agreement on its protocols and proposed agenda. The protocols provided, 
among other things, that the committee would operate by consensus. 
Consensus means that there must be no dissent by any member for the 
committee to have reached agreement. Under the protocols, if the 
committee reached a final consensus on all issues, the Department would 
use the consensus-based language in its proposed regulations. 
Furthermore, the Department would not substantively alter the 
consensus-based language of its proposed regulations unless the 
Department reopened the negotiated rulemaking process or provided a 
written explanation to the committee members regarding why it decided 
to depart from that language.
    At the first meeting, the Department received a petition for 
membership from David Tandberg, Vice President of Policy Research and 
Strategic Initiatives at the State Higher Education Executive Officers 
Association, to represent State Higher Education Executive Officers. 
The negotiated rulemaking committee voted to include Mr. Tandberg on 
the full committee. The Department also received petitions to add other 
members. The Department received a petition to add a member 
representing State Attorneys General to the full committee and the 
Distance Education and Innovation subcommittee. The committee did not 
agree to add a member representing this constituency to the full 
committee but did agree by consensus to add such a member to the 
subcommittee. The committee also agreed by consensus vote to add a 
member to the TEACH Grant subcommittee.
    During the first meeting, the negotiating committee agreed to 
discuss an agenda of issues related to accreditation and student 
financial aid. Under the protocols, we placed the issues into three 
``buckets.'' Final consensus on a bucket of issues would have to 
include consensus on all issues within that bucket. The first bucket 
included issues related to accreditation in 34 CFR parts 600, 602, 603, 
and 668, as well as the Robert C. Byrd Scholarship Program regulations 
in 34 CFR part 654. The second bucket included issues related to the 
TEACH grant program in 34 CFR 686 and the treatment of faith-based 
entities in student aid and grant programs in 34 CFR parts 674, 675, 
676, 682, 685, 690, 692, and 694. The third bucket included issues 
related to distance learning and educational innovation in 34 CFR parts 
600 and 668. The committee reached consensus on each of the three 
buckets.
    In general, the Department plans to issue separate NPRMs and final 
regulations for each bucket of issues, although for purposes of 
coherence and in view of the interrelated nature of the

[[Page 27409]]

proposed regulations, a few issues will be addressed in an earlier or 
later NPRM than the respective buckets to which those issues were 
assigned throughout the negotiations. This NPRM addresses issues 
related to accreditation in 34 CFR parts 600, 602, 603, and 668, and 
the Robert C. Byrd Scholarship Program in 34 CFR part 654.
    During committee meetings, the negotiators reviewed and discussed 
the Department's drafts of regulatory language and the committee 
members' alternative language and suggestions. At the final meeting on 
April 3, 2019, the committee reached consensus on the regulatory 
language in each of the three buckets. For this reason, and according 
to the committee's protocols, committee members and the organizations 
that they represent have agreed to refrain from commenting negatively 
on the consensus-based regulatory language. For more information on the 
negotiated rulemaking sessions, please visit: www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/reg/hearulemaking/2012/programintegrity.html#info.

Summary of Proposed Changes

    The proposed regulations would--
     Amend in Sec.  600.2 the definition of ``branch campus'';
     Create in Sec.  600.2 new definitions of ``additional 
location,'' ``preaccreditation,'' ``teach-out,'' ``religious mission,'' 
and remove the definition of ``preaccredited'';
     Move from Sec.  602.3 to Sec.  600.2, and modify, the 
definitions of ``preaccreditation,'' ``teach-out agreement,'' and 
``teach-out plan'';
     Clarify in Sec. Sec.  600.4, 600.5, and 600.6 that the 
Secretary does not recognize the accreditation or preaccreditation of 
an institution unless the institution agrees to submit any dispute 
involving an adverse action, such as the final denial, withdrawal, or 
termination of accreditation, to arbitration before initiating any 
other legal action;
     Establish in Sec.  600.9(b) that we consider an 
institution to be legally authorized to operate educational programs 
beyond secondary education if it is exempt from State authorization 
under the State constitution or by State law as a religious 
institution;
     Amend Sec.  600.9(c)(1), as published at 81 FR 62262 
(December 19, 2016), to make the paragraph also applicable to 
institutions exempt from State authorization under proposed Sec.  
600.9(b); to substitute where a student is ``located,'' rather than 
where the student is residing, as a trigger for State authorization 
requirements; and to add provisions regarding when and how an 
institution is to make determinations regarding a student's location;
     Delete Sec.  600.9(c)(2), as published at 81 FR 62262 
(December 19, 2016), regarding State processes for review of complaints 
from students enrolled in distance or correspondence programs who 
reside in a State in which the institution is not physically located;
     Establish in Sec.  600.11 conditions under which the 
Secretary would prohibit a change in accrediting agencies and the 
utilization of multiple accrediting agencies;
     Provide clarifying edits to Sec.  600.31(a)(1), and to the 
definitions of ``closely-held corporation,'' ``parent,'' and 
``person;''
     Rename the term ``other corporations'' in Sec.  
600.31(c)(3) to read ``other entities,'' and revise the definition of 
the term as renamed;
     Rename the heading ``Partnership or sole proprietorship'' 
in Sec.  600.31(c)(4) to read ``General partnership or sole 
proprietorship''; revise the heading ``Parent corporation'' in Sec.  
600.31(c)(5) read ``Wholly owned subsidiary''; and revise the content 
of Sec.  600.31(c)(5);
     Rename the heading ``Partnership or sole proprietorship'' 
in Sec.  600.31(c)(4) to read ``General partnership or sole 
proprietorship''; revise the heading ``Parent corporation'' in Sec.  
600.31(c)(5) read ``Wholly owned subsidiary''; and revise the content 
of Sec.  600.31(c)(5);
     Amend in Sec.  600.32 the requirements for acquisitions 
of, or teach-outs at, additional locations of institutions that are 
closing;
     Eliminate a provision regarding the long-repealed 
transfer-of-credit alternative to recognized accreditation from Sec.  
600.41;
     Amend in Sec.  602.3 the definitions of ``compliance 
report,'' ``final accrediting action,'' ``programmatic accrediting 
agency,'' ``scope of recognition'' or ``scope,'' and ``senior 
Department official'';
     Establish in Sec.  602.3 new definitions for ``monitoring 
report'' and ``substantial compliance'';
     Add in Sec.  602.3 new cross-references to definitions in 
part 600 for ``accredited,'' ``correspondence course,'' ``credit 
hour,'' ``direct assessment programs,'' ``distance education,'' 
``nationally recognized accrediting agency,'' ``Secretary,'' and 
``State,'' and otherwise eliminate definitions for these terms in Sec.  
602.3;
     Revise the ``federal link'' requirement in Sec.  602.10 to 
permit an agency to comply by establishing that it dually accredits a 
program or institution that could use its accreditation to establish 
eligibility to participate in title IV, HEA programs;
     In proposed Sec. Sec.  602.11 and 602.12, transition from 
the concept of an accrediting agency's ``geographic scope'' as 
determined by the Department, to one of ``geographic area'' as reported 
by the agency and reflecting all States in which main campuses, 
branches and locations accredited by the agency are located;
     Under proposed Sec.  602.12, no longer require an 
accrediting agency that is seeking its own recognition but is 
affiliated with an agency that is already recognized to document it has 
engaged in accrediting activities for at least two years;
     Under proposed Sec.  602.12, no longer require agencies 
applying for an expansion of scope to have accredited institutions or 
programs in the areas for which the expansion is sought, while 
reserving in the Department in such instances authority to establish a 
limitation on the agency or require a monitoring report;
     Eliminate current Sec.  602.13, relying on other 
regulations to ensure the Department obtains feedback on the agency 
from the academic community;
     Revise Sec.  602.14 to clarify the ``separate and 
independent'' requirement;
     In proposed Sec.  602.15, clarify requirements regarding 
conflict of interest controls and reduce agencies' record-keeping 
requirements;
     In proposed Sec.  602.16, require agencies that accredit 
direct assessment programs to ensure their standards effectively 
address such programs, and provide additional flexibility to agencies 
in setting standards for occupational and dual enrollment programs;
     Revise Sec.  602.17 to require accredited entities to meet 
their objectives at the institutional and program levels;
     Further revise Sec.  602.17 to encourage innovation, 
require substantiation of evidence, and provide greater flexibility to 
agencies in establishing requirements for verifying student identity;
     In Sec.  602.18, establish that agencies must not use 
religious-based policies, decisions and practices as a negative factor 
in applying various of their accrediting standards, while recognizing 
the agencies' authority to ensure that curricula are complete;
     Also in Sec.  602.18, acknowledge the ability of agencies 
in appropriate circumstances to establish alternative standards, 
policies and procedures, and to extend the time for complying with 
their standards, policies and procedures, while establishing guidelines 
for ensuring that agencies, institutions and programs remain 
accountable in such circumstances;

[[Page 27410]]

     Revise Sec.  602.19 to require a review, at the next 
meeting of NACIQI, of any change in scope of an agency when an 
institution it accredits, that offers distance education or 
correspondence courses, increases its enrollment by 50 percent or more 
within any one institutional fiscal year;
     Revise Sec.  602.20 to remove overly prescriptive 
timelines for agency enforcement actions;
     Revise Sec.  602.21 to clarify that, when reviewing 
standards, agencies must maintain a comprehensive systematic program 
that involves all relevant constituencies.
     Modify substantive change requirements in Sec.  602.22, by 
requiring more restrictive oversight of institutions posing higher 
risk, and less of other institutions; by permitting an agency to 
provide more expeditious review of certain kinds of substantive change 
by delegating decision-making authority to agency senior staff; and by 
permitting agencies to provide retroactive effective dates for 
substantive change approvals, subject to certain requirements;
     Add to Sec.  602.23 a requirement for public notice of the 
procedures and steps required by agencies, States and the Department 
with respect to accreditation, preaccreditation and substantive change 
applications and decisions.
     Also in Sec.  602.23, add requirements related to grants 
of preaccreditation, and require each agency that serves as a title IV, 
HEA gatekeeper to use Department definitions of branch campus and 
additional location, as well as to notify the Department if it 
accredits part but not all of an institution participating the title IV 
programs.
     In Sec.  602.24, streamline requirements for approvals of 
branch campuses, establish new requirements for teach-out plans and 
teach-out agreements, remove the requirement related to accrediting 
agency review of institutional credit hour policies during 
comprehensive reviews, and, with respect to institutions participating 
in the title IV, HEA programs, conform agency definitions of branch 
campuses and additional locations with the Department's.
     Remove reversal as an option available to agency appeals 
panels, and clarify the remand option, under Sec.  602.25;
     Under proposed Sec.  602.26, add a requirement for notice 
to the Secretary, the State, other accrediting agencies, and current 
and prospective students of initiation of an adverse action, and modify 
other notice requirements;
     Clarify in Sec.  602.27(b) that requests from the 
Department for agencies to maintain confidentiality of Departmental 
information requests will be based on a determination by the Department 
that the need for confidentiality is compelling.
     Revise Sec. Sec.  602.31-602.37 to incorporate the 
substantial compliance standard and the use of monitoring reports; 
revise requirements regarding agency applications and staff review of 
the applications; require NACIQI involvement in any decision for 
initial recognition; allow greater flexibility in permitting agencies 
an opportunity to come into compliance; provide an opportunity for 
briefing by an agency and the Department staff if the senior Department 
official determines that a decision to deny, limit or suspend may be 
warranted; and make other procedural and technical changes.
     In Sec.  603.24(c), remove the requirement for review by 
State approval agencies of institutional credit hour policies;
     Remove and reserve part 654, regarding the Robert C. Byrd 
Honors Scholarship Program;
     Add new Sec.  668.26(e) to provide the Secretary with 
discretion, in specified circumstances, to permit an institution to 
disburse title IV, HEA funds for no more than 120 days after the end of 
participation to previously enrolled students for purposes of 
completing a teach-out.
     Replace requirements in Sec.  668.41 for disclosure of any 
program placement rate calculated, along with associated timeframes and 
methodology, with requirements for disclosure only of any placement 
rate published or used in advertising;
     Revise Sec.  668.43 to require disclosures, including 
direct disclosures to individual students and prospective students in 
certain circumstances, for each State, whether or not a program meets 
licensure and certification requirements, as well as any States for 
which the institution has not made a determination; and remove Sec.  
668.50;
     Revise Sec.  668.43(a)(12) to clarify that disclosures of 
written arrangements wherein a portion of a program are to be provided 
by an entity other than the institution are to be included in the 
program description;
     Further revise Sec.  668.43 to require disclosures of 
documents regarding--
     Any types of institutions or sources from which the 
institution will not accept transfer of credit;
     Criteria used to evaluate and award credit for prior 
learning experience;
     Any requirement by the accrediting agency that the 
institution be required to maintain a teach-out plan, and why the 
requirement was imposed;
     Any investigation, action or prosecution by a law 
enforcement agency of which the institution is aware for an issue 
related to academic quality, misrepresentation, fraud, or other severe 
matters; and
     Several matters required to be disclosed under HEA Sec.  
485, but not currently included in regulation, with the statutory 
requirement for disclosures of placement rates under HEA Sec.  
485(a)(1)(R) clarifies to pertain to placement rates required by an 
accrediting agency or State.
     Revise the ``federal link'' requirement in Sec.  602.10
     Further revise Sec.  602.17 to encourage innovation
     Revise Sec.  602.19 to require a review, at the next 
meeting of NACIQI, of any change in scope of an agency when an 
institution it accredits, that offers distance education or 
correspondence courses, increases its enrollment by 50 percent or more 
within any one institutional fiscal year;
     Revise Sec.  602.20 to remove overly prescriptive 
timelines for agency enforcement actions;
     Revise Sec.  602.21 to clarify that, when reviewing 
standards, agencies must maintain a comprehensive systematic program 
that involves all relevant constituencies; and
     Add requirements in Sec.  602.23 related to granting 
preaccreditation.

Significant Proposed Regulations

    We group major issues according to subject, with appropriate 
sections of the regulations referenced in parenthesis. We discuss 
substantive issues under the sections of the proposed regulations to 
which they pertain. Generally, we do not address proposed regulatory 
provisions that are technical or otherwise minor in effect.

Institutional Eligibility

Definitions (Sec.  600.2)

    Statute: HEA sections 101(a)(2) and 102(a)(1), (b)(1)(B), and 
(c)(1)(B) require an institution of higher education to be legally 
authorized within a State to provide a program of education beyond 
secondary education. Section 495(b) requires each institution of higher 
education to provide evidence to the Secretary that the institution has 
authority to operate within a State at the time the institution is 
certified. Section 487(f)(2) defines ``teach-out plan.'' Section 
101(a)(5) permits certain public and nonprofit institutions to qualify 
as institutionally eligible for HEA purposes if they are accredited or 
preaccredited by a recognized accrediting agency. Section 102(b)(1)(D) 
requires a

[[Page 27411]]

``proprietary institution of higher education'' to be accredited by a 
nationally recognized accrediting agency. Section 496(a)(4)(A) requires 
that the standards of recognized accrediting agencies respect the 
stated mission of accredited institutions, including religious mission.
    Current Regulations: Section 600.2 defines several terms applicable 
to institutional eligibility, including ``branch campus,'' 
``preaccredited,'' and ``teach-out plan.'' Section 602.3 also defines 
``teach-out plan,'' and ``preaccreditation,'' and ``teach-out 
agreement.'' There is no definition of ``religious mission'' or 
``additional location.''
    Proposed Regulations: In Sec.  600.2 we propose to add definitions 
of ``additional location,'' ``religious mission,'' ``teach-out,'' and 
``teach-out agreement,'' and revise the definitions of ``branch 
campus'' and ``teach-out plan.'' We will remove the definitions of 
``teach-out plan'' and ``teach-out agreement'' from Sec.  602.3. We 
also propose to move the definition of ``preaccreditation'' from Sec.  
602.3 to Sec.  600.2, revise the definition to note that this status is 
also referred to as ``candidacy,'' and remove the definition of 
``preaccredited'' from Sec.  600.2.
    The proposed definition of ``additional location'' would define the 
term as a facility geographically apart at which the institution offers 
at least 50 percent of a program and would provide that an additional 
location may qualify as a branch campus. We propose to clarify the 
definition of ``branch campus'' and indicate that it is one type of 
additional location.
    The proposed regulations would define a ``teach-out'' as a period 
of time during which an institution or one of its programs engages in 
an orderly closure or when another institution provides an opportunity 
for the students of the closed school to complete its program, 
regardless of their academic progress at the time of closure. The 
definition would also provide that eligible borrowers cannot be 
required to take a teach-out in lieu of accessing closed-school 
discharges and note that institutions are prohibited from 
misrepresenting the nature of teach-out plans, teach-out agreements, 
and transfer of credit.
    We also propose to distinguish between a ``teach-out plan'' and a 
``teach-out agreement.'' In the definition of ``teach-out plan,'' we 
propose to include situations where an institution plans to cease 
operating, but has not yet closed, and limit the term to situations in 
a closure is or will occur before all enrolled students have completed 
their program of study. Under the proposed regulations, we would move 
the definition of ``teach-out agreement'' from the accreditation 
regulations in Sec.  602.3 to the institutional eligibility regulations 
in Sec.  600.2 and define a ``teach-out agreement'' as a written 
agreement between institutions that provides for the equitable 
treatment of students and a reasonable opportunity for students to 
complete their program of study if an institution ceases to operate or 
plans to cease operations before all enrolled students have completed 
their program of study.
    We propose to define ``religious mission'' as a published 
institutional mission that is approved by the governing body of an 
institution of postsecondary education and that includes, refers to, or 
is predicated upon religious tenets, beliefs, or teachings.
    The committee agreed to maintain the definition of ``State 
authorization reciprocity agreement'' as it was established in the 
Program Integrity and Improvement regulations published in the Federal 
Register on December 19, 2016 (81 FR 92232).
    Reasons: The Department is adding a definition of ``additional 
location'' and revising the definition of ``branch campus'' to 
implement its current policy with respect to those terms and to avoid 
confusion caused by occasional inconsistent usage among the Department, 
States, and various accrediting agencies. We believe that a clear 
definition of ``additional location'' is necessary given the frequent 
use of the term elsewhere in the regulations. Under the Department's 
longstanding policy, we have defined an ``additional location'' as a 
location that is geographically apart, at which the institution offers 
at least 50 percent of an eligible program. This definition would 
codify that policy. The Department has also revised the definition of 
``branch campus'' to clearly indicate that it is one type of additional 
location that meets additional criteria, including permanence and 
autonomy with respect to faculty, administration, and budgetary and 
hiring authority.
    The Department proposes to move the definitions of ``teach-out 
agreement'' and ``preaccreditation'' from the accreditation regulations 
in Sec.  602.3 to the institutional eligibility regulations in Sec.  
600.2 for consistency, and because the use of those terms extends to 
regulations in part 600 and part 668. The Department proposes to add a 
definition of ``teach-out'' in order to clarify the types of activities 
that qualify as a teach-out and to clearly express that a teach-out is 
not intended to deny a student the ability to receive a closed-school 
discharge if the student chooses not to take advantage of an 
institution's teach-out option. The definition of a ``teach-out'' also 
notes that an institution may not misrepresent the nature of its teach-
out plans or agreements, or the ability of students to transfer credit 
in general or through a teach-out agreement, in recognition of the 
vulnerability of students during such a process.
    The Department proposes to revise the definition of ``teach-out 
plan'' to clearly distinguish a teach-out plan from a teach-out 
agreement, where a teach-out agreement is an actual written contract 
between two or more institutions and a teach-out plan is developed by 
an institution and may or may not include teach-out agreements with 
other institutions. The Department also believes that the definition of 
``teach-out plan'' should include plans for teaching out students 
during orderly closures in which an institution plans to cease 
operating but has not yet closed. The Department believes that we serve 
both students and taxpayers better when an individual institution can 
responsibly wind down its operations or assist students in finding a 
transfer or teach-out institution in order to complete their program.
    The Department proposes to add a definition of ``religious 
mission'' to clarify related State authorization requirements and the 
nature of accrediting agencies' statutory responsibilities to ensure 
that their standards respect ``religious mission.'' The negotiators 
agreed upon the definition of ``religious mission'' following extensive 
exploration of the issue by the Faith-based subcommittee. We believe 
the definition effectively differentiates between institutions with 
explicit faith-based principles included in their mission and those 
that merely have an historical connection to a religious order that is 
no longer relevant to the institution's mission. Achieving this balance 
is an important goal shared by many negotiators and members of the 
Faith-Based Entities Subcommittee. The Department intends for a 
religious institution to have wide latitude in carrying out its 
religious mission across all aspects of its academic and non-academic 
programs, functions, and responsibilities. The Department initially 
proposed listing each of those areas. However, following discussions 
with negotiators, we now believe it is not possible to create a list 
that is sufficiently comprehensive and yet avoids unintended incursions 
into a religious institution's mission or mission-based policies, as 
well as the accrediting agencies' authority to ensure

[[Page 27412]]

program quality. As discussed below, we included a non-exclusive list 
of categories of accrediting standards as to which accrediting agencies 
are not to use an agency's religious mission-based policies, decisions 
and practices as a negative factor in 602.18(a)(3). That list is not 
intended to exclude other topics or situations where a religious 
mission is relevant and must be respected.

Institution of Higher Education, Proprietary Institution of Higher 
Education, and Postsecondary Vocational Institution (Sec. Sec.  600.4, 
600.5, and 600.6)

    Statute: HEA section 496(e) provides that the Secretary may not 
recognize the accreditation of any institution of higher education 
unless it agrees to submit any dispute involving the final denial, 
withdrawal, or termination of accreditation to initial arbitration 
prior to any other legal action. HEA section 102(b)(1)(A)(ii) provides 
for eligibility of proprietary institutions of higher education that 
provide a program leading to a baccalaureate degree in liberal arts and 
have provided such a program since January 1, 2009, as long as they are 
also accredited by a recognized regional accrediting agency and have 
continuously held such accreditation since October 1, 2007 or earlier.
    Current Regulations: Sections 600.4(c), 600.5(d), and 600.6(d) 
provide that the Secretary does not recognize the accreditation or 
preaccreditation of an institution unless the institution agrees to 
submit any dispute involving the final denial, withdrawal, or 
termination of accreditation to initial arbitration before initiating 
any other legal action.
    For purposes of eligibility of proprietary institutions of higher 
education to participate in the title IV, HEA programs, Sec.  600.5(e) 
provides that a ``program leading to a baccalaureate degree in liberal 
arts'' is a program that the institution's recognized regional 
accrediting agency or organization determines is a general 
instructional program in the liberal arts subjects, the humanities 
disciplines, or the general curriculum, falling within one or more of 
the generally accepted instructional categories comprising such 
programs listed in Sec.  600.5(e).
    Proposed Regulations: We propose to clarify that institutions must 
agree that they will engage in arbitration prior to taking legal action 
against their agency in the event of an adverse action, regardless of 
whether the action is termed denial, withdrawal, or termination, or 
another term is used instead. In Sec.  600.5(e), we propose to revise 
the definition of ``program leading to a baccalaureate degree in 
liberal arts'' to delete the phrases ``the institution's recognized 
regional accreditation agency or organization determines'' and ``in the 
liberal arts subjects, the humanities disciplines, or the general 
curriculum.''
    Reasons: When an institution subject to an adverse action may 
proceed directly to filing a lawsuit against its accrediting agency, a 
lengthy and costly legal battle may result. This potential consequence 
could serve as a deterrent to agencies taking necessary action. 
Arbitration allows agencies to take needed action and resolve disputes 
more quickly and potentially without costly litigation. Further, action 
that is swifter better meets the needs of students and the public. 
While the statutory requirement has not changed, the Department wants 
to increase awareness of it, in part due to a lack of clarity in the 
regulations, and we wish to highlight this important requirement with 
the proposed regulation. Moreover, although arbitration proceedings are 
sometimes less transparent than proceedings in court, the Department 
believes that existing and proposed requirements for notice to students 
and the public at 34 CFR 602.26 and 668.43 will ensure both are timely 
aware of accreditation disputes and their resolution.
    In the edits to Sec.  600.5(e), we propose to clarify the 
definition of ``program leading to a baccalaureate degree in liberal 
arts'' in Sec.  600.5 to establish the Department's responsibility for 
determining what types of programs qualify, and to tighten up the 
regulatory definition of the term, while maintaining and respecting the 
grandfathering requirements in the statute. The requirement that an 
institution desiring to be covered by this provision must be accredited 
by a recognized regional accrediting agency and must have continuously 
held such accreditation since October 1, 2007 or earlier, remains in 
regulation at 600.5(a)(5)(i)(B).

State Authorization (Sec.  600.9)

    Statute: In pertinent part, HEA section 101(a)(2) states that, for 
the purposes of the HEA, other than title IV, ``institution of higher 
education'' means an educational institution in any State that is 
legally authorized within such State to provide a program of education 
beyond secondary education.
    Additionally, HEA section 102 defines an ``institution of higher 
education'' for title IV purposes. HEA section 102(a)(1) includes 
institutions of higher education covered by the definition in HEA 
section 101, as well as proprietary institutions of higher education as 
defined in HEA section 102(b), and postsecondary vocational 
institutions as defined in HEA section 102(c). The definitions of 
``proprietary institution of higher education,'' in HEA section 
102(b)(1)(B), and ``postsecondary vocational institution,'' in HEA 
section 102(c)(1)(B), both reference the requirement in HEA section 
101(a)(2) of being legally authorized within a State. HEA Section 
495(b) requires each institution of higher education to provide 
evidence to the Secretary that the institution has authority to operate 
within a State at the time the institution is certified.
    Current Regulations: Current Sec.  600.9(b) provides that an 
institution is considered to be legally authorized to operate 
educational programs beyond secondary education if it is exempt from 
State authorization as a religious institution under the State 
constitution or by State law, and defines a ``religious institution'' 
for this purpose as an institution that is owned, controlled, operated 
and maintained by a religious organization lawfully operating as a 
nonprofit religious corporation, and that awards only religious degrees 
or certificates including, but not limited to, a certificate of 
Talmudic studies, an associate of Biblical studies, a bachelor of 
religious studies, a master of divinity, or a doctor of divinity.
    In addition, regulations on State authorization of institutions 
offering postsecondary education through distance education or 
correspondence courses at Sec.  600.9 (c)(1)(i) state that an 
institution of higher education that otherwise meets State 
authorization requirements but that offers postsecondary education 
through distance education or correspondence courses to students 
residing in a State in which the institution is not physically located, 
or in which the institution is otherwise subject to that State's 
jurisdiction, is required to meet that State's requirements for it to 
be legally offering postsecondary distance education or correspondence 
courses in that State. An institution must provide documentation of the 
State's approval, upon the Secretary's request.
    Section 600.9(c)(1)(ii) \5\ states that if an institution of higher 
education that otherwise meets State authorization

[[Page 27413]]

requirements but offers postsecondary education through distance 
education or correspondence courses in a State that participates in a 
State authorization reciprocity agreement, and the institution is 
covered by such agreement, the institution is considered to meet State 
requirements for it to be legally offering postsecondary distance 
education or correspondence courses in that State, subject to any 
limitations in the agreement and any additional requirements of that 
State. Again, the Secretary may require the institution to provide 
documentation of the approval.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ These regulations, promulgated as part of the Program 
Integrity and Improvement rules published in the Federal Register on 
December 19, 2016 (81 FR 92232), initially were delayed in their 
effective date until July 1, 2020, published in the Federal Register 
on July 3, 2018 (83 FR 31296). Subsequently, the court in National 
Education Association v. DeVos, No. 18-cv-05173 (N.D. CA April 26, 
2019) vacated the delay, effective May 26, 2019.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 600.9(c)(2) requires an institution that offers 
postsecondary education through distance education or correspondence 
courses to students residing in a State in which the institution is not 
physically located to document that there is a State process for review 
of complaints from any of those enrolled students concerning the 
institution, in each State in which the enrolled students reside. 
Alternatively, under Sec.  600.9(c)(2), such an institution may be 
party to a State authorization reciprocity agreement that designates 
for this purpose either the State in which the institution's enrolled 
students reside or the State in which the main campus is located as the 
relevant State for review of complaints.
    Proposed Regulations: The proposed regulations would revise Sec.  
600.9(b) to delete the limiting definition of religious institution. 
The committee agreed to several changes to Sec.  600.9(c), regarding 
legal authorization of institutions offering postsecondary education 
through distance education or correspondence courses. The proposed rule 
would apply not only to institutions that are currently authorized 
under Sec.  600.9(a)(1), but also to institutions exempt from State 
authorization as religious institutions under proposed Sec.  600.9(b).
    Under the proposed regulations, Sec.  600.9(c) would no longer 
refer to a student's residence in a State where the institution was 
offering distance education or correspondence courses and would instead 
refer to a student's location.
    Section 600.9(c) would also require an institution to determine the 
State in which a student is located for purposes of establishing 
whether the institution was subject to the requirements in Sec.  
600.9(c) in that State. The proposed regulations would require an 
institution to determine a distance or correspondence student's 
location at the time of the student's initial enrollment, and upon 
formal receipt of information from the student in accordance with the 
institution's procedures that the student's location has changed to 
another State. We propose to require institutions to maintain policies 
and procedures governing this process and to consistently apply them to 
all students. An institution would need to establish (or maintain) and 
document a process for a student to submit a change of address. This 
will generally entail a method for a student to log into the 
institution's system and indicate a new address, but it could be 
another process that resulted in documentation of the change. On 
request, the institution would need to provide the Secretary with 
written documentation of its determination of a student's location, and 
the basis for the determination.
    Finally, we propose to remove the requirement for a student 
complaint process appearing in current Sec.  600.9(c)(2).
    Reasons: The Department proposes to generally maintain the 
definition of ``State authorization reciprocity agreement'' as it was 
established in the Program Integrity and Improvement regulations 
published in the Federal Register on December 19, 2016 (81 FR 92232), 
as part of the framework in Sec.  600.9(c) requiring institutions to 
comply with State requirements if they enroll students located in a 
State through distance education or correspondence courses. The 
committee agreed that the requirements in Sec.  600.9(c) are an 
important complement to the State's exercise of its oversight 
responsibilities under the program integrity triad, and that an 
institution's eligibility for aid under the title IV, HEA programs 
should be contingent on an institution abiding by State requirements 
for distance education and correspondence courses. The committee also 
agreed that reciprocity agreements among States are an important method 
by which institutions may comply with State requirements and reduce the 
burden on institutions that would otherwise be subject to numerous sets 
of varying requirements established by individual States.
    The committee agreed to include religious institutions that are 
exempt from State authorization under Sec.  600.9(b) in the framework 
for State authorization of distance education and correspondence 
courses because those institutions may also be subject to requirements 
for distance education or correspondence courses by States in which the 
institution is not physically located, and should be permitted to 
comply with such requirements through State authorization reciprocity 
agreements.
    The committee agreed with the Department's proposal to remove the 
concept of ``residence'' from the regulations under Sec.  600.9(c) and 
replace it with ``location.'' Use of the concept of ``residence'' has 
led to confusion and barriers to compliance because States have 
different requirements for establishing legal or permanent residence, 
and in many occasions require a person to live in a State for several 
years in order to meet such requirements. These requirements may also 
differ within States for purposes of voting, paying in-State tuition, 
or other rights and responsibilities. For this reason, many States have 
adopted requirements for distance education and correspondence courses 
that refer to a student's location, which may be more temporary than 
permanent residence. By referring to a student's ``location'' rather 
than his or her ``residence,'' the Department intends to make its 
regulations more consistent with existing State requirements and to 
ensure that students who have not established legal or permanent 
residence in a State benefit from State requirements for an institution 
to offer distance education and correspondence courses in that State.
    The committee agreed to regulations that would require an 
institution to establish consistent policies for determining the State 
in which a student is located for purposes of establishing whether the 
institution is subject to the requirements in Sec.  600.9(c) in that 
State. Without such requirements, there could be confusion regarding 
whether an institution must abide by State requirements in a given 
State for purposes of complying with Sec.  600.9(c). The committee 
members discussed the need to avoid subjecting an institution to 
unrealistic and burdensome expectations of investigating and acting 
upon any information about the student's whereabouts that might come 
into its possession. Therefore, the proposed regulations would require 
that an institution establish a student's location for the purposes of 
Sec.  600.9(c) upon the student's initial enrollment in a program, and 
upon formal receipt of information from the student that the student's 
location has changed to another State. The committee agreed that it is 
important to ensure that institutions maintain equitable policies and 
procedures governing this process and consistently apply them to all 
students, and that the procedures established for purposes of complying 
with Sec.  600.9(c) should be the same as those established for 
complying with the individualized disclosure requirements in proposed 
Sec.  668.43(c).

[[Page 27414]]

    Finally, the committee agreed to eliminate regulations regarding a 
student complaint process under current Sec.  600.9(c)(2) with the 
understanding that current Sec.  600.9(a)(1) addresses complaint 
processes and the regulations under Sec.  668.43(b) already require 
institutions to disclose the complaint process in each of the States 
where its enrolled students are located. The change will ensure that 
students who are located in States without a complaint process for 
students enrolled in distance education or correspondence courses are 
not prevented from receiving title IV, HEA assistance.

Special Rules Regarding Institutional Accreditation or Preaccreditation 
(Sec.  600.11)

    Statute: HEA section 101(a)(5) provides that a public or private, 
nonprofit institution of higher education must be accredited by a 
recognized accrediting agency, or be granted preaccreditation status by 
an agency that the Secretary recognized for the granting of 
preaccreditation status and the Secretary has determined that there is 
satisfactory assurance that the institution will meet the agency's 
accreditation standards within a reasonable period of time. HEA section 
102(a)(1) includes in title IV eligibility institutions of higher 
education covered by the definition in HEA section 101, as well as 
proprietary institutions of higher education as defined in HEA section 
102(b), and postsecondary vocational institutions as defined in HEA 
section 102(c). The definition of ``postsecondary vocational 
institution,'' in HEA section 102(c)(1)(B), references the requirement 
in HEA section 101(a)(5) of accredited or preaccredited. The definition 
of ``proprietary institution of higher education,'' in HEA section 
102(b)(1)(B), requires such institutions to be accredited. HEA section 
496(h) provides that the Secretary will not recognize the accreditation 
of any otherwise eligible institution if the institution is in the 
process of changing its accrediting agency unless the institution 
submits to the Secretary all materials relating to the prior 
accreditation, including materials demonstrating reasonable cause for 
changing accrediting agencies. HEA section 496(i) states that the 
Secretary will not recognize the accreditation of any otherwise 
eligible institution of higher education if the institution is 
accredited, as an institution, by more than one accrediting agency, 
unless the institution submits to each such agency and to the Secretary 
the reasons for accreditation by more than one such agency, 
demonstrates reasonable cause for its multiple accreditations, and 
designates which agency's accreditation will be utilized in determining 
eligibility under HEA programs. HEA section 496(j) states that an 
institution may not be certified or recertified for title IV 
participation or participate in other HEA programs if it has had its 
accreditation withdrawn for cause within the preceding 24 months, or if 
it has withdrawn from accreditation under a show cause or suspension 
order during the preceding 24 months, unless the withdrawal or show 
cause or suspension order has been rescinded by the same accrediting 
agency.
    Current Regulations: Section 600.11(a) provides that the Secretary 
does not recognize an institution's accreditation or preaccreditation 
if it is in the process of changing its accrediting agency, unless it 
provides all materials related to its prior accreditation or 
preaccreditation and materials demonstrating reasonable cause for 
changing its accrediting agency to the Secretary.
    Under Sec.  600.11(b), the Secretary does not recognize the 
accreditation or preaccreditation of an otherwise eligible institution 
if the institution is accredited or preaccredited as an institution by 
more than one agency, unless the institution provides the reasons for 
that multiple accreditation or preaccreditation; demonstrates 
reasonable cause for multiple accreditation or preaccreditation; and 
designates which agency's accreditation or preaccreditation the 
institution uses to establish title IV eligibility.
    Proposed Regulations: We propose to establish conditions under 
which the Secretary will not determine an institution's cause for 
changing its accrediting agency, or the institution's cause for holding 
accreditation from more than one agency, to be reasonable. Under the 
proposed regulations, subject to specified exceptions, the Secretary 
will not determine a change of accrediting agency or multiple 
accreditation to be reasonable if the institution--
    (1) Has had its accreditation withdrawn, revoked, or otherwise 
terminated for cause during the preceding 24 months, unless such 
withdrawal, revocation, or termination has been rescinded by the same 
accrediting agency; or
    (2) Has been subject to a probation or equivalent, show cause 
order, or suspension order during the preceding 24 months. Under the 
proposed regulations, despite a withdrawal of accreditation for cause 
or a voluntary withdrawal following a probation or equivalent, show 
cause order, or suspension order, the Secretary may, nonetheless, 
determine an institution's cause for changing its accrediting agency to 
be reasonable if the agency did not provide the institution its due 
process rights, the agency applied its standards and criteria 
inconsistently, or if the adverse action, show cause, or suspension 
order was the result of an agency's failure to respect an institution's 
stated mission, including religious mission.
    Under the proposed regulations, despite a change of accreditation 
resulting from or following withdrawal, revocation, termination, 
probation or equivalent, show cause order, or suspension order, the 
Secretary may determine an institution's cause for the change to be 
reasonable if the agency did not provide the institution its due 
process rights, applied its standards and criteria inconsistently, or 
if the adverse action or order resulted from failure to respect the 
institution's stated mission.
    In addition, despite multiple accreditation that resulted from or 
followed withdrawal, revocation, termination, probation or the 
equivalent, show cause order, or suspension, The Secretary may 
determine an institution's cause for the multiple accreditation to be 
reasonable if the institution's primary interest in seeking multiple 
accreditation is based on the original accrediting agency's geographic 
area, program-area focus, or mission.
    Reasons: The proposed changes in this section seek to maintain 
guardrails to ensure that struggling institutions cannot avoid the 
consequences of failing to meet their current accrediting agency's 
standards by attaining accreditation from another agency, while 
maintaining recourse for institutions that have been treated unfairly 
or have reasons for seeking multiple accreditation unrelated to 
compliance with accrediting agency quality standards.
    Historically, postsecondary institutions have not sought 
institutional accreditation from multiple agencies for a number of 
reasons, including the limitations of geographic scope adopted by 
regional accrediting agencies, the expense and effort associated with 
the accreditation process, a dearth of institutional accrediting agency 
options that provide unique approaches to mission-based educational 
objectives institutions are seeking to achieve, and concern about how 
the statutory and regulatory restrictions in title IV on changes in 
accreditation and multiple accreditation will be applied. The proposed 
regulations seek to open the institutional accreditation system to

[[Page 27415]]

competition, either through expansion by current institutional 
accrediting agencies or from new accrediting agencies that can 
demonstrate the capacity to sufficiently judge institutional quality. 
Competition could allow for greater specialization among agencies to 
ensure a closer match with the mission of the institutions or programs 
they accredit. In addition, greater competition (or the allowance for 
competition where there is none today) can mean more accountability 
when incumbents are being insufficiently responsive to the needs of 
institutions or programs and their key stakeholders such as students, 
faculty, alumni, or employers.
    The Department recognizes that an institution may want to maintain 
its current institutional accreditation while transitioning to a new 
agency in order to protect enrolled students during the transition 
period. Thus, it is important that the regulations that govern multiple 
accreditation provide for this flexibility while clarifying 
circumstances under which the Secretary would determine such action to 
be reasonable.
    In addition, the Department recognizes that an institution may seek 
accreditation by a comprehensive institutional accrediting agency as 
its title IV gatekeeper but may also seek mission-based institutional 
accreditation to emphasize its adherence to a specialized mission, 
including preparing students for a career.
    Because these items were discussed separately, the proposed rules 
contain different provisions for allowing multiple accreditation versus 
allowing a change of accrediting agency. The Department is interested 
in public comment on whether those requirements should be aligned.

Change in Ownership Resulting in a Change in Control for Private 
Nonprofit, Private For-Profit and Public Institutions (Sec.  600.31)

    Statute: HEA section 498(i) provides that an eligible institution 
that has undergone a change of ownership resulting in a change in 
control will not qualify to participate in the title IV, HEA programs 
unless it establishes that it meets title IV institutional eligibility 
requirements and the other requirements of the section.
    Current Regulations: Section 600.31 describes when the Department 
considers a change of ownership resulting in a change of control to 
have occurred, and processes involved in order for an institution to 
continue its participation in title IV, HEA programs on a provisional 
basis, and to reestablish eligibility and to resume participation in 
title IV, HEA programs.
    Proposed Regulations: The proposed regulations would revise, in 
Sec.  600.31(b), the definitions of ``closely-held corporation,'', '' 
and ``person.'' ``Closely-held corporation'' would include a 
corporation that qualifies under the law of the State of its 
organization. The definition of ``parent'' would replace the word 
``corporation'' with ``entity.'' ``Person'' would be defined as 
including a legal entity or a natural person.
    In Sec.  600.31(c)(3), the title of the paragraph would be revised 
from ``Other corporations'' to ``Other entities''; the paragraph would 
include a definition of ``other entities'' to include limited liability 
companies, limited liability partnerships, limited partnerships, and 
similar types of legal entities; the language ``A change in ownership 
and control of a corporation'' would be changed to read ``A change in 
ownership and control of an entity''; and subparagraph (iii) would be 
eliminated.
    In Sec.  600.31(c)(4), the title would be revised from 
``Partnership or sole proprietorship'' to read ``General partnership or 
sole proprietorship.'' In Sec.  600.31(c)(5), the title would be 
changed from ``Parent corporation'' to ``Wholly owned subsidiary,'' and 
the provision would be revised to read ``An entity that is a wholly-
owned subsidiary changes ownership and control when its parent entity 
changes ownership and control as described in this section.''
    Reasons: We propose the changes to update the regulations and 
provide greater clarity and consistency. The current regulations use 
terms such as ``corporation'' and ``person'' that are too limited to 
address the wide variety of different entities that could purchase a 
postsecondary institution or location. We therefore propose to change 
the terminology used in various parts of Sec.  600.31 to use terms with 
a broader range of meaning.

Eligibility of Additional Locations (Sec.  600.32)

    Statute: HEA section 498(k) prescribes the treatment of teach-outs 
at additional locations and provides that a location of a closed 
postsecondary institution is eligible as an additional location of an 
eligible institution for the purposes of an accrediting agency-approved 
teach-out, in accordance with Department regulations.
    Current Regulations: Section 600.32(b) describes circumstances in 
which the two-year requirement in Sec. Sec.  600.5(a)(7) and 
600.6(a)(6)--that proprietary institutions of higher education and 
postsecondary vocational institutions respectively have been in 
existence for at least two years--will apply where:
     A location was a facility of another institution that 
closed for a reason other than a normal vacation or a natural disaster;
     The applicant institution acquired, either directly from 
the institution that closed or ceased to provide educational programs, 
or through an intermediary, the assets of that location; and
     The institution from which the applicant institution 
acquired the assets of the location owes a liability for a violation 
for a violation of an HEA program requirement and is not making 
payments in accordance with an agreement to repay that liability.

Section 600.32(c) specifies that an additional location is not required 
to satisfy the two-year requirement if the applicant institution 
agrees:
     To be liable for all improperly expended or unspent title 
IV, HEA program funds received by the institution that has closed or 
ceased to provide educational programs;
     To be liable for all unpaid refunds owed to students who 
received title IV, HEA program funds; and
     To abide by the policy of the institution that has closed 
or ceased to provide educational programs regarding refunds of 
institutional charges to students in effect before the date of the 
acquisition of the assets of the additional location for the students 
who were enrolled before that date.
    Under Sec.  600.32(d), an institution that conducts a teach-out at 
a site of a closed institution may apply to have that site approved as 
an additional location if the closed institution ceased operations and 
the Secretary has taken an action to limit, suspend, or terminate the 
institution's participation or has taken an emergency action against 
the institution; the teach-out plan is approved by the closed 
institution's accrediting agency; and, on request of the Secretary, 
payments by the institution conducting the teach-out to the owners or 
related parties of the closed institution are used to satisfy any 
liabilities owed by the closed institution to the Department. Paragraph 
(d)(2) explains the positive consequences of obtaining such an 
approval.
    Proposed Regulations: We propose in Sec.  600.32(c) that an 
additional location would not be required to satisfy the two-year 
requirement of Sec.  600.5(a)(7) or Sec.  600.6(a)(6) if the applicant 
institution and original institution are not related parties and there 
is no commonality of ownership, control, or management between the 
institutions, and if the

[[Page 27416]]

applicant institution agrees to assume certain liabilities and to abide 
by the closed institution's refund policies. In Sec.  600.32(c)(1) and 
(2), we propose to limit the time period for which the applicant 
institution is liable under Sec.  602.32(c) for improperly or unspent 
title IV, HEA funds, or refunds owed to students who received title IV 
funds, to the current academic year and up to one prior academic year.
    In Sec.  600.32(d)(1)(i) and (d)(1)(ii), we propose to allow an 
institution engaged in an accrediting agency-approved teach-out plan to 
apply for its site to be approved as an additional location, without 
regard to the two-year rule, if the closing institution is engaged in 
an orderly closure. We propose to remove the requirement for the closed 
institution to have a limitation, suspension, or termination action 
taken by the Secretary and propose to add a requirement that the 
Secretary evaluate and approve the plan. The proposed regulations would 
amend Sec.  600.32(d)(1)(ii) and (2)(i)(B) to require approval of a 
teach-out plan from a closing institution's accrediting agency. We 
further propose that the institution that conducts a teach-out and is 
approved to add an additional location in accordance with this section 
is not responsible for any liabilities of either a closed institution 
or a closing institution.
    Reasons: When an institution or one of its locations closes, 
educational opportunities for students in the area become more limited. 
An acquisition of a closed or closing institution by another 
postsecondary institution results in an investment in the community and 
additional opportunities for students to complete a postsecondary 
credential. Separately, institutions that close with unpaid refunds or 
outstanding liabilities for title IV, HEA funds are often unable to 
repay those liabilities, and the Department is subsequently unable to 
collect amounts owed. For these reasons, the Department proposes to 
limit the time period over which a purchasing institution is liable for 
improperly or unspent title IV, HEA funds, or title IV credit balances 
owed to students, to facilitate the purchase of that institution by an 
institution that is more capable of serving students and of repaying 
amounts owed to the Department.
    The changes to paragraph (c) are intended to encourage initiatives 
designed to lead to an orderly transition.
    Where the accrediting agency and the Secretary have approved the 
teach-out, revised paragraph (d) will provide opportunities for an 
institution to engage in an orderly closure and minimize disruption for 
the student by offering a teach-out plan that enables a student to 
complete his or her program before the institution closes or for a 
partnering institution to continue to provide instruction and 
facilitate the student's completion of their program, or a comparable 
program, in the location where they initiated their studies.
    We believe that in some cases, such as when an institution is 
ending its participation through an orderly closure, it is in the best 
interest of the students to have an opportunity to complete their 
academic program at their chosen institution. For example, disruption 
can occur for students who transfer or take part in a teach-out at a 
different institution, which could result in the loss of credits. In 
addition, the new institution may be less convenient for many reasons, 
such as the distance students must travel, availability of public 
transportation, and proximity to the students' home, work, or childcare 
facility. Also, students may prefer to complete their program with 
instructors, staff, and other students with whom they are already 
familiar.

Termination and Emergency Action Proceedings (Sec.  600.41)

    Statute: HEA sections 101(a), and 102(a), (b) and (c), require 
nationally recognized accreditation, or pre-accreditation in the case 
of public or non-profit institutions, as a matter of institutional 
eligibility. Under HEA Sec.  454, the William D. Ford Federal Direct 
Student Loan Program provides for origination of loans by institutions, 
rather than institutional certification of loan applications as 
provided under the Federal Family Education Loan Program in Sec.  HEA 
428H(b).
    Current Regulations: Section 600.41(a)(1)(ii)(B) allows for 
termination of an institution's eligibility under a show-cause hearing, 
if the institution's loss of eligibility results from the institution's 
having previously qualified as eligible under the transfer of credit 
alternative to accreditation as that alternative existed prior to July 
23, 1992 under 20 U.S.C. 1085, 1088, 1141(a)(5)(B).
    Section 600.41(d) precludes institutions that have been terminated 
from certifying applications for title IV funds, except in specified 
circumstances.
    Proposed Regulations: We propose to eliminate Sec.  
600.41(a)(1)(ii)(B), and in Sec.  600.41(d), change the word 
``certify'' to ``originate.''
    Reasons: These changes update Sec.  600.41 to reflect the 1992 
repeal of the transfer of credit eligibility alternative, the 2011 end 
of the Federal Family Education Loan Program, and the 1993 enactment of 
the Direct Loan Program.

The Secretary's Recognition of Accrediting Agencies

What definitions apply to this part? (Sec.  602.3)

    Statute: HEA section 496(a) provides criteria that an accrediting 
agency must meet for the Secretary to recognize it as a reliable 
authority as to the quality of education or training offered.
    Current Regulations: Section 602.3 provides definitions for several 
terms that are applicable to accreditation but that are also used in 
applying other HEA requirements, including ``branch campus,'' 
``correspondence education,'' ``direct assessment program,'' ``distance 
education,'' ``institution of higher education,'' ``nationally 
recognized accrediting agency,'' ``preaccreditation,'' ``Secretary,'' 
``State,'' ``teach-out agreement,'' and ``teach-out plan.'' Section 
602.3 also provides definitions for ``compliance report,'' ``final 
accrediting action,'' ``programmatic accrediting agency,'' ``scope of 
recognition,'' and ``senior Department Official'' that are unique to 
the Department's recognition of accrediting agencies. In addition, 
certain definitions in Sec.  600.2--``accredited'' and ``credit 
hour''--are pertinent to accreditation as well as institutional 
eligibility but are not defined in Sec.  602.3. Current regulations 
provide no definition for ``substantial compliance'' by an accrediting 
agency with recognition requirements, nor for ``monitoring report'' as 
part of the recognition process, nor do they define ``additional 
location,'' ``religious mission,'' or ``teach-out.''
    Proposed Regulations: Proposed Sec.  602.3(a) would cross-reference 
the definitions in Sec.  600.2--including all amendments and additions 
to Sec.  600.2 as proposed in this NPRM--for ``accredited,'' 
``additional location,'' ``branch campus,'' ``institution of higher 
education,'' ``nationally recognized accrediting agency,'' 
``preaccreditation,'' ``religious mission,'' ``Secretary,'' ``State,'' 
``teach-out,'' ``teach-out agreement,'' and ``teach-out plan,'' rather 
than include these definitions in full in Sec.  602.3.
    Proposed Sec.  602.3(b) would define the terms ``monitoring 
report'' and ``substantial compliance,'' and would revise the 
definitions for ``compliance report,'' ``final accrediting action,'' 
``programmatic accrediting agency,'' ``scope of recognition,'' and 
``senior Department official.''

[[Page 27417]]

    Reasons: The Department proposes to include or continue to include 
the definitions of ``accredited,'' ``additional location,'' ``branch 
campus,'' ``correspondence course,'' ``credit hour,'' ``direct 
assessment program,'' ``distance education,'' ``institution of higher 
education,'' ``nationally recognized accrediting agency,'' 
``preaccreditation,'' ``religious mission,'' ``Secretary,'' ``State,'' 
``teach-out,'' ``teach-out agreement,'' and ``teach-out plan'' in 34 
CFR part 600. These terms are referenced throughout chapter VI of title 
34 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
    The Department proposes to add paragraph (a) to Sec.  602.3 to make 
clear where the definitions of these terms can be found in 34 CFR part 
600. Proposed paragraph (a) will help the public easily find 
definitions of terms that directly impact the Secretary's recognition 
of accrediting agencies and help ensure that the definitions are 
consistently applied.
    We propose to remove ``branch campus,'' ``correspondence course,'' 
``distance education,'' ``direct assessment program,'' 
``preaccreditation,'' ``nationally recognized accrediting agency,'' 
``Secretary,'' ``State,'' ``teach-out agreement,'' and ``teach-out 
plan'' from proposed Sec.  602.3(b). These terms apply to several 
sections of part 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The Department 
believes that it is more efficient to define the terms in one place and 
not replicate them in multiple places. This would help eliminate 
confusion by the public and ensure these terms are applied 
consistently.
    We propose to amend the definition in Sec.  602.3(b) of 
``compliance report'' to clarify that a compliance report must only be 
required when ``that agency is found to be out of compliance'' with the 
regulatory requirements contained within the criteria for recognition 
(proposed subpart B) and to clarify that, in such an instance, the 
agency must show it has ``corrected'' any deficiencies as opposed to 
simply having addressed the deficiencies. We propose to add that 
compliance reports are reviewed by Department staff and the Advisory 
Committee and approved by the senior Department official or the 
Secretary, solely to add clarity to a practice that is already a 
requirement under current regulation.
    The Department proposes to add a definition of ``monitoring 
report,'' which is a new concept in the Secretary's recognition of 
accrediting agencies. We propose a new definition because we want to 
afford accrediting agencies that are in substantial compliance with the 
criteria for recognition the opportunity to implement corrected 
policies or update policies to align with compliant practices. We 
propose that the monitoring report be used as an oversight tool to 
ensure integrity in accreditation, in cases where the accrediting 
agency deficiency does not rise to the level of a compliance report. 
For example, a monitoring report may be required if required 
documentation is not complete, but the agency in practice complies with 
subpart B. Department staff would review monitoring reports and, unlike 
the compliance report, NACIQI would not review a monitoring report 
unless the response does not satisfy Department staff. See the 
discussion related to proposed Sec.  602.33 for more information on the 
monitoring report process.
    The Department proposes to amend the definition of ``final 
accrediting action'' to clarify that the final determination of an 
accrediting agency regarding an institution or program can only be made 
after the institution or program has exhausted its appeals process, as 
per the accrediting agency's policies and procedures. The clarification 
would not change current practice.
    The Department proposes to amend the definition of ``programmatic 
accrediting agency'' to clarify that these agencies can accredit 
programs that prepare students in specific academic disciplines. The 
clarification would not change current practice.
    The Department proposes to remove ``(1) geographic area of 
accrediting activities'' from the definition of ``scope of recognition 
or scope.'' We believe that the current practice of limiting an 
accrediting agency's recognized scope to a certain geographic area is 
outdated, because regional agencies now accredit branch campuses and 
additional locations in States outside of their stated geographic 
scopes. Also, we seek to clarify that even if an agency includes a 
State in its geographic area, this does not discourage another agency 
from also including that State or territory in its accrediting area. 
With the removal of geographic area from the definition of ``scope'' we 
hope to allow for additional competition so that an institution or 
program may select an agency that best aligns with the institution's 
mission and to improve transparency about the States in which each 
agency accredits campuses.
    The Department proposes to add a new definition of ``substantial 
compliance.'' The term would signify that an agency has demonstrated to 
the Department that it has the necessary policies, practices, and 
standards in place and generally adheres with fidelity to those 
policies practices and standards, or has policies, practices, and 
standards that need minor modifications to reflect its generally 
compliant practices. In the Department's view, Department staff can use 
monitoring reports to ensure an agency that has made such a showing 
achieves full compliance, without expending the public and agency 
resources on NACIQI, senior Department official, and Secretarial, 
review. Agencies that achieve this status are in compliance except with 
respect to minor technicalities and in the Department's view warrant 
recognition for that level of achievement. As discussed below, the 
proposed regulations provide mechanisms for Department staff to 
reinstate NACIQI, senior Department official, and Secretarial review 
during the recognition period if the deficiencies noted escalate or if 
the agency does not address them.
    Finally, the non-Federal negotiators recommended amendments to the 
definition of ``senior Department official.'' The committee wanted to 
ensure that the Secretary selects an individual with adequate subject 
matter knowledge to make independent decisions on accrediting agency 
recognition. One committee member was especially concerned that without 
this clarification, the Secretary could assign anyone at the Department 
the duties of the senior Department official, even an individual 
without knowledge of the accrediting agency recognition process. As the 
proposed language states, the adequacy of the senior Department 
official's subject matter knowledge would be a matter committed to the 
judgment of the Secretary.

Link to Federal Programs (Sec.  602.10)

    Statute: HEA section 496(a)(2) outlines the types of accrediting 
agencies that the Secretary may recognize according to the types of 
roles the various agencies may serve in establishing eligibility of 
accredited institutions and programs to participate in Federal 
programs. HEA section 496(m) provides that the Secretary may only 
recognize accrediting agencies that either accredit institutions for 
the purpose of enabling such institutions to establish eligibility to 
participate in one or more of the HEA programs, or that accredit 
institutions or programs for the purpose of enabling them to establish 
eligibility to participate in other Federal programs.
    Current Regulations: Section 602.10(a) requires an accrediting 
agency

[[Page 27418]]

to demonstrate that, if the agency accredits institutions of higher 
education, its accreditation is a required element in enabling at least 
one of those institutions to establish eligibility to participate in 
HEA programs. In the alternative, Sec.  602.10(b) requires that if the 
agency accredits institutions of higher education or higher education 
programs, or both, its accreditation is a required element in enabling 
at least one of those entities to establish eligibility to participate 
in non-HEA Federal programs.
    Proposed Regulations: We propose to allow in Sec.  602.10(a) that, 
if an agency accredits one or more institutions that could designate 
the agency as its link to the title IV, HEA programs, the agency 
satisfies the Federal link requirement, even if the institution 
currently designates another institutional accrediting agency as its 
Federal link.
    Reasons: The Department's proposed changes in this section are 
designed to decrease barriers to entry and enable new agencies to more 
easily enter the marketplace. Until a new agency is recognized, it is 
highly unlikely that an accredited institution would relinquish its 
current accreditation that enables it to meet title IV institutional 
eligibility requirements in order to attain accreditation from that new 
agency, even though the new agency may be better suited to the 
institution's mission.

Geographic Area of Accrediting Activities (Sec.  602.11)

    Statute: HEA section 496(a) states that an accrediting agency must 
be a State, regional, or national agency and that it must demonstrate 
the ability and experience to operate as an accrediting agency within 
the State, region, or nationally, as appropriate.
    Current Regulations: Section 602.11, currently titled ``Geographic 
scope of accrediting activities,'' requires that an accrediting agency 
demonstrate that its activities cover a State, if the agency is part of 
a State government; a region of the United States that includes at 
least three States that are reasonably close to one another; or the 
United States.
    Proposed Regulations: We propose to amend the title of Sec.  602.11 
to read ``Geographic area of accrediting activities,'' and to amend 
Sec.  602.11(b) so that an agency's geographic area on record with the 
Department would include not only the States in which the main campuses 
of its accredited institutions are located but also any State in which 
an accredited location or branch may be found. We further propose to 
provide that we do not require an agency whose geographic area includes 
a State in which a branch campus or additional location is located to 
also accredit a main campus in that State. Additionally, we would not 
require an agency whose geographic area includes a State in which only 
a branch campus or additional location is located to accept an 
application for accreditation from other institutions in that State.
    Reasons: We intend for these changes to accurately convey the 
geographic range of a recognized agency's accrediting activities, to 
include not only States in which the agency accredits main campuses but 
also States in which it accredits only locations, branches, or both. 
The Department does not grant an exclusive geographic area or scope to 
any agency, just as the Department does not grant an exclusive right to 
a programmatic accrediting agency to accredit programs in a certain 
academic discipline or programs that prepare students for work in a 
certain career. Agencies that accredit main campuses only in selected 
States do so of their own choosing rather than as a result of any 
Departmental mandate or regulation. An agency whose geographic area 
includes a State in which only a branch campus or additional location 
exists is neither required to accept nor prohibited from accepting an 
application for accreditation from other institutions in such State. 
The Department respects the autonomy of accrediting agencies and 
encourages these agencies to conduct their business in whichever areas 
are most suitable for them.
    The proposed change is intended, in part, to provide transparency 
and improved access to higher level educational programs, and transfer 
of credit for students, while honoring the autonomy and independence of 
agencies and institutions. We seek to simplify the labeling of 
accrediting agencies to reflect their scope more accurately (e.g., 
institutional agencies, programmatic agencies, specialty agencies). We 
also aim to remove labels that facilitate inaccurate beliefs about 
differences among accrediting agencies, since the Department holds all 
to the same set of standards. Disparate treatment of students based on 
which agency accredits an institution or program is unwarranted given 
that all agencies adhere to the same Department requirements, and this 
practice harms students and adds cost for students and taxpayers. In 
some instances, the unjustified differentiation of agencies based on 
the geographic area in which they operate has created barriers to entry 
for certain occupations and has made it difficult for those who 
complete programs to continue their education and earn a higher-level 
credential. The Department does not believe, for example, that 
rejecting transfer credits, an application for admission to graduate 
school, or a request to sit for a State occupational licensing exam on 
the basis of the type of Department recognized accreditation is 
justified . . . . We seek to increase academic and career mobility for 
students by eliminating artificial boundaries between institutions due 
to the credential levels they offer or the agency that accredits the 
institution or program.

Accrediting Experience (Sec.  602.12)

    Statute: HEA section 496(a)(1) requires that an accrediting agency 
demonstrate the ability and experience to operate as an accrediting 
agency within a State, region, or nationally. HEA section 496(n) 
provides that the Secretary must conduct a comprehensive review and 
evaluation of the performance of all accrediting agencies and 
associations that seek recognition by the Secretary in order to 
determine whether the accrediting agencies meet the criteria 
established by this section. Evaluation of the accrediting agency must 
include solicitation of third-party information concerning the 
performance of the accrediting agency.
    Current Regulations: Section 602.12(a)(1) requires that an 
accrediting agency that is seeking initial recognition must demonstrate 
that it has granted accreditation or preaccreditation to one or more 
institutions (for an institutional accrediting agency) and to one or 
more programs (for a programmatic accrediting agency). The 
accreditation or preaccreditation that the agency has granted must 
cover the range of the specific degrees, certificates, institutions, 
and programs for which the agency seeks recognition and in the 
geographic area for which it seeks recognition.
    Section 602.12(a)(2) requires the agency to have conducted 
accrediting activities for at least two years prior to seeking 
recognition.
    Section 602.12(b) requires a recognized agency seeking an expansion 
of its scope of recognition to demonstrate that it has granted 
accreditation or preaccreditation covering the range of the specific 
degrees, certificates, institutions, and programs for which the agency 
seeks the expansion of scope.
    Proposed Regulations: We propose to eliminate the ``two-year rule'' 
in Sec.  602.12(a)(2) when an agency seeking initial recognition is 
affiliated with, or is a division of, a recognized agency. We further 
propose to state in Sec.  602.12(b)(1)

[[Page 27419]]

that a recognized agency seeking an expansion of its scope must follow 
the requirements of Sec. Sec.  602.31 and 602.32, demonstrate that it 
has policies in place that meet all recognition criteria with respect 
to the expansion, and demonstrate that it can show support for the 
expansion from relevant constituencies. The agency would not be 
required, however, to have accredited institutions or programs in the 
area(s) of expanded scope at the time it applies, although in such a 
case the Department may impose a limitation on the grant of the 
expansion of scope or require a monitoring report. Finally, we propose 
to state in this section that the Department does not consider a change 
to an agency's geographic area to be an expansion of the agency's scope 
but does require that the agency notify the Department and disclose the 
change to the public on its website.
    Reasons: In the changes to paragraph 602.12(a)(2), the Department 
is acknowledging that recognized accrediting agencies sometimes re-
organize or spin off a portion of their accrediting business by setting 
up a separate agency for it. In such cases, the new entity has 
substantial accrediting experience obviating the need for a 
demonstration of two years of accrediting experience even though it has 
not previously submitted its own application for recognition.
    In proposing revisions to paragraph (b), the Department seeks to 
solve the problem that arises when an agency is required to accredit an 
institution or program in the area of the expanded scope in order to be 
approved for an expansion of scope, while at the same time, 
institutions or programs may be unwilling to seek accreditation from 
the agency in the area of the expanded scope until the expansion of 
scope has been approved by the Department. These conflicting criteria 
make it difficult for an agency to expand its scope.
    Non-Federal negotiators expressed concern that not requiring two 
years of experience for changes in scope could create risk, as the 
increase in scope may be unwarranted. The Department modified its 
initial proposed changes to the regulations in this section to create 
access for agencies that seek an appropriate and necessary expansion of 
scope, while mitigating risk by adding additional requirements to 
ensure agencies meet appropriate quality standards.
    Non-Federal negotiators also expressed concern that the 
Department's initial proposal was unduly restrictive for agencies 
seeking an expansion of scope to accredit graduate programs. The 
Department is concerned about the growth of graduate programs, in 
particular those that may significantly increase student debt without 
improving earnings outcomes. The Department is also concerned about the 
growing practice of elevating the level of the credential required to 
satisfy occupational licensure requirements. Credential inflation adds 
significant cost to postsecondary education and may reduce 
opportunities for low-income students to pursue careers in those 
occupations 6 7 8. However, the Department also recognizes 
the importance of graduate education and proposes to mitigate 
credential inflation through revisions in other sections.
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    \6\ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-017-0001-8, https://ijse.padovauniversitypress.it/system/files/papers/2011_2_12.pdf.
    \7\ https://ijse.padovauniversitypress.it/system/files/papers/2011_2_12.pdf, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-017-0001-8.
    \8\ https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.199.1569&rep=rep1&type=pdf.
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    The Department proposes to exclude changes in the geographic area 
of an agency's accrediting activities from consideration as an 
expansion of scope, but to require notice to the Department and the 
public by the agency of such changes, for the reasons discussed above 
with respect to Sec.  602.11.

Acceptance of the Agency by Others (Sec.  602.13)

    Statute: HEA section 496(n)(1)(A) provides that the evaluation of 
the accrediting agency must include solicitation of third-party 
information concerning the performance of the accrediting agency.
    Current Regulations: Section 602.13 requires an accrediting agency 
to demonstrate that its standards, policies, procedures, and decisions 
to grant or deny accreditation are widely accepted in the United States 
by educators and educational institutions, as well as by licensing 
bodies, practitioners, and employers in the fields for which the 
educational institutions or programs within the agency's jurisdiction 
prepare their students.
    Proposed Regulations: We propose to remove and reserve Sec.  
602.13.
    Reasons: Non-Federal negotiators proposed, and the Department 
agrees, that the provisions of this section of the regulations are 
duplicative of requirements in other sections of the regulations.
    The Department is also concerned that the current regulations 
impose a ``widely-accepted'' standard that statute does not require, is 
too vaguely defined, and has been enforced inconsistently in the past. 
Such requirements could benefit incumbents at the expense of equally 
well-qualified new entrants and could leave even well-established 
institutions reasonably believing that a promising new program or 
method of delivery would run afoul of this requirement simply by being 
different than what most of its peers do today.

Purpose and Organization (Sec.  602.14)

    Statute: HEA section 496(a)(2) defines the four categories of 
accrediting agencies the Department is authorized to recognize. HEA 
section 496(b)(1) defines ``separate and independent'' for the purpose 
of the section. Specifically, section 496(b) provides that the members 
of the governing body are not elected by the board or chief officer of 
any related, associated or affiliated trade association or membership 
organization, and contains other requirements regarding public members, 
avoiding conflicts of interest, and independence of agency dues and 
budgets. Sections 496(a)(3)(A) and (C) identify two categories of 
accrediting agencies which are subject to the separate and independent 
requirement and define the circumstances in which the requirement can 
be waived for agencies in one of those two categories.
    Current Regulations: Section 602.14(a) identifies the four 
categories of accrediting agencies recognized by the Secretary, in 
table format.
    Section 602.14(b) defines the term ``separate and independent'' for 
purposes of this section of the regulations. One element of the 
definition, at Sec.  602.14(b)(1), provides that the members of the 
agency's decision-making body--who decide the accreditation or 
preaccreditation status of institutions or programs, establish the 
agency's accreditation policies, or both--are not elected or selected 
by the board or chief executive officer of any related, associated, or 
affiliated trade association or membership organization. Another 
element, at Sec.  602.14(b)(3), requires the agency to establish and 
implement guidelines for each decision-maker to avoid conflicts of 
interest.
    Section 602.14(c) specifies the conditions under which certain 
activities do not violate the ``separate and independent'' 
requirements. Section 602.14(d) identifies circumstances under which 
the Secretary may waive the ``separate and independent'' requirements 
for one type of accrediting agency. Section 602.14(e) stipulates that 
an accrediting agency that is seeking a waiver of the ``separate and 
independent'' requirements must apply for the waiver each time the

[[Page 27420]]

agency seeks recognition or continued recognition.
    Proposed Regulations: We propose to convert the table in Sec.  
602.14(a) to regulatory text. In Sec.  602.14(b), we propose to clarify 
the reach of the definition of ``separate and independent'', where it 
applies, to preclude the members of the agency's decision-making bodies 
from being elected or selected by the board or chief executive officer 
of any related, associated, or affiliated trade association, 
professional organization, or membership organization or from being 
staff of such a related, associated, or affiliated association or 
organization. We also propose to revise Sec.  602.14(b)(3) so that the 
requirement pertains to establishing and implementing guidelines on 
avoiding conflicts of interest rather than to avoiding such conflicts.
    Reasons: We believe that the table format of the current Sec.  
602.14(a) is confusing. Additionally, we seek to clarify the broader 
reach of the concept of ``separate and independent,'' which is designed 
to prevent undue influence on an accrediting body by an outside 
organization. Such influence can allow individuals or groups to use the 
agency to gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace, by requiring 
the use of a particular exam or specific path to entry in a profession. 
The Department believes the current language is insufficiently specific 
about the types of organizations and agency personnel that may stand to 
benefit, at the expense of students and institutions, by limiting 
access to a profession or taking other anticompetitive steps. We also 
propose to clarify that an accrediting agency is responsible for 
establishing and implementing guidelines on avoiding conflicts of 
interests, even though it cannot by itself ensure conflicts are 
avoided.

Administrative and Fiscal Responsibilities (Sec.  602.15)

    Statute: HEA section 496(c)(1) requires an accrediting agency that 
wishes to be recognized by the Secretary as a reliable authority as to 
the quality of education or training offered by an institution to 
ensure accreditation team members are well trained and knowledgeable 
with respect to their responsibilities. Section 496(b)(2) requires that 
an accrediting agency include at least one member of the public among 
its board members and that guidelines are established for members to 
avoid conflicts of interest. Section 496(c)(7)(A) requires accrediting 
agencies and associations to make available to the public and State 
agencies, and submit to the Secretary, summaries of agency actions 
including the award of accreditation or reaccreditation of an 
institution.
    Current Regulations: Under Sec.  602.15(a), an agency demonstrates 
that it has the administrative and fiscal capability to grant 
accreditation if the agency demonstrates that it has--
     Adequate staff and resources to execute its 
responsibilities;
     Competent and knowledgeable individuals, regarding the 
agency's standards, policies, and procedures, to conduct accreditation 
and preaccreditation activities;
     Academic and administrative personnel on its evaluation, 
policy, and decision-making bodies, if the agency accredits 
institutions;
     Educators and practitioners on its evaluation, policy, and 
decision-making bodies, if the agency accredits programs or single-
purpose institutions that prepare students for a specific profession;
     Representatives of the public on all decision-making 
bodies; and
     Clear and effective controls against conflicts of 
interest, or the appearance of such conflicts.
    Section 602.15(b) requires an accrediting agency to maintain 
complete and accurate records of its last full accreditation or 
preaccreditation review of each institution or program and of all 
decisions made throughout an institution's or program's affiliation 
with the agency regarding the accreditation and preaccreditation of any 
institution or program and substantive changes.
    Proposed Regulations: In Sec.  602.15(a)(2), we propose to require 
that an agency have individuals qualified by either education ``or'' 
experience, rather than by both education ``and'' experience. We also 
propose in this section to make a conforming change (as identified 
earlier) by using the term ``correspondence courses'' rather than 
``correspondence education.'' We further propose in Sec.  602.15(a)(4) 
to include, as an option, employers as part of accrediting agency 
evaluation, policy, and decision-making bodies. Additionally, in this 
subsection, we propose to specifically include the option for including 
students as possible public representatives on agency decision-making 
bodies. The Department notes that the time commitment required for such 
activity may not be feasible for many students. However, negotiators 
felt it was important to acknowledge that students could serve in this 
capacity as a member of the public. We also propose to specify in this 
subsection that clear and effective controls against conflicts of 
interest include guidelines to prevent or resolve such conflicts. 
Finally, we propose to clarify in Sec.  602.15(b)(2) that agencies must 
retain decision letters regarding an institution or program's 
accreditation or preaccreditation and its substantive changes; agencies 
do not have to retain every record of conversations or interim 
decisions when superseded by a final decision or determination.
    Reasons: In certain occupations, especially vocational occupations, 
education or experience may qualify an individual for their role with 
an accrediting agency and to carry out its functions. We propose to 
revise the text to allow individuals to demonstrate their 
qualifications through either experience or education. We also propose 
to include employers as possible members of evaluation, policy, and 
decision-making bodies in recognition of the expertise that employers 
may bring to these processes, in particular the entry-level 
requirements for employment in related fields. To highlight the voice 
of students, at the request of several negotiators including those 
representing students, we propose to specifically note that they are 
included as members of the public who may serve on decision-making 
bodies of accrediting agencies.
    To reduce administrative burden, we propose to amend the types of 
documentation that agencies must retain to decision letters related to 
accreditation, preaccreditation, and substantive change actions.

Accreditation and Preaccreditation Standards (Sec.  602.16)

    Statute: HEA section 496(a)(5) contains accreditation standards 
that an accreditation agency must use to assess an institution or 
program. Section 496(p)(1) establishes that section 496(a)(5) does not 
restrict the ability of an accreditation agency to set, with the 
involvement of its members, and to apply, accreditation standards for 
institutions or programs that seek review by the agency. Section 496 
(p)(2) states that Section 496(a)(5) does not prevent an institution 
from developing and using institutional standards to show its success 
with respect to student achievement, which achievement may be 
considered as part of any review. Section 496(a)(4)(B)(i) requires an 
agency that wishes to include distance education or correspondence 
education within its scope of accreditation to demonstrate that its 
standards effectively address the quality of distance education at an 
institution.

[[Page 27421]]

This section does not, however, require separate standards, procedures, 
or policies for the evaluation of such programs.
    Section 496(g) and (o) prevent the Secretary from establishing 
criteria for an accrediting agency beyond what statute requires or from 
specifying, defining or prescribing, accrediting standards, including 
standards for assessment of an institution's student achievement. Under 
Sec.  496(g), the Department cannot prohibit an accrediting agency from 
establishing additional standards.
    Current Regulations: Section 602.16(a)(1) identifies the areas in 
which an agency's accreditation standards must address the quality of 
the institutions or programs accredited by the agency.
    Under Sec.  602.16(a)(2), an agency's preaccreditation standards 
must be appropriately related to the agency's accreditation standards 
and must not permit an institution or program to hold preaccreditation 
status for more than five years.
    Section 602.16(c) requires an accrediting agency that seeks to 
include within its scope the evaluation of the quality of institutions 
offering distance or correspondence education to have standards that 
effectively address the quality of the institutions or programs 
accredited by the agency, and provides that the agency is not required 
to have separate standards, procedures, or policies for the evaluation 
of distance education or correspondence education.
    Section 602.16(d) states that an accrediting agency that does not 
accredit any institutions that participate in the title IV, HEA 
programs, or that accredits only programs within institutions that are 
accredited by a nationally recognized institutional accrediting agency, 
is not required to have accreditation standards for program length and 
objectives of the degrees or credentials offered; or related to an 
institution's compliance with program responsibilities under title IV 
of the HEA.
    Section 602.16(e) provides that an agency that has established and 
applies the standards in Sec.  602.16(a) may establish any additional 
accreditation standards that it deems appropriate.
    Section 602.16(f)(1) provides that nothing in Sec.  602.16 
restricts an accrediting agency from setting (with the involvement of 
its members) and applying accreditation standards for or to 
institutions or programs that seek review by the agency.
    Section 602.16(f)(2) provides that nothing in Sec.  602.16 
restricts an institution from developing and using institutional 
standards to show its success with respect to student achievement, 
which we may consider as part of any accreditation review.
    Proposed Regulations: Throughout Sec.  602.16, we propose 
conforming changes to the earlier proposed change to refer to 
``correspondence education'' as ``correspondence courses.''
    In Sec.  602.16(a)(1), we propose to clarify that agencies 
establish clear expectations across a number of critical factors.
    In Sec.  602.16(a)(2)(ii), we propose to specify that the five-year 
limit on the duration of preaccreditation status applies to the time 
period before the agency makes a final accreditation decision.
    In Sec.  602.16(b), we propose to clarify that we do not require 
agencies to apply accrediting standards required by the HEA to 
institutions that do not participate in HEA programs if the agency 
clarifies that its grant of accreditation or preaccreditation, by 
request of the institution, does not include participation by the 
institution in title IV, HEA programs.
    In Sec.  602.16(d)(1), we propose to add direct assessment to the 
types of education which an agency's standards must effectively address 
if the agency accredits such programs.
    We propose adding new Sec.  602.16(f)(3), which would permit 
accrediting agencies to have separate standards regarding an 
institution's process for approving curriculum to enable programs to 
more effectively meet the recommendations of--
    (1) Industry advisory boards that include employers who hire 
program graduates;
    (2) Widely recognized industry standards and organizations;
    (3) Credentialing or other occupational registration or licensure; 
or
    (4) Employers who make hiring decisions in a given field or 
occupation.
    Additionally, under proposed Sec.  602.16(f)(4), nothing would 
prohibit agencies from having separate faculty standards for 
instructors teaching courses within a dual or concurrent enrollment 
program, or career and technical education courses, if the instructors 
are qualified by education or work experience for that role.
    Reasons: In Sec.  602.16(a)(1), the Department seeks to move from 
the vague description of accreditation standards that ``effectively 
address'' factors that contribute to quality to a more specific 
requirement for agencies to set forth ``clear expectations'' in these 
areas for the institutions and programs it accredits.
    In Sec.  602.16(a)(2)(ii), the Department wishes to clarify that, 
after the five-year limit on preaccreditation has expired, an agency 
must make a final accrediting action and must not place an institution 
or program on another type of temporary status.
    In Sec.  602.16(b), we seek to clarify that, while the HEA lists 
specific accrediting standards all agencies recognized by the 
Department must have, those standards do not need to be applied to all 
institutions accredited by an agency. The Department does not maintain 
it is always appropriate for an agency to apply federally required 
standards to institutions that choose not to participate in title IV, 
HEA programs. In such cases, however, the Department and negotiators 
agreed that transparency is important. Accordingly, we propose that the 
agency must designate institutions that they accredit for non-title IV 
purposes only.
    In Sec.  602.16(d)(1), the Department seeks to ensure that, as more 
institutions add direct assessment education programs, accrediting 
agencies are equipped to evaluate and approve such programs. The 
Department also wants to ensure that agencies evaluating such programs 
first receive Department approval for the addition of direct assessment 
programs to their scope of recognition so that the Department can 
provide proper oversight. In Sec.  602.16(f)(3) and (4), the Department 
proposes to clarify that a traditional faculty governance process for 
approving curriculum and setting faculty standards, while widely used, 
is not the only governance process currently in use by institutions or 
allowed by the HEA, and in some instances it may be inappropriate to 
give faculty a stronger voice than employers. Institutions and programs 
must also have full autonomy, in conformance with their agency's 
standards, to make faculty and curriculum decisions that align with 
stakeholder recommendations, including the hiring requirements of 
employers.
    The Department also seeks to clarify that agencies may have 
separate faculty standards for courses such as those offered through 
dual enrollment or in the area of career and technical education. The 
Department does not believe an agency should have to choose between 
setting rigorous standards for faculty that may be appropriate, for 
example, at comprehensive or research institutions, and allowing other 
kinds of institutions to hire the faculty that will provide students 
with the best opportunities possible, including in rural locations 
where faculty with specific kinds of degrees are not

[[Page 27422]]

plentiful. In addition, the Department recognizes that, in many 
instances, dual enrollment programs are provided at the high school 
location due to unreasonable travel distances to a local college. In 
those instances, the high school teacher may have a different kind of 
academic credential but may have years of experience teaching college-
level courses that are relevant to the dual enrollment opportunity. 
Also, the credential of choice may be very different for career and 
technical education instructors, where workforce experience may be far 
more important than the academic credential an instructor holds.

Application of Standards in Reaching an Accrediting Decision (Sec.  
602.17)

    Statute: HEA section 496(a)(4) provides that an agency must 
consistently apply and enforce standards that respect the stated 
mission of the institution, including religious missions, and ensure 
that the courses or programs offered, including distance education or 
correspondence courses, are of sufficient quality to achieve, for the 
duration of the accreditation period, the objectives for which the 
courses or the programs are offered. Section 496(a)(5) provides that 
the standards for accreditation by an accrediting agency or a State 
must assess an institution's success with respect to student 
achievement and identifies the items that the agency or State must 
assess. Section 496(a)(6) requires an accrediting agency to establish 
due process procedures that include allowing for an institution's 
written response to any finding of deficiency. Section 496(c) outlines 
operating procedures an accrediting agency must follow to include on-
site evaluation of an institution. Section 496(a)(4)(B)(ii) requires 
that an accrediting agency that has distance education in its scope 
ensure that the institution offering distance or correspondence 
education has processes to ensure that the same student who enrolls in 
a distance education course or program is the student who participates 
in and completes the program.
    Current Regulations: Section 602.17(a) requires an agency to 
demonstrate that it evaluates whether an institution or a program 
maintains educational objectives that are clear, consistent with the 
institution's or program's mission, and appropriate in light of the 
credentials offered; if the institution or program is successful in 
achieving its stated objectives; and if the institution or program 
maintains degree and certificate requirements that at least conform to 
commonly accepted standards.
    Section 602.17(b) requires an agency to demonstrate that it 
requires an institution or program to prepare an in-depth self-study 
that includes the assessment of education quality and the institution's 
or program's continuing efforts to improve educational quality.
    Section 602.17(c) requires an agency to demonstrate that it 
conducts at least one on-site review of the institution or program to 
determine if it complies with the agency's standards.
    Section 602.17(d) requires an agency to demonstrate that it allows 
the institution or program the opportunity to respond in writing to the 
report of the on-site review.
    Section 602.17(e) requires an agency to demonstrate that it 
conducts its own analysis of the self-study and supporting 
documentation; the on-site review report and the institution's or 
program's response to the report; and any other appropriate information 
to determine whether the institution or program complies with the 
agency's standards.
    Section 602.17(f) requires an agency to demonstrate that it 
provides the institution or program with a detailed written report that 
assesses its compliance with the agency's standards and the 
institution's or program's performance with respect to student 
achievement.
    Sec.  602.17(g) requires an agency to demonstrate that it requires 
institutions that offer distance education or correspondence education 
to have processes in place to establish that a student who registers 
for a distance education or correspondence education course or program 
is the same student who participates and completes the course or 
program and receives academic the credit. It lists specific methods an 
institution could use to verify identity.
    Section 602.17(g)(2) requires an agency to make clear, in writing, 
that institutions must use processes that protect student privacy and 
must notify students of any projected additional student charges 
associated with the verification of student identity at the time of 
registration or enrollment.
    Proposed Regulations: Proposed Sec.  602.17(a)(2) would require an 
agency to be successful at achieving its stated objectives ``at the 
institutional and program levels.''
    Proposed Sec.  602.17(a)(3) would replace the requirement that an 
agency maintain degree and certificate requirements that at least 
conform to commonly accepted standards with a requirement that the 
agency maintain degree and certificate requirements that at least 
conform to commonly accepted academic standards ``or the equivalent, 
including pilot programs in [proposed] Sec.  602.18(b).''
    Proposed Sec.  602.17(b) clarifies that the self-study process must 
assess educational quality and success in meeting the institution's or 
program's mission and objectives, highlight opportunities for 
improvement, and include a plan for making the improvements.
    Proposed Sec.  602.17(e) would replace ``any other appropriate 
information from other sources'' with ``any other information 
substantiated by the agency from other sources'' as a basis for 
evaluating whether the institution or program complies with the 
agency's standards.
    In proposed Sec.  602.17(g) we would remove the list of specific 
methods by which an accrediting agency might require institutions to 
verify the identity of a student who participates in class or 
coursework.
    Reasons: We propose changes to Sec.  602.17(a)(2) to clarify that 
we expect institutional accrediting agencies to evaluate both an 
institution broadly and individual programs within that institution 
against rigorous standards for meeting stated objectives consistent 
with its mission and appropriate given the credentials awarded.
    In Sec.  602.17(a)(3), the Department proposes to clarify that it 
expects agencies to hold institutions and programs to basic, commonly 
accepted academic standards (e.g., the approximate number of credits in 
a bachelor's degree) in order to protect against diploma mills and to 
ensure transfer of credit opportunities. This is not, however, meant to 
replicate the more stringent ``widely accepted'' standard in existing 
Sec.  602.13. As noted above, we intend to delete the ``widely 
accepted'' requirement. Instead, the Department proposes to add a 
reference in Sec.  602.17(a)(3) to provisions in Sec.  602.18(b), which 
provide flexibility for pilot programs, in order to clarify that 
adherence to foundational standards is not a prohibition against 
innovation or experimentation with new delivery models or types of 
programs or credentials.
    In Sec.  602.17(b), the Department proposes to refine the 
regulation to focus on continuous improvement rather than strict, and 
often bureaucratic, requirements for a self-study. Assessment models 
that employ the use of complicated rubrics and expensive tracking and 
reporting software further add to the cost of accreditation. The 
Department does not maintain that assessment regimes should be so 
highly prescriptive or

[[Page 27423]]

technical that institutions or programs should feel required to hire 
outside consultants to maintain accreditation. Rather than a ``one-
size-fits-all'' method for review, the Department maintains that peer 
reviewers should be more open to evaluating the materials an 
institution or program presents and considering them in the context of 
the institution's mission, students served, and resources available.
    In Sec.  602.17(e), while the agency should have discretion to 
include information from other sources to determine whether the 
institution or program complies with the agency's standards, the agency 
must be able to substantiate the information. This provision would 
allow the agency significant autonomy to ensure accountability while 
excluding findings against institutions or programs based on 
unsubstantiated allegations in the press, in court filings, or 
elsewhere.
    In Sec.  602.17(g), the Department proposes to remove redundant or 
unclear language, provide flexibility to agencies to approve 
verification methods, and avoid circumstances under which the 
regulations would quickly become out-of-date as technology changes.

Ensuring Consistency in Decision-Making (Sec.  602.18)

    Statute: HEA section 496(4)(A) provides that an accrediting agency 
consistently applies and enforces standards that respect the stated 
mission of the institution of higher education, including religious 
missions, and that ensure that the courses or programs of instruction, 
training, or study offered by the institution of higher education, 
including distance education or correspondence courses or programs, are 
of sufficient quality to achieve, for the duration of the accreditation 
period, the stated objective for which the courses or the programs are 
offered.
    Current Regulations: Section 602.18 requires accrediting agencies 
to consistently apply and enforce standards that respect the stated 
mission of the institution, including religious mission. The agencies 
must also ensure that the institution or program provides an education 
that is of sufficient quality to achieve the institution or program's 
stated objective. The agency meets this requirement if it--
    (1) Has written accreditation and preaccreditation requirements and 
clear standards;
    (2) Has effective controls against the inconsistent application of 
agency standards;
    (3) Uses its published standards to make accreditation and 
preaccreditation decisions;
    (4) Has a reasonable basis for determining the accuracy of 
information used to make accrediting decisions; and
    (5) Clearly identifies in writing to the institution or program any 
deficiencies in meeting agency standards.
    Proposed Regulations: We propose in Sec.  602.18 to provide more 
direction to agencies on what the statutory requirement for accrediting 
agencies to respect the mission of an institution comprises. In the 
event that an institution believes their mission has been used as a 
negative factor by an agency, the institution could submit a complaint 
to the Department, which we would investigate under the process 
outlined in Sec.  602.33. In Sec.  602.18(b)(3), we propose to provide 
that agencies may not use as a negative factor the institution's 
religious-based policies, decisions, and practices in the areas of 
curricula, faculty, facilities, equipment, supplies, student support 
services, recruiting and admissions practices, academic calendars, 
catalogs, publications, grading, and advertising, among others, 
provided that the agency may require that the institution's or 
program's curricula include all core components required by the agency.
    Additionally, in Sec.  602.18(b)(6), we propose to require agencies 
to publish their policies for retroactive application of an 
accreditation decision, and to provide that such policies must not 
provide for an effective date that predates either an earlier denial of 
accreditation or preaccreditation, or the agency's formal approval of 
the institution or program for consideration for accreditation or 
preaccreditation.
    In proposed Sec.  602.18(c), we note that nothing in the 
Department's recognition regulations prohibits an agency from having 
alternate standards, policies, and procedures to satisfy recognition 
requirements in the interests of innovation or addressing undue 
hardship to students, provided that the alternative measures, and 
selection of participants, are approved by the agency's decision-making 
body; equivalent goals and metrics are set and applied; the process for 
establishing and applying the alternative standards, policies, and 
procedures is published; and the agency requires the institution or 
program to demonstrate a need for the alternative approach, as well as 
that students will receive equivalent benefit and will not be harmed.
    In proposed Sec.  602.18(d), we would establish that nothing in the 
recognition regulations prevents an agency from permitting an 
institution or program to remain out of compliance with policies, 
standards, and procedures otherwise required by those regulations, for 
a period of up to three years, and longer for good cause shown, where 
there are circumstances beyond the institution's or program's control 
requiring this forbearance. The proposed language gives as examples a 
natural disaster, a teach-out of another institution's students, 
significant and documented local or national economic changes, changes 
in licensure requirements, undue hardship on students, and the 
availability of instructors who do not meet the agency's faculty 
standards but are qualified by education or work experience to teach 
courses within a dual or concurrent enrollment program.
    Reasons: We believe it is necessary to provide more direction to 
agencies regarding respect for an institution's religious mission. 
Under the proposed consensus language, we would remind agencies of the 
pervasive impact an institution's or program's religious mission may 
properly have on its operations, while acknowledging the right of an 
agency to require a comprehensive curriculum. For example, committee 
members used health care programs as examples with respect to the issue 
of curricula. An agency may require its accredited institution or 
program to provide instruction on a range of treatment included in that 
area of health care while also providing instruction on religious 
tenets against use of those types of treatment.
    We believe that the proposed change related to retroactive 
effective dates is also important. Many accrediting agencies already 
have standards that include the retroactive application of an effective 
date of accreditation. Those standards allow students in the cohorts 
that were the subject of the accreditation review--and the subsequent 
approval--benefit from the positive accreditation decision. We propose 
appropriate guardrails to ensure that the agency does not backdate 
accreditation or preaccreditation to a time prior to when the 
institution or program substantially complied with the agency's 
standards and procedures.
    We intend for paragraphs (c) and (d) to provide safe harbors for 
agencies to exercise responsibly their ability to support innovation 
and address hardship, without jeopardizing their recognition. Again, 
the Department has included guardrails to ensure careful consideration 
and monitoring of this flexibility and that it contains appropriate 
protections for students.

[[Page 27424]]

Monitoring and Reevaluation of Accredited Institutions and Programs 
(Sec.  602.19)

    Statute: HEA section 496(a)(6) provides that an accrediting agency 
must establish and apply review procedures throughout the accrediting 
process that give adequate written specification of requirements, 
including clear standards for an accredited institution or program, and 
identify deficiencies at the institution or program examined.
    Section 496(c)(2) requires agencies to monitor growth of programs 
at institutions that are experiencing significant enrollment growth.
    Section 496(q) provides that the Secretary requires a review at the 
next NACIQI meeting of any change in scope undertaken by an agency 
under section 496(a)(4)(B)(i)(II) if the enrollment of an institution 
offering distance education or correspondence education accredited by 
such agency increases by 50 percent or more within any one 
institutional fiscal year.
    Current Regulations: Section 602.19(a) provides that an accrediting 
agency must regularly reevaluate the institutions or programs it 
accredits or preaccredits.
    Section 602.19(b) requires that the agency must also show that has, 
and effectively applies, its required monitoring and evaluation 
approaches that allow the agency to identify problems with an 
institution's or program's continued compliance with agency standards 
and that consider institutional or program strengths and stability. 
These approaches must include periodic reports, and collection and 
analysis of key data and indicators, including fiscal information and 
measures of student achievement.
    Section 602.19(c) further provides that each agency must monitor 
the growth of the institutions or programs it accredits and collect 
enrollment data from institutions or programs at least annually.
    Additionally, Sec.  602.19(d) requires institutional accrediting 
agencies to monitor the program growth at institutions experiencing 
significant enrollment growth, as the agency defines it.
    Section 602.19(e) requires additional enrollment monitoring of 
institutions by any agency that expands its scope of recognition to 
include distance education or correspondence courses through notice to 
the Secretary of the expansion. The agency must report information to 
the Secretary within 30 days about any such institution that has 
experienced an increase in enrollment of 50 percent or more in one 
year. We use the institution's fiscal year as the one-year period 
outlined in this subsection.
    Proposed Regulations: We propose in Sec.  602.19(e) to echo the 
statutory requirement for a review at the next NACIQI meeting of any 
change in scope accepted by an agency when the enrollment increases by 
50 percent or more at an institution that offers distance education or 
correspondence courses.
    Reasons: We believe that the statutory language clearly outlines 
the requirements for the specific review needed in this circumstance.

Enforcement of Standards (Sec.  602.20)

    Statute: HEA section 496 contains the criteria the Secretary uses 
to determine that an accrediting agency is a reliable authority 
regarding education quality. This section further specifies areas for 
which the accrediting agency must evaluate its institutions and 
provides that the agency will establish and apply procedures for review 
throughout the accreditation process, including for evaluation and 
withdrawal proceedings, that comply with ``due process'' criteria 
specified in Section (a)(6).
    Section 496(a)(4) requires that a recognized agency must 
consistently apply and enforce standards that respect the stated 
mission of the institution, including religious missions, and ensure 
that the courses or programs offered, including distance education or 
correspondence courses, are of sufficient quality to achieve, for the 
duration of the accreditation period, the stated objective for which 
the courses or the programs are offered.
    Current Regulations: Section 602.20(a) provides that if an agency's 
review of an institution or program indicates that the institution or 
program is not in compliance with any standard, the agency must either 
immediately initiate adverse action against the institution or program, 
or require the institution or program to bring itself into compliance 
in no later than--
     Twelve months, if the program, or the longest program 
offered by the institution, is less than a year in length;
     Eighteen months, if the program, or the longest program 
offered by the institution, is at least a year, but less than two 
years, in length; or
     Two years, if the program, or the longest program offered 
by the institution, is at least two years in length.
    Under Sec.  602.20(b), if the institution or program does not bring 
itself into compliance within the specified period, the agency must 
take immediate adverse action unless the agency extends the period for 
achieving compliance for good cause.
    Proposed Regulations: In Sec.  602.20(a) we propose to require 
that, in the event of noncompliance with any agency standard, the 
agency must--
     Notify the institution or program of the noncompliance;
     Provide the institution or program with a reasonable 
written timeline for coming into compliance based on the nature of the 
finding, the stated mission, and educational objectives of the 
institution or program;
     Follow its written policies and procedures for granting a 
good cause extension that may exceed the standard timeframe when it 
determines such an extension is warranted; and
     Have a written policy to evaluate and approve or 
disapprove monitoring or compliance reports it requires and evaluate an 
institution's or program's progress in resolving the finding of 
noncompliance.
    We propose to allow the agency to include intermediate compliance 
checkpoints in the timeline as long as the agency provides notice to 
the institution concerning its compliance checkpoints. Additionally, 
the timeline must not exceed the lesser of four years, or 150 percent 
of the length of the program for a programmatic accrediting agency, or 
150 percent of the length of the longest program for an institutional 
accrediting agency.
    We further propose to amend Sec.  602.20(b) to state that the 
agency must have a policy for taking an immediate adverse action and 
take such action when it determines that such action is appropriate.
    In Sec.  602.20(c), we propose to require that if the institution 
or program does not bring itself into compliance within the prescribed 
time period, the agency must take adverse action against the 
institution or program but may maintain the accreditation or 
preaccreditation until the institution or program has had reasonable 
time to complete its teach-out agreement.
    We propose to add in Sec.  602.20(d) that an agency that accredits 
institutions may limit the adverse or other action to specific programs 
or additional locations of an institution, without taking action 
against the entire institution and all of its programs, provided the 
noncompliance was limited to the particular programs or locations. We 
also propose to reiterate in new Sec.  602.20(e) that all adverse 
actions taken under this subpart are subject to the arbitration 
requirements in statute.

[[Page 27425]]

    We also propose in new Sec.  602.20(f) that an agency would not be 
responsible for enforcing requirements in Sec. Sec.  668.14, 668.15, 
668.16, 668.41, or 668.46, but that if it identifies instances or 
potential instances of noncompliance with any of these requirements, it 
must notify the Department.
    Finally, we propose in new Sec.  602.20(g) that the Secretary may 
not require an agency to take action against an institution or program 
under part 602 if the institution or program does not participate in 
any title IV, HEA or other Federal program.
    Reasons: We propose changes in Sec.  602.20(a), (b), and (c) to 
remove overly prescriptive timelines for taking action that often 
require agencies to place a greater importance on acting swiftly than 
acting in the best interest of students. In the case of a revocation of 
accreditation that is likely to lead to institutional closure, 
institutions or programs may serve students best if they have time to 
implement a teach-out plan, enter into teach-out agreements with other 
institutions or programs, and help students move to a new institution 
to complete their programs. For students near completion, it may be 
preferable to complete the program prior to the implementation of the 
adverse action. Institutions often lose accreditation due to financial 
instability, which may or may not reflect insufficient academic quality 
or institutional integrity. In such cases, an institution's precipitous 
closure would likely cause unnecessary harm to students and taxpayers.
    Even in the case of less serious findings of noncompliance, current 
regulations do not allow adequate time for an institution to implement 
curricular or other changes to allow it to come into compliance with 
standards. There are also instances in which the finding of 
noncompliance is due to economic conditions outside of the 
institution's control, in which case the institution may require 
additional time to adjust to the underlying challenge or for the 
economic condition to change. Therefore, the Department wishes to 
provide discretion to the agency to decide on the timing of an adverse 
action, based on the nature of the deficiency and the condition of the 
institution and its academic programs. We also propose new provisions 
in this section to ensure that any discretion the agency exercises is 
balanced by strong protections for students, clear timelines for coming 
into compliance, and proper oversight by the agency for meeting those 
timelines.
    We propose adding Sec.  602.20(d) to give institutional accrediting 
agencies more tools to hold programs within institutions accountable. 
The Department believes that a major barrier to greater institutional 
accountability is the lack of targeted actions agencies (and the 
Department) can take to promote compliance and continuous improvement. 
When faced with program-level noncompliance, agencies may believe they 
are limited to a rather blunt institution-level instrument that may not 
effectively address the source of the noncompliance. Agencies may not 
wish to impose sanctions that negatively affect an institution when 
only one program is out of compliance since the collateral damage of 
broad sanctions can be significant and unwarranted. For example, this 
provision would encourage an agency to work with an institution that 
otherwise meets the agency's standards but address an outlier program 
that is not compliant with those standards and is unlikely to be able 
to become compliant in a reasonable time period.
    We propose adding Sec.  602.20(e) to address another barrier to 
agency action: The risk of costly and time-consuming litigation. The 
Department is aware that some agency decisions have resulted in 
lawsuits by sanctioned institutions or programs without regard to the 
arbitration requirements in 20 U.S.C. 1099b(e). The Department 
emphasizes this requirement to ensure that agencies, as well as the 
programs and institutions they oversee, can quickly and affordably 
address areas of disagreement.
    We also propose adding Sec.  602.20(f) to clarify agency 
enforcement obligations. We believe this would resolve what the 
Department believes to be a blurring of the lines that divide oversight 
responsibilities among the members of the regulatory triad (the 
Department, accrediting agencies, and States). At times, accrediting 
agencies may have been asked to perform or duplicate the work that 
should be carried out by States or the Department. This duplication is 
costly to agencies and institutions, and results in overreach by 
agencies due to a fear that they may face negative consequences during 
their own recognition review if they do not act. Perhaps more 
importantly, these perceived responsibilities distract accrediting 
agencies, which have limited resources, from their core obligation to 
oversee academic and institutional quality. By explicitly allowing 
agencies to leave Department responsibilities to the Department, we 
believe agencies would be better able to focus on enforcing their own 
standards and procedures and ensuring academic rigor.
    The proposed addition of Sec.  602.20(g) is related to Sec.  
602.16(b). In the latter section, we would not require agencies to 
apply standards required by the HEA to institutions that do not 
participate in title IV, HEA programs. Proposed Sec.  602.20(g) would 
go further to protect the institutional autonomy of such institutions.

Review of Standards (Sec.  602.21)

    Statute: HEA section 496(a)(4)(A) requires that an agency's 
standards ensure that the courses or programs offered by an institution 
are of sufficient quality to achieve the stated objectives for which 
they are offered for the duration of the accreditation period.
    Current Regulations: Section 602.21(a) requires an agency to 
maintain a systematic program of review that demonstrates the adequacy 
of its standards to evaluate the education quality of the institution 
or program in a way that is relevant to the educational or training 
needs of the student population.
    Sections 602.21(b) and (c) contain the required procedures for an 
agency when evaluating its standards and if it that determines that it 
needs to make changes to its standards.
    Proposed Regulations: We propose to require in Sec.  602.21(a) that 
an agency maintain a ``comprehensive'' systematic program of review and 
that such review would include all relevant constituencies, such as 
educators, educational institutions (and their students and alumni as 
appropriate), licensing bodies, practitioners, and employers in the 
fields for which the educational institutions or programs within the 
agency's jurisdiction prepare their students. Additionally, we propose 
in Sec.  602.21(d)(3) that, in addition to considering timely comments 
on proposed changes made by relevant constituencies and other parties, 
agencies must also be responsive to any such comments.
    Reasons: The Department proposes to emphasize that an agency's 
system of review of its standards should be comprehensive and involve 
all constituencies, while maintaining responsiveness to comments 
received.

Substantive Change (Sec.  602.22)

    Statute: HEA section 496(a)(4)(A) provides that an accrediting 
agency consistently applies and enforces standards that respect the 
stated mission of the institution of higher education, including a 
religious mission, and that ensure that the courses or programs of 
instruction, training, or study offered by the institution, including 
distance education or correspondence courses or programs, are of 
sufficient quality to achieve the stated objective for which

[[Page 27426]]

the courses or the programs are offered for the duration of the 
accreditation period.
    Section 496(c)(1) and (2) require that agencies perform, at 
regularly established intervals, on-site inspections and reviews with a 
focus on education quality and program effectiveness and monitor the 
growth of programs. Section 496(c)(4) states that as part of an 
accrediting agency's operating procedures, the agency must require an 
institution to submit plans to establish a branch campus prior to 
opening the branch. Section 496(c)(5) requires an accrediting agency to 
conduct an on-site review of a new branch campus or an institution that 
has undergone a change in ownership within six months of the 
establishment of the branch or the change in ownership.
    Current Regulations: Under Sec.  602.22(a), if an agency accredits 
institutions, it must maintain adequate substantive change policies. 
These policies must ensure that any substantive change to the 
institution's educational mission or programs after the agency has 
granted accreditation or preaccreditation does not adversely affect its 
capacity to continue to meet the agency's standards.
    Under Sec.  602.22(a)(1), an agency must require the institution to 
obtain the agency's approval of a substantive change before the agency 
includes the change in the scope of accreditation or preaccreditation 
it previously granted to the institution.
    Section 602.22(a)(2) requires an agency to include the following in 
its definition of ``substantive change'':
     Any change in the institution's established mission or 
objectives.
     Any change in the institution's legal status, form of 
control, or ownership.
     The addition of courses or programs that represent a 
significant departure from the existing offerings of educational 
programs, or method of delivery, from those offered when the agency 
last evaluated the institution.
     The addition of programs of study at a credential level 
different from the level approved in the institution's current 
accreditation or preaccreditation.
     A change from clock hours to credit hours.
     A substantial increase in the number of clock or credit 
hours awarded for successful program completion.
     The acquisition of any other institution or any program or 
location of another institution.
     The addition of a permanent location at a site at which 
the institution is conducting a teach-out for students of another 
institution.
    Under Sec.  602.22(a)(2)(vii), if the agency's accreditation of an 
institution enables the institution to seek eligibility to participate 
in title IV, HEA programs, the definition of ``substantive change'' 
must include entering into a contract under which an ineligible 
institution or organization offers more than 25 percent of one or more 
of the accredited institution's educational programs.
    Under Sec.  602.22(a)(2)(viii), if the agency's accreditation of an 
institution enables it to seek eligibility to participate in the title 
IV, HEA programs, the definition of ``substantive change'' must include 
the establishment of an additional location at which the institution 
offers at least 50 percent of an educational program. The accrediting 
agency must approve the addition of such a location in accordance with 
Sec.  602.22(c) unless it determines that the institution has--
     Successfully completed at least one cycle of accreditation 
of maximum length offered by the agency and one renewal, or has been 
accredited for at least 10 years;
     At least three additional locations that the agency has 
approved; and
     Met acceptable agency criteria indicating enough capacity 
to add additional locations without individual prior approvals.
    Under Sec.  602.22(a)(2)(viii)(B), if the agency determines under 
procedures consistent with the requirements of Sec.  602.22(a)(2)(viii) 
that an institution may add locations without individual approvals by 
the agency, the agency must require timely reporting of every 
additional location established under that agency approval.
    Under Sec.  602.22(a)(2)(viii)(C), an agency determination to 
preapprove an institution's addition of locations may not exceed five 
years.
    Under Sec.  602.22(a)(2)(viii)(D), the agency may not preapprove an 
institution's addition of locations after the institution undergoes a 
change in ownership resulting in a change in control until the 
institution demonstrates that it meets the conditions for the agency to 
preapprove additional locations described in Sec.  602.22(a)(2)(viii).
    Under Sec.  602.22(a)(2)(viii)(E), the agency must have an 
effective mechanism for conducting, at reasonable intervals, visits to 
a representative sample of additional locations.
    Under Sec.  602.22(a)(3), the agency's substantive change policy 
must define when the changes made or proposed by an institution are or 
would be sufficiently extensive to require the agency to conduct a new 
comprehensive evaluation of that institution.
    Under Sec.  602.22(b), an agency may determine the procedures that 
it uses to grant prior approval for substantive changes. However, the 
procedures must specify an effective date for the change, which is not 
retroactive, except that the agency may designate the date of a change 
of ownership as the effective date of its approval of the change if it 
makes the decision within 30 days of the change of ownership.
    Section 602.22(c) pertains to institutions participating in the 
title IV programs that have not been pre-approved by the agency under 
Sec.  602.22(a)(2)(viii) for adding additional locations. In such 
circumstances, Sec.  602.22(c) requires that the agency's procedures 
for approval of an additional location at which an institution offers 
at least 50 percent of an educational program must provide for a 
determination of the institution's fiscal and administrative capacity 
to operate the additional location, as well as for the conducting of 
site visits in specified circumstances.
    Section 602.22(d) states that the purpose of site visits described 
in Sec.  602.22(c)(1) are to verify that the additional location has 
the personnel, facilities, and resources it claimed to have in its 
application for approval of the additional location.
    Proposed Regulations: We propose to change the title of Sec.  
602.22 to ``Substantive changes and other reporting requirements.'' 
Proposed Sec.  602.22(a)(2) would require an agency's definition of 
``substantive change'' to cover ``high-impact, high-risk changes,'' and 
would identify required elements of an agency's definition of 
``substantive change.''
    We propose in Sec.  602.22(a)(2)(i) to limit substantive changes 
regarding mission to ``substantial'' changes, but to include 
substantial changes to the established mission or objectives of an 
institution's programs.
    Proposed Sec.  602.22(a)(2)(iv) would limit the substantive changes 
requiring approval regarding the addition of programs to the addition 
of graduate programs by an institution that previously offered only 
undergraduate programs or certificates.
    Under proposed Sec.  602.22(a)(2)(v), substantive changes would 
include changes in the way an institution measures student progress, 
including not only changes in clock or credit hours but changes in 
semesters, trimesters, or quarters, and changes to non-time-based 
methods.

[[Page 27427]]

    Proposed Sec.  602.22(a)(vi) would identify as an additional 
substantive change an increase in the level of credential awarded.
    Proposed Sec.  602.22(a)(2)(ix) would require agency approval of 
the addition of each new location or branch, except if the institution 
meets the criteria in proposed paragraph (c), and would add additional 
criteria for agency consideration in such reviews.
    We propose to move to proposed Sec.  602.22(a)(2)(x) the 
requirements for approval of written arrangements under which an 
institution or organization not certified to participate in the title 
IV, HEA programs offers more than 25 and up to 50 percent of one or 
more of the institution's programs.
    Proposed Sec.  602.22(a)(2)(xi) identifies the addition of each 
direct assessment program as a substantive change.
    Proposed Sec.  602.22(a)(3)(i) provides that for substantive 
changes identified in proposed Sec.  602.22(a)(2)(iii) (addition of 
programs that represent a significant departure from prior offerings), 
(v) (change in the way the institution monitors student progress), 
(viii) (addition of a permanent location at which the institution is 
conducting a teach-out), or (x) (written arrangements for ineligible 
entities to offer between 25 and 50 percent of a program), an agency 
may designate senior agency staff to approve or disapprove the request 
in a timely, fair, and equitable matter. Proposed Sec.  
602.22(a)(3)(ii) would require senior staff reviewing a request for 
approval of a written arrangement under Sec.  602.22(a)(3)(i) to make a 
final decision within 90 days of receipt of a materially complete 
request, unless the agency or its staff determines significant related 
circumstances require a review of the request by the agency's decision-
making body within 180 days.
    Proposed Sec.  602.22(b) identifies additional changes that 
institutions must report to their accrediting agency. However, 
institutions on probation or equivalent status with the agency, on 
provisional certification with the Department, or those subject to 
negative agency action over the prior three academic years must receive 
prior approval for these changes in addition to those in Sec.  
602.22(a).
    Proposed Sec.  602.22(c) would maintain most of the current 
language in Sec.  602.22(a)(2)(viii) relating to the preapproval of 
additional locations. Agency approval is not required for an 
institution that has successfully completed at least one cycle of 
accreditation, has received agency approval for the addition of at 
least two additional locations as provided in Sec.  602.22(a)(2)(ix), 
and has not been placed on probation or equivalent status, been subject 
to a negative action by the agency over the prior three academic years, 
or been provisionally certified, as provided in 34 CFR 668.13. Where 
approval is not required, an institution must report the additional 
location within 30 days. The proposed provision would eliminate 
existing prerequisites that either the institution's successful 
completion of a cycle of accreditation have been of maximum length or 
that the institution has been accredited for at least 10 years. 
Proposed Sec.  602.22(c) would also eliminate the current requirement 
that each agency determination that an institution is qualified to add 
locations, without a location-by-location application, expires after 
five years.
    Proposed Sec.  602.22(d) would require the agency to have an 
effective mechanism for conducting, at reasonable intervals, visits to 
a representative sample of additional locations approved under proposed 
Sec.  602.22(a)(2)(viii) and (ix).
    Proposed Sec.  602.22(e) would specify minimum requirements for the 
procedures an agency uses to grant prior approval for substantive 
changes. It also would provide that agencies must set effective dates 
for their approvals that cannot pre-date either an earlier agency 
denial, or the agency's formal approval of the substantive change for 
consideration for inclusion in the institution's preaccreditation.
    Proposed Sec.  602.22(f) would specify requirements for site visits 
of additional locations that are not a branch campus and where an 
institution offers at least 50 percent of an educational program.
    Reasons: In Sec.  602.22, the Department proposes to revise its 
substantive change regulations to provide accrediting agencies more 
flexibility while maintaining proper agency oversight of high-risk 
changes. Substantive change requests are not only burdensome for 
agencies to review, but also often require an institution to pay costly 
fees and wait many months for a decision. Costs for agency review of 
substantive changes can be as high as $66,000 plus the expenses 
associated with any required site visit. In addition, agency boards 
generally meet infrequently, meaning that an institution's application 
may be held for several months before it can be reviewed and approved. 
This can discourage and delay changes in programs that could otherwise 
be beneficial to students.
    The Department also seeks to streamline approval of other 
institutional or programmatic changes by dividing them into those that 
the agency must approve and those that the institution or program must 
simply report to the agency. In addition, we seek to focus the 
regulations on the types of changes that we believe pose the greatest 
risk to students and taxpayers.
    Specifically, we propose modifications to Sec.  602.22(a)(2) to 
reduce unnecessary burden associated with, for example, requiring an 
institution to seek an agency's approval for insubstantial changes to 
its mission or objectives, or adding programs at a new credential 
level, other than the addition of graduate programs. Other proposed 
changes to this section would clarify language or conform to other 
changes, such as different ways institutions may measure student 
progress.
    The Department also believes it is important in Sec.  602.22(a)(2) 
to designate certain changes as substantive that the regulations did 
not previously consider as such because they represent unique risks to 
students and taxpayers. We propose to include the addition of a direct 
assessment program and moving a program to a higher credential level 
for this reason. Additionally, we propose the latter change to restrict 
credential inflation.
    Most significantly, the Department proposes to add provisions in 
Sec.  602.22(a)(3) to allow an agency to utilize its senior staff to 
review certain substantive change requests in order to reduce burden on 
its decision-making body and allow that body to focus on more 
significant and potentially risky changes. This change would represent 
a middle ground between removing items from substantive change entirely 
and preserving existing regulations. The proposed change also 
recognizes the evolution of agencies into increasingly complex 
organizations with diverse expertise that they can apply to specialized 
tasks with more informed and timely results that benefit all parties.
    Requests for approvals of written arrangements under which non-
traditional providers offer between 25 and 50 percent of a program are 
among the types of substantive changes for which approval by senior 
agency staff would be permitted under proposed Sec.  602.22(a)(3)(i). 
In proposed Sec.  602.22(a)(3)(ii), we propose other changes to the 
process for approving written arrangements to encourage timelier 
approvals. Such agreements often create programs that are responsive to 
local or national workforce needs, and delays under the existing 
approval process have made achieving this important goal more 
difficult. With undue delay, educational innovations, especially those 
that

[[Page 27428]]

require large investments in state-of-the-art tools and technologies, 
can be beyond the reach of some institutions due to high start-up costs 
or the inability to commit multiyear funds to seeing such a project 
through to full implementation. It can also be challenging to evaluate 
the effectiveness of a given innovation if tested on a single campus 
since limited sample sizes or certain selection bias may mask or 
confound results. There may be economies of scale that enable an 
outside educational provider to develop and test technologies, and 
provide instruction using those technologies, for several institutions.
    Written arrangements can also allow institutions to partner with 
organizations like building and trade unions to allow students to earn 
direct academic credit for the learning they do at nonaccredited, 
state-of-the-art teaching facilities that such organizations operate. 
In such a case, under a written arrangement, students could receive 
academic credit for learning that an institution otherwise may not 
recognize through prior learning assessment (PLA). Written arrangements 
with museums, theaters, and hospitals could also provide students with 
additional expanded learning opportunities. Although institutions may 
award credit for the learning activities described above through PLA, 
there is less certainty regarding how much credit an institution will 
award. Also, if a student transfers, the receiving institution may not 
accept PLA credits. Written arrangements allow students to earn direct 
college credit for learning that takes place through the nonaccredited 
provider, which benefits students and may reduce the cost of 
postsecondary education to students and institutions.
    In order to encourage written arrangements, proposed Sec.  
602.22(a)(3)(ii) sets deadlines for processing of these requests. The 
Department recognizes that some requests will be more complex than 
others and so we propose a bifurcated process whereby agency staff can 
approve the less complex requests and the agency's decision-making body 
can approve the more complex requests with more time for consideration.
    Section 602.22(b) reflects our view that risk is particularly acute 
if the Department or the institution's accrediting agency has recently 
sanctioned an institution, and that such institutions accordingly 
warrant greater scrutiny. For such cases, the Department proposes to 
add requirements to Sec.  602.22(b) for additional approvals that may 
present risk at a distressed institution but would be far less risky at 
an institution in good standing.
    Proposed changes to Sec.  602.22(c) clarify that an additional 
location that is not a branch campus in appropriate circumstances may 
be approved through a streamlined process. This streamlined process is 
similar to the existing regulations but ensures that the institutions 
to which it applies have a degree of experience and have not been under 
recent sanction by the Department or their accrediting agency.
    We propose to remove other aspects of the existing regulations 
relating to additional locations because they are overly prescriptive 
and do not allow agencies to develop processes for approving additional 
locations that balance accountability and responsiveness to 
institutions' requests.
    High quality simulators or genuine equipment used in the field 
(e.g., computer numerical control machines used in advanced 
manufacturing, virtual reality technology to simulate medical 
procedures, or aircraft for flight training and maintenance programs) 
can be of immense value to students, but immense cost to institutions. 
Finally, in proposed Sec.  602.22(e)the Department wishes to address 
its prior regulatory prohibition on retroactive substantive changes, 
which led to difficult and risky scenarios for students, institutions, 
and taxpayers. For example, institutions will often launch new programs 
and then have them reviewed for approval under the substantive change 
requirements. Unfortunately, even after those programs receive 
approval, students who completed them before that approval process are 
considered to have graduated from an unaccredited program with 
potential implications for future employment prospects, including 
occupational licensure. For this reason, the Department wishes to 
codify as an acceptable practice awarding retroactive approval of a 
substantive change with proper safeguards to ensure approvals are not 
backdated to a time prior to when the institution's or program's 
proposed substantive change was substantially compliant with the 
agency's standards and procedures.

Operating Procedures All Accrediting Agencies Must Have (Sec.  602.23)

    Statute: HEA sections 496(a)(6) through (8) and (c) establish 
required operating procedures that a recognized accrediting agency must 
include in its processes. HEA section 101(a)(5) provides that a public 
or nonprofit degree-granting institution that is not yet fully 
accredited by a recognized accrediting agency may nonetheless qualify 
as an HEA-eligible institution of higher education if it has been 
granted preaccreditation status by an agency that has been recognized 
by the Secretary for the granting of preaccreditation status, and the 
Secretary has determined that there is satisfactory assurance that the 
institution will meet the accreditation standards of such an agency 
within a reasonable time.
    Current Regulations: Section 602.23(a)(2) requires agencies to 
maintain and make available to the public written materials describing 
the procedures that institutions or programs must follow in applying 
for accreditation or preaccreditation. Section 602.23(a)(5) requires an 
accrediting agency to maintain and make available to the public written 
materials describing the names, academic and professional 
qualifications, and relevant employment and organizational affiliations 
of the members of the agency's policy and decision-making bodies and 
the agency's principal administrative staff.
    Section 602.23(d) requires an accrediting agency to ensure that if 
an institution or program elects to disclose its accreditation or 
preaccreditation status, it must do so accurately, including the 
specific programs covered by that status and agency's name, address, 
and telephone number.
    Proposed Regulations: We propose to add to Sec.  602.23(a)(2) a 
requirement that accrediting agencies make available to the public 
written materials describing the procedures that institutions or 
programs must follow regarding approval of substantive changes and the 
sequencing of steps relative to any applications or decisions required 
by States or by the Department relative to the agency's 
preaccreditation, accreditation, or substantive change decisions.
    In proposed Sec.  602.23(a)(5), we would clarify that agencies must 
provide a list of the names, academic and professional qualifications, 
and relevant employment and organizational affiliations of members of 
the agency's decision-making bodies and principal administrative staff.
    In proposed Sec.  602.23(d), we would replace the reference to the 
address and telephone number of an agency with a reference to ``contact 
information for the agency.''
    We propose adding a new Sec.  602.23(f) that would specify that, if 
an accrediting agency offers preaccreditation--
     The agency's preaccreditation policies must limit the 
status to institutions or programs that the agency has determined are 
likely to succeed in obtaining accreditation;

[[Page 27429]]

     The agency must require all preaccredited institutions to 
have a teach-out plan that ensures that students completing the teach-
out would meet curricular requirements for professional licensure or 
certification, if any, and that includes a list of academic programs 
offered by the institution, and the names of other institutions that 
offer similar programs and that could potentially enter into a teach-
out agreement with the institution;
     If it denies accreditation to an institution it has 
preaccredited, the agency may maintain the institution's 
preaccreditation for currently enrolled students until the institution 
has had a reasonable time to complete the activities in its teach-out 
plan to assist students in transferring or completing their programs, 
but for no more than 120 days unless approved by the agency for good 
cause; and
     The agency may not move an accredited institution or 
program from accredited to preaccredited status unless, following the 
loss of accreditation, the institution or program applies for initial 
accreditation and receives preaccreditation status under the new 
application. Institutions that participated in the title IV, HEA 
programs before the loss of accreditation are subject to the loss of 
accreditation or preaccreditation requirements of 34 CFR 600.11(c).
    Proposed Sec.  602.23(f)(2) requires that the Secretary consider 
all credits and degrees earned and issued by an institution or program 
holding preaccreditation from a nationally recognized agency to be from 
an accredited institution or program.
    Reasons: We propose changes to Sec.  602.23(a)(2) to clarify the 
sequencing of approvals in instances where more than one member of the 
triad must approve a change or request. This will ensure that 
institutions and programs do not experience unnecessary delays and that 
agencies do not receive information absent decisions from other members 
of the triad, when the approval of one member of the triad (e.g., 
States) is necessary for another member (e.g., the Department) to 
perform its review.
    We propose the changes to Sec.  602.23(a)(5) to clarify that a list 
of the names, academic and professional qualifications, and relevant 
employment and organizational affiliations of members of the agency's 
decision-making bodies and principal administrative staff, rather than 
curriculum vitae and other documentation, adequately satisfy this 
requirement, in order to reduce administrative burden.
    We propose the change to Sec.  602.23(d) to ensure that 
institutions include the most appropriate contact information, which 
may be an email address or other method, rather than only a mailing 
address and telephone number.
    We propose to add a new Sec.  602.23(f) to provide greater 
specificity and safeguards when agencies offer preaccreditation.
    The Department seeks to mitigate the additional risk to students 
and taxpayers posed by a preaccredited program or institution. 
Accordingly, we want to ensure that agencies limit those offerings to 
serious candidates for full accreditation only. We also propose to 
require that preaccredited institutions and programs have a plan in 
place to help students complete their program or transfer elsewhere if 
the institution or program fails to reach full accreditation. 
Furthermore, we propose to prevent the use of preaccreditation as a 
form of quasi-accreditation except in the case of initial candidacy.
    Finally, we propose these changes, along with others discussed in 
Sec.  602.22, to prevent harm to students who attend preaccredited 
institutions or programs. The Department seeks to clarify its position 
that a student who completes a preaccredited program should have the 
same benefits as a student who has completed an accredited program. We 
propose to codify this current practice to protect students who attend 
preaccredited institutions or programs that the accrediting agencies 
have granted such status with the expectation that the institutions or 
programs would meet the requirements for full accreditation. 
Preaccreditation status allows otherwise-eligible students the 
opportunity to receive title IV, HEA program funds; we want their time 
and money, as well as taxpayer funds, to be well spent. We further want 
to support students completing preaccredited programs to be able to 
meet State occupational licensing requirements.

Additional Procedures Certain Institutional Accreditors Must Have 
(Sec.  602.24)

    Statute: HEA section 496(c)(3) requires an institution to submit 
for approval to the accrediting agency a teach-out plan when any of the 
following events occur:
    (a) The Department notifies the accrediting agency of an action 
against the institution pursuant to section 487(f).
    (b) The accrediting agency acts to withdraw, terminate, or suspend 
the accreditation of the institution.
    (c) The institution notifies the accrediting agency that the 
institution intends to cease operations.
    HEA section 496(c)(4) provides that an accrediting agency's 
operating procedures must require an institution to submit plans to 
establish a branch campus prior to its opening.
    Section 496(c)(5) requires an accrediting agency to conduct an on-
site review at an institution within six months of it opening a new 
branch campus or when it has undergone an ownership change.
    Section 496(c)(6) requires that teach-out agreements among 
institutions are subject to approval by the accrediting agency 
consistent with standards promulgated by such agency.
    Section 496(c)(9) requires that, as a part of the agency's review 
for accreditation or reaccreditation, the institution must have 
transfer of credit policies that (i) it publicly discloses and (b) 
include a statement of the criteria it established for evaluating and 
approving for transfer credits earned at another institution of higher 
education.
    Current Regulations: Section 602.24 requires an institutional 
accrediting agency to establish and follow procedures relating to 
branch campuses; change in ownership; teach-outs; closed institutions; 
transfer of credit policies; and credit-hour policies as specified in 
Sec.  602.24(a) through (f).
    Under Sec.  602.24(a)(1)(iii), the agency must require an 
institution that plans to establish a branch campus to provide the 
agency with a business plan that describes the operation, management, 
and physical resources at the branch campus.
    Under Sec.  602.24(a)(2), an agency may extend accreditation to a 
branch campus only after it evaluates the business plan and takes 
whatever other actions it deems necessary to determine that the branch 
campus has sufficient educational, financial, operational, management, 
and physical resources to meet the agency's standards.
    Sections 602.24(a)(3) and (b) require an agency to conduct a site 
visit as soon as practicable but no later than six months after the 
establishment of a branch campus or, if the institution has undergone a 
change of ownership that resulted in a change of control, no later than 
six months after the change of ownership.
    Under Sec.  602.24(c), an agency must require an institution to 
submit a teach-out plan for approval if--
     The Department notifies the agency that the Department has 
initiated emergency action against the institution, or an action to 
limit, suspend, or

[[Page 27430]]

terminate an institution's participation in the title IV, HEA programs;
     The agency acts to withdraw, terminate, or suspend 
accreditation or preaccreditation of the institution;
     The institution notifies the agency that it intends to 
cease operations or close a location that provides 100 percent of at 
least one program; or
     A State licensing or authorizing agency notifies the 
agency that it has or will revoke the institution's license or legal 
authorization to provide an education.
    Section 602.24(c)(2) requires the agency to evaluate the teach-out 
plan to ensure that it provides for the equitable treatment of 
students; specifies additional charges, if any; and provides 
notification to the students of any additional charges.
    Section 602.24(c)(3) requires an agency that approves a teach-out 
plan that includes a program accredited by another recognized 
accrediting agency to notify that accrediting agency of its approval.
    Under Sec.  602.24(c)(4) an agency may require an institution to 
enter into a teach-out agreement as part of its teach-out plan.
    Under Sec.  602.24(c)(5), an agency must require an institution 
that enters into a teach-out agreement to submit that teach-out 
agreement for approval. The agency may only approve the teach-out 
agreement if the agreement is between institutions that are accredited 
or pre-accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency, is 
consistent with applicable standards and regulations, and provides for 
the equitable treatment of students in specified ways. Current Sec.  
602.24(f) also requires agency review of institutional credit hour 
policies and specifies how an agency meets the requirements for such 
review.
    Proposed Regulations: Under proposed Sec.  602.24(a) agencies would 
not have to require an institution to include in its branch campus 
business plan a description of the operation, management, and physical 
resources of the branch campus. Proposed Sec.  602.24(a) would also 
remove the requirement that an agency may only extend accreditation to 
a branch campus after the agency evaluates the business plan and takes 
whatever other actions it deems necessary to determine that the branch 
campus has enough educational, financial, operational, management, and 
physical resources to meet the agency's standards.
    Proposed Sec.  602.24(c) would establish new requirements for 
teach-out plans and teach-out agreements, including with respect to 
when an agency must require them and what elements must be included.
    Paragraph (c)(1)(i) would require submission of a teach-out plan by 
a non-profit or proprietary institution if the Secretary notifies the 
agency of a determination by the institution's independent auditor 
expressing doubt about the institution's ability to operate as a going 
concern or indicating an adverse opinion or material weakness finding 
related to financial stability.
    Paragraphs (c)(1)(ii)-(iii) would require a teach-out plan to be 
submitted if the agency puts the institution or probation or show 
cause, or if the Secretary notifies the agency that the institution has 
been required to submit a teach-out plan as a condition of provisional 
certification.
    Proposed paragraph (c)(2) would require both a teach-out plan and, 
if practicable, a teach-out agreement if the institution is placed on 
reimbursement or heightened cash management under 34 CFR 668.162(d)(2), 
or if the Department has taken an emergency action or an action to 
limit, suspend or terminate participation, or the agency acts to 
withdraw, terminate, or suspend accreditation or preaccreditation, or 
the institution notifies the agency that it intends to cease operations 
entirely or close a location that provides one hundred percent of at 
least one program (including if the location is being moved and is 
considered closed by the Department), or if the institution's license 
or legal authorization to provide an educational program has been or 
will be revoked.
    Proposed paragraph (c)(3) would add requirements that the teach-out 
plan include a list of currently enrolled students, academic programs 
offered, the names of other institutions that offer similar programs 
and could potentially enter into a teach-out agreement. Proposed 
paragraph (c)(6) would require teach-out agreements to include a 
complete list of enrolled students and the program requirements each 
has completed, a plan to provide all potentially eligible students with 
closed school discharge and State refund information, a record 
retention plan to be provided to all students, information on the 
number and types of credits the teach-out institution will accept prior 
to the student's enrollment, and a clear statement of tuition and fees.
    Proposed paragraph (c)(7) would modify requirements regarding 
teach-out agreements by providing that a teach-out by an alternative 
delivery modality is not sufficient unless an option via the same 
delivery modality as the original educational program is also provided; 
by substituting a requirement that the teach-out institution have the 
capacity to carry out its mission and meet all obligations, in lieu of 
the existing requirement that the teach-out institution remain stable; 
and by providing that students should not be required to move or travel 
for substantial distances or durations.
    Proposed paragraph (c)(8) would prohibit an institution from 
serving as a teach-out institution if it is under investigation or 
facing an action or prosecution for an issue related to academic 
quality, misrepresentation, fraud, or other severe matters, or if it is 
subject to the conditions that would require submission of a teach-out 
plan under proposed Sec.  602.24(c)(1) or (2).
    Proposed paragraph (c)(9) would permit an agency approving a 
written-teach-out agreement to waive requirements regarding the 
percentage of credits which must be earned at the institution awarding 
the educational credential for the benefit of students completing the 
program under the agreement.
    Proposed paragraph (c)(10) would require the agency to obtain from 
the closing institution all notifications from the institution about 
the closure or teach-out options to ensure that the communications are 
accurate.
    Proposed Sec.  602.24(f) would remove the requirement that an 
agency conduct an effective review and evaluation of the reliability 
and accuracy of the institution's assignment of credit hours. Instead, 
the section would require that an accrediting agency--
     Adopt and apply the definitions of ``branch campus'' and 
``additional location'' in 34 CFR 600.2;
     On the Secretary's request, conform its designations of an 
institution's branch campuses and additional locations with the 
Secretary's designations if it learns the designations diverge; and
     Ensure that it does not accredit or preaccredit fewer than 
all of the programs (except those losing accreditation under Sec.  
602.20(d)), branch campuses, and locations of an institution as 
certified for title IV participation by the Secretary, except with 
notice to and permission from the Secretary.
    Reasons: We propose the changes in Sec.  602.24(a) to remove 
requirements that go beyond statutory requirements and are 
unnecessarily prescriptive or that duplicate requirements in proposed 
Sec.  602.22.
    Changes proposed in Sec.  602.24(c) would provide additional 
specificity and clarity to requirements regarding teach-out plans and 
agreements considering the Department's recent

[[Page 27431]]

experience with school closures. The Department believes there is 
substantial confusion in the field about the nature of teach-outs, 
which is why it has added clearer definitions in other sections related 
to teach-out agreements, teach-out plans, and the actual execution of a 
teach-out. The changes would also clarify the responsibilities of the 
Department and accrediting agencies; protect taxpayers from unnecessary 
expenditures associated with closed schools, including loan discharges 
and Pell grant lifetime eligibility, for courses that may need to be 
repeated when institutions are forced to close precipitously; and 
provide consumer protections to students related to the accuracy and 
completeness of information regarding the teach-out and other options, 
as well as to the quality and convenience of the teach-out offered.
    We propose to remove the provisions in Sec.  602.24(f) prescribing 
a specific type of review of an institution's credit hour policies, and 
how those policies are applied, that accrediting agencies are required 
to conduct each time the institution is considered for renewal of 
accreditation. We believe the requirements are unnecessarily 
prescriptive and administratively burdensome without adding significant 
assurance that the agency review will result in improved accountability 
or protection for students or taxpayers. We propose to replace this 
section with a requirement designed to ensure the Department's greater 
specificity and clarity around the definitions of ``branch campus'' and 
``additional location'' in Sec.  600.2 are not in conflict with 
definitions used by agencies. As discussed during the negotiated 
rulemaking, the Department learned that some agencies use the terms 
``additional location'' and ``branch campus'' differently than the 
Department, which leads to confusion. By standardizing the use of these 
terms, there will be fewer instances of misunderstanding or conflict. 
The changes to this section will also help ensure that an institution 
does not receive title IV funds for any offerings by an institution 
that are outside of the scope of the accreditation or preacreditation 
granted.

Due Process (Sec.  602.25)

    Statute: HEA section 496(a)(6) provides that an agency must 
establish and apply review procedures throughout the accrediting 
process, including evaluation and withdrawal proceedings, which comply 
with due process procedures as outlined in that section.
    Current Regulations: Section 602.25(f) requires an accrediting 
agency to demonstrate the procedures it uses to satisfy due process 
throughout the accreditation process, including providing an 
opportunity for an institution or program to appeal any adverse action 
before the appeal becomes final. Under Sec.  602.25(f)(1)(iv), the 
appeal must take place at a hearing before an appeals panel that 
affirms, amends, reverses, or remands the adverse action. In a decision 
to remand, the appeals panel must identify specific issues that the 
original decision-making body must address.
    Proposed Regulations: We propose in Sec.  602.25(f)(1)(iii) and 
(iv) to remove reversal as an option available to an appeals panel. We 
also propose to require that the appeals panel explain the basis for a 
decision to remand if it differs from the original decision-making 
body's decision, rather than providing for the appeals panel to 
identify specific issues that the original decision-making body must 
address in the remand. We further propose to retain the requirement 
that the original decision-making body must act in a manner that is 
consistent with the decisions or instructions from the appeal body in 
the case of a remand.
    Reasons: The proposed changes in this section clarify the due 
process requirements for agencies when an institution or program 
appeals any adverse action prior to that action becoming final. 
Moreover, the elimination of an appeals panel's option to reverse the 
original decision-making body's decision ensures that an agency board 
is able to fully re-evaluate its original decision upon remand, whereas 
a reversal prohibits that re-evaluation. The Department proposes that, 
when the agency's appeals panel decides to remand the adverse action to 
the original decision-making body, the appeals panel must provide the 
institution or program with an explanation for any determination that 
differs from that of the original decision-making body. We intend for 
these changes to assure that institutions or programs are fully 
informed regarding the decisions being made pertaining to their 
accreditation status and that the original decision-making body speaks 
for the agency in addressing concerns raised in a remand.

Notification of Accrediting Decisions (Sec.  602.26)

    Statute: HEA section 496(a)(7) provides that an agency must notify 
the Secretary and the appropriate State licensing or authorizing agency 
within 30 days of the final denial, withdrawal, suspension, or 
termination of accreditation. The agency must also notify these parties 
when it places an institution on probation, or the equivalent, as well 
as any other adverse action it takes against the institution.
    Section 496(a)(7) also requires an agency to make available to the 
public and the State licensing authority, and submit to the Secretary, 
a summary of agency actions, including final denial, withdrawal, 
suspension, or termination of accreditation of an institution, and any 
findings made in connection with the action taken, together with the 
official comments of the affected institution, as well as any other 
adverse action taken with respect to an institution or placement on 
probation.
    Section 496(a)(8) further requires an agency to make available to 
the public, upon request, and to the Secretary and State licensing 
authority, a summary of any review resulting in a final accrediting 
decision involving denial, termination, or suspension of accreditation 
together with comments from the affected institution.
    Section 496(a)(8) further requires an agency to make available to 
the public, upon request, and to the Secretary and State licensing 
authority, a summary of any review resulting in a final accrediting 
decision involving denial, termination, or suspension of accreditation 
together with comments from the affected institution.
    Current Regulations: Under Sec.  602.26, an accrediting agency must 
demonstrate that it has established and follows written procedures 
requiring the agency to provide written notice of accrediting decisions 
to the Secretary, the appropriate State licensing or authorizing 
agency, appropriate accrediting agencies, and the public.
    Section 602.26(a) requires an accrediting agency to provide written 
notice to the Department, the appropriate State licensing or 
authorizing agency, the appropriate accrediting agencies, and the 
public no later than 30 days after the agency decides to award or renew 
an institution's or program's accreditation or preaccreditation status.
    Section 602.26(b) requires an accrediting agency to provide written 
notice to the Department, the appropriate State licensing or 
authorizing agency, and the appropriate accrediting agencies when it 
notifies the institution or program, but no later than 30 days after it 
makes the final decision to--
     Place an institution or program on probation or an 
equivalent status;

[[Page 27432]]

     Deny, withhold, suspend, revoke, or terminate an 
accreditation or preaccreditation status; or
     Take any other adverse action, as defined by the agency.
    Section 602.26(c) requires an accrediting agency to provide the 
notices described in Sec.  602.26(b) to the public within 24 hours of 
its notice to the institution or program.
    For a decision to deny, withdraw, suspend, revoke, or terminate an 
accreditation or preaccreditation status, Sec.  602.26(d) requires an 
accrediting agency to make available a brief statement summarizing the 
reasons for the agency's decision and the official comments that the 
affected institution or program may make with regard to that decision 
or evidence that the affected institution has been offered the 
opportunity to provide official comment, no later than 60 days after 
making the decision.
    Section 602.26(e) requires an accrediting agency to provide 
notification to the Secretary, the State licensing authority, and, on 
request, the public, if an institution or program decides to withdraw 
from accreditation or preaccreditation, or lets its accreditation or 
preaccreditation lapse, within 30 days of receiving notification from 
the institution of the withdrawal or lapse of accreditation status.
    Proposed Regulations: Proposed Sec.  602.26(b) would require an 
accrediting agency to provide written notice of a final decision of a 
probation or equivalent status, or an initiated adverse action to the 
Secretary, the appropriate State licensing or authorizing agency, and 
the appropriate accrediting agencies at the same time it notifies the 
institution or program of the decision and would require the 
institution or program to disclose such an action within seven business 
days of receipt to all current and prospective students.
    Proposed Sec.  602.26(c) would eliminate the requirement to provide 
written notice of a final decision to place an institution or program 
on probation within 30 days.
    We propose Sec.  602.26(d) to replace the current requirement that 
the agency notify the public of a final probation or adverse action 
within 24 hours of its notice to the institution or program, with a 
requirement to notify the public within one business day.
    We propose to redesignate current Sec.  602.26(d) as Sec.  
602.26(e) and, in that paragraph, add the requirement that an 
institution or program subject to a final adverse action must disclose 
such an action within seven business days of receipt to all current and 
prospective students.
    We propose to redesignate current Sec.  602.26(e) as Sec.  
602.26(f) and, in that paragraph, replace the 30-day timeframes for a 
notification of an institution's or program's decision to withdraw 
voluntarily from accreditation or preaccreditation or to allow 
accreditation or preaccreditation to lapse with timeframes of 10 
business days.
    Reasons: Several committee members proposed to add an additional 
requirement in proposed Sec.  602.26(b) to increase transparency and 
communication from the accrediting agency to the Secretary, State 
licensing or authorizing agency, appropriate accrediting agencies, and 
students regarding final decision of a probation or equivalent status, 
or an initiated adverse action. Current Sec.  602.26(b) requires an 
agency to report final decisions of probation or equivalent or adverse 
actions in writing to stakeholders no later than 30 days after making 
that decision and does not address initiated adverse actions. Proposed 
Sec.  602.26(b), revised to pertain to initiated adverse actions as 
well as final probation decisions, would use a different time frame, 
because it may take longer than 30 days for an agency to prepare the 
written decision regarding probation or equivalent status, or to 
initiate an adverse action (such as denying, withdrawing, suspending, 
revoking, or terminating the accreditation or preaccreditation of an 
institution or program), and to have it reviewed for accuracy and legal 
sufficiency before issuing it to an institution or program. To solve 
this issue, a committee member proposed that the accrediting agency 
must provide notification to the Secretary, State licensing body, and 
appropriate accrediting agencies of such decisions simultaneously with 
its notification to the institution or program. In addition, to make 
such actions more transparent, the accrediting agency must require the 
institution or program to disclose such actions to current and 
prospective students within seven business days of receiving the 
agency's notification.
    The proposed language continues to require accrediting agencies to 
provide the Secretary, the State, and appropriate accrediting agencies 
notice of any adverse action at the same time the agency notifies the 
institution or program, but no later than 30 days after reaching the 
decision, with notice to the public of final probation decisions, 
initiated adverse actions, and final adverse actions due within one 
business day of notice to the institution or program.
    The Department proposed a technical change to replace ``24 hours'' 
with ``one business day,'' which does not change current practice but 
clarifies that we do not require agencies to make notifications on 
weekends or holidays.
    Finally, to decrease timeliness and protect students, the 
Department proposed to reduce the amount of time, from 30 days to 10 
business days, in which an accrediting agency must notify the Secretary 
if an institution or program decides to voluntarily withdraw from 
accreditation or preaccreditation or allows either to lapse.

Other Information an Agency Must Provide the Department (Sec.  602.27)

    Statute: HEA section 496(c)(7) provides that an accrediting agency 
will make available to the public and submit to the State authorizing 
agency and the Secretary, a summary of agency actions, including the 
award of accreditation or preaccreditation of an institution. HEA 
section 487(a)(15) provides that institutions participating in the 
title IV, HEA programs must acknowledge in their program participation 
agreements the authority of the Secretary, guaranty agencies, lenders, 
accrediting agencies, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and State 
approval agencies to share with each other any information pertaining 
to the institution's eligibility to participate in the title IV 
programs and any information on fraud and abuse.
    Current Regulations: Under Sec.  602.27(a)(1) and (2), an 
accrediting agency must submit to the Department a copy of any annual 
report it prepares and a copy, updated annually, of its directory of 
accredited and preaccredited institutions and programs.
    Under Sec.  602.27(b), if an accrediting agency has a policy 
regarding notification to an institution or program of contact with the 
Department, it must provide for a case-by-case review of the 
circumstances surrounding the contact and the need for the 
confidentiality of that contact. Upon a specific request by the 
Department, the agency must consider that contact confidential.
    Proposed Regulations: Proposed Sec.  602.27(a)(1) would replace the 
requirements that an agency provide to the Department a copy of any 
annual report and a copy of its directory of accredited and 
preaccredited institutions and programs with a requirement that an 
agency provide a list, updated annually, of its accredited and 
preaccredited institutions and programs. Proposed Sec.  602.27(a)(1) 
would specify that the agency may provide the list electronically.

[[Page 27433]]

    Proposed Sec.  602.27(b) would replace the requirement that an 
agency must consider a contact with the Department confidential ``upon 
the request of the Department'' with a requirement that the contact 
must be considered confidential if ``the Department determines a 
compelling need for confidentiality.''
    Reasons: We propose to eliminate the requirement in current Sec.  
602.27(a)(1) that an agency submit to the Department a copy of any 
annual report it prepares. Instead we propose that Sec.  602.27(a)(1) 
require the accrediting agency to submit an annually updated list of 
its accredited and preaccredited institutions and programs. We believe 
this will allow the agency to provide needed information to the 
Department more efficiently. The change from the currently required 
``directory'' to the proposed ``list'' would not change current 
practice, but it may reduce administrative burden and the size of 
agency submissions.
    The Department proposes to clarify Sec.  602.27(b) to state that 
the Department can on a case-by-case basis require that contact with 
the accrediting agency about an institution or program remain 
confidential. The Department can only make this request in accordance 
with proposed Sec.  602.27(a)(5) and (6). The proposed clarification 
does not change current practice, but it attempts to address a concern 
raised by the Task Force on Federal Regulation of Higher Education and 
ensures the Department has a compelling need for confidentiality.

Activities Covered by Recognition Procedures (Sec.  602.30)

    Statute: HEA section 496(o) authorizes the Secretary to develop 
regulations that provide procedures for the recognition of accrediting 
agencies and for administrative appeals. HEA section 496(l) specifies 
the process for an accrediting agency that has failed to effectively 
apply the criteria established by the Secretary. HEA section 496(d) 
stipulates that the period of recognition not exceed five years. HEA 
section 496(a) instructs the Secretary to establish criteria to 
determine if an agency may be determined to be a reliable authority as 
to the quality of education or training offered by an institution of 
higher education. This section also allows the Secretary, after notice 
and opportunity for a hearing, to establish criteria for such 
determinations. HEA section 114 governs operations of NACIQI.
    Current Regulations: Section 602.30 provides that recognition 
proceedings are administrative actions taken on applications for 
recognition; applications for expansion of scope; compliance reports; 
reviews of agencies that have expanded their scope of recognition by 
notice; and staff analyses identifying areas of noncompliance.
    Proposed Regulations: We propose to remove and reserve Sec.  
602.30.
    Reasons: The Department proposes to remove this section because the 
recognition procedures outlined in other sections of this part cover 
these activities.

Agency Submissions to the Department (Sec.  602.31)

    Statute: HEA section 496(o) authorizes the Secretary to develop 
regulations that provide procedures for the recognition of accrediting 
agencies and for administrative appeals. HEA section 496(l) describes 
the process for an accrediting agency that has failed to effectively 
apply the criteria established by the Secretary. HEA section 496(d) 
provides that the period of recognition may not exceed five years. HEA 
section 114, as amended by the HEOA, governs operations of NACIQI. 
Additionally, the Department must comply with the requirements in the 
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552, the Trade Secrets Act, 
18 U.S.C. 1905, the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 552a, 
Appendix 1, and all other applicable laws.
    Current Regulations: Section 602.31(a) contains the application 
requirements for an accrediting agency seeking initial or continued 
recognition.
    Section 602.31(b) contains the application requirements for an 
accrediting agency seeking an expansion of scope.
    Section 602.31(c) contains the requirements for an accrediting 
agency to submit a compliance report.
    Section 602.31(d) identifies the requirements for a review 
following an increase in headcount enrollment of distance education 
students at any institution accredited by an agency that has notified 
the Secretary of a change in scope to include distance education or 
correspondence education.
    Section 602.31(e) provides that if an accrediting agency requests 
recognition from the Department, the agency consents to share 
information and authorizes Department staff to observe site visits 
conducted by the agency visit locations where agency activities occur; 
obtain copies of documents deemed necessary by the Department to 
complete the review of the agency; and gain Departmental access to 
agency records, personnel, and facilities.
    Section 602.31(f) explains that the Department's processing and 
decision-making on requests for public disclosure of agency materials 
are governed by FOIA, the Trade Secrets Act, the Privacy Act of 1974, 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act, and other applicable laws and 
specifies the agency's involvement in meeting the public disclosure 
requirements.
    Proposed Regulations: We propose to change the title of Sec.  
602.31 to ``Agency applications and reports to be submitted to the 
Department.'' Proposed Sec.  602.31(a) would contain the application 
requirements for an accrediting agency seeking initial or continued 
recognition. In Sec.  602.31(a), the Department proposes to require 
that an agency seeking renewal of recognition submit a written 
application to the Department 24 months prior to the date on which the 
current recognition expires. We also propose to remove the word 
``evidence'' in Sec.  602.31(a)(2) and (3), in reference to the 
application that an accrediting agency submits when seeking renewal of 
recognition.
    Proposed Sec.  602.31(b) contains the application requirements for 
an accrediting agency seeking an expansion of scope.
    Proposed Sec.  602.31(c) specifies the requirements for submitting 
a compliance or monitoring report, for an agency that must submit such 
a report.
    Proposed technical changes to Sec.  602.31(d) provide consistency 
in the reference to ``correspondence courses.''
    Proposed Sec.  602.31(f) contains requirements pertaining to agency 
documentary submissions to the Department considering the public 
availability of agency records obtained by the Department. In Sec.  
602.31(f)(1)(i), we propose to require accrediting agencies to redact 
personally identifiable information (PII) and other sensitive 
information prior to sending the documents to the Department to protect 
sensitive information from public disclosure. In Sec.  
602.31(f)(1)(ii), we propose to require accrediting agencies to redact 
names, personal addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, Social 
Security numbers, information about proprietary business practices, and 
any other personally identifiable information about individual students 
and any other individuals who are not agents of the agency or an 
institution the agency is reviewing.
    In addition to the redactions required of agencies under proposed 
Sec.  602.31(f)(1), proposed Sec.  602.31(f)(2) would permit agencies 
to redact the identities of institutions that it believes are not 
essential to the Department's review.

[[Page 27434]]

    The Department proposes in Sec.  602.31(f)(4) to reserve the right 
to request that the agency disclose any specific material that the 
accrediting agency redacted, and the Department will ensure that upon 
such request we do not provide the materials to the public if 
prohibited by law in the event of a FOIA request. Under proposed Sec.  
602.31(g), we propose to allow the Secretary to publish reasonable, 
uniform limits on the length of submissions submitted under Sec.  
602.31.
    Reasons: Currently an agency seeking renewal of recognition must 
submit a written application to the Secretary at least once every five 
years. The Department currently does not have a timeframe for when the 
agency must submit its written application. Generally, the Department 
will contact the accrediting agency one year in advance of the 
expiration of recognition requesting an application for renewal of 
recognition and the agency will submit the application six months in 
advance of the expiration date. The Department believes adding a 
timeframe for submission in Sec.  602.31(a) will allow more time for 
the Department and the accrediting agency seeking renewal of 
recognition to work together collaboratively if an agency's policies 
and procedures are out of compliance, especially following changes in 
the Department's regulations or requirements. This longer lead time 
would allow Department staff to observe accrediting agency actions 
throughout the entire process of reviewing a select number of 
representative institutions or programs, including observing a site 
visit and the agency's decision based on that visit. This additional 
time would also allow an agency to complete its process for updating 
its standards and procedures, if necessary, during the review process.
    Regarding changes to Sec.  602.31(a)(2) and (3), the committee 
noted that the word ``documentation'' more appropriately described what 
an accrediting agency compiles and submits to the Department than does 
``evidence.''
    The Department proposes to remove the language in current Sec.  
602.31(b)(2) requiring documentation of experience, because we have 
added a cross-reference to this section in Sec.  602.32(j), which 
outlines additional documentation an agency must submit when seeking an 
expansion of scope.
    Currently, an agency must submit a written application for the 
expansion of scope to the Secretary. In proposed Sec.  602.31(b)(2), 
consistent with a committee member's suggestion, we would clarify that 
an agency must submit copies of relevant standards, policies, or 
procedures in the expansion of scope application only in relation to 
the activities conducted within the proposed expansion of scope in 
addition to documentation of the application of such standards, 
policies and procedures.
    Members of the public may request accrediting agency records that 
the Department obtained. The Secretary processes requests and makes the 
records available pursuant to statutory requirements. The changes we 
propose to Sec.  602.31(f) respond to the increased number of FOIA 
requests the Department is receiving for recognition materials. The 
proposed change would require agencies to redact recognition materials 
rather than allow agencies to make redactions. While the Department 
bears ultimate responsibility for complying with FOIA's non-disclosure 
requirements, agencies have knowledge the Department does not as to 
whether there is possible proprietary business information in the 
records they are submitting. In addition, agency submissions are often 
voluminous, and given agencies' greater familiarity with what they 
propose to submit, it is appropriate for the Department to require 
agencies responsibility in the first instance for removing information 
that would compromise individuals' privacy if released to the public 
before they submit the documentation to the Department. In addition to 
making redactions mandatory, the proposed changes provide greater 
specificity as to the types of information requiring redaction as a 
matter of personal privacy. The proposed changes would serve the public 
interest in effective administration of FOIA. Proposed Sec.  
602.31(f)(4) would help ensure that agency redactions do not compromise 
the effectiveness of the Department's review of agency compliance with 
the recognition criteria. In the proposed changes to Sec.  602.31(g) we 
do not establish limits on the length of submissions; however, in the 
future the Department may establish those limits through a Federal 
Register notice. The Department has seen an increase in applications 
that are tens of thousands of pages long, which is unnecessary. The 
Department proposes adding a site visit to the agency's offices as part 
of the recognition process, which means that Department staff will 
review documents on-site and record their findings accordingly.

Procedures for Department Review of Applications for Recognition or for 
Change of Scope, Compliance Reports, and Increases in Enrollment (Sec.  
602.32)

    Statute: HEA section 496(n) directs the Secretary to conduct a 
comprehensive review and evaluation of the performance of all 
accrediting agencies that seek recognition by the Secretary in order to 
determine whether such accrediting agencies meet the criteria 
established by the Secretary. This independent evaluation must include 
the solicitation of third-party information concerning the performance 
of the agency and site visits, including unannounced site visits, as 
appropriate, at accrediting agencies and, at the Secretary's 
discretion, at representative member institutions. The Secretary must 
place a priority for review of agencies on those that accredit 
institutions of higher education that participate most extensively in 
programs authorized under title IV of the HEA, or on those agencies 
that have been the subject of the most complaints or legal actions. The 
Secretary must also consider all available relevant information 
concerning the compliance of the accrediting agency, including any 
complaints or legal actions against the agency. In cases where the 
Secretary identifies deficiencies in the performance of an 
accreditation agency with respect to the established requirements, the 
Secretary will consider those deficiencies in the recognition process. 
Additionally, the Secretary must determine the agency's scope of 
recognition when deciding to recognize the agency. When the Secretary 
recognizes an accrediting agency, the Secretary will determine the 
agency's scope of recognition. HEA section 496(o) authorizes the 
Secretary to develop regulations that provide procedures for the 
recognition of accrediting agencies and for administrative appeals. HEA 
section 496(l) specifies the process for an accrediting agency that has 
failed to effectively apply the criteria established by the Secretary. 
HEA section 496(d) provides that the period of recognition may not 
exceed five years. HEA section 114 governs the operations of NACIQI.
    Current Regulations: Under Sec.  602.32(a), the Department 
publishes a notice in the Federal Register requesting public comment 
after receipt of an accrediting agency's application for recognition, 
change in scope, compliance report, or increase in head-count 
enrollment report.
    Under Sec.  602.32(b), Department staff analyzes applications and 
reports submitted by an accrediting agency to

[[Page 27435]]

determine whether the agency meets the criteria for recognition, 
considering all available relevant information concerning the 
compliance of the agency with those criteria and in the agency's 
effectiveness in applying the criteria.
    Under Sec.  602.32(c), Department staff analyzes the materials 
submitted in support of an application for expansion of scope to ensure 
that the agency has the requisite experience, policies, capacity, and 
performance record to support the request.
    Section 602.32(d) provides that Department staff evaluation of an 
agency may also include a review of information directly related to 
institutions or programs accredited or preaccredited by the agency 
relative to their compliance with the agency's standards, the 
effectiveness of the standards, and the agency's application of those 
standards.
    Under Sec.  602.32(e), if Department staff determine that an agency 
applying for initial recognition fails to demonstrate compliance with 
basic eligibility requirements, the Department returns the application 
with an explanation of the deficiencies and recommends that the agency 
withdraw its application.
    Under Sec.  602.32(f), except for an application returned to or 
withdrawn by the agency, when Department staff complete their 
evaluation of the agency, the staff:
     Prepares a written draft analysis of the agency;
     Sends the draft analysis, a proposed recognition 
recommendation, and all supporting documents to the agency;
     Invites the agency to provide a written response to the 
draft analysis, specifying a deadline that provides at least 30 days 
for the agency's response;
     Reviews the response to the draft analysis and prepares 
the written final analysis and recommendation; and
     Provides the agency the final staff analysis and other 
information provided to the Advisory Committee no later than seven days 
before the Advisory Committee meeting.
    Under Sec.  602.32(g) the agency may request that the Advisory 
Committee defer acting on an application at the scheduled Advisory 
Committee meeting if the Department has failed to provide the required 
materials within the specified timeframes, unless the failure to 
provide the required information is due to the agency not responding to 
the Department's request for a response from the agency within the 
timeframes established by the Department.
    Proposed Regulations: We propose to revise the title for Sec.  
602.32 to read: ``Procedures for recognition, renewal of recognition, 
or for expansion of scope, compliance reports, and increases in 
enrollment.''
    Proposed Sec.  602.32(a) would require agencies preparing for a 
renewal of recognition to submit a list of all institutions or programs 
that it will review over the next year, whether for initial or renewed 
accreditation, on a compliance report, or with respect to other 
reporting requirements. If there are no institutions or programs 
scheduled for an accreditation decision in the upcoming year, the list 
would include institutions or programs scheduled for review for 
accreditation in the succeeding year. If the agency does not anticipate 
a review of any institution or program for initial or renewal of 
accreditation in the 24 months prior to the date recognition expires, 
it may submit a list of institutions or programs it has reviewed at any 
time since the prior award of recognition or leading up to that award.
    Proposed Sec.  602.32(b) would specify submissions an agency 
seeking initial recognition must make, in addition to following the 
policies and procedures specified in Sec.  602.32(a). These submissions 
comprise letters of support from specified constituencies.
    Proposed Sec.  602.32(c) updates the current requirement in Sec.  
602.32(a) for the Department to publish a notice of the agency's 
submission of an application in the Federal Register, inviting the 
public to comment.
    Under proposed Sec.  602.32(d), in addition to current practice 
where Department staff would analyze the agency's application for 
initial or renewal of recognition, to include observations of site 
visits to institutions or programs accredited or preaccredited by the 
agency; observations of site visits to training, decision meetings or 
other accreditation activities; public comments and other third-party 
information; and complaints or legal actions involving the agency, the 
Department staff review would also include a file review at the agency, 
during which Department staff would be able to retain copies of 
documents needed for inclusion in the administrative record.
    Proposed Sec.  602.32(d) specifies that reviews of complaints or 
legal actions may be considered but are not necessarily determinative 
of compliance.
    Proposed Sec.  602.32(e) would allow Department staff to view as a 
negative factor when considering an application for initial, or 
expansion of scope of recognition as proposed by an agency, among other 
factors, any evidence that the agency was part of a concerted effort to 
unnecessarily restrict an institution's religious mission, the 
qualifications necessary for a student to sit for a licensure or 
certification examination, or the ability for a student to otherwise be 
eligible for entry into a profession.
    Proposed Sec.  602.32(f) would retain the authority for Department 
staff to review information directly related to institutions or 
programs accredited or preaccredited by the agency relative to their 
compliance with the agency's standards, the effectiveness of the 
standards, and the agency's application of those standards, but would 
add a requirement to make all materials relied upon in the evaluation 
available to the agency for review and comment.
    Proposed Sec.  602.32(g) would provide that, if at any point in its 
evaluation of an agency seeking initial recognition, Department staff 
determines that the agency fails to demonstrate compliance with the 
basic eligibility requirements, the staff would require, rather than 
recommend, the agency to withdraw the application.
    Proposed Sec.  602.32(h) would revise the procedures for Department 
staff to complete its evaluation of the agency. In contrast to current 
regulations, under proposed Sec.  602.32(h)(2), the staff draft 
analysis would include any identified areas of potential non-
compliance, as well as all third party complaints and other materials 
the Department received by the established deadline or included in its 
review; would not include a recommendation in its draft analysis; and 
would provide the agency with at least 180 days, rather than 30 days, 
to respond to the draft. Under proposed Sec.  602.32(h)(4)(i), the 
staff's final written analysis would indicate whether the agency is in 
full compliance, substantial compliance, or noncompliance with each of 
the criteria for recognition. Under proposed Sec.  602.32(h)(4)(ii), 
the final written analysis would include a recommendation from the 
staff that the senior Department official either approve, renew with 
compliance reporting requirements due in 12 months, renew with 
compliance reporting requirements with a deadline in excess of 12 
months based on a finding of good cause and extraordinary 
circumstances, approve with monitoring or other reporting requirements, 
or deny, limit, suspend, or terminate recognition.
    Under proposed Sec.  602.32(h)(5), Department staff would provide 
the agency with its final written analysis at least 30 days before the 
NACIQI meeting, rather than only seven.
    Proposed Sec.  602.32(j) would contain procedures for an agency 
requesting an expansion of scope. These procedures

[[Page 27436]]

cross-reference the requirements of Sec. Sec.  602.12(a) and 602.31(b), 
require a statement of the reason for an expansion of scope, require 
letters of support of at least three institutions or programs seeking 
accreditation under the expansion, require the agency to explain how it 
will expand capacity to support the expansion, and designate Sec. Sec.  
602.32(c)-(h) as the procedures to be used by the Department in 
considering the request.
    Proposed Sec.  602.32(k), like proposed Sec.  602.32(e), provides 
that the Department may view as a negative factor in considering issues 
of scope any evidence that the agency was part of a concerted effort to 
unnecessarily restrict an institution's religious mission, the 
qualifications necessary for a student to sit for licensure or 
certification, or the ability for a student to otherwise be eligible 
for entry into a profession.
    Proposed Sec.  602.32(l) would add procedures for Department staff 
evaluation of a compliance report.
    Under proposed Sec.  602.32(m), if an agency is required to be 
reviewed by the Advisory Committee, the Department would follow the 
process outlined in Sec. Sec.  602.32(c)-(h).
    Reasons: Please see preamble discussion in Sec.  602.31 for 
rationale on proposed Sec.  602.32(a) requiring agencies to submit 
applications for renewal of recognition 24 months prior to the date on 
which the current recognition expires.
    During negotiated rulemaking session, the Department proposed to 
delete the requirements in current Sec.  602.13. Currently, we require 
an agency to be widely accepted by educators and educational 
institutions, among others. The Department is concerned that it has 
been unable to develop metrics that ensure equitable review of agencies 
regarding wide acceptance. In some instances, agencies provide just a 
few letters of support and are deemed to meet the requirement, and in 
other instances, agencies provide multiple letters substantiating wide 
acceptance, and they have been deemed insufficient. The Department also 
fears that the widely accepted standard could block competition or 
prevent innovative practices since the standard favors the status quo. 
However, the committee wanted to add a guardrail for the initial 
recognition of an agency to ensure that new agencies are responding to 
a legitimate need and proposed to incorporate the themes of current 
Sec.  602.13 into the proposal of an initial application for 
recognition. Proposed Sec.  602.32(b) requires an agency seeking 
initial recognition to submit letters of support from educators, 
accredited institutions or programs and, if appropriate, employers and 
practitioners. The change effectively streamlines the current wide 
acceptance requirement under Sec.  602.13, but it would only apply to 
accrediting agencies seeking initial recognition.
    Proposed Sec.  602.32(c) is a clarifying technical update noting 
that the Department will publish a notice in the Federal Register of 
submission of the accrediting agency's application. This would not 
change current practice.
    We propose to eliminate discussion of a Department staff review of 
the compliance report in Sec.  602.32(d), because we propose to add a 
new Sec.  602.32(m) addressing this topic. In proposed Sec.  602.32(m), 
we state that the Department staff will review public comments 
solicited by the Department staff in the Federal Register regarding the 
accrediting agency's compliance report. The Department does not 
contemplate a change to current practice regarding review of compliance 
reports. Proposed Sec. Sec.  602.32(d)(1)(i), (ii), (iv), and (v) are 
clarifying technical updates and would codify current practice into 
regulation.
    Proposed Sec.  602.32(d)(1)(iii) requires Department staff to 
conduct a file review of documents at the agency. This new provision 
responds to recommendations made by the Office of the Inspector General 
in their June 27, 2018, report, U.S. Department of Education's 
Recognition and Oversight of Accrediting Agencies. The report includes 
a recommendation to review more agency decisions and member institution 
or program files, and for the Department to select a representative 
sample of institutions or programs and decisions it wishes to review as 
part of the recognition process, rather than relying only on the 
examples the agency provides in its application. We believe this will 
increase collaboration and transparency between the Department and 
accrediting agencies, as well as integrate a risk-based review into the 
process.
    We propose to eliminate current Sec.  602.32(c) because we outline 
the requirements for an agency seeking an expansion of scope in 
proposed Sec.  602.32(j).
    Section Sec.  602.32(d)(2) reflects the view of the Department and 
expressed by several committee members that legal actions against an 
accredited or preaccredited institution or program should not 
necessarily determine compliance.
    We propose adding Sec. Sec.  602.32(e) and (l) because we want to 
ensure that the Department's existing regulations do not encourage 
accrediting agencies to work with licensing bodies or States to 
unnecessarily increase the qualifications necessary for a student to 
sit for a licensure or certification examination. We believe the 
qualifications a student needs for licensure or certification 
examinations may increase as a result of demands of multiple 
stakeholders. This would lead to more coursework required by the 
student and possibly a higher cost of education and other opportunity 
costs.
    We propose to amend Sec.  602.32(f) to clarify that the Department 
must make all materials used in the Department staff's review available 
to the accrediting agency. We believe this will increase transparency 
between accrediting agencies and the Department.
    In Sec.  602.32(g), we propose to enable Department Staff to 
require an agency that is seeking initial recognition to withdraw its 
application upon a finding that the agency fails to demonstrate 
compliance with the basic eligibility requirements for recognition, 
rather than merely permitting staff to recommend withdrawal. We propose 
this change to serve administrative efficiency and recognize that an 
agency that cannot establish eligibility will not succeed in obtaining 
recognition even if it were permitted to go forward with the hearing 
process.
    Proposed changes to Sec. Sec.  602.32(h)(1) and (2) are technical 
in nature. The proposal in Sec.  602.32(h)(3) to increase the time for 
an agency to respond to a draft staff analysis from 30 days to 180 days 
reflects the Department's determination that the accrediting agency 
should have more time to develop and submit a response to the draft 
analysis. Recognition applications are complex, and the Department 
believes increasing the time for response will make the process fairer 
and more efficient in the long run. The Department proposes under Sec.  
602.32(h)(5) to provide its final staff analyses to agencies at least 
30 days before the NACIQI meeting, rather than only seven, for much the 
same reasons.
    Proposed Sec.  602.32(h)(4) reflects the Department's desire to 
include a determination of substantial compliance as a permissible 
outcome in recognition proceedings. The Department believes that with 
the introduction of this concept, here and elsewhere in the recognition 
procedures, the Department will be able to acknowledge and convey the 
reliability of an agency that has achieved compliance in all but a 
technical sense, increase the efficiency of the recognition process, 
and conserve resources by leaving such technicalities to the staff to 
follow through on via

[[Page 27437]]

monitoring reports, understanding that Sec.  602.33, discussed below, 
will allow the staff unfettered ability to re-escalate an issue should 
it prove more serious than initially determined.
    Proposed Sec.  602.32(h)(4)(ii) attempts to align the 
recommendations available to Department staff with the corresponding 
options available to the senior Department official under proposed 
Sec.  602.36(e), including allowing an agency more than 12 months to 
submit a compliance report based on a finding of good cause and 
extraordinary circumstances. The Department believes this change 
reflects the fact that some areas of non-compliance require more than 
12 months to address, and that, in light of the good cause mechanism, 
the Department should not bind itself to reflexively de-recognizing 
otherwise dependable agencies. We note that while Sec.  
602.32(d)(4)(ii) characterizes outcomes involving compliance reports as 
a ``renewal'' of recognition, these outcomes are termed a 
``continuation'' under Sec.  602.36(e). The Department believes 
``continuation'' is more accurate and contemplates revising Sec.  
602.32(d)(4)(ii) in this respect in the final rule.
    Proposed Sec.  602.32(j), describing the process for an agency 
seeking an expansion of scope, either as a part of the regular renewal 
of recognition process or during a period of recognition, largely 
reflects current practice. As noted in the discussion of Sec.  
602.32(b), the new provisions in 602.32(j), requiring an agency to 
explain the reasons for the expansion of scope request, submit three 
letters from institutions or programs seeking accreditation under one 
or more of the elements of the expansion of scope, and submit an 
explanation of how the agency must expand capacity in order to support 
the expansion of scope, are intended as guardrails to ensure that 
agencies are responding to a legitimate need and have the ability to do 
so. We intend for proposed Sec.  602.32(m) and (n) to reflect that we 
will review compliance reports and agencies subject to review under 
Sec.  602.19(e) in accordance with current practice and procedure.

Procedures for Review of Agencies During the Period of Recognition 
(Sec.  602.33)

    Statute: HEA section 496(n) instructs the Secretary to conduct a 
comprehensive review and evaluation of the performance of all 
accrediting agencies that seek recognition by the Secretary in order to 
determine whether such accrediting agencies meet the criteria 
established by the Secretary. This independent evaluation must include 
the solicitation of third-party information concerning the performance 
of the agency and site visits, including unannounced site visits as 
appropriate, at accrediting agencies, and, at the Secretary's 
discretion, at representative member institutions. The Secretary must 
place a priority for review of agencies on those that accredit 
institutions of higher education that participate most extensively in 
programs authorized under title IV of the HEA, as amended, or on those 
agencies that have been the subject of the most complaints or legal 
actions. The Secretary must also consider all available relevant 
information concerning the compliance of the accrediting agency, 
including any complaints or legal actions against the agency. In cases 
where the Secretary notes deficiencies in the performance of an 
accreditation agency with respect to the requirements established, the 
Secretary will consider those deficiencies during the recognition 
process. Additionally, the Secretary must determine the agency's scope 
of recognition when deciding to recognize the agency. When the 
Secretary decides to recognize an accrediting agency, the Secretary 
will determine the agency's scope of recognition. HEA section 496(o) 
authorizes the Secretary to develop regulations that provide procedures 
for the recognition of accrediting agencies and for administrative 
appeals. HEA section 496(l) describes the process for an accrediting 
agency that has failed to effectively apply the criteria established by 
the Secretary. HEA section 496(d) stipulates that the period of 
recognition not exceed five years. HEA section 496(a) instructs the 
Secretary to establish criteria to determine if an agency may be 
determined to be a reliable authority as to the quality of education or 
training offered by an institution of higher education. This section 
also allows the Secretary, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, 
to establish criteria for such determinations. HEA section 114 governs 
the operations of the NACIQI.
    Current Regulations: Under Sec.  602.33(a), Department staff may 
review the compliance of a recognized agency against the criteria for 
recognition at any time at the request of the Advisory Committee or 
based on credible information that raises issues relevant to 
recognition. The review may include activities described under 
Sec. Sec.  602.32(b) and (d).
    Under Sec.  602.33(c), if Department staff notes that that one or 
more deficiencies may exist in the agency's compliance with or 
application of the criteria for recognition, Department staff provides 
a written draft analysis to the agency and invites the agency to 
provide a written response by a specified deadline that provides at 
least 30 days for the agency's response.
    Under Sec.  602.33(d), if Department staff concludes that the 
agency has demonstrated compliance with the criteria for recognition, 
staff notifies the agency, and if applicable the Advisory Committee, of 
the results of the review.
    Under Sec.  602.33(e), if Department staff determine that the 
agency has not demonstrated compliance, staff notifies the agency, 
publishes a notice in the Federal Register, provides the agency with a 
copy of all public comments received and, if applicable, invites a 
written response from the agency regarding the comment, finalizes the 
staff analysis, and provides the analysis to the agency and the 
Advisory Committee no later than seven days before the Advisory 
Committee meeting. Under Sec.  602.33(f), the Advisory Committee 
reviews the matter.
    Proposed Regulations: We propose to rename Sec.  602.33 to include 
procedures for the review of monitoring reports. Section 602.33(a)(1) 
proposes to expand the circumstances under which the Department may 
review an agency for compliance. Section 602.33(c)(1) proposes to 
change the timeframe for a written response from 30 days to 90 days.
    Reasons: The Department wishes to introduce the use of a monitoring 
report that will allow the Department to review actions taken by an 
agency that is otherwise in substantial compliance with the criteria 
for recognition to resolve areas of minor noncompliance. By allowing a 
monitoring report as a method to consider areas of compliance, the 
Department can ensure resolution of minor problems without requiring a 
full compliance review, which burdens both staff and agencies. The 
Department believes that adding monitoring reports as an enforcement 
tool will increase the likelihood of identifying and correcting minor 
problems before they become larger problems. Since proposed Sec.  
602.33(c)(4)(ii), like current regulations, will permit staff to pursue 
any issue pertinent to recognition before NACIQI, the senior Department 
official, and, as applicable, to the Secretary at any point throughout 
the recognition period, staff will be able to escalate issues arising 
as a result of a monitoring report if and when needed.

Advisory Committee Meetings (Sec.  602.34)

    Statute: HEA section 114 governs the operations of NACIQI and tasks 
the

[[Page 27438]]

group with advising the Department regarding the recognition of 
specific accrediting agencies. HEA section 114(d) establishes the 
meeting procedures for NACIQI, including that the committee will meet 
at least twice a year and publish the dates and locations of meetings 
in the Federal Register. Additionally, this section requires that we 
submit an agenda to the committee upon notification of the meeting and 
provides for the opportunity for public comment. Section 114(d)(3) 
requires the Secretary to designate an employee of the Department to 
serve as the Secretary's designee to the committee.
    Current Regulations: Under Sec.  602.34(c), before a scheduled 
Advisory Committee meeting, Department staff provide the Advisory 
Committee with materials on each agency's recognition matter, 
including, at the request of the agency, the agency's response to the 
staff's draft analysis. Under Sec.  602.34(d), the Department provides 
notice of the upcoming meeting in the Federal Register at least 30 days 
before the Advisory Committee meeting. Section 602.34(e) provides that 
NACIQI considers the materials provided by staff at a public meeting 
inviting testimony from Department staff, the agency, and interested 
parties. Section 602.34(g) outlines the recommendations NACIQI may 
make.
    Proposed Regulations: Proposed Sec.  602.34(c)(3) would include in 
the materials provided to the Advisory Committee prior to meetings, the 
agency's response to the Department staff's draft written analysis, 
without the need for the agency to request this documentation. Proposed 
602.34(g), which enumerates the types of recommendations NACIQI makes 
to the Department, would reflect the Department's proposed new 
provisions for monitoring reports, findings and determinations of 
substantial compliance, and continuation of recognition for longer than 
12 months for good cause in extraordinary circumstances, and would 
conform with proposed to Sec.  602.36(e), regarding the Senior 
Department official's decision.
    Reasons: The automatic forwarding to NACIQI of agency responses to 
draft staff analyses proposed in 602.34(c)(3) would codify current 
practice. The revisions to subsection (g) reflect the proposed 
considerations discussed above with respect to proposed Sec.  
602.32(h)(4) and therefor expands the range of recommendations for the 
Advisory Committee.

Responding to the Advisory Committee's Recommendations (Sec.  602.35)

    Statute: HEA section 496(o) authorizes the Secretary to develop 
regulations that provide procedures for the recognition of accrediting 
agencies and for administrative appeals.
    Current Regulations: Section 602.35(a) provides that the agency and 
Department staff may submit written comments to the senior Department 
official on the Advisory Committee's recommendation within 10 days 
following the Advisory Committee meeting. The agency and Department 
staff must also simultaneously provide a copy of any written comments 
to each other.
    Section 602.35(b) limits the comments submitted to the senior 
Department official to:
     Any Advisory Committee recommendation that the agency or 
Department staff believe the record does not support;
     Any incomplete Advisory Committee recommendation based on 
the agency's application; and
     Any recommendation or draft proposed decision for the 
senior Department official's consideration.
    Section 602.35(c) describes procedures for the Department and the 
accrediting agency to provide new evidence and comments.
    Department staff and the agency may only submit additional evidence 
if the Advisory Committee proposes finding the agency noncompliant 
with, or ineffective in its application of, a criterion or criteria for 
recognition not identified in the final Department staff analysis 
provided to the Advisory Committee. The agency and the Department must 
also provide a copy of any response to each other when it submits them 
to the senior Department official. Department staff and/or the agency 
may submit a response to the senior Department official within 10 days 
of receipt of such comments or new evidence.
    Proposed Regulations: We propose to clarify that, when a 10-day 
timeline is established in Sec.  602.35, we mean 10 business days. We 
further propose changing what we previously referred to as 
``documentary evidence'' in (Sec.  602.36(c)(1)) to ``documentation.'' 
Finally, we propose to add that, after the responses permitted in this 
section are submitted, neither Department staff nor the accrediting 
agency may submit additional comments or documentation.
    Reasons: We propose to revise this section for clarity and, in 
order to streamline the review of the Advisory Committee's 
recommendation, to add a limitation regarding submission of additional 
documentation after the stated timeline.

Senior Department Official's Decision (Sec.  602.36)

    Statute: HEA section 496(n) instructs the Secretary to conduct a 
comprehensive review and evaluation of the performance of all 
accrediting agencies seeking the Secretary's recognition to determine 
whether such agencies meet the Secretary's criteria. This independent 
evaluation must solicit third-party information concerning the agency's 
performance. The evaluation must also include announced and unannounced 
site visits, as appropriate, at agencies and, at the Secretary's 
discretion, at representative member institutions. The Secretary must 
prioritize the review of agencies that accredit institutions of higher 
education that participate most extensively in programs authorized 
under title IV of the HEA, or on those agencies that have been the 
subject of the most complaints or legal actions. The Secretary must 
also consider all available relevant information concerning the 
compliance of the accrediting agency, including any complaints or legal 
actions against the agency. In cases where we note deficiencies in the 
performance of an accreditation agency with respect to the Department 
requirements, the Secretary will consider those deficiencies during the 
recognition process.
    Additionally, the Secretary must determine the agency's scope of 
recognition when deciding to recognize the agency. The Secretary will 
determine the agency's scope of recognition when it recognizes an 
accrediting agency.
    Current Regulations: Under Sec.  602.36(a)(5), the senior 
Department official makes a decision regarding recognition of an agency 
based on the record compiled under Sec. Sec.  602.32, 602.33, 602.34, 
and 602.35 including, if applicable, new evidence submitted in 
accordance with Sec.  602.35(c)(1).
    Under Sec.  602.36(b), if the statutory authority or appropriations 
for the Advisory Committee ends, or there are fewer duly appointed 
committee members to constitute a quorum, and under extraordinary 
circumstances when there are serious concerns about an agency's 
compliance, the senior Department official may make a decision in a 
recognition proceeding based on the record compiled under Sec. Sec.  
602.32 and 602.33 after providing the agency an opportunity to respond 
to the final staff analysis.

[[Page 27439]]

    In Sec.  602.36(e), (f) and (g), the regulations discuss the senior 
Department official's procedural options and the recognition decisions 
the senior Department official may make.
    Section 602.36(h) precludes agencies from continuing to supplement 
the administrative record while a recognition matter is pending before 
the senior Department official. Section 602.36(i) provides for 
recognition to continue if the period of recognition previously granted 
expires before the Senior Department Official has made the recognition 
determination.
    Section 602.36(j) establishes that the senior Department official's 
decision is final unless an administrative appeal is taken to the 
Secretary.
    Proposed Regulations: We propose to replace the word ``evidence'' 
with the word ``documentation'' in Sec.  602.36(a)(5). In Sec.  
602.36(a)(5), we propose to replace the words ``in a recognition 
proceeding'' with the words ``application for renewal of recognition or 
compliance report.''
    We propose revising Sec.  602.36(e) to include, among the types of 
decisions the senior Department official may make, approving for 
recognition and approving with a monitoring report.
    Under proposed Sec.  602.36(e), the senior Department official 
approves recognition if the agency has demonstrated ``substantial 
compliance'' with the criteria for recognition of an accrediting 
agency. The proposed regulations in this section would stipulate that 
the senior Department official may determine that the agency has 
demonstrated compliance or substantial compliance if the agency has a 
compliant policy or procedure in place but has not had the opportunity 
to apply the policy or procedure. This section would also provide for 
the senior Department official to continue recognition for up to 12 
months to enable the agency to submit a compliance report, or, upon a 
finding of exceptional circumstances and good cause, for a period of 
time longer than 12 months if necessary, to establish full compliance.
    Under proposed Sec.  602.36(f), if the senior Department official 
determines that the agency is substantially compliant or is fully 
compliant but has concerns about the agency maintaining compliance, the 
senior Department official may approve the agency's recognition or 
renewal of recognition and require periodic monitoring reports that 
Department staff review and approve.
    Under proposed Sec.  602.36(g), where the senior Department 
official determines that a decision to deny, limit or suspend 
recognition may be warranted, or where the agency does not hold 
institutions or programs accountable for complying with one or more of 
the agency's standards in instances not identified earlier in the 
proceedings as noncompliance, the senior Department official provides 
the agency with an opportunity to submit a written response and 
documentation addressing the finding, and the staff with an opportunity 
to present its analysis in writing.
    Reasons: Throughout part 602 we propose to change the word 
``evidence'' to ``documents'' or ``documentation.'' We made that 
conforming change to 602.36(a)(5), as the term ``evidence'' is more 
often used in legal proceedings.
    The committee proposed to limit the senior Department official's 
decision-making authority under Sec.  602.36(b), concerning recognition 
without input from NACIQI, to an application for renewal of recognition 
or a compliance report. While it is necessary to have this procedure 
available for decision-making on renewals and compliance reports in the 
event NACIQI's statutory authority or appropriation ends, or if NACIQI 
lacks a quorum of appointed members, the committee saw no need for a 
senior Department official to conduct proceedings on initial 
applications for recognition without input from NACIQI.
    For the reasons discussed with respect to the provisions in Sec.  
602.32 regarding Department staff analyses and in Sec.  602.34 
regarding NACIQI recommendations on recognition, proposed Sec.  
602.32(e) and (f) include revisions to incorporate the concepts of 
substantial compliance, monitoring reports, and recognition continued 
beyond 12 months in extraordinary circumstances for good cause shown. 
The intent is to make these options available at all levels of the 
recognition process.
    With respect to the additional change to proposed Section 
602.36(e)(1)(i) allowing the Department official to determine that the 
agency has demonstrated compliance or substantial compliance when an 
agency has the necessary policies and procedures, but has not had the 
opportunity to apply them, we propose the additional flexibility 
because accrediting agencies should not be penalized when implementing 
new policies and procedures.
    The Department proposes to clarify in Sec.  602.36(e)(1)(iii) that 
this provision refers to the senior Department official's decision 
regarding changes to scope of recognition, and not the length of the 
period of recognition, as the Department's procedures do not provide 
for agencies to apply for a period of recognition of a specific length.
    The proposed regulations would remove the phrase ``or to apply 
those criteria effectively'' from the provision in Sec.  
602.36(e)(2)(i) for decisions to deny, limit, suspend or terminate 
recognition because that subparagraph by its terms already applies to 
an agency that ``fails to comply'' with the criteria for recognition, 
and because the Department believes failure to comply sets a workable 
and sufficient standard. The Department views the deleted phrase as too 
vague that may invite inconsistency or conflict with the proposed 
standard of ``substantial compliance.''
    We propose to add Sec.  602.36(f) to emphasize the senior 
Department official's authority to determine compliance or substantial 
compliance because we should afford accrediting agencies the 
opportunity to make minor modifications to reflect progress toward full 
compliance through monitoring reports.
    Proposed Sec.  602.36(g) would provide agencies whom the senior 
Department official may deny, limit, suspend, or terminate an 
additional opportunity to submit a written response and documentation.

Appealing the Senior Department Official's Decision to the Secretary 
(Sec.  602.37)

    Statute: HEA section 496(o) authorizes the Secretary to develop 
regulations that provide procedures for the recognition of accrediting 
agencies and administrative appeals. HEA section 496(l) specifies the 
process for an accrediting agency that has failed to effectively apply 
the criteria established by the Secretary.
    HEA section 496(n) instructs the Secretary to conduct a 
comprehensive review and evaluation of the performance of all 
accrediting agencies that seek recognition by the Secretary in order to 
determine whether such accrediting agencies meet the criteria 
established by the Secretary. This evaluation must include the 
solicitation of third-party information and site visits at accrediting 
agencies and associations, and, at the Secretary's discretion, at 
representative member institutions. The Secretary must prioritize the 
review of agencies on those that accredit institutions of higher 
education that participate most extensively in programs authorized 
under title IV of the HEA, or on those agencies which have been the 
subject of the most complaints or legal actions. The Secretary must 
also consider all available relevant information

[[Page 27440]]

concerning the compliance of the accrediting agency, including any 
complaints or legal actions against the agency. In cases where we note 
deficiencies in the performance of an accreditation agency, the 
Secretary must take those deficiencies into account in the recognition 
process. Additionally, the Secretary must determine the agency's scope 
of recognition when deciding to recognize the agency. When the 
Secretary decides to recognize an accrediting agency, the Secretary 
will determine the agency's scope of recognition.
    HEA section 496(l) specifies the process for an accrediting agency 
that has failed to effectively apply the Secretary's established 
criteria.
    Current Regulations: Under Sec.  602.37(a)(1), if an agency wishes 
to appeal a decision of the senior Department official to the 
Secretary, the agency must notify the Secretary and the senior 
Department official no later than 10 days after receipt of the 
decision.
    Proposed Regulations: We propose to clarify that where we express a 
10-day timeline in Sec.  602.37(a)(1), we mean 10 business days. We 
further propose to refer to records that we previously referred to as 
``evidence'' in Sec. Sec.  602.36(d) and 602.36(g)(1)(ii) as 
``documentation.'' Finally, we propose to add in Sec.  602.37(c) that 
after the agency's appeal and the senior Department official's 
response, neither party may submit additional information.
    Reasons: We propose to add Sec.  602.37(c) to strengthen the point 
made in current regulations that once an accrediting agency appeals and 
the senior Department official responds to the appeal, neither party 
may submit additional written comments. The Department proposes to add 
this new language to ensure timely resolution of appeals based on 
initial filings and determinations by the Department.
    We propose to change ``evidence'' to ``documentation'' throughout 
Sec.  602.37 because the term ``evidence'' is more common in legal 
proceedings. Changes regarding timelines are for clarity and to align 
with other similar timelines in these regulations.

Secretary's Recognition Procedures for State Agencies

Criteria for State Agencies (Sec.  603.24)

    Statute: HEA section 487(c)(4) requires the Secretary to publish a 
list of State agencies that the Secretary determines to be a reliable 
authority regarding the quality of public postsecondary vocational 
education in their respective States for the purpose of determining 
eligibility for all Federal student assistance programs.
    Current Regulations: Section 603.24 includes criteria for State 
agencies that serve as accrediting agencies. The Secretary uses these 
criteria in designating a State agency as a reliable authority to 
assess the quality of public postsecondary vocational education in its 
State.
    Proposed Regulations: We propose to delete the provisions for 
review of policies related to credit hours and application of those 
policies from Sec.  603.24(c) and redesignate existing Sec.  603.24(d) 
as Sec.  603.24(c).
    Reasons: The language in current Sec.  603.24(c) mirrors language 
in Sec.  602.24 that the Department also proposes to delete. The 
Department believes that the current requirements in Sec.  603.24(c) 
are overly prescriptive and that the State agency serving as an 
accrediting agency should have autonomy and flexibility to work with 
institutions in developing and applying credit-hour policies.

Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program

Part 654, Subparts A-G (Sec. Sec.  654.1-654.60)

    Statute: Part A, subpart 6 of the HEA establishes the terms and 
conditions of the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program.
    Current Regulations: Sections 654.1 through 654.60 provide general 
information about the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program, the 
process for States and students to apply to participate in the program, 
the process for providing program funds to State and students, and 
post-award requirements applicable to States that received program 
funds.
    Proposed Regulations: We propose to remove and reserve part 654.
    Reasons: Congress has not funded this program since passing the 
Continuing Appropriations Act of 2011, which provided funding for 
fiscal year 2012. There is no indication that Congress will restore 
funding to this program in the future.

Standards for Participation in the Title IV, HEA Programs

End of an Institution's Participation (Sec.  668.26)

    Statute: HEA section 487 requires that an eligible institution must 
enter into a program participation agreement with the Secretary to be 
eligible to participate in title IV, HEA programs.
    Section 487(c)(1)(F) provides for the Secretary to promulgate 
regulations to provide for the limitation, suspension, or termination 
of an institution's participation in any title IV program.
    Section 487(c)(1)(G) provides for the Secretary to establish 
regulations to provide for an emergency action against an institution 
under which funds are withheld from the institution or its students and 
the institution's authority to obligate funds under any title IV, HEA 
program is withdrawn. The Secretary may do this if the Secretary (1) 
receives reliable information that the institution is violating any 
title IV provision, any regulation prescribed under title IV, or any 
applicable special arrangement, agreement, or limitation; (2) 
determines that immediate action is necessary to prevent misuse of 
Federal funds; and (3) determines that the likelihood of loss outweighs 
the importance of the procedures prescribed for limitation, suspension, 
or termination.
    HEA section 495(a)(3) requires that each State will notify the 
Secretary promptly whenever the State has credible evidence that an 
institution of higher education within the State has committed fraud in 
the administration of the student assistance programs authorized by 
title IV or has substantially violated a provision of title IV.
    Current Regulations: Section 668.26(d) identifies the conditions 
under which an institution that has ended its participation in the 
title IV, HEA programs may use funds that it has received under 
programs that include the Federal Pell Grant, TEACH Grant, campus-
based, and Direct Loan programs. This Section also outlines the process 
for such an institution to request additional funds from the Department 
if the institution does not have enough funds to satisfy an unpaid 
commitment made to a student under that Title IV, HEA program.
    Proposed Regulations: We propose adding a new Sec.  668.26(e) under 
which the Secretary may, in certain circumstances, with agreement from 
an institution's accrediting agency and State, permit the institution 
to continue to originate, award, or disburse funds under a title IV, 
HEA program for no more than 120 days following the end of the 
institution's participation in the title IV, HEA programs. The 
institution would be required to notify the Secretary of its plans to 
conduct an orderly closure and teach-out in accordance with accrediting 
agency requirements; the requirements of the program participation 
agreement would continue to apply; and we would limit the disbursements 
to previously enrolled students who could complete the program within 
the 120 days. In

[[Page 27441]]

addition, the institution would need to present the Secretary with 
acceptable written assurances that the health and safety of students 
are not at risk; that the institution has adequate financial resources; 
and that the institution is not subject to probation or the equivalent 
or adverse action by its accrediting agency or state authorizing body.
    Reasons: The Department wishes to ensure that an institution that 
has voluntarily withdrawn from the title IV, HEA programs or lost its 
eligibility to participate may, when the Department determines it is 
appropriate, teach-out its own students and continue to receive title 
IV funds for a limited time to allow students to complete their 
academic program. This would allow students who are near completion of 
their academic program to finish their program at their chosen 
institution rather than requiring them to relocate to another 
institution. This provision aligns with other changes to teach-out in 
order to protect students and taxpayers for reasons outlined in 
sections related to teach-out in Part 602.

Disclosures

Reporting and Disclosure of Information (Sec.  668.41)

    Statute: HEA section 485(a)(1) requires that each eligible 
institution participating in a title IV, HEA program disseminate 
information to prospective and enrolled students regarding the 
institution. The institution must be produced this information and make 
it readily available upon request, through appropriate publications, 
mailings, and electronic media. The institution is required to 
accurately describe student financial assistance programs available to 
students, the methods by which that aid is distributed to students, any 
application materials for financial aid, the cost of attending the 
institution, any refund policies with which the institution is required 
to comply, information on the academic programs of the institution, the 
names of agencies which accredit, approve, or license the institution 
and its programs, and other information. These provisions also require 
an institution to disclose information about the institution's 
accreditation and State authorization. They also require the disclosure 
of the placement in employment of, and types of employment obtained, by 
graduates of the institution's degree or certificate programs, gathered 
from such sources as alumni surveys, student satisfaction surveys, the 
National Survey of Student Engagement, the Community College Survey of 
Student Engagement, State data systems, or other relevant sources.
    HEA section 485(a)(2) defines the term ``prospective student'' as 
any individual who has contacted an eligible institution requesting 
information concerning admission to that institution.
    Current Regulations: Section 668.41(d) requires that institutions 
make available specified information concerning the institution, 
financial assistance available to students enrolled at the institution, 
the institution's retention rate, and completion rate or graduation 
rate. Additionally, the institution must disclose the placement of, and 
types of employment obtained by, graduates of the institution's degree 
or certificate programs, and the types of graduate and professional 
education in which graduates of the institution's four-year degree 
programs enroll.
    Proposed Regulations: The Department proposes to revise Sec.  
668.41(d)(5)(i)(A) and (iii) to eliminate the requirement for an 
institution to disclose any placement rate that it calculates and 
replace it with a requirement that an institution disclose any 
placement rate that it publishes or uses in advertising. The Department 
also proposes to remove the requirement that an institution identify 
the source of the information provided in compliance with paragraph 
668.41(d)(5), as well as any timeframes and methodology associated with 
it.
    Reasons: The Department believes that the existing requirement that 
an institution disclose any placement rate that it calculates, even 
those rates that it calculates for internal purposes, is overly 
burdensome, unhelpful to students, and limits an institution's ability 
to evaluate its own programs if the methods used for internal analysis 
do not meet the standard of rigor required for published placement 
rates. An institution should be permitted to use any methodology it 
chooses to evaluate the placement success of its graduates and act upon 
that information internally, but there are many occasions when its 
methods for performing such calculations may not be complete or 
accurate enough to inform a student decision.
    Requirements to disclose to the public any calculated placement 
rate therefore incentivize an institution to avoid calculating any 
placement rates whatsoever. On the other hand, if an institution 
advertises a placement rate as a means of attracting students, it must 
clearly disclose that rate and be prepared to support it, since 
advertised rates are what students rely on when making decisions about 
where to attend.

Institutional Information (Sec.  668.43)

    Statute: HEA section 485(a)(1) requires that each eligible 
institution participating in a title IV, HEA program disseminate 
information to prospective and enrolled students regarding the 
institution. The institution must produce this information and make it 
readily available upon request, through appropriate publications, 
mailings, and electronic media. Among other things, the institution is 
required to accurately describe student financial assistance programs 
available to students, the methods by which that aid is distributed to 
students, any application materials for financial aid, the cost of 
attending the institution, any refund policies with which the 
institution is required to comply, information on the academic programs 
of the institution, the names of agencies which accredit, approve, or 
license the institution and its programs, and other information. 
Institutions must also disclose special facilities and services 
available to students with disabilities, that enrollment in a program 
of study abroad approved for credit by the home institution may be 
considered enrollment in the home institution for the purposes of 
applying for Federal student aid, and institutional policies and 
sanctions related to copyright infringement.
    Current Regulations: Section 668.43(a) requires an institution to 
make institutional information readily available to enrolled and 
prospective students that includes:
     The cost of attendance;
     Any refund policy for the return of unearned tuition and 
fees or other refundable portions of costs paid to the institution;
     The requirements and procedures for officially 
withdrawing;
     A summary of the requirements for the return of title IV 
grant or loan assistance;
     The academic program of the institution;
     The names of associations, agencies or governmental bodies 
that accredit, approve, or license the institution and its programs and 
the procedures by which documents describing the activity may be 
reviewed;
     A description of the services and facilities available to 
students with disabilities;
     The titles of persons designated to be available to assist 
enrolled or prospective students in obtaining information relating to 
financial aid, institutional information, completion or graduation 
rates, institutional security policies, and crime statistics,, and how 
those persons may be contacted;

[[Page 27442]]

     A statement that a student's enrollment in a program of 
study abroad approved for credit by the home institution may be 
considered enrolled at the home institution for title IV purposes;
     Institutional policies and sanctions related to copyright 
infringement;
     Transfer of credit policies; and
     Written arrangements with other institutions or 
organizations that are providing a portion of the educational program 
offered by the institution.
    Proposed Regulations: The Department proposes to add a new 
subparagraph (v) to the requirements under Sec.  668.43(a)(5) relating 
to academic programs. The proposed regulations would require an 
institution to disclose whether the program would fulfill educational 
requirements for licensure or certification if the program is designed 
to or advertised as meeting such requirements. Institutions would be 
required to disclose, for each State, whether the program did or did 
not meet such requirements, or whether the institution had not made 
such a determination.
    The Department proposes to revise Sec.  668.43(a)(11) regarding an 
institution's transfer of credit policies to require that the 
institution disclose any types of institutions from which the 
institution will not accept transfer credits. We would also require 
institutions to disclose any written criteria used to evaluate and 
award credit for prior learning experience including through service in 
the armed forces, employment, or other demonstrated competency or 
learning.
    The Department proposes to revise Sec.  668.43(a)(12) to provide 
that disclosures regarding written arrangements under which an entity 
other than the institution itself provides all or part of a program 
will be included in the institution's description of that program.
    The Department proposes to add paragraphs Sec.  668.43(a)(13) 
through (18), which would add disclosure requirements that exist in 
statute but that are not currently reflected in the regulations, 
including:
     The percentage of the institution's enrolled students who 
are Pell Grant recipients, disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and 
gender;
     If the institution's accrediting agency or State requires 
the institution to calculate and report a placement rate, the 
institution's placement in employment of, and types of employment 
obtained by, graduates of the institution's degree or certificate 
programs;
     The types of graduate and professional education in which 
graduates of the institution's four-year degree programs enrolled;
     The fire safety report prepared by the institution 
pursuant to Sec.  668.49;
     The retention rate of certificate- or degree-seeking, 
first-time, full-time, undergraduate students; and
     Institutional policies regarding vaccinations.
    The Department proposes to add paragraph (a)(19) to require an 
institution to notify students if its accrediting agency requires it to 
maintain a teach-out plan under Sec.  602.24(c)(1), and to indicate the 
reason why the accrediting agency required such a plan. The Department 
also proposes to add paragraph (a)(20), which would require an 
institution to notify students if it is aware that it is under 
investigation, action or prosecution by a law enforcement agency for an 
issue related to academic quality, misrepresentation, fraud, or other 
severe matters.
    Finally, the Department proposes to add a new paragraph (c) that 
would require an institution to make direct disclosures to individual 
students in certain circumstances. We would require an institution to 
disclose to a prospective student before enrollment that the program in 
which the prospective student intended to enroll did not meet the 
educational requirements for licensure in the State in which the 
student was located, or if the institution had not determined whether 
the program met the licensure requirements in that State. We would also 
require an institution to make a similar disclosure if the program in 
which a student was enrolled ceased to meet the educational 
requirements for licensure in which the student was enrolled. We would 
require the institution to make the latter disclosure within 14 days of 
making such a determination. The institution would be responsible for 
establishing and consistently applying policies for determining the 
State in which each of its students is located. It would have to make 
such a determination at the time of initial enrollment, and upon 
receipt of information from the student, in accordance with 
institutional policies, that his or her location had changed to another 
State. The proposed regulations require institutions to provide the 
Secretary, on request, with written documentation of its determination 
regarding a student's location.
    Reasons: The Department proposes to amend Sec.  668.43(a)(11) to 
ensure that an institution provides adequate information for students 
to understand its transfer-of-credit policy, especially when that 
policy excludes credits from certain types of institutions. The 
Department also believes that disclosures relating to an institution's 
prior learning assessment policies are important to students, 
especially those who have not attended college before or who are 
returning to college after many years of experience or training in 
other fields. While the Department is prohibited from regulating on the 
content of institutions' credit transfer policies, we believe 
transparency about such policies that are anticompetitive, 
discriminatory, or not based on a determination of academic quality is 
especially important for the benefit of students and the public.
    The Department proposes to add paragraphs (a)(13) through (19) to 
ensure that the regulations incorporate all of the relevant statutory 
requirements for disclosures, and to limit the occasions when an 
institution is required to disclose a placement rate to cases where the 
institution has been required to calculate such a rate by its State or 
accrediting agency.
    As part of an agreement with the committee, the Department also 
agreed to move some provisions from Sec.  668.50, which had only 
applied to programs offered through distance education or 
correspondence courses. These requirements include proposed Sec. Sec.  
668.43(a)(19) and (20), which, respectively, relate to requirements to 
maintain a teach-out plan or agreement imposed by an accrediting agency 
and investigations by a State regarding academic quality, 
misrepresentation, fraud, or other severe matters. We intended these 
requirements to replace requirements under Sec. Sec.  668.50(b)(4) and 
(5), which relate to disclosures of any ``adverse actions'' taken 
against an institution by an accrediting agency or State, respectively. 
The existing requirements relating to adverse actions in Sec.  
668.50(b) are either unnecessary, in the case of adverse actions taken 
by accrediting agencies, since those actions generally strip an 
institution of its eligibility for title IV, HEA funds and disclosures 
of that fact would come too late for students to act upon, or are 
unclear, as in the case of adverse actions taken by a State, a term 
which was left undefined in Sec.  668.50(b)(5). The Department intends 
that these new provisions would ensure that students have clear 
information about serious problems at their institutions and believes 
that this is most likely to occur when those institutions must have a 
teach-out plan in place or are under investigation by a State or other 
agency.

[[Page 27443]]

    In consensus with the non-Federal negotiators, the Department 
agreed to incorporate requirements for general disclosures about an 
institution's awareness of whether its program meets educational 
requirements for licensure in each State under Sec.  668.43(a)(5), and 
requirements under proposed Sec.  668.43(c) for direct disclosures to 
students when the institution is aware that a program in which a 
student was enrolled, or was planning to enroll, did not meet 
educational requirements for licensure in the State where the student 
is located. The Department would also require institutions to inform a 
prospective student when the institution had not yet determined whether 
the program met educational requirements for licensure in the student's 
State. The Department believes that it is vitally important that 
students have as much information as the institution at which they are 
enrolling regarding whether their educational program will meet State 
licensure requirements. We intend for these requirements to encourage 
institutions to conduct research regarding whether its programs would 
fulfill requirements for State licensure in the fields for which the 
programs prepare students. We believe these regulations impose minimal 
burden on institutions that lack the resources to evaluate the 
requirements for licensure in every State. While some negotiators and 
subcommittee members suggested that an institution should be able to 
find relevant information for each State, the Department and other 
negotiators noted the practical difficulties of such determinations. 
Among them, States often do not publish requirements online at all or, 
if they do, they do not provide regular updates. In addition, many 
State licensing boards operate independently of one another while some 
municipalities add their own requirements, and so disclosure even 
within States can vary.
    Finally, the Department proposes requirements under Sec.  
668.43(c)(3) that would establish a process by which the institution 
would determine the State in which each of its students is located. We 
intended this process to mirror the State authorization requirements 
under Sec.  600.9(c), we intend that it be equitable, consistent, and 
not unreasonably burdensome for institutions to implement.

Institutional Disclosures for Distance or Correspondence Programs 
(Sec.  668.50)

    Statute: HEA section 485(a)(1) requires that each eligible 
institution participating in a title IV, HEA program disseminate 
information to prospective and enrolled students regarding the 
institution. An institution must produce this information and make it 
readily available upon request, through appropriate publications, 
mailings, and electronic media. The institution is required to 
accurately describe, among other things, student financial assistance 
programs available to students, the methods by which that aid is 
distributed to students, any application materials for financial aid, 
the cost of attending the institution, and any refund policies with 
which the institution is required to comply; information on the 
academic programs of the institution; and the names of agencies that 
accredit, approve, or license the institution and its programs, as well 
as copies of the documents describing the institution's accreditation, 
approval or licensing.
    Current Regulations: Section 668.50(a) requires an institution to 
provide additional disclosures if the institution offers an educational 
program that is provided, or can be completed solely, through distance 
education or correspondence courses, except internships and practicums. 
Under Sec.  668.50(b), the institution must provide enrolled and 
prospective students:
     Information regarding State authorization of the 
institution;
     An explanation of the consequences for a student who 
changes his or her State of residence to a State where the institution 
or program does not meet State, licensure or certification 
requirements;
     Information on the process for submitting complaints, 
including contact information for the receipt of consumer complaints by 
the appropriate State authorities or a description of the process for 
submitting complaints that was established through a reciprocity 
agreement;
     A description of the process for submitting consumer 
complaints in each State in which the program's enrolled students 
reside;
     Information on any adverse action a State entity or an 
accrediting agency has initiated during the past five years related to 
postsecondary programs offered solely through distance education or 
correspondence courses at the institution;
     Refund policies that the institution is required to comply 
by any State in which enrolled students reside; and
     Information on applicable educational prerequisites for 
professional licensure or certification for the occupation that the 
program prepares students to enter, including State by State 
determinations by the institution of whether the program does or does 
not meet those licensure or certification requirements or if the 
institution has not made such a determination.
    If an institution's distance or correspondence program does not 
meet licensure and certification requirements in a State in which a 
prospective student resides, Paragraph (c) of Sec.  668.50(c) requires 
the institution to directly disclose that fact to the student prior to 
enrollment, and to obtain written acknowledgement from the student.
    If an institution's distance or correspondence program does not 
meet licensure and certification requirements in a State in which a 
prospective student resides, Sec.  668.50(c) requires the institution 
to directly disclose that fact to the student prior to enrollment, and 
to obtain written acknowledgement from the student. Paragraph (c) also 
requires individual disclosures to each enrolled and prospective 
student of any adverse action initiated by a State or an accrediting 
agency related to the institution's distance or correspondence programs 
and any determination by the institution that the program ceases to 
meet a State's licensure or certification prerequisites.
    Proposed Regulations: We propose to remove and reserve this 
section.
    Reasons: We moved a number of the disclosures required in Sec.  
668.50 to Sec.  668.43 to consolidate the number of sections in the 
regulations containing similar requirements. In addition, several 
disclosures contained in Sec.  668.50 duplicate of requirements already 
contained in Sec.  668.43. We did not include additional requirements 
in those cases. Section 668.43(a)(6) requires the disclosure of the 
names of associations, agencies, or governmental bodies that accredit, 
approve, or license the institution and its programs, which duplicates 
the requirements in Sec.  668.50(b)(1). Additionally, the requirement 
to disclose refund policies in Sec.  668.50(b)(6) is duplicative of the 
requirement Sec.  668.42(a)(2). The disclosure of any adverse action a 
State entity or accrediting agency has initiated as required in Sec.  
668.50(b)(4), (5) and (c)(1)(ii) has been moved to proposed Sec.  
668.43(a)(20). Additionally, we moved disclosure requirements related 
to professional licensure or certification in Sec.  668.50(b)(7) and 
(c)(1) to proposed Sec.  668.43(c), along with requirements to make 
those disclosures directly to students, which was in Sec.  
668.50(c)(2).

[[Page 27444]]

Regulatory Impact Analysis

Executive Orders 12866, 13563, and 13771

Regulatory Impact Analysis
Introduction
    Under Executive Order 12866, the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) must determine whether a regulatory action is ``significant'' 
and, therefore, subject to the requirements of the Executive order and 
subject to review by OMB. Section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866 defines 
a ``significant regulatory action'' as an action likely to result in a 
rule that may--
    (1) Have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more, 
or adversely affect a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, 
jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, local, or 
Tribal governments or communities in a material way (also referred to 
as an ``economically significant'' rule);
    (2) Create serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an 
action taken or planned by another agency;
    (3) Materially alter the budgetary impacts of entitlement grants, 
user fees, or loan programs or the rights and obligations of recipients 
thereof; or
    (4) Raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal 
mandates, the President's priorities, or the principles stated in the 
Executive order.
    The Department believes this proposed regulatory action will have 
an annual effect on the economy of more than $100 million because the 
proposed changes to the accreditation process could increase student 
access, improve student mobility, and allow for the establishment of 
more innovative programs, including direct assessment programs, that 
may attract new students. According to the Department's FY 2020 Budget 
Summary,\9\ Federal Direct Loans and Pell Grants accounted for almost 
$124 billion in new aid available in 2018. Given this scale of Federal 
student aid amounts disbursed yearly, even small percentage changes 
could produce transfers between the Federal government and students of 
more than $100 million on an annualized basis. Therefore, OMB has 
determined that this proposed action is ``economically significant'' 
and subject to review by OMB under section 3(f)(1) of Executive Order 
12866. The Department has assessed the potential costs and benefits, 
both quantitative and qualitative, of this proposed regulatory action 
and has determined that the benefits would justify the costs.
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    \9\ Available at https://www2.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/budget20/summary/20summary.pdf.
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    Under Executive Order 13771, for each new regulation that the 
Department proposes for notice and comment or otherwise promulgates 
that is a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866 and 
that imposes total costs greater than zero, it must identify two 
deregulatory actions. For FY 2019, any new incremental costs associated 
with a new regulation must be fully offset by the elimination of 
existing costs through deregulatory actions. These proposed regulations 
are a deregulatory action under E.O. 13771 and therefore the two-for-
one requirements of E.O. 13771 do not apply.
    We have also reviewed these regulations under Executive Order 
13563, which supplements and explicitly reaffirms the principles, 
structures, and definitions governing regulatory review established in 
Executive Order 12866. To the extent permitted by law, Executive Order 
13563 requires that an agency--
    (1) Propose or adopt regulations only on a reasoned determination 
that their benefits justify their costs (recognizing that some benefits 
and costs are difficult to quantify);
    (2) Tailor its regulations to impose the least burden on society, 
consistent with obtaining regulatory objectives and taking into 
account--among other things and to the extent practicable--the costs of 
cumulative regulations;
    (3) In choosing among alternative regulatory approaches, select 
those approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential 
economic, environmental, public health and safety, and other 
advantages; distributive impacts; and equity);
    (4) To the extent feasible, specify performance objectives, rather 
than the behavior or manner of compliance a regulated entity must 
adopt; and
    (5) Identify and assess available alternatives to direct 
regulation, including economic incentives--such as user fees or 
marketable permits--to encourage the desired behavior, or provide 
information that enables the public to make choices.
    Executive Order 13563 also requires an agency ``to use the best 
available techniques to quantify anticipated present and future 
benefits and costs as accurately as possible.'' The Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB has emphasized that these 
techniques may include ``identifying changing future compliance costs 
that might result from technological innovation or anticipated 
behavioral changes.''
    We are issuing these proposed regulations only on a reasoned 
determination that their benefits would justify their costs. In 
choosing among alternative regulatory approaches, we selected those 
approaches that maximize net benefits. Based on the analysis that 
follows, the Department believes that these proposed regulations are 
consistent with the principles in Executive Order 13563.
    We also have determined that this regulatory action would not 
unduly interfere with State, local, and Tribal governments in the 
exercise of their governmental functions.
    In this regulatory impact analysis, we discuss the need for 
regulatory action, the potential costs and benefits, net budget 
impacts, assumptions, limitations, and data sources, as well as the 
regulatory alternatives we considered.
Need for Regulatory Action
    The proposed regulations address several topics, primarily related 
to accreditation and innovation. The Department proposes this 
regulatory action primarily to update the Department's accreditation 
recognition process to reflect only those requirements that are 
critical to assessing the quality of an institution and its programs 
and to protect student and taxpayer investments in order to reduce 
unnecessary burden on institutions and accrediting agencies and allow 
for greater innovation and educational choice for students.
    In addition, the proposed regulations are needed to strengthen the 
regulatory triad by more clearly defining the roles and 
responsibilities of accrediting agencies, States, and the Department in 
oversight of institutions participating in title IV, HEA programs.
Costs, Benefits, and Transfers
    As discussed in this NPRM, the Department proposes to amend 
regulations governing the recognition of accrediting agencies, certain 
student assistance general provisions, and institutional eligibility as 
well as make various technical corrections. The proposed regulations 
would affect students, institutions of higher education, accrediting 
agencies, and the Federal government. The Department expects students, 
institutions, accrediting agencies, and the Federal government would 
benefit as the proposed regulations would provide transparency and 
increased autonomy and independence of agencies and institutions. The 
proposed regulations

[[Page 27445]]

are also intended to increase student access to postsecondary 
education, improve teach-outs for students at closed or closing 
schools, restore focus and clarity to the Department's agency 
recognition process, and integrate risk-based review into the 
accreditation recognition process.
    The Department of Education Organization Act of 1979 (Pub. L. 96-
88) prohibits the Department from intervening in institutional 
decisions regarding curriculum, faculty, administration, or academic 
programs of an institution of higher education. Instead, Congress 
assigned accrediting agencies the role of overseeing the quality of 
institutions and academic sufficiency of instructional programs. The 
Secretary recognized 53 accrediting agencies as of April 2019 as shown 
on the Department's financial aid accreditation websites.\10\ In 
addition, there were four State approval agencies that are also 
identified as title IV gatekeepers for the approval of postsecondary 
vocational education and five State approval agencies for the approval 
of nurse education (for non-title IV, HEA purposes).
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    \10\ Available at https://www.ed.gov/accreditation?src=accred.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The 53 accrediting agencies are independent, membership-based 
organizations that oversee students' access to qualified faculty, 
appropriate curriculum, and other support services. Of the 53 
accrediting agencies recognized by the Secretary, 36 accredit 
institutions for title IV, HEA purposes and 17 solely accredit 
programs. While postsecondary accreditation is voluntary, accreditation 
from either a nationally recognized accrediting agency or State 
approval agency is required for an institution to participate in the 
title IV, HEA programs.
    One goal of our negotiated rulemaking was to examine the 
Department's accreditation regulations and processes to determine which 
are critical to assessing the quality of an institution and its 
programs and to protecting student and taxpayer investments. In 
negotiating the proposed regulations, negotiators reached consensus on 
the processes that accrediting agencies should follow and understood 
that certain tradeoffs would be inevitable. Providing greater 
flexibility in how agencies approach the accrediting process and 
promoting innovative practices while reducing administrative burden and 
streamlining operations are key objectives of the proposed regulations.
    The regulatory impact on the economy of the proposed regulations 
centers on the benefits of, and the tradeoffs associated with, (1) 
streamlining and improving the Department's process for recognition and 
review of accrediting agencies and (2) enabling accrediting agencies to 
exercise greater autonomy and flexibility in their oversight of member 
institutions and programs in order to facilitate agility and 
responsiveness and promote innovation. Although we estimate here the 
marketplace reaction by accrediting agencies, students, institutions, 
and governmental entities to such regulatory changes, generally, there 
is little critical data published on which to base estimates of how the 
proposed regulations, which primarily promote flexibility in 
accrediting processes, would impact various market segments. The 
Department is interested in receiving comments or data that would 
support such an analysis.
Accrediting Agencies
    The proposed regulations would allow accrediting agencies the 
opportunity to exercise a greater degree of choice in how they operate. 
One key change in the proposed regulations pertains to the concept of 
not limiting an agency's accrediting activities to a particular 
geographic region. The proposed regulations would remove the 
``geographic area of accrediting activities'' from the definition of 
``scope of recognition or scope.'' The current practice of recognizing 
geographic scope of an accrediting agency may discourage multiple 
agencies from also including the same State or territory in their 
geographic scope. By removing this potential obstacle and acknowledging 
that many agencies already operate outside their recognized geographic 
scope, the Department seeks to provide increased transparency and 
introduce greater competition and innovation that could allow an 
institution or program to select an accrediting agency that best aligns 
with the institution's mission, program offerings, and student 
population.
    Under the proposed regulations, accrediting agencies would no 
longer be required to apply to the Department to change the geographic 
region in which the agencies accredit institutions, which occurs about 
once a year. However, accrediting agencies would be required to include 
in public disclosures of the States in which they conduct their 
accrediting activities not only those States in which they accredit 
main campuses but also the States in which the agencies accredit branch 
campuses or additional locations. This would promote greater 
transparency and clarity for students while eliminating burden on 
agencies and the Department of recognition proceedings focusing on 
geographic scope as well as the anti-competitive impact of the 
Department appearing to endorse allocation among individual agencies of 
discrete geographic territories.
    In general, the proposed regulations would simplify the labeling of 
accrediting agencies to better reflect their focus. Therefore, the 
Department would no longer categorize agencies as regional or national; 
we would instead include them under a combined umbrella identified as 
``institutional.'' The Department's use of the terms ``regionally 
accredited'' and ``nationally accredited'' related to institutional 
accreditation would no longer apply in recognition proceedings, 
although agencies would not be prohibited from identifying themselves 
as they deem appropriate. Programmatic agencies that currently accredit 
particular programs would retain that distinction under the proposed 
regulations.
    As a result of these proposed changes, the Department expects that 
the landscape of institutional accrediting agencies may change over 
time from one where some agencies only accredit institutions 
headquartered in particular regions (as shown on the map in Chart 1) to 
one where institutional accrediting agencies accredit institutions 
throughout many areas of the United States based more on factors such 
as institutional mission rather than geography. This could lead to some 
accrediting agencies capturing a larger share of the market while 
simultaneously allowing for agencies that specialize in niche areas to 
enjoy strong demand. The Department wishes to emphasize, however, that 
we would not require any institution or program to change to a 
different accrediting agency as a result of these regulatory changes, 
nor would we require an agency to accept a new institution or program 
for which it did not have capacity or interest to accredit.
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P

[[Page 27446]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP12JN19.008

BILLING CODE 4000-01-C
    Under the proposed regulations, accrediting agencies could realize 
burden reduction, streamlined operations, and an increase in autonomous 
control. For example, under the current regulations, an agency found to 
have a minor deficiency (such as a missing document) would be required 
to submit a compliance report, of which there were 17 submitted between 
2014 and 2018. Agencies required to prepare compliance reports need to 
invest a significant amount of time and resources. Additionally, 
compliance reports require extensive review by Department staff, 
NACIQI, and the senior Department official, at a minimum. Under the 
proposed regulations, the Department could find an agency to be 
substantially compliant and require it to submit a less burdensome 
monitoring report to address the concern without requiring NACIQI or 
senior Department official review, saving the agency and the Department 
time and money while maintaining ample oversight and preserving the 
same opportunity to require the more extensive review if the agency's 
shortcomings prove to be not as readily remediated as anticipated. 
Another example of a proposed change to the regulations that would 
reduce burden would allow accrediting agencies to use senior staff 
instead of the agency's accrediting commission to approve substantive 
changes proposed by accredited institutions or programs. This would 
allow accrediting agencies to structure their work more efficiently and 
permit the accredited entities to obtain agency approval more 
expeditiously where appropriate.
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    \11\ Council for Higher Education Accreditation, Regional 
Accrediting Organizations web page. Available at https://www.chea.org/regional-accrediting-organizations-accreditor-type.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under the proposed regulations, for institutions to receive 
recognition of preaccreditation or accreditation by the Secretary, they 
would have to agree to submit any dispute with the accrediting agency 
to arbitration before bringing any other legal action. We propose 
adding this requirement to highlight the existing statutory 
requirement, enable agencies to pursue adverse actions without an 
immediate threat of a lawsuit, and potentially minimize litigation 
costs for accrediting agencies and institutions. The relative costs of 
litigation and arbitration can vary depending upon the nature of the 
dispute, the parties involved, varied costs in different states, and 
several other factors. According to the Forum, previously known as the 
National Arbitration Forum, total arbitration

[[Page 27447]]

costs can amount to only 25 percent of the cost to bring the same 
action to court.\12\ Another article entitled ``The Iceberg: The True 
Cost of Litigation Versus Arbitration'' \13\ cites the average cost of 
arbitration for a business as approximately $70,000 while the average 
litigation costs for a given business could total over $120,000.
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    \12\ www.ffiec.gov/press/comments/nationalarbforum.pdf.
    \13\ https://landwehrlawmn.com/cost-litigation-arbitration/.
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    The Department does not receive information about the number of 
disputes between accreditors and institutions that go to litigation or 
arbitration or data about the costs associated with both those actions. 
An initial review indicates a range of lawsuits and outcomes involving 
accrediting agencies and institutions.\14\ The Department would welcome 
additional information to better understand the effect of the initial 
arbitration requirement.
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    \14\ See, e.g. Wards Corner Beauty Academy v. National Accred. 
Comm'n of Arts & Sciences, 922 F.3d 568 (4th Cir. 2019) (affirming 
denial of relief to institution challenging withdrawal of 
accreditation); Professional Massage Training Center, Inc. v. 
Accreditation Alliance of Career Schools and Colleges, 781 F.3d 161 
(4th Cir. 2015) (reversing district court's decision to order 
reinstatement of accreditation and to award damages); Escuela de 
Medicina San Juan Bautista, Inc. v. Liaison Committee on Medical 
Education, 820 F. Supp. 2d 317 (D.P.R. 2011) (granting preliminary 
injunction vacating accrediting agency's appeal decision and 
requiring agency to conduct a new appeal); St. Andrews Presbyterian 
College v. Southern Ass'n of Colleges and Schools, Inc., 679 F. 
Supp. 2d 1320 (N.D. Ga. 2009) (upholding withdrawal of accreditation 
after 2 years of litigation); Western State University of Southern 
California v. American Bar Ass'n, 301 F. Supp. 2d 1129 (C.D. Calif. 
2004) (granting preliminary injunction against withdrawal of 
provisional accreditation)
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    The likelihood is that from a cost perspective, arbitration would 
be considerably less expensive for the accrediting agencies and schools 
than litigation in the first instance and the assumption is outcomes 
would not vary greatly according to the process pursued. It should be 
noted however, that the proposed regulation would not preclude an 
institution from pursuing a legal remedy--as provided for in statute--
after going to arbitration. Therefore, the proposed arbitration 
requirement might not ultimately change institutional behavior.
    Under the proposed regulations, accrediting agencies would be 
required to report a number of items to the Department, institutions, 
or the public, as shown in the Paperwork Reduction Act section of this 
preamble. Accrediting agencies would have to, among other items: (1) 
Notify the Department and publish on its website any changes to the 
geographic scope of recognition; (2) publish policies for any 
retroactive application of an accreditation decision; (3) provide 
institutions with written timelines for compliance and a policy for 
immediate adverse action when warranted; (4) provide notice to the 
Department and students of the initiation of an adverse action; (5) 
update and publish requirements related to teach-out plans and teach-
out agreements; and (6) redact personally identifiable and other 
sensitive information prior to sending documents to the Department.
    We estimate the burden for all accrediting agencies would be 6,562 
hours and $297,652 annually at a $45.36 wage rate. There are also some 
provisions expected to reduce burden on accrediting agencies, 
including: (1) Allowing decisions to be made by a senior staff member; 
(2) using Senior Department Official determination and monitoring 
reports and reducing preparation and attendance at NACIQI meetings, and 
(3) removing existing requirements related to evaluating credit hours. 
These changes are estimated to reduce burden for all accrediting 
agencies by 2,655 hours and $120,431 at a $45.36 wage rate. The net 
annual burden for all accrediting agencies would be estimated at 3,907 
hours and $177,222. These estimates were based on the 2018 median 
hourly wage for postsecondary education administrators in the Bureau of 
Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook handbook.\15\
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    \15\ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 
Occupational Outlook Handbook, Postsecondary Education 
Administrators, on the internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/postsecondary-education-administrators.htm (visited May 
21, 2019).
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Institutions
    The proposed regulations would also affect institutions. 
Institutions could benefit from a more efficient process to establish 
new programs and the opportunity to seek out alternate accrediting 
agencies that specialize in evaluating their type of institution. Other 
changes that could benefit institutions relate to the option of using 
alternative standards for accreditation under Sec.  602.18, provided 
that the institution demonstrates the need for such an alternative and 
that students will not be harmed. Institutions would also benefit from 
accrediting agencies having the authority permit the institution to be 
out of compliance with policies, standards, and procedures otherwise 
required by those regulations, for a period of up to three years, and 
longer for good cause shown, where there are circumstances beyond the 
institution's or program's control requiring this forbearance. This 
gives institutions flexibility in the event of a natural disaster, a 
teach-out of another institution's students, significant and documented 
local or national economic changes, changes in licensure requirements, 
undue hardship on students, and the availability of instructors who do 
not meet the agency's faculty standards but are qualified by education 
or work experience to teach courses within a dual or concurrent 
enrollment program.
    Decisions about changing accrediting agencies would have to balance 
the expense of maintaining existing accreditation while working with 
new agencies and the possible reputational effects of appearing to shop 
for accreditation. On the other hand, if accrediting agencies do 
realign over time, some institutions may need to seek out alternate 
accreditation as their current agency may elect to specialize in a 
different market segment.
    The following table, based on Federal Student Aid (FSA) information 
as of April 2019, summarizes data related to title IV eligible 
institutions and their distribution according to type of primary 
accrediting agency, also known as the title IV gatekeeper accrediting 
agency.
    As currently configured, both public and private non-profit 
institutions overwhelmingly use regional accrediting agencies as their 
primary agency for title IV participation, whereas proprietary 
institutions almost exclusively use national agencies. We do not 
require foreign schools to report accreditation information, although 
they may do so. We show foreign schools simply to provide context for 
how many are participating.

[[Page 27448]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP12JN19.009

    As stated earlier, under the proposed regulations, the Department 
would consider regional and national accrediting agencies under one 
overall ``institutional'' umbrella. One objective of this policy is to 
increase students' academic and career mobility, by making it easier 
for students to transfer credits to continue or attain an additional 
degree at a new institution, by eliminating artificial boundaries 
between institutions due in part to reliance on a reputation associated 
with certain types of accrediting agencies. While this change would 
primarily result in some realignment of accrediting agencies and 
institutions, there is potential that certain postsecondary students 
could benefit and be enabled to transfer and continue their education 
at four-year institutions where previously they could not do so. This 
circumstance could result in greater access and increased educational 
mobility for students coming from proprietary institutions that use 
national accrediting agencies. It also could result in the award of 
increased financial aid, such as Federal Direct Student Loans and Pell 
Grants, on behalf of students pursuing additional higher education.
    From an impact perspective, there may be several outcomes. The 
likelihood in the near term is that the status quo--where schools, 
especially four-year institutions, maintain their distinction under 
institutional accreditation--prevails, and the impact remains 
essentially zero or neutral. The Department is prohibited from 
dictating an institution's credit transfer or acceptance policy, though 
it strongly discourages anticompetitive practices or those that deny 
students the ability to continue their education without an evaluation 
of that student's academic ability or prior achievement. The Department 
is hopeful that changes in these regulations will make it easier for 
institutions to voluntarily set policies that promote competition, 
support strong academic rigor, and allow qualified credits to transfer. 
Nevertheless, other practices would not be prohibited by the proposed 
regulations and certain institutions may initially resist the changes 
intended by the proposed regulations.
    However, a shift from strictly geographic orientation may occur 
over time, probably measured in years, as the characterization of 
``institutional'' in terms of accreditation becomes more prevalent and 
greater competition occurs, spurring an evolving dynamic marketplace. 
Accrediting agencies may align in different combinations that coalesce 
around specific institutional dimensions or specialties, such as school 
size, specialized degrees, or employment opportunities. If access to 
higher-level educational programs by students improves, the Department 
anticipates some modest increase in financial aid, through Federal 
sources such as Direct Loans and Pell Grants. Private loans, which 
typically require substantial credit scores or co-signers, would be 
less likely to have a material impact and are not considered as part of 
this analysis. However, the Department welcomes comments as to whether 
this proposed change would affect the private loan marketplace.
    The Department approaches estimates for increased financial aid in 
terms of a range of low, medium, and high impacts based on student risk 
groups and school sectors. This analysis appears in the section on Net 
Budget Impacts. A factor that could increase the Federal aid received 
by institutions is the proposed extension of time for achieving 
compliance in Sec.  602.20, which may reduce the likelihood a school 
will be dropped by its accreditor.
    Additionally, some institutions would benefit from the proposed 
changes related to State authorization in Sec.  600.9 that would 
generally maintain State reciprocity agreements for distance education 
and correspondence programs as an important method by which 
institutions may comply with State requirements and reduce the burden 
on institutions that would otherwise be subject to numerous sets of 
varying requirements established by individual States. The proposed 
regulations would allow religious institutions exempt from State 
authorization under Sec.  600.9(b) to comply with requirements for 
distance education or correspondence courses by States in which the 
institution is not physically located through State authorization 
reciprocity agreements. Another proposed change that would make the 
administration of distance education programs more efficient is 
replacing the concept of a student's residence to that of the student's 
location. As noted in the State Authorization section of this preamble, 
residency requirements may differ

[[Page 27449]]

within States for purposes of voting, paying in-State tuition, and 
other rights and responsibilities. By using a student's location 
instead of residence, the Department intends to make its regulations 
more consistent with existing State requirements, make it easier for 
institutions to administer, and ensure that students who have not 
established legal or permanent residence in a State benefit from State 
requirements for an institution to offer distance education and 
correspondence courses in that State. Finally, the proposed regulations 
would eliminate student complaint process requirements under current 
Sec.  600.9(c)(2) as the regulations under Sec.  668.43(b) already 
require institutions to disclose the complaint process in each of the 
States where its enrolled students are located.
    Institutions would be required to make some new or revised 
disclosures to students and the Department, as shown in the Paperwork 
Reduction Act section of this preamble. Institutions would be required 
to (1) update their policies and procedures to ensure consistent 
determination of a student's location for distance education and 
correspondence course students, and, upon request, to provide written 
documentation from the policies and procedure manual of its method and 
basis for such determinations to the Secretary; (2) inform the 
Secretary of the establishment of direct assessment programs after the 
first; (3) inform the Secretary of written arrangements for an 
ineligible program to provide more than 25 percent of a program; and 
(4) provide disclosures to students about whether programs meet 
licensure requirements, acceptance of transfer credits, policies on 
prior learning assessment, and written arrangements for another entity 
to provide all or part of a program. We estimate the cost of these 
disclosures to institutions would be a burden increase of 581,980 hours 
annually, totaling $26,398,613 (581,980 * $45.36). This wage is based 
on the 2018 median hourly wage for postsecondary education 
administrators in the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook 
handbook.\16\ The Department welcomes commenters to provide insight on 
the reasonableness of these disclosure costs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 
Occupational Outlook Handbook, Postsecondary Education 
Administrators, available at www.bls.gov/ooh/management/postsecondary-education-administrators.htm (visited May 21, 2019).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    While institutions will incur some increased costs for these 
disclosures and notifications, we do think there will be time and cost 
savings from the consolidation of reporting requirements and several 
provisions in the proposed regulations. With the proposed changes to 
the State Authorization provisions in Sec.  668.50, institutions would 
no longer have a separate disclosure related to the complaints process 
for distance education or correspondence programs. Those students would 
receive the general complaints process disclosure provided to all 
students. As detailed in the Paperwork Reduction Act section of this 
preamble, these consolidations are expected to save 152,405 hours for a 
total estimated reduction in burden of $6,913,091 at the hourly wage of 
$45.36 described above. Together, the expected net impact of the 
changes to disclosures is estimated to be an increase of 429,575 hours 
totaling $19,485,522 at the hourly wage of $45.36. The proposed changes 
to the substantive change requirements could reduce the time and 
expense to institutions by streamlining approval of institutional or 
programmatic changes by dividing them into those that the agency must 
approve and those the institution must simply report to the agency, and 
also by permitting some changes to be approved by accrediting agency 
senior staff rather than by the entire accrediting commission, as well 
as by setting deadlines for agency approvals of written arrangements. 
The Department welcomes comments from institutions about the 
anticipated effects of the proposed regulations on their accreditation-
related costs and will consider any such data received when evaluating 
the final regulations.
Students
    As discussed earlier, the proposed regulations would provide 
various benefits to students by improving access to higher education 
and mobility and promoting innovative ways for employers to partner 
with accrediting agencies in establishing appropriate quality standards 
that focus on clear expectations for success. One possible outcome of 
the proposed regulation would be to make it easier for students to 
transfer credits to continue or attain an additional degree at a new 
institution. Such an outcome could potentially affect students from 
proprietary institutions seeking additional education at four-year 
public or private nonprofit institutions. If institutions are better 
able to work with employers or communities to set up programs that 
efficiently respond to local needs, students could benefit from 
programs designed for specific in-demand skills. Students would have to 
consider if choosing a program in a preaccreditation status or one that 
takes an innovative approach provides a high quality opportunity. The 
Department believes programs added in response to the proposed 
regulations will maintain the quality of current offerings because 
institutions are still required to obtain accreditor approval when they 
want to add ``programs that represent a significant departure from the 
existing offerings or educational programs, or method of delivery, from 
those that were offered when the agency last evaluated the 
institution'' and when they want to add graduate programs. Lower level 
programs that are related to what they are already offering are 
expected to leverage the strengths of the existing programs.
    The Department does not believe many students rely on the 
distinction between regional and national accrediting agencies when 
deciding between programs or institutions but instead base their choice 
on other factors such as location, cost, programs offerings, campus, 
and career opportunities. Therefore, we do not think there are costs to 
students from the proposed change to institutional versus regional 
accreditation, especially since institutions would be allowed to use 
whatever terms accurately reflect their accreditation to the extent it 
is useful for informing the audience of particular communications. 
Additionally, if the accreditation market transforms over time and 
certain agencies develop strong reputations in specialized areas over 
time, that may be more informative for students interested in those 
outcomes.
    The changes to the institutional disclosures in the proposed 
regulations are also aimed at simplifying the disclosures and providing 
students more useful information. As detailed in the Disclosures 
section of this NPRM, the proposed regulations would require 
disclosures to ensure that an institution provides adequate information 
for students to understand its transfer-of-credit policy, especially 
when that policy excludes credits from certain types of institutions. 
The Department also believes that disclosures relating to an 
institution's prior learning assessment policies are important to 
students, especially those who have not attended college before or who 
are returning to college after many years of experience or training in 
other fields. Students would also receive information about any written 
arrangements under which an entity other than the institution itself 
provides all or part of a program. Another key proposed disclosure is 
whether the program meets educational requirements for licensure in the 
State in which the student is located. The proposed regulations about 
teach-out plans required by accreditors

[[Page 27450]]

and State actions are intended to ensure that students have clear 
information about serious problems at their institutions, and this is 
most likely to occur when those institutions are required to have a 
teach-out plan in place or are under investigation by a State or other 
agency. The Department welcomes comments on the proposed disclosures 
and the value to students of the information to be provided.
    Under the proposed regulations, in certain circumstances, such as 
when an accrediting agency places a school on probation, the Department 
changes the school to reimbursement payment method, or the school 
receives an auditor's adverse opinion, an accrediting agency would 
require a teach-out plan to facilitate the opportunity for students to 
complete their academic program. A school closing would also trigger a 
required teach-out opportunity. For students, this could enable them to 
complete a credential with less burden associated with transferring 
credits and finding a new program. Alternatively, they would have the 
option to choose a closed school discharge if it makes sense for their 
situation. The additional flexibility under the proposed regulations 
for accrediting agencies to sanction programs instead of entire 
institutions potentially creates a trade-off as the students in 
programs that close are not eligible for closed school discharges. 
However, by focusing on problematic programs, fewer institutions may 
close precipitously, and fewer students would have their programs 
disrupted.
Federal Government
    Under the proposed regulations, the Federal government would incur 
some additional administrative costs.
    The costs associated with processing post-participation 
disbursements are not expected to be significant as the disbursement 
system is well established and designed to accommodate fluctuations in 
disbursements. A file review at the agency would be incorporated into 
the review of agency applications. Currently, the Department reviews 
approximately 10 accrediting agencies for initial or renewal 
applications annually and we expect a file review would take Department 
staff 6 hours at a GS-14 Step 1 hourly wage rate of $43.42. The 
potential increase in the number of reviews due to the proposed 
regulations is uncertain, but we estimate a cost of $261 per review (6 
hours * $43.42). Additional costs may also arise from increased senior 
Department official reviews under proposed Sec.  602.36(g), which 
provides an agency subject to a determination that a decision to deny, 
limit, or suspend recognition may be warranted with an opportunity to 
submit a written response and documentation addressing the finding, and 
the staff with an opportunity to present its analysis in writing. The 
Department has reviewed 17 compliance between 2014 and 2018, so the 
administrative burden on the Department from this provision is not 
expected to be significant.
    The Federal government would benefit from savings due to a reduced 
number of closed-school loan discharges as a result of an expected 
increase in students completing teach-outs, but it could also incur 
annual costs to fund more Pell Grants and some title IV loans for 
students participating in teach-outs and increased volume from new 
programs or extension of existing programs, as discussed in the Net 
Budget Impacts section.
Net Budget Impacts
    The proposed regulations are estimated to have a net Federal budget 
impact over the 2020-2029 loan cohorts of $97 million in outlays in the 
primary estimate scenario and an increase in Pell Grant outlays of 
$3,744 million over 10 years, for a total net impact of $3,841 million. 
A cohort reflects all loans originated in a given fiscal year. 
Consistent with the requirements of the Credit Reform Act of 1990, 
budget cost estimates for the student loan programs reflect the 
estimated net present value of all future non-administrative Federal 
costs associated with a cohort of loans. The Net Budget Impact is 
compared to the 2020 President's Budget baseline (PB2020).
    As the Department recognizes that the market transformations that 
could occur in connection with the proposed regulations are uncertain 
and we have limited data on which to base estimates of accrediting 
agency, institutional, and student responses to the regulatory changes, 
we present alternative scenarios to capture the potential range of 
impacts on Federal student aid transfers. An additional complicating 
factor in developing these estimates are the related regulatory changes 
on which the committee reached consensus in this negotiated rulemaking 
that will be proposed in separate notices of proposed rulemaking. For 
example, the potential expansion of distance education or direct 
assessment programs because of significant proposed changes in the 
regulations governing such programs will be addressed in a separate 
notice of proposed rulemaking. In this analysis, we address the impact 
of the accreditation changes and other changes in these proposed 
regulations but recognize that attributing future changes in the 
Federal student aid disbursements to provisions that have overlapping 
effects is an inexact process. Therefore, in future proposed 
regulations, as appropriate, we will consider interactive effects 
related to the changes proposed in this NPRM.
    The main budget impacts estimated from the proposed regulations 
come from changes in loan volumes and Pell Grants disbursed to students 
as establishing a program becomes less burdensome and additional 
students receive title IV, HEA funds for teach-outs. Changes that could 
allow volume increases include making it easier for new accreditors to 
be recognized and reducing the experience requirement for expanding an 
agencies' scope to new degree levels. Agencies would also be able to 
establish alternative standards that require the institution or program 
to demonstrate a need for the alternative approach, as well as that 
students will receive equivalent benefit and will not be harmed. The 
alternative standard could allow for the faster introduction of 
innovative programs. The possibility of additional accreditors would 
increase the chances for institutions to find an accreditor. 
Institutions' liability associated with acquiring additional locations 
and expanded time to come into compliance could also keep programs 
operating longer than they otherwise might. The tables below present 
the assumed grant and loan volume changes used in estimating the net 
budget impact of the proposed regulations for the primary scenario, 
with discussion about the assumptions following the tables.
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P

[[Page 27451]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP12JN19.010

    Estimated program costs for Pell Grants range from $30.1 billion in 
AY 2021-22 to $37.2 billion in AY 2029-30, with a ten-year total 
estimate of $333.8 billion. On average, the FY 2020 President's Budget 
projects a baseline increase in Pell Grant recipients from 2020 to 2029 
of approximately 200,000 annually. The increase in Pell Grant 
recipients estimated due to the proposed regulations ranges from about 
12 percent in 2021 to approximately 90 percent by 2029 of the projected 
average annual increase that would otherwise occur. However, even the 
additional 180,441 recipients estimated for 2029 would account for 
approximately 2 percent of all estimated Pell recipients in 2029 and 
results in an approximately 1.4 percent increase in estimated 10-year 
Pell Grant program costs.

[[Page 27452]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP12JN19.011


[[Page 27453]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP12JN19.012

    As seen from the approximately $100 billion annual loan volume, 
even small changes will result in a significant amount of additional 
loan transfers. Loan volume estimates are updated regularly, but for 
PB2020 total non-consolidated loan volume estimates between FY2020 and 
FY2029 range from $100.2 billion to $116.1 billion. The additional high 
and low scenarios represent a 20 percent increase or decrease from the 
assumptions presented in the table. The Department does not anticipate 
that the changes in the proposed regulation will lead to widely 
different scenarios for volume growth and therefore believes the 20 
percent range captures the likeliest outcomes. For the provisions aimed 
at reducing closed school discharges by enhancing teach-outs, the main 
assumption is that closed school discharges will decrease by 10 
percent, with a 20 percent decrease in the high scenario and a 5 
percent decrease in the low scenario. With some exceptions, the 
Department has limited information about teach-outs and what motivates 
students to pursue them versus a closed school discharge, but we assume 
proximity to completion, convenience, and perception of the quality of 
the teach-out option have a substantial effect. Absent any evidence of 
the effect of the proposed changes on student response to teach-out 
plans, the Department has made a conservative assumption about the 
decrease in closed school discharges and the potential savings from the 
proposed changes may be higher.
    The assumed changes in loan volume would result in a small cost 
that represents the net impact of offsetting subsidy changes by loan 
type and risk group due to positive subsidy rates for Subsidized and 
Unsubsidized Stafford loans and negative subsidy rates for Parent PLUS 
Loans and the interaction of the potential reduction in closed school 
discharges and increases in loan volume. We do not assume any changes 
in subsidy rates from the potential creation of new programs or the 
other changes reflected in the proposed regulations. Depending on how 
programs are configured, the market need for them, and their quality, 
key subsidy components such as defaults, prepayments, and repayment 
plan choice may vary and affect the costs estimates. For example, if 
institutions with less favorable program outcomes find more lenient 
accreditors or if they take advantage of the substantive change policy 
revisions to expand their program offerings, there could be an increase 
in default rates or other repayment issues. On the other hand, 
institutions with strong programs may take advantage of the flexibility 
allowed by the substantive change policy revisions to expand their 
program offerings, possibly by adding certificate programs. We do not 
have sufficient information at this point to assume that new programs 
established under these provisions would have a different range of 
performance from current programs or to estimate how performance could 
vary. The Department welcomes comments about where program growth might 
occur as a result of the proposed regulations, including other factors 
that might change performance, and we will consider them in developing 
the final regulations.
    Table 3 summarizes the Pell and loan effects for the Low, Main, and 
High impact scenarios over a 10-year period with years 2022 through 
2029 showing amounts of over $100 million in outlays per year. Each 
column reflects a low impact, medium impact, or high impact scenario 
showing estimated changes to Pell Grants and Direct Loans under those 
low, medium, and high conditions. Therefore, the overall amounts 
reflect the sum of outlay changes occurring under each scenario for 
Pell Grants and Direct Loans when combined. The loan amounts reflect 
the combined change in the volumes and closed school discharges, which 
do have interactive and offsetting effects. For example, the closed 
school changes had estimated savings ranging from $80 million to $201 
million when evaluated without the volume changes, and the volume 
changes had costs of $182 million to $252 million when estimated 
without the closed school changes.

[[Page 27454]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP12JN19.013

    When considering the impact of the proposed regulations on Federal 
student aid programs, a key question is the extent to which the 
proposed changes will expand the pool of students who will receive 
grants or borrow loans compared to the potential shifting of students 
and associated aid to different programs that may arise because of the 
changes in accreditation. The Department believes many of the proposed 
regulatory provisions that clarify definitions or reflect current 
practice will not lead to significant expansion of program offerings 
that would not otherwise occur for reasons related to institutions' 
business plans or academic mission. We believe these provisions may 
ease the burden of setting up new programs and accelerate the timeframe 
for offering them. Accreditation is a significant consideration when 
establishing a program because of the expense and work involved in 
seeking and maintaining it, but institutions make decisions about 
programs to offer based on employment needs, student demand, 
availability of faculty, and several other factors. Therefore, the 
Department does not expect the proposed regulations to increase total 
loan volumes more than 2 percent or Pell Grant recipients more than 2 
percent by 2029 compared to the FY 2020 President's Budget baseline.
    Another factor reflected in Table 2 is that we do not expect the 
impacts of the proposed regulations to occur immediately upon 
implementation, but to be the result of changes in postsecondary 
education over time. Institutions generally undergo accreditation 
review every 7 to 10 years, depending upon the accrediting agency and 
their status. Additionally, accrediting agencies may develop a new 
focus area or geographic scope over time as resources are required for 
expanding their operations. To the extent that there is a change in the 
institutional accreditation landscape, we would not expect institutions 
to change agencies until their next review point, so the impacts of the 
proposed regulations would be gradual.
    The proposed changes to the substantive change requirements, which 
would allow institutions to respond quickly to market demand and create 
undergraduate programs at different credential levels and focus agency 
attention on the creation of graduate certificate and masters level 
programs where many loan dollars are directed, could lead to expansion 
in Federal aid disbursed. The increased volume change of the high 
scenario reflects uncertainty about the extent of this potential 
expansion, as well as the fact that much of the expansion may involve 
online programs subject to forthcoming proposed regulatory changes that 
would interact with these proposed regulations. The number of graduate 
programs awarding credentials has increased substantially since the 
introduction of graduate PLUS loans in 2006, as has the volume of loans 
disbursed to graduate borrowers, as shown in Table 4. The proposed 
regulations would not change the substantive change requirements for 
graduate programs. This emphasis reflects the Department's concern 
about the growing practice of elevating the level of the credential 
required to satisfy occupational licensure requirements. Focusing 
accreditor attention on graduate programs may slow down or prevent the 
creation of some new programs, which is reflected in the slight 
reduction in graduate loan volume in Table 2.

[[Page 27455]]

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[[Page 27456]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP12JN19.015


[[Page 27457]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP12JN19.016


[[Page 27458]]


    The proposed regulations also aim to bring greater clarity to the 
nature of teach-outs and to create a more orderly process for students 
and institutions when schools are closing precipitously. We seek 
through these proposed regulations to provide students with the 
opportunity to finish their program of study and attain their 
credential and keep closed school discharges to a minimum to reduce 
taxpayer cost.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ U.S. Department of Education analysis of IPEDS completions 
data for 2006, 2010, 2013, and 2017. Available at https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter/DataFiles.aspx.
    \18\ FSA Data Center loan volume files available at https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/about/data-center/student/title-iv.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The proposed regulations would permit an accrediting agency to 
sanction a specific program or location within an institution without 
taking action against the entire institution if the agency found that 
only that program or location was noncompliant. The Department 
recognizes that this situation would preclude a student from obtaining 
a closed school discharge, since only a program was subject to closure 
and not the entire institution. However, accrediting agency actions 
have rarely been the sole cause of institutional closure, so the 
potential application of this more limited response may not change the 
level of closed school discharges significantly.
    Nevertheless, students would be entitled to teach-outs that 
facilitate program completion and degree attainment. In turn, the 
expansion of teach-outs could have budgetary impacts related to 
financial aid amounts as students take out loans or grants to complete 
their programs. When participating in a teach-out, the receiving school 
may not charge students more than what the closing or closed school 
would have charged for the same courses. If teach-outs increase 
significantly, this could result in some increase in loan volume and 
Pell Grants to such students. Closed school discharges are a very small 
percent of cohort volume, so the potential volume increase associated 
with increased teach-outs ranges is not expected to be substantial and 
contributes to the volume increases presented in Table 2.
Accounting Statement
    In accordance with OMB Circular A-4 we have prepared an accounting 
statement showing the classification of the expenditures associated 
with the proposed regulations (see Table 2). This table provides our 
best estimate of the changes in annual monetized transfers as a result 
of the proposed regulations. Expenditures are classified as transfers 
from the Federal Government to affected student loan borrowers and Pell 
Grant recipients.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP12JN19.017


[[Page 27459]]


BILLING CODE 4000-01-C
Regulatory Alternatives Considered
    In the interest of ensuring that these proposed regulations produce 
the best possible outcome, we considered a broad range of proposals 
from internal sources as well as from non-Federal negotiators and 
members of the public as part of the negotiated rulemaking process. We 
reviewed these alternatives in detail in the preamble to this NPRM 
under the ``Reasons'' sections accompanying the discussion of each 
proposed regulatory provision. Among the items discussed was removing 
or revising the limit on how much of a program may be offered by a non-
accredited entity, which could allow faster expansion of programs but 
raised concerns about maintaining program quality. Also, a variety of 
alternatives to the proposed elimination of the requirement that an 
agency must have conducted accrediting activities for at least two 
years prior to seeking recognition when the agency is affiliated with, 
or is a division of, a recognized agency were considered by the 
negotiating committee. A proposal to make all regional accreditors 
national was not agreed to, with the institutional designation being 
used for Department business instead. Stricter requirements for 
obtaining approval of graduate programs were considered but not agreed 
upon. These would likely have had a stronger negative effect on 
graduate program creation than the proposed regulations. While 
consensus was reached on all provisions, the Department is interested 
in receiving comments related to other alternatives to the proposed 
regulations.
Clarity of the Regulations
    Executive Order 12866 and the Presidential memorandum ``Plain 
Language in Government Writing'' require each agency to write 
regulations that are easy to understand.
    The Secretary invites comments on how to make these proposed 
regulations easier to understand, including answers to questions such 
as the following:
     Are the requirements in the proposed regulations clearly 
stated?
     Do the proposed regulations contain technical terms or 
other wording that interferes with their clarity?
     Does the format of the proposed regulations (grouping and 
order of sections, use of headings, paragraphing, etc.) aid or reduce 
their clarity?
     Would the proposed regulations be easier to understand if 
we divided them into more (but shorter) sections? (A ``section'' is 
preceded by the symbol ``Sec.  '' and a numbered heading; for example, 
Sec.  600.2.)
     Could the description of the proposed regulations in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this preamble be more helpful in 
making the proposed regulations easier to understand? If so, how?
     What else could we do to make the proposed regulations 
easier to understand?
    To send any comments that concern how the Department could make 
these proposed regulations easier to understand, see the instructions 
in the ADDRESSES section.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
    As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent 
burden, the Department provides the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and continuing collections 
of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This helps ensure that: The public 
understands the Department's collection instructions, respondents can 
provide the requested data in the desired format, reporting burden 
(time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are 
clearly understood, and the Department can properly assess the impact 
of collection requirements on respondents.
    Sections 600, 602, and 668 contain information collection 
requirements. Under the PRA the Department has submitted a copy of 
these sections to OMB for its review.
    A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of 
information unless OMB approves the collection under the PRA and the 
corresponding information collection instrument displays a currently 
valid OMB control number.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required 
to comply with, or is subject to penalty for failure to comply with, a 
collection of information if the collection instrument does not display 
a currently valid OMB control number.
    In the final regulations we will display the control numbers 
assigned by OMB to any information collection requirements proposed in 
this NPRM and adopted in the final regulations.
Discussion
    The goal of accreditation is to ensure that institutions of higher 
education meet acceptable levels of quality. Accreditation in the 
United States involves non-governmental entities as well as Federal and 
State government agencies. Accreditation's quality assurance function 
is one of the three main elements of oversight governing the HEA's 
Federal student aid programs. In order for students to receive Federal 
student aid from the Department for postsecondary study, the 
institution must be accredited by a ``nationally recognized'' 
accrediting agency (or, for certain vocational institutions, approved 
by a recognized State approval agency), be authorized by the State in 
which the institution is located, and receive approval from the 
Department through a program participation agreement.
    Accrediting agencies, which are private educational associations 
operating in multiple states or with national scope, develop evaluation 
criteria and conduct peer evaluations to assess whether or not those 
criteria are met. Institutions and programs that request an accrediting 
agency's evaluation and that meet that agency's criteria are then 
``accredited''.
    As of April 2019, the Secretary recognizes 53 accrediting agencies 
that are independent, membership-based organizations designed to ensure 
students have access to qualified faculty, appropriate curriculum, and 
other support services. Of these 53 accrediting agencies recognized by 
the Secretary, 36 are institutional for title IV HEA purposes and 18 
are solely programmatic. Institutional accrediting agencies accredit 
institutions of higher education, and programmatic accrediting agencies 
accredit specific educational programs that prepare students for entry 
into a profession, occupation, or vocation. The PRA section will use 
these figures in assessing burden. Additionally, the numbers of title 
IV eligible institutions noted in the Regulatory Impact Analysis, 1,860 
public institutions, 1,704 private institutions, and 1,783 proprietary 
institutions, will be used as the basis for assessing institutional 
burden in the PRA.
    Through this process we identified areas where cost savings would 
likely occur under the proposed regulations; however, many of the 
associated criteria do not have existing information collection 
requests and consequently are not assigned OMB numbers for data 
collection purposes. Instead, they are included in the collections 
table in a column titled: ``Estimated savings absent ICR requirement'', 
and they are sometimes referred to as ``hours saved''. These areas of 
anticipated costs savings are not included in the total burden 
calculations.

[[Page 27460]]

Section 600.9--State Authorization

Requirements
    Under Sec.  600.9(c)(1)(ii)(A), the institution must determine in 
which State a student is located while enrolled in a distance education 
or correspondence course when the institution participates in a State 
authorization reciprocity agreement under which it is covered in 
accordance with the institution's policies and procedures. The 
institution must make such determinations consistently and apply them 
to all students.
    Under Sec.  600.9(c)(1)(ii)(B), the institution must, upon request, 
provide the Secretary with written documentation of its determination 
of a student's location, including the basis for such determination.
Burden Calculation
    We estimate that, on average, an institution would need 30 minutes 
to update its policies and procedures manual to ensure consistent 
location determinations for distance education and correspondence 
course students. Additionally, we estimate that it would take an 
institution 30 minutes to provide the Secretary, upon request, with 
written documentation from its policies and procedures manual of its 
method of determination of a student's location, including the basis 
for such determination.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP12JN19.018

    We estimate that no more than five percent of institutions will be 
required to provide written documentation to the Secretary regarding 
the basis for the institutions' determinations of a State location for 
a student. We estimate that 93 public institutions will require 47 
hours to provide written documentation of their basis for a location 
determination for a student as requested by the Secretary. We estimate 
that 85 private institutions will require 43 hours to provide written 
documentation of their basis for a location determination for a student 
as requested by the Secretary. We estimate that 89 proprietary 
institutions will require 45 hours to provide written documentation of 
their basis for a location determination for a student as requested by 
the Secretary.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP12JN19.019

    The estimated burden for Sec.  600.9 is 2,809 hours under OMB 
Control Number 1845-0144. The estimated institutional cost is $127,416 
based on $45.36 per hour for Postsecondary Education Administrators, 
from the 2019 Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Section 602.12--Accrediting Experience

Requirements
    The Department proposes requiring under Sec.  602.12(b)(1) that an 
accrediting agency notify the Department of its geographic expansion 
and to publicly disclose it on its website.
Burden Calculation
    Under Sec.  602.12(b)(1), we estimate that, on average, it would 
take an agency 1 hour to inform the Department that it has expanded its 
geographic scope and to disclose the information publicly on its 
website. However, overall burden would decrease because an agency would 
no longer need to request such an expansion be approved by the 
Department, which takes, on average, 20 hours. The Department has 
received, on average, one such request annually.
    The estimated burden under Sec.  602.12 would increase by 1 hour [1 
x 1] under

[[Page 27461]]

OMB Control Number 1840-0788. In addition, in absence of an ICR for 
expansion of scope, we estimate, on average, burden reduction under 
Sec.  602.12 would be 19 hours [1 x (20-1)] under OMB Control Number 
1840-0788. The estimated institutional cost is $45.36 based on $45.36 
per hour for Postsecondary Education Administrators, from the 2019 
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Section 602.18--Ensuring Consistency in Decision-Making; Section 
602.20--Enforcement of Standards; Section 602.22--Substantive Changes 
and Other Reporting; Section 602.23--Operating Procedures All Agencies 
Must Have; Section 602.24--Additional Procedures Certain Institutional 
Agencies Must Have; and Section 602.26--Notifications of Accrediting 
Decisions: All Related to Proposed Accreditation Agency Policy Changes

Requirements
    Under Sec.  602.18(a)(6), we propose that accrediting agencies 
publish any policies for retroactive application of an accreditation 
decision. The policies must not provide for an effective date that 
predates an earlier denial by the agency of accreditation or 
preaccreditation to the institution or program or the agency's formal 
approval of the institution or program for consideration in the 
agency's accreditation or preaccreditation process.
    Under Sec.  602.20(a)(2), we propose that accrediting agencies 
provide institutions or programs with written timelines for coming into 
compliance, which may include intermediate checkpoints as the 
institutions progress to full compliance. Under Sec.  602.20(b), we 
propose that accrediting agencies have a policy for taking immediate 
adverse action when warranted. We propose both changes to remove overly 
prescriptive timelines for accrediting agencies that will emphasize 
acting in the best interest of students rather than merely acting 
swiftly.
    Under Sec.  602.20(d), we propose to add that accrediting agencies 
could limit adverse actions to specific programs or additional 
locations without taking action against the entire institution. This 
change would provide accrediting agencies with more tools to hold 
programs or locations within institutions accountable.
    The Department proposes revisions to substantive change regulations 
to provide accrediting agencies more flexibility to focus on the most 
important changes. Under Sec.  602.22(a)(3)(i), we propose to have 
accrediting agencies' decision-making bodies designate agency senior 
staff members to approve or disapprove certain substantive changes. 
Under Sec.  602.22(a)(3)(ii), we propose a 90-day timeframe (180 days 
for those with significant circumstances) for accrediting agencies to 
make final decisions about substantive changes involving written 
arrangements for provision of 25 to 50 percent of a program by a non-
eligible entity. Under Sec.  602.22(b), we propose two additional 
substantive changes for which an institution placed on probation or 
equivalent status must receive prior approval and for which other 
institutions must provide notice to the accrediting agency. Under Sec.  
602.23(f)(1)(ii), we propose that agencies require that all 
preaccredited institutions have a teach-out plan that ensures students 
completing the teach-out would meet curricular requirements for 
professional licensure or certification, if any. We further propose in 
this section to require that the teach-out plan includes a list of 
academic programs offered by the institution, as well as the names of 
other institutions that offer similar programs and that could 
potentially enter into a teach-out agreement with the institution.
    Under proposed Sec.  602.24(a), we propose that agencies not 
require an institution's business plan, submitted to the Department, to 
describe the operation, management, and physical resources of the 
branch campus and remove the requirement that an agency may only extend 
accreditation to a branch campus after the agency evaluates the 
business plan and takes whatever other actions it deems necessary to 
determine that the branch campus has enough educational, financial, 
operational, management, and physical resources to meet the agency's 
standards.
    Under Sec.  602.24(c), we propose new requirements for teach-out 
plans and teach-out agreements. We propose these changes to add 
additional specificity and clarity to teach-out plans and agreements 
and new provisions regarding when they will be required, what they must 
include, and what accrediting agencies must consider before approving 
them.
    Under Sec.  602.24(f), we propose that agencies adopt and apply the 
definitions of ``branch campus'' and ``additional location'' in 34 CFR 
600.2, and on the Secretary's request, conform its designations of an 
institution's branch campuses and additional locations with the 
Secretary's if it learns its designations diverge. We propose this 
change to standardize the use of these terms and alleviate 
misunderstandings.
    Under Sec.  602.26(b), we propose that accrediting agencies provide 
written notice of a final decision of a probation or equivalent status, 
or an initiated adverse action to the Secretary, the appropriate State 
licensing or authorizing agency, and the appropriate accrediting 
agencies at the same time it notifies the institution or program of the 
decision. We further propose to require the institution or program to 
disclose such an action within seven business days of receipt to all 
current and prospective students.
Burden Calculation
    Under Sec.  602.18(a)(6), Sec.  602.20(a)(2), Sec.  602.20(b), 
Sec.  602.20(d), Sec.  602.22(a)(3)(i), Sec.  602.22(a)(3)(ii), Sec.  
602.22(b), Sec.  602.23(f)(1)(ii), Sec.  602.24(a), Sec.  602.24(c), 
Sec.  602.24(f), and Sec.  602.26(b), we estimate that, on average, an 
agency would need 12 hours to develop policies regarding submitting 
written documentation to the Secretary, which includes obtaining 
approval from its decision-making bodies, updating its policies and 
procedures manual, distributing the new policies to its institutions, 
and training agency volunteers on the changes.
    Collectively, the one-time estimated burden for Sec.  602.18(a)(6), 
Sec.  602.20(a)(2), Sec.  602.20(b), Sec.  602.20(d), Sec.  
602.22(a)(3)(i), Sec.  602.22(a)(3)(ii), Sec.  602.22(b), Sec.  
602.23(f)(1)(ii), Sec.  602.24(a), Sec.  602.24(c), Sec.  602.24(f), 
and Sec.  602.26(b), is 636 hours (53 x 12) under OMB Control Number 
1840-0788. The estimated institutional cost is $28,849 based on $45.36 
per hour for Postsecondary Education Administrators, from the 2019 
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.

[[Page 27462]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP12JN19.020

Section 602.22--Substantive Changes and Other Reporting Requirements

Requirements
    Under 602.22(a)(3)(i), for certain substantive changes, the 
agency's decision-making body may designate agency senior staff to 
approve or disapprove the request.
Burden Calculation
    Although a formal ICR does not exist under Sec. Sec.  
602.22(a)(3)(i), we estimate that we would save time, on average, by 6 
hours given that a designated agency staff member could approve or 
disapprove certain substantive changes in place of decision-making 
bodies.
    The estimated amount of time saved under Sec.  602.22(a)(3)(i) is 
318 hours [53 x (-6)] under OMB Control Number 1840-0788. There is no 
estimated institutional cost under Sec.  602.22(a)(3)(i), but we 
believe that there would be an overall savings of $14,424.48 for 
agencies.

Section 602.23--Operating Procedures All Agencies Must Have

Requirements
    Under Sec.  602.23(a)(2), we propose to require that accrediting 
agencies make publicly available the procedures that institutions or 
programs must follow in applying for substantive changes. While we are 
aware that some agencies voluntarily make such procedures publicly 
available, we propose to require it. We further propose to require that 
the agencies make publicly available the sequencing of steps relative 
to any applications or decisions required by States or the Department 
relative to the agency's preaccreditation, accreditation or substantive 
change decisions.
Burden Calculation
    Under Sec.  602.23(a)(2), we estimate that, on average, it would 
take an agency a one-time effort of 2 hours to make its application 
procedures publicly available. We anticipate that accrediting agencies 
will use their websites to comply, but any reasonable method is 
acceptable if the information is available to the public.
    The estimated one-time burden for Sec.  602.23 is 106 hours (53 x 
2) under OMB Control Number 1840-0788. The estimated institutional cost 
is $4,808 based on $45.36 per hour for Postsecondary Education 
Administrators, from the 2019 Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational 
Outlook Handbook.

Section 602.24--Additional Procedures Certain Institutional Agencies 
Must Have

Requirements
    Under proposed Sec.  602.24(a), agencies would not have to require 
an institution's business plan, submitted to the Department, to 
describe the operation, management, and physical resources of the 
branch campus and we would remove the requirement that an agency may 
only extend accreditation to a branch campus after the agency evaluates 
the business plan and takes whatever other actions it deems necessary 
to determine that the branch campus has enough educational, financial, 
operational, management, and physical resources to meet the agency's 
standards. Proposed Sec.  602.24(c) would establish new requirements 
for teach-out plans and teach-out agreements, including when an agency 
must require them and what elements must be included.
    Proposed Sec.  602.24(f) would remove the requirement that an 
agency conduct an effective review and evaluation of the reliability 
and accuracy of the institution's assignment of credit hours.
Burden Calculation
    We believe the requirements under Sec.  602.24 that are being 
deleted are unnecessarily prescriptive and administratively burdensome 
without adding significant assurance that the agency review will result 
in improved accountability or protection for students or taxpayers.
    Institutional accreditors reviewed and extended accreditation to 53 
branch campuses in 2018; and 26 to date in 2019. Given these figures, 
we estimate that under proposed 602.24(a), an agency would save, on 
average, three hours ([2 hours x 53 business plans = 106]/36 
institutional accreditors = 3 hours) not reviewing business plans for 
branch campus applications. Under 602.24(c), we estimate that an agency 
would need, on average, an additional hour to review the extra 
requirements for teach out plans and teach out agreements of their 
Title IV gatekeeping institutions (1 hour x 5,347 institutions).
    Accreditors review their institutions at different intervals with a 
maximum of 10 years. Using a five-year interval as an ``mean'', 
agencies would review and evaluate credit hours of 5,347 Title IV 
gatekeeping institutions every five years. Under 602.24(f), we estimate 
that accrediting agencies have conducted the one-time review and 
evaluation of 80

[[Page 27463]]

percent (4,277) of their institutions' credit hours given the 
requirement became effective eight years ago (2011) leaving, no more 
than likely, 20 percent (1,070) of institutions' credit hours to be 
reviewed and evaluated.
    Collectively, under 602.24(a), 602.24(c), and 602,24(f), we 
estimate, on average, added burden of 5,347 hours (1 x 5,347); and 
2,246 saved hours (106 + 2,140) if an ICR was associated with the 
proposed changes to lift required review of institutions' business 
plans and credit hours.
    The estimated institutional cost is $242,540 based on $45.36 per 
hour for Postsecondary Education Administrators, from the 2019 Bureau 
of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.

  Table 4--Summary of Proposed Burden and Hours Saved for Additional Procedures Certain Institutional Agencies
                                                    Must Have
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Changes                           Hours      Branch  campus   Total burden     Hours saved
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Business Plans--Applications....................               2              53  ..............             106
Teachout Plans & Agreements.....................               1           5,347           5,347  ..............
Credit Hours....................................             2 x     5,347 x .20  ..............           2,140
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................               1  ..............           5,347           2,246
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Section 602.31--Agency Applications and Reports To Be Submitted to the 
Department

Requirements
    Given the increased number of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 
requests, in Sec.  602.31(f), we propose to require that accrediting 
agencies redact personally identifiable information and other sensitive 
information prior to sending documents to the Department to help 
prevent public disclosure of that sensitive information.
Burden Calculation
    In FY 2018, the Department closed 10 FOIA requests that were 
associated with accreditation. The estimated calculations are based on 
the time Department staff spent redacting PII, not the total time staff 
used to conduct searches and process the requests. Using the FY 2018 
FOIA data related to accreditors, we estimate that, on average, it 
would take an agency 5.37 hours to comply with the proposed redaction 
requirements under Sec.  602.31(f).
    The estimated burden for Sec.  602.31 is 285 hours ([285 hours/53 
agencies] = 5.37) under OMB Control Number 1840-0788. The estimated 
institutional cost is $12,928 based on $45.36 per hour for 
Postsecondary Education Administrators, from the 2019 Bureau of Labor 
Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.

                            Table 5--Summary of Burden for Accreditors to Redact PII
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Hours        Cost per hour     Total burden      Per agency
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total.......................................             285           $45.36          $12,928             $244
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Section 602.32--Procedures for Applying for Recognition, Renewal of 
Recognition, or for Expansion of Scope, Compliance Reports, and 
Increases in Enrollment

Requirements
    Under Sec.  602.32(a), we propose specifying what accrediting 
agencies preparing for recognition renewal would submit to the 
Department 24 months prior to the date their current recognition 
expires. Under Sec.  602.32(j)(1), we propose outlining the process for 
an agency seeking an expansion of scope, either as a part of the 
regular renewal of recognition process or during a period of 
recognition.
Burden Calculation
    Under Sec.  602.32(a), we anticipate that, on average, it would 
take an agency 3 hours to gather, in conjunction with materials 
required by Sec.  602.31(a), a list of all institutions or programs 
that the agency plans to consider for an award of initial or renewed 
accreditation over the next year or, if none, over the succeeding year, 
and any institutions subject to compliance reports or reporting 
requirements. Also, under Sec.  602.32(j)(1), we anticipate that, on 
average, it would take an agency 20 hours to compose and submit a 
request for an expansion of scope of recognition.
    Over the last five years, the Department has received fewer than 
five requests for expansion of scope.
    The estimated burden for Sec.  602.32 is 179 hours (53 x 3) + (1 x 
20) under OMB Control Number 1840-0788. The estimated institutional 
cost is $8,119 based on $45.36 per hour for Postsecondary Education 
Administrators, from the 2019 Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational 
Outlook Handbook.

Section 602.36--Senior Department Official's Decision

Requirements
    Under proposed Sec.  602.36(f), the senior Department official 
(SDO) would determine whether an agency is compliant or substantially 
compliant, which would give accrediting agencies opportunities to make 
minor modifications to reflect progress toward full compliance using 
periodic monitoring reports.
Burden Calculation
    If we determine that an agency is substantially compliant, the SDO 
could allow the agency to submit periodic monitoring reports for review 
by Department staff in place of the currently used compliance report; 
the compliance report, requires a review by the NACIQI, attendance at 
one of its bi-annual meetings, and conceivably comments filed with the 
SDO and an appeal to the Secretary. From 2014

[[Page 27464]]

through 2018, the Department reviewed 17 compliance reports. Under 
proposed Sec.  602.36(f) these 17 compliance reports could have had the 
following designations: Five monitoring reports (one annually); two 
requiring both compliance and monitoring reports (less than one 
annually); and 10 (two annually) as compliance reports. Using data from 
our findings during reviews, we anticipate that proposed changes would 
reduce the burden on an agency.
    If an accrediting agency is required to submit a monitoring report, 
we estimate that, on average, the proposed changes would save an agency 
72 hours for travel and meeting attendance, given we would not require 
attendance at one of NACIQI's bi-annual meetings unless the agency does 
not address the initial areas of noncompliance satisfactorily through 
the use of monitoring reports. However, if we require an accrediting 
agency to submit both a monitoring report and a compliance report, we 
estimate that the proposed changes in Sec.  602.36(f) would increase 
the burden for an accrediting agency by 8 hours as the agency completes 
its application for renewal of recognition by the Secretary.
    We estimate that, on average, the burden for Sec.  602.36 would 
increase 8 hours (1 x 8) under OMB Control Number 1840-0788. However, 
considering the time saved for travel, we estimate (72 - 8 = 64) 64 
saved hours overall. The estimated institutional cost is $363 based on 
$45.36 per hour for Postsecondary Education Administrators, from the 
2019 Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.

                       Table 6--Summary of Burden and Hours Saved Using Monitoring Reports
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Report type                        Number           Hours       Total burden     Hours saved
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monitoring......................................               1              72  ..............              72
Mont. & Comp....................................               1               8               8  ..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Section 668.26 End of an Institution's Participation in the Title IV, 
HEA Programs

Requirements
    Under proposed Sec.  668.26, the Secretary may permit an 
institution that has ended its participation in title IV programs to 
continue to originate, award, or disburse title IV funds for up to 120 
days under specific circumstances. The institution must notify the 
Secretary of its plans to conduct an orderly closure in accordance with 
its accrediting agency, teach out its students, agree to abide by the 
conditions of the program participation agreement in place prior to the 
end of participation, and provide written assurances of the health and 
safety of the students, the adequate financial resources to complete 
the teach-out and the institution is not subject to adverse action by 
the institution's State authorizing body or the accrediting agency.
Burden Calculation
    We estimate that, on average, an institution would need 5 hours to 
draft, and finalize for the appropriate institutional management 
signature, the written request for extension of eligibility from the 
Secretary. We anticipate that 5 institutions may utilize this 
opportunity annually.

                                             Table 7--Sec.   668.26
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Time per
                           Respondent                                Responses       response       Total hours
                                                                                      (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public..........................................................               1               5             = 5
Private.........................................................               2               5            = 10
Proprietary.....................................................               2               5            = 10
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                                                  ..............  ..............            = 25
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The estimated burden for Sec.  668.26 is 25 hours under OMB Control 
Number 1845-NEW1. The estimated institutional cost is $1,134 based on 
$45.36 per hour for Postsecondary Education Administrators, from the 
2019 Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Section 668.43--Institutional Information

Requirements
    The proposed regulations in Sec.  668.43(a)(5) would require an 
institution to disclose whether the program would fulfill educational 
requirements for licensure or certification if the program is designed 
to or advertised as meeting such requirements. Institutions would be 
required to disclose, for each State, whether the program did or did 
not meet such requirements, or whether the institution had not made 
such a determination.
    The proposed regulations in Sec.  668.43(a)(11) would revise the 
information about an institution's transfer of credit policies to 
require the disclosure of any types of institutions from which the 
institution will not accept transfer credits. Institutions would also 
be required to disclose any written criteria used to evaluate and award 
credit for prior learning experience.
    The proposed regulations in Sec.  668.43(a)(12) would require 
institutions to provide disclosures regarding written arrangements 
under which an entity other than the institution itself provides all or 
part of a program be included in the description of that program.
    The proposed regulations would add disclosure requirements that are 
in statute but not reflected fully in the regulations as well as new 
disclosure requirements. These disclosures would include: In Sec.  
668.43(a)(13), the percentage of the institution's enrolled students 
disaggregated by gender, race, ethnicity, and those who are Pell Grant 
recipients; in Sec.  668.43(a)(14) placement in employment of, and 
types of employment obtained by, graduates of the institution's degree 
or certificate programs; in Sec.  668.43(a)(15) the types of graduate 
and professional education in which graduates of the institution's 
four-year degree programs enrolled; in

[[Page 27465]]

Sec.  668.43(a)(16) the fire safety report prepared by the institution 
pursuant to Sec.  668.49; in Sec.  668.43(a)(17) the retention rate of 
certificate- or degree-seeking, first-time, full-time, undergraduate 
students; and in Sec.  668.43(a)(18) institutional policies regarding 
vaccinations.
    The proposed regulations in Sec.  668.43(a)(19) would require an 
institution to disclose to students if its accrediting agency requires 
it to maintain a teach-out plan under Sec.  602.24(c)(1), and to 
indicate the reason why the accrediting agency required such a plan.
    The proposed regulations in Sec.  668.43(a)(20) would require that 
an institution disclose students if it is aware that it is under 
investigation by a law enforcement agency for an issue related to 
academic quality, misrepresentation, fraud, or other severe matters.
    The proposed regulations would add a new paragraph (c) requiring an 
institution to make direct disclosures to individual students in 
certain circumstances. Institutions would be required to disclose to a 
prospective student that the program in which they intended to enroll 
did not meet the educational requirements for licensure in the State in 
which the student was located, or if such a determination of whether 
the program met the licensure requirements in that State had not been 
made. We would also require an institution to make a similar disclosure 
to a student who was enrolled in a program previously meeting those 
requirements which ceased to meet the educational requirements for 
licensure in that State. The proposed regulations would hold the 
institutions responsible for establishing and consistently applying 
policies for determining the State in which each of its students is 
located. Such a determination would have to be made at the time of 
initial enrollment, and upon receipt of information from the student, 
in accordance with institutional policies, that his or her location had 
changed to another State. The proposed regulations require institutions 
to provide the Secretary, on request, with written documentation of its 
determination regarding a student's location.
Burden Calculation
    We anticipate that most institutions will provide this disclosure 
information electronically on either the general institution website or 
individual program websites as required. Using data from the National 
Center for Educational Statistics, there were approximately 226,733 
certificate and degree granting programs in 2017 identified for the 
public, private and proprietary sectors. Of those, public institutions 
offered 134,387 programs, private institutions offered 70,678 programs, 
and proprietary institutions offered 21,668 programs.
    For Sec.  668.43(a)(5)(v), we estimate that five percent or 11,337 
of all programs would be designed for specific professional licenses or 
certifications required for employment in an occupation or is 
advertised as meeting such State requirements. We further estimate that 
it would take an institution an estimated 50 hours per program to 
research individual State requirements, determine program compatibility 
and provide a listing of the States where the program curriculum meets 
the State requirements, where it does not meet the State requirements, 
or list the States where no such determination has been made. We base 
this estimate on institutions electing not to research and report 
licensing requirements for States in which they had no enrollment or 
expressed interest. Additionally, we believe that some larger 
institutions and associations have gathered such data and have shared 
it with other institutions so there is less burden as the research has 
been done.
    The estimated burden for Sec.  668.43(a)(5)(v) would be 556,850 
hours 1845-NEW1.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP12JN19.021

    For Sec.  668.43(a)(11) through (20), we estimate that it would 
take institutions an average of 2 hours to research, develop and post 
on institutional or programmatic websites the required information. The 
estimated burden for Sec.  668.43(a)(13) through (20) would be 10,694 
hours 1845-NEW1.

[[Page 27466]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP12JN19.022

    For Sec.  668.43(c), we anticipate that institutions would provide 
this information electronically to prospective students regarding the 
determination of a program's curriculum to meet State requirements for 
students located in that State or if no such determination has been 
made. Likewise, we anticipate that institutions would provide this 
information electronically to enrolled students when a determination 
has been made that the program's curriculum no longer meets State 
requirements. We estimate that institutions would take an average of 2 
hours to develop the language for the individualized disclosures. We 
estimate that it would take an additional average of 4 hours for the 
institutions to disclose this information to prospective and enrolled 
students for a total of 6 hour of burden. We estimate that five percent 
of the institutions would meet the criteria to require these 
disclosures. The estimated burden for Sec.  668.43(c) would be 1,602 
hours 1845-NEW1.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP12JN19.023

    The total estimated burden for proposed Sec.  668.43 would be 
579,146 hours under OMB Control Number 1845-NEW1. The estimated 
institutional cost is $26,270,062.56 based on $45.36 per hour for 
Postsecondary Education Administrators, from the 2019 Bureau of Labor 
Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.

668.50--Institutional Disclosures for Distance or Correspondence 
Programs

Requirements
    The proposed regulatory package will remove and reserve the current 
regulatory requirements in Sec.  668.50.
Burden Calculation
    The proposed regulatory package will remove and reserve the current 
regulatory requirements in Sec.  668.50. This removes seven public 
disclosures that institutions offering distance education or 
correspondence courses were required to provide to students enrolled or 
seeking enrollment in such programs. These disclosures included whether 
the distance education program was authorized by the State where the 
student resided, if the institution was part of a State reciprocity 
agreement and consequences of a student moving to a State where the 
institution did not meet State authorization requirements. Other 
disclosures covered the process of submitting a complaint to the 
appropriate State agency where the

[[Page 27467]]

main campus is located, process of submitting a complaint if the 
institution is covered under a State reciprocity agreement, disclosure 
of adverse actions initiated by the institution's State entity related 
to distance education, disclosure of adverse actions initiated by the 
institution accrediting agency, the disclosure of any refund policy 
required by any State in which the institution enrolls a student, and 
disclosure of whether the distance education program meets the 
applicable prerequisites for professional licensure or certification in 
the State where the student resides, if such a determination has been 
made.
    Also, there were two disclosures that were required to be provided 
directly to currently enrolled and prospective students in either 
distance education. Those disclosures included notice of an adverse 
action taken by a State or accrediting agency related to the distance 
education program and provided within 30 days of when the institution 
became aware of the action; and, a notice of the institution's 
determination the distance education program no longer meets the 
prerequisites for licensure or certification of a State. This 
disclosure had to be made within seven days of such a determination.
    The removal of these regulations would eliminate the burden as 
assessed Sec.  668.50 which is associated with OMB Control Number 1845-
0145. The total burden hours of 152,405 currently in the information 
collection 1845-0145 will be discontinued upon the final effective date 
of the regulatory package. The estimated institutional cost savings is 
$-6,913,091 based on $45.36 per hour for Postsecondary Education 
Administrators, from the 2019 Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational 
Outlook Handbook.
    Consistent with the discussion above, the following chart describes 
the sections of the proposed regulations involving information 
collection, the information being collected and the collections that 
the Department will submit to OMB for approval and public comment under 
the PRA, and the estimated costs associated with the information 
collections. The monetized net costs of the increased burden on 
institutions and accrediting agencies using wage data developed using 
Bureau of Labor Statistics data, available at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/postsecondary-education-adminstrators.htm is $26,696,265 as 
shown in the chart below. This cost is based on the estimated hourly 
rate of $45.36 for institutions and accrediting agencies.
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P

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BILLING CODE 4000-01-C
    The total burden hours and change in burden hours associated with 
each OMB Control number affected by the regulations follows:

[[Page 27473]]

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    If you want to comment on the proposed information collection 
requirements, please send your comments to the Office of Information 
and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for U.S. 
Department of Education. Send these comments by email to 
[email protected] or by fax to (202) 395-6974. You may also send 
a copy of these comments to the Department contact named in the 
ADDRESSES section of this preamble.
    We have prepared an Information Collection Request (ICR) for these 
collections. In preparing your comments you may want to review the ICR, 
which is available at www.reginfo.gov. Click on Information Collection 
Review. These proposed collections are identified as proposed 
collections 1840-0788, 1845-0012, 1845-0144, 1845-0145, and 1845-NEW1.
    We consider your comments on these proposed collections of 
information in--
     Deciding whether the proposed collections are necessary 
for the proper performance of our functions, including whether the 
information will have practical use;
     Evaluating the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collections, including the validity of our methodology and 
assumptions;
     Enhancing the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the 
information we collect; and
     Minimizing the burden on those who must respond. This 
includes exploring the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques.
    OMB is required to make a decision concerning the collection 
[collections] of information contained in these proposed regulations 
between 30 and 60 days after publication of this document in the 
Federal Register. Therefore, to ensure that OMB gives your comments 
full consideration, it is important that OMB receives your comments by 
July 12, 2019. This does not affect the deadline for your comments to 
us on the proposed regulations.

Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification

    The Secretary proposes to certify that these proposed regulations 
would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities.
    Of the entities that would be affected by the proposed regulations, 
many institutions are considered small. The Department recently 
proposed a size classification based on enrollment using IPEDS data 
that established the percentage of institutions in various sectors 
considered to be small entities, as shown in Table [6].\19\ This size 
classification was described in the NPRM published in the Federal 
Register July 31, 2018 for the proposed borrower defense rule (83 FR 
37242, 37302). The Department has discussed the proposed standard with 
the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration, 
and while no change has been finalized, the Department continues to 
believe this approach better reflects a common basis for determining 
size categories that is linked to the provision of educational 
services.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education 
Statistics. Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System 2016 
Institutional Characteristics: Directory Information survey file 
downloaded March 3, 2018. Available at nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter/DataFiles.aspx.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP12JN19.031


[[Page 27474]]


    However, the proposed regulations are not expected to have a 
significant economic impact on small entities. Nothing in the proposed 
regulations would compel institutions, small or not, to engage in 
substantive changes to programs that would trigger reporting to 
accrediting agencies or the Department. The proposed regulations would 
consolidate or relocate several institutional disclosures and add 
disclosure requirements under Sec.  668.43, including disclosures 
relating to whether a program meets requirements for licensure, 
transfer of credit policies, written criteria to evaluate and award 
credit for prior learning experience, and written agreements under 
which an entity other than the institution itself provides all or part 
of a program. The proposed regulations would also add disclosure 
requirements that exist in statute but are not currently reflected in 
the regulations, including: (1) The percentage of the institution's 
enrolled students who are Pell Grant recipients, disaggregated by race, 
ethnicity, and gender; (2) placement in employment of, and types of 
employment obtained by, graduates of the institution's degree or 
certificate programs if its accrediting agency or State required it to 
calculate such rates; (3) the types of graduate and professional 
education in which graduates of the institution's four-year degree 
programs enrolled; (4) the fire safety report prepared by the 
institution pursuant to Sec.  668.49; (5) the retention rate of 
certificate- or degree-seeking, first-time, full-time, undergraduate 
students; and (6) institutional policies regarding vaccinations. The 
small institutions that have distance education or correspondence 
programs would benefit from the elimination of the disclosure 
requirement related to the complaints process. Across all institutions, 
the net result of the institutional disclosure changes is $19,485,522 
and there is no reason to believe the burden would fall 
disproportionately on small institutions. Using the 57 percent figure 
for small institutions in Table 6, the estimated cost of the 
disclosures in the proposed regulations for small institutions is 
$11,106,748. Institutions of any size would benefit from the 
opportunity to seek out a different or additional accreditation in a 
timeframe that suits them, but there is no requirement to do so.
    The other group affected by the proposed regulations are 
accrediting agencies. The State agencies that act as accreditors are 
not small, as public institutions are defined as ``small 
organizations'' if they are operated by a government overseeing a 
population below 50,000.
    The Department does not have revenue information for accreditors 
and believes most are organized as nonprofit entities that are defined 
as ``small entities'' if they are independently owned and operated and 
not dominant in their field of operation. While dominance in 
accreditation is hard to determine, as it currently stands, the 
Department believes regional accreditors are dominant within their 
regions and programmatic accreditors very often have dominance in their 
field. Therefore, we do not consider the 53 accrediting agencies to be 
small entities, but we welcome comments on this determination and will 
consider any information received in evaluating the final regulations.
    Even if the accrediting agencies were considered small entities, 
the proposed regulations are designed to grant them greater flexibility 
in their operations and reduce their administrative burden so they can 
focus on higher risk changes to institutions and programs. Nothing in 
the proposed regulations would require accrediting agencies to expand 
their operations or take on new institutions, but they would give them 
that opportunity. There could even be potential opportunities for 
accreditors that are small entities to develop in specialized areas and 
potentially grow.
    Thus, the Department believes small entities would experience 
regulatory relief and a positive economic impact as a result of these 
proposed regulations with effects that will develop over years as 
accrediting agencies and institutions decide how to react to the 
changes in the proposed regulations.

Federalism

    Executive Order 13132 requires us to ensure meaningful and timely 
input by State and local elected officials in the development of 
regulatory policies that have federalism implications. ``Federalism 
implications'' means substantial direct effects on the States, on the 
relationship between the National Government and the States, or on the 
distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of 
government. The proposed regulations in 600, 602, 603, and 668 may have 
federalism implications. We encourage State and local elected officials 
to review and provide comments on these proposed regulations.
    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, 
audiotape, or compact disc) on request to the person [one of the 
persons] listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may 
access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of 
Federal Regulations at www.govinfo.gov. At this site you can view this 
document, as well as all other documents of this Department published 
in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format 
(PDF). To use PDF, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is 
available free at the site.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at: 
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

List of Subjects

34 CFR Part 600

    Colleges and universities, Foreign relations, Grant programs--
education, Loan programs--education, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Student aid, Vocational education.

34 CFR Part 602

    Colleges and universities, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

34 CFR Part 603

    Colleges and universities, Vocational education.

34 CFR Part 654

    Grant programs-education, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Scholarships and fellowships.

34 CFR Part 668

    Administrative practice and procedure, Colleges and universities, 
Consumer protection, Grant programs--education, Loan programs--
education, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Selective Service 
System, Student aid, Vocational education.

    Dated: June 7, 2019.
Betsy DeVos,
Secretary of Education.

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Secretary of 
Education proposes to amend parts 600, 602, 603, 654, and 668 of title 
34 of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows:

[[Page 27475]]

PART 600--INSTITUTIONAL ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE HIGHER EDUCATON ACT 
OF 1965, AS AMENDED

0
1. The authority citation for part 600 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  20 U.S.C. 1001, 1002, 1003, 1088, 1091, 1094, 1099b, 
and 1099c, unless otherwise noted.

0
2. Section 600.2 is amended by:
0
a. Adding in alphabetical order a definition for ``additional 
location'';
0
b. Revising the definition of ``Branch Campus'';
0
c. Adding in alphabetical order a definition for ``preaccreditation'';
0
d. Removing the definition of ``preaccredited'';
0
e. Adding in alphabetical order definitions for ``religious mission'', 
``teach-out'', and ``teach-out agreement''; and
0
f. Revising the definition of ``teach-out plan''.
    The additions and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  600.2  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Additional location: A facility that is geographically apart from 
the main campus of the institution and at which the institution offers 
at least 50 percent of a program and may qualify as a branch campus.
* * * * *
    Branch campus: An additional location of an institution that is 
geographically apart and independent of the main campus of the 
institution. The Secretary considers a location of an institution to be 
independent of the main campus if the location--
    (1) Is permanent in nature;
    (2) Offers courses in educational programs leading to a degree, 
certificate, or other recognized educational credential;
    (3) Has its own faculty and administrative or supervisory 
organization; and
    (4) Has its own budgetary and hiring authority.
* * * * *
    Preaccreditation: The status of accreditation and public 
recognition that a nationally recognized accrediting agency grants to 
an institution or program for a limited period of time that signifies 
the agency has determined that the institution or program is 
progressing toward full accreditation and is likely to attain full 
accreditation before the expiration of that limited period of time 
(sometimes referred to as ``candidacy'').
* * * * *
    Religious mission: A published institutional mission that is 
approved by the governing body of an institution of postsecondary 
education and that includes, refers to, or is predicated upon religious 
tenets, beliefs, or teachings.
* * * * *
    Teach-out: A period of time during which a program, institution, or 
institutional location that provides 100 percent of at least one 
program engages in an orderly closure or when, following the closure of 
an institution or campus, another institution provides an opportunity 
for the students of the closed school to complete their program, 
regardless of their academic progress at the time of closure. Eligible 
borrowers should never be prevented from accessing closed school 
discharge, as provided in 34 CFR 685.214, instead of a teach-out. Any 
institution is prohibited from engaging in misrepresentation about the 
nature of the teach-out plans, teach-out agreements, and transfer of 
credit.
    Teach-out agreement: A written agreement between institutions that 
provides for the equitable treatment of students and a reasonable 
opportunity for students to complete their program of study if an 
institution, or an institutional location that provides 100 percent of 
at least one program offered, ceases to operate or plans to cease 
operations before all enrolled students have completed their program of 
study.
    Teach-out plan: A written plan developed by an institution that 
provides for the equitable treatment of students if an institution, or 
an institutional location that provides 100 percent of at least one 
program, ceases to operate or plans to cease operations before all 
enrolled students have completed their program of study.
* * * * *
0
 3. Section 600.4 is amended by revising paragraph (c) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  600.4  Institution of higher education.

* * * * *
    (c) The Secretary does not recognize the accreditation or 
preaccreditation of an institution unless the institution agrees to 
submit any dispute involving an adverse action, such as the final 
denial, withdrawal, or termination of accreditation, to arbitration 
before initiating any other legal action.
* * * * *
0
 4. Section 600.5 is amended by revising paragraphs (d) and (e) to read 
as follows:


Sec.  600.5  Proprietary institution of higher education.

* * * * *
    (d) The Secretary does not recognize the accreditation of an 
institution unless the institution agrees to submit any dispute 
involving an adverse action, such as the final denial, withdrawal, or 
termination of accreditation, to arbitration before initiating any 
other legal action.
    (e) For purposes of this section, a ``program leading to a 
baccalaureate degree in liberal arts'' is a program that is a general 
instructional program falling within one or more of the following 
generally accepted instructional categories comprising such programs, 
but including only instruction in regular programs, and excluding 
independently designed programs, individualized programs, and 
unstructured studies:
    (1) A program that is a structured combination of the arts, 
biological and physical sciences, social sciences, and humanities, 
emphasizing breadth of study.
    (2) An undifferentiated program that includes instruction in the 
general arts or general science.
    (3) A program that focuses on combined studies and research in 
humanities subjects as distinguished from the social and physical 
sciences, emphasizing languages, literature, art, music, philosophy, 
and religion.
    (4) Any single instructional program in liberal arts and sciences, 
general studies, and humanities not listed in paragraph (e)(1) through 
(3) of this section.
* * * * *
0
5. Section 600.6 is amended by revising paragraph (d) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  600.6  Postsecondary vocational institution.

* * * * *
    (d) The Secretary does not recognize the accreditation or 
preaccreditation of an institution unless the institution agrees to 
submit any dispute involving an adverse action, such as the final 
denial, withdrawal, or termination of accreditation, to arbitration 
before initiating any other legal action.
* * * * *
0
6. Section 600.9 is amended by:
0
a. Revising paragraphs (b) and (c)(1); and
0
b. Revising paragraph (d)(1)(iii), as added at 81 FR 92262 (Dec. 19, 
2016), effective July 1, 2018, and delayed until July 1, 2020, at 83 FR 
31303 (July 3, 2018).
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  600.9  State authorization.

* * * * *
    (b) An institution is considered to be legally authorized to 
operate educational programs beyond secondary education if it is exempt 
as a religious institution from State authorization

[[Page 27476]]

under the State constitution or by State law.
    (c)(1)(i) If an institution that meets the requirements under 
paragraph (a)(1) or (b) of this section offers postsecondary education 
through distance education or correspondence courses to students 
located in a State in which the institution is not physically located 
or in which the institution is otherwise subject to that State's 
jurisdiction as determined by that State, except as provided in 
paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this section, the institution must meet any of 
that State's requirements for it to be legally offering postsecondary 
distance education or correspondence courses in that State. The 
institution must, upon request, document the State's approval to the 
Secretary; or
    (ii) If an institution that meets the requirements under paragraph 
(a)(1) or (b) of this section offers postsecondary education through 
distance education or correspondence courses in a State that 
participates in a State authorization reciprocity agreement, and the 
institution is covered by such agreement, the institution is considered 
to meet State requirements for it to be legally offering postsecondary 
distance education or correspondence courses in that State, subject to 
any limitations in that agreement and to any additional requirements of 
that State. The institution must, upon request, document its coverage 
under such an agreement to the Secretary.
    (A) For purposes of this section, an institution must make a 
determination, in accordance with the institution's policies or 
procedures, regarding the State in which a student is located, which 
must be applied consistently to all students.
    (B) The institution must, upon request, provide the Secretary with 
written documentation of its determination of a student's location, 
including the basis for such determination; and
    (C) An institution must make a determination regarding the State in 
which a student is located at the time of the student's initial 
enrollment in an educational program and, if applicable, upon formal 
receipt of information from the student, in accordance with the 
institution's procedures, that the student's location has changed to 
another State.
* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (iii) The additional location or branch campus must be approved by 
the institution's recognized accrediting agency in accordance with 
Sec.  602.22(a)(2)(ix) and (c).
* * * * *
0
7. Section 600.11 is amended by revising paragraphs (a) and (b)(2) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  600.11  Special rules regarding institutional accreditation or 
preaccreditation.

    (a) Change of accrediting agencies. (1) For purposes of Sec. Sec.  
600.4(a)(5)(i), 600.5(a)(6), and 600.6(a)(5)(i), the Secretary does not 
recognize the accreditation or preaccreditation of an otherwise 
eligible institution if that institution is in the process of changing 
its accrediting agency, unless the institution provides the following 
to the Secretary and receives approval:
    (i) All materials related to its prior accreditation or 
preaccreditation.
    (ii) Materials demonstrating reasonable cause for changing its 
accrediting agency. The Secretary will not determine such cause to be 
reasonable if the institution--
    (A) Has had its accreditation withdrawn, revoked, or otherwise 
terminated for cause during the preceding 24 months, unless such 
withdrawal, revocation, or termination has been rescinded by the same 
accrediting agency; or
    (B) Has been subject to a probation or equivalent, show cause 
order, or suspension order during the preceding 24 months.
    (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of this section, the 
Secretary may determine the institution's cause for changing its 
accrediting agency to be reasonable if the agency did not provide the 
institution its due process rights as defined in Sec.  602.25, the 
agency applied its standards and criteria inconsistently, or if the 
adverse action or show cause or suspension order was the result of an 
agency's failure to respect an institution's stated mission, including 
religious mission.
    (b) * * *
    (2) Demonstrates to the Secretary reasonable cause for that 
multiple accreditation or preaccreditation.
    (i) The Secretary determines the institution's cause for multiple 
accreditation to be reasonable unless the institution--
    (A) Has had its accreditation withdrawn, revoked, or otherwise 
terminated for cause during the preceding 24 months, unless such 
withdrawal, revocation, or termination has been rescinded by the same 
accrediting agency; or
    (B) Has been subject to a probation or equivalent, show cause 
order, or suspension order during the preceding 24 months.
    (ii) Notwithstanding paragraphs (b)(2)(i)(A) and (B) of this 
section, the Secretary may determine the institution's cause for 
seeking multiple accreditation or preaccreditation to be reasonable if 
the institution's primary interest in seeking multiple accreditation is 
based on that agency's geographic area, program-area focus, or mission; 
and
* * * * *
0
8. Section 600.31 is amended:
0
a. By revising paragraph (a)(1);
0
b. In paragraph (b), by revising the definitions of ``closely-held 
corporation'', ``ownership or ownership interest'', ``parent'', and 
``person''; and
0
c. Revising paragraphs (c)(3) through (5).
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  600.31  Change in ownership resulting in a change in control for 
private nonprofit, private for-profit and public institutions.

    (a)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, a 
private nonprofit, private for-profit, or public institution that 
undergoes a change in ownership that results in a change in control 
ceases to qualify as an eligible institution upon the change in 
ownership and control. A change of ownership that results in a change 
in control includes any change by which a person who has or thereby 
acquires an ownership interest in the entity that owns the institution 
or the parent of that entity, acquires or loses the ability to control 
the institution.
* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    Closely-held corporation. Closely-held corporation (including the 
term ``close corporation'') means--
    (1) A corporation that qualifies under the law of the State of its 
incorporation or organization as a closely-held corporation; or
    (2) If the State of incorporation or organization has no definition 
of closely-held corporation, a corporation the stock of which--
    (i) Is held by no more than 30 persons; and
    (ii) Has not been and is not planned to be publicly offered.
* * * * *
    Ownership or ownership interest. (1) Ownership or ownership 
interest means a legal or beneficial interest in an institution or its 
corporate parent, or a right to share in the profits derived from the 
operation of an institution or its corporate parent.
    (2) Ownership or ownership interest does not include an ownership 
interest held by--

[[Page 27477]]

    (i) A mutual fund that is regularly and publicly traded;
    (ii) A U.S. institutional investor, as defined in 17 CFR 240.15a-
6(b)(7);
    (iii) A profit-sharing plan of the institution or its corporate 
parent, provided that all full-time permanent employees of the 
institution or its corporate parent are included in the plan; or
    (iv) An employee stock ownership plan (ESOP).
    Parent. The parent or parent entity is the entity that controls the 
specified entity directly or indirectly through one or more 
intermediaries.
    Person. Person includes a legal entity or a natural person.
    (c) * * *
    (3) Other entities. The term ``other entities'' includes limited 
liability companies, limited liability partnerships, limited 
partnerships, and similar types of legal entities. A change in 
ownership and control of an entity that is neither closely-held nor 
required to be registered with the SEC occurs when--
    (i) A person who has or acquires an ownership interest acquires 
both control of at least 25 percent of the total of outstanding voting 
stock of the corporation and control of the corporation; or
    (ii) A person who holds both ownership or control of at least 25 
percent of the total outstanding voting stock of the corporation and 
control of the corporation, ceases to own or control that proportion of 
the stock of the corporation, or to control the corporation.
    (4) General partnership or sole proprietorship. A change in 
ownership and control occurs when a person who has or acquires an 
ownership interest acquires or loses control as described in this 
section.
    (5) Wholly-owned subsidiary. An entity that is a wholly-owned 
subsidiary changes ownership and control when its parent entity changes 
ownership and control as described in this section.
* * * * *
0
9. Section 600.32 is amended by revising paragraphs (c) introductory 
text, (c)(1) and (2), (d)(1), (d)(2)(i) introductory text, and 
(d)(2)(i)(A) and (B) to read as follows:


Sec.  600.32  Eligibility of additional locations.

* * * * *
    (c) Notwithstanding paragraph (b) of this section, an additional 
location is not required to satisfy the two-year requirement of Sec.  
600.5(a)(7) or Sec.  600.6(a)(6) if the applicant institution and the 
original institution are not related parties and there is no 
commonality of ownership, control, or management between the 
institutions, as described in 34 CFR 668.188(b) and 34 CFR 668.207(b) 
and the applicant institution agrees--
    (1) To be liable for all improperly expended or unspent title IV, 
HEA program funds received during the current academic year and up to 
one academic year prior by the institution that has closed or ceased to 
provide educational programs;
    (2) To be liable for all unpaid refunds owed to students who 
received title IV, HEA program funds during the current academic year 
and up to one academic year prior; and
* * * * *
    (d)(1) An institution that conducts a teach-out at a site of a 
closed institution or an institution engaged in a formal teach-out plan 
approved by the institution's agency may apply to have that site 
approved as an additional location if--
    (i) The closed institution ceased operations, or the closing 
institution is engaged in an orderly teach-out plan and the Secretary 
has evaluated and approved that plan; and
    (ii) The teach-out plan required under 34 CFR 668.14(b)(31) is 
approved by the closed or closing institution's accrediting agency.
    (2)(i) An institution that conducts a teach-out and is approved to 
add an additional location described in paragraph (d)(1) of this 
section--
    (A) Does not have to meet the requirement of Sec.  600.5(a)(7) or 
Sec.  600.6(a)(6) for the additional location described in paragraph 
(d)(1) of this section;
    (B) Is not responsible for any liabilities of the closed or closing 
institution as provided under paragraph (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this 
section if the institutions are not related parties and there is no 
commonality of ownership or management between the institutions, as 
described in 34 CFR 668.188(b) and 34 CFR 668.207(b); and
* * * * *
0
10. Section 600.41 is amended by:
0
a. Removing paragraph (a)(1)(ii)(B) and redesignating paragraphs 
(a)(1)(C) through (G) as paragraphs (a)(1)(B) through (F); and
0
b. Revising paragraph (d) introductory text.
    The revision reads as follows:


Sec.  600.41  Termination and emergency action proceedings.

* * * * *
    (d) After a termination under this section of the eligibility of an 
institution as a whole or as to a location or educational program 
becomes final, the institution may not originate applications for, make 
awards of or commitments for, deliver, or disburse funds under the 
applicable title IV, HEA program, except--
* * * * *

PART 602--THE SECRETARY'S RECOGNITION OF ACCREDITING AGENCIES

0
11. The authority citation for part 602 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  20 U.S.C. 1099b, unless otherwise noted.

0
12. Section 602.3 is amended:
0
a. By redesignating the introductory text as paragraph (b);
0
b. By adding paragraph (a); and
0
c. In newly redesignated paragraph (b):
0
i. By removing in the definitions of ``branch campus'', 
``correspondence education'', ``direct assessment program'', 
``institution of higher education'', ``nationally recognized 
accrediting agency'', ``preaccredited'', ``State'', ``teach-out 
agreement'', and ``teach-out plan'';
0
ii. Adding in alphabetical order definitions for ``monitoring report'' 
and ``substantial compliance''; and
0
iii. Revising the definitions of ``compliance report'', ``final 
accrediting action'', ``programmatic accrediting agency'', ``scope of 
recognition'', and ``senior Department official''.
    The additions and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  602.3  What definitions apply to this part?

    (a) The following definitions are contained in the regulations for 
Institutional Eligibility under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as 
amended, 34 CFR part 600:

Accredited
Additional location
Branch campus
Correspondence course
Institution of higher education
Nationally recognized accrediting agency
Preaccreditation
Religious mission
Secretary
State
Teach-out
Teach-out agreement
Teach-out plan

    (b) * * *
* * * * *
    Compliance report means a written report that the Department 
requires an agency to file when the agency is found to be out of 
compliance to demonstrate that the agency has corrected deficiencies 
specified in the decision

[[Page 27478]]

letter from the senior Department official or the Secretary. Compliance 
reports must be reviewed by Department staff and the Advisory Committee 
and approved by the senior Department official or, in the event of an 
appeal, by the Secretary.
* * * * *
    Final accrediting action means a final determination by an 
accrediting agency regarding the accreditation or preaccreditation 
status of an institution or program. A final accrediting action is a 
decision made by the agency, at the conclusion of any appeals process 
available to the institution or program under the agency's due process 
policies and procedures.
* * * * *
    Monitoring report means a report that an agency is required to 
submit to Department staff when it is found to be substantially 
compliant. The report contains documentation to demonstrate that--
    (i) The agency is implementing its current or corrected policies; 
or
    (ii) The agency, which is compliant in practice, has updated its 
policies to align with those compliant practices.
* * * * *
    Programmatic accrediting agency means an agency that accredits 
specific educational programs, including those that prepare students in 
specific academic disciplines or for entry into a profession, 
occupation, or vocation.
* * * * *
    Scope of recognition or scope means the range of accrediting 
activities for which the Secretary recognizes an agency. The Secretary 
may place a limitation on the scope of an agency's recognition for 
title IV, HEA purposes. The Secretary's designation of scope defines 
the recognition granted according to--
    (i) Types of degrees and certificates covered;
    (ii) Types of institutions and programs covered;
    (iii) Types of preaccreditation status covered, if any; and
    (iv) Coverage of accrediting activities related to distance 
education or correspondence courses.
    Senior Department official means the official in the U.S. 
Department of Education designated by the Secretary who has, in the 
judgment of the Secretary, appropriate seniority and relevant subject 
matter knowledge to make independent decisions on accrediting agency 
recognition.
    Substantial compliance means the agency demonstrated to the 
Department that it has the necessary policies, practices, and standards 
in place and generally adheres with fidelity to those policies, 
practices, and standards; or the agency has policies, practices, and 
standards in place that need minor modifications to reflect its 
generally compliant practice.
* * * * *
0
13. Section 602.10 is amended by revising paragraph (a) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  602.10  Link to Federal programs.

* * * * *
    (a) If the agency accredits institutions of higher education, its 
accreditation is a required element in enabling at least one of those 
institutions to establish eligibility to participate in HEA programs. 
If, pursuant to 34 CFR 600.11(b), an agency accredits one or more 
institutions that participate in HEA programs and that could designate 
the agency as its link to HEA programs, the agency satisfies this 
requirement, even if the institution currently designates another 
institutional accrediting agency as its Federal link; or
* * * * *
0
14. Section 602.11 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  602.11  Geographic area of accrediting activities.

    The agency must demonstrate that it conducts accrediting activities 
within--
    (a) A State, if the agency is part of a State government;
    (b) A region or group of States chosen by the agency in which an 
agency provides accreditation to a main campus, a branch campus, or an 
additional location of an institution. An agency whose geographic area 
includes a State in which a branch campus or additional location is 
located is not required to also accredit a main campus in that State. 
An agency whose geographic area includes a State in which only a branch 
campus or additional location is located is not required to accept an 
application for accreditation from other institutions in such State; or
    (c) The United States.


(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1099b)


0
15. Section 602.12 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  602.12  Accrediting experience.

    (a) An agency seeking initial recognition must demonstrate that it 
has--
    (1) Granted accreditation or preaccreditation prior to submitting 
an application for recognition--
    (i) To one or more institutions if it is requesting recognition as 
an institutional accrediting agency and to one or more programs if it 
is requesting recognition as a programmatic accrediting agency;
    (ii) That covers the range of the specific degrees, certificates, 
institutions, and programs for which it seeks recognition; and
    (iii) In the geographic area for which it seeks recognition; and
    (2) Conducted accrediting activities, including deciding whether to 
grant or deny accreditation or preaccreditation, for at least two years 
prior to seeking recognition, unless the agency seeking initial 
recognition is affiliated with, or is a division of, an already 
recognized agency.
    (b)(1) A recognized agency seeking an expansion of its scope of 
recognition must follow the requirements of Sec. Sec.  602.31 and 
602.32 and demonstrate that it has accreditation or preaccreditation 
policies in place that meet all the criteria for recognition covering 
the range of the specific degrees, certificates, institutions, and 
programs for which it seeks the expansion of scope and has engaged and 
can show support from relevant constituencies for the expansion. A 
change to an agency's geographic area of accrediting activities does 
not constitute an expansion of the agency's scope of recognition, but 
the agency must notify the Department of, and publicly disclose on the 
agency's website, any such change.
    (2) An agency that cannot demonstrate experience in making 
accreditation or preaccreditation decisions under the expanded scope at 
the time of its application or review for an expansion of scope may--
    (i) If it is an institutional accrediting agency, be limited in the 
number of institutions to which it may grant accreditation under the 
expanded scope for a designated period of time; or
    (ii) If it is a programmatic accrediting agency, be limited in the 
number of programs to which it may grant accreditation under that 
expanded scope for a certain period of time; and
    (iii) Be required to submit a monitoring report regarding 
accreditation decisions made under the expanded scope.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1099b)

Sec.  602.13  [Removed and Reserved]

0
16. Section 602.13 is removed and reserved.
0
17. Section 602.14 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  602.14  Purpose and organization.

    (a) The Secretary recognizes only the following four categories of 
accrediting agencies:
    (1) A State agency that--

[[Page 27479]]

    (i) Has as a principal purpose the accrediting of institutions of 
higher education, higher education programs, or both; and
    (ii) Has been listed by the Secretary as a nationally recognized 
accrediting agency on or before October 1, 1991.
    (2) An accrediting agency that--
    (i) Has a voluntary membership of institutions of higher education;
    (ii) Has as a principal purpose the accrediting of institutions of 
higher education and that accreditation is used to provide a link to 
Federal HEA programs in accordance with Sec.  602.10; and
    (iii) Satisfies the ``separate and independent'' requirements in 
paragraph (b) of this section.
    (3) An accrediting agency that--
    (i) Has a voluntary membership; and
    (ii) Has as its principal purpose the accrediting of institutions 
of higher education or programs, and the accreditation it offers is 
used to provide a link to non-HEA Federal programs in accordance with 
602.10.
    (4) An accrediting agency that, for purposes of determining 
eligibility for title IV, HEA programs--
    (i)(A) Has a voluntary membership of individuals participating in a 
profession; or
    (B) Has as its principal purpose the accrediting of programs within 
institutions that are accredited by another nationally recognized 
accrediting agency; and
    (ii) Satisfies the ``separate and independent'' requirements in 
paragraph (b) of this section or obtains a waiver of those requirements 
under paragraph (d) of this section.
    (b) For purposes of this section, ``separate and independent'' 
means that--
    (1) The members of the agency's decision-making body, who decide 
the accreditation or preaccreditation status of institutions or 
programs, establish the agency's accreditation policies, or both, are 
not elected or selected by the board or chief executive officer of any 
related, associated, or affiliated trade association, professional 
organization, or membership organization and are not staff of the 
related, associated, or affiliated trade association, professional 
organization, or membership organization;
    (2) At least one member of the agency's decision-making body is a 
representative of the public, and at least one-seventh of the body 
consists of representatives of the public;
    (3) The agency has established and implemented guidelines for each 
member of the decision-making body including guidelines on avoiding 
conflicts of interest in making decisions;
    (4) The agency's dues are paid separately from any dues paid to any 
related, associated, or affiliated trade association or membership 
organization; and
    (5) The agency develops and determines its own budget, with no 
review by or consultation with any other entity or organization.
    (c) The Secretary considers that any joint use of personnel, 
services, equipment, or facilities by an agency and a related, 
associated, or affiliated trade association or membership organization 
does not violate the ``separate and independent'' requirements in 
paragraph (b) of this section if--
    (1) The agency pays the fair market value for its proportionate 
share of the joint use; and
    (2) The joint use does not compromise the independence and 
confidentiality of the accreditation process.
    (d) For purposes of paragraph (a)(4) of this section, the Secretary 
may waive the ``separate and independent'' requirements in paragraph 
(b) of this section if the agency demonstrates that--
    (1) The Secretary listed the agency as a nationally recognized 
agency on or before October 1, 1991, and has recognized it continuously 
since that date;
    (2) The related, associated, or affiliated trade association or 
membership organization plays no role in making or ratifying either the 
accrediting or policy decisions of the agency;
    (3) The agency has sufficient budgetary and administrative autonomy 
to carry out its accrediting functions independently; and
    (4) The agency provides to the related, associated, or affiliated 
trade association or membership organization only information it makes 
available to the public.
    (e) An agency seeking a waiver of the ``separate and independent'' 
requirements under paragraph (d) of this section must apply for the 
waiver each time the agency seeks recognition or continued recognition.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1099b)


0
18. Section 602.15 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  602.15  Administrative and fiscal responsibilities.

    The agency must have the administrative and fiscal capability to 
carry out its accreditation activities in light of its requested scope 
of recognition. The agency meets this requirement if the agency 
demonstrates that--
    (a) The agency has--
    (1) Adequate administrative staff and financial resources to carry 
out its accrediting responsibilities;
    (2) Competent and knowledgeable individuals, qualified by education 
or experience in their own right and trained by the agency on their 
responsibilities, as appropriate for their roles, regarding the 
agency's standards, policies, and procedures, to conduct its on-site 
evaluations, apply or establish its policies, and make its accrediting 
and preaccrediting decisions, including, if applicable to the agency's 
scope, their responsibilities regarding distance education and 
correspondence courses;
    (3) Academic and administrative personnel on its evaluation, 
policy, and decision-making bodies, if the agency accredits 
institutions;
    (4) Educators, practitioners, and/or employers on its evaluation, 
policy, and decision-making bodies, if the agency accredits programs or 
single-purpose institutions that prepare students for a specific 
profession;
    (5) Representatives of the public, which may include students, on 
all decision-making bodies; and
    (6) Clear and effective controls, including guidelines, to prevent 
or resolve conflicts of interest, or the appearance of conflicts of 
interest, by the agency's--
    (i) Board members;
    (ii) Commissioners;
    (iii) Evaluation team members;
    (iv) Consultants;
    (v) Administrative staff; and
    (vi) Other agency representatives; and
    (b) The agency maintains complete and accurate records of--
    (1) Its last full accreditation or preaccreditation review of each 
institution or program, including on-site evaluation team reports, the 
institution's or program's responses to on-site reports, periodic 
review reports, any reports of special reviews conducted by the agency 
between regular reviews, and a copy of the institution's or program's 
most recent self-study; and
    (2) All decision letters issued by the agency regarding the 
accreditation and preaccreditation of any institution or program and 
any substantive changes.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1099b)


0
19. Section 602.16 is amended by:
0
a. Revising paragraphs (a)(1) introductory text, (a)(2), (b) and (c);
0
b. Redesignating paragraph (d) as paragraph (d)(2);
0
c. Adding paragraph (d)(1);
0
d. Removing the ``or'' at the end of paragraph (f)(1);
0
e. Removing the period at the end of paragraph (f)(2) and adding a 
semicolon in its place; and

[[Page 27480]]

0
f. Adding paragraphs (f)(3) and (4).
    The revisions and additions read as follows:


Sec.  602.16  Accreditation and preaccreditation standards.

    (a) * * *
    (1) The agency's accreditation standards must set forth clear 
expectations for the institutions or programs it accredits in the 
following areas:
* * * * *
    (2) The agency's preaccreditation standards, if offered, must:
    (i) Be appropriately related to the agency's accreditation 
standards; and
    (ii) Not permit the institution or program to hold preaccreditation 
status for more than five years before a final accrediting action is 
made.
    (b) Agencies are not required to apply the standards described in 
paragraph (a)(1)(x) of this section to institutions that do not 
participate in title IV, HEA programs. Under such circumstance, the 
agency's grant of accreditation or preaccreditation must specify that 
the grant, by request of the institution, does not include 
participation by the institution in title IV, HEA programs.
    (c) If the agency only accredits programs and does not serve as an 
institutional accrediting agency for any of those programs, its 
accreditation standards must address the areas in paragraph (a)(1) of 
this section in terms of the type and level of the program rather than 
in terms of the institution.
    (d)(1) If the agency has or seeks to include within its scope of 
recognition the evaluation of the quality of institutions or programs 
offering distance education, correspondence courses, or direct 
assessment education, the agency's standards must effectively address 
the quality of an institution's distance education, correspondence 
courses, or direct assessment education in the areas identified in 
paragraph (a)(1) of this section.
* * * * *
    (f) * * *
    (3) Agencies from having separate standards regarding an 
institution's process for approving curriculum to enable programs to 
more effectively meet the recommendations of--
    (i) Industry advisory boards that include employers who hire 
program graduates;
    (ii) Widely recognized industry standards and organizations;
    (iii) Credentialing or other occupational registration or 
licensure; or
    (iv) Employers in a given field or occupation, in making hiring 
decisions; or
    (4) Agencies from having separate faculty standards for instructors 
teaching courses within a dual or concurrent enrollment program, as 
defined in 20 U.S.C. 7801, or career and technical education courses, 
as long as the instructors, in the agency's judgment, are qualified by 
education or work experience for that role.
* * * * *
0
20. Section 602.17 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  602.17  Application of standards in reaching an accreditation 
decision.

    The agency must have effective mechanisms for evaluating an 
institution's or program's compliance with the agency's standards 
before reaching a decision to accredit or preaccredit the institution 
or program. The agency meets this requirement if the agency 
demonstrates that it--
    (a) Evaluates whether an institution or program--
    (1) Maintains clearly specified educational objectives that are 
consistent with its mission and appropriate in light of the degrees or 
certificates awarded;
    (2) Is successful in achieving its stated objectives at both the 
institutional and program levels; and
    (3) Maintains requirements that at least conform to commonly 
accepted academic standards, or the equivalent, including pilot 
programs in Sec.  602.18(b);
    (b) Requires the institution or program to engage in a self-study 
process that assesses the institution's or program's education quality 
and success in meeting its mission and objectives, highlights 
opportunities for improvement, and includes a plan for making those 
improvements;
    (c) Conducts at least one on-site review of the institution or 
program during which it obtains sufficient information to determine if 
the institution or program complies with the agency's standards;
    (d) Allows the institution or program the opportunity to respond in 
writing to the report of the on-site review;
    (e) Conducts its own analysis of the self-study and supporting 
documentation furnished by the institution or program, the report of 
the on-site review, the institution's or program's response to the 
report, and any other information substantiated by the agency from 
other sources to determine whether the institution or program complies 
with the agency's standards;
    (f) Provides the institution or program with a detailed written 
report that assesses the institution's or program's compliance with the 
agency's standards, including areas needing improvement, and the 
institution's or program's performance with respect to student 
achievement;
    (g) Requires institutions to have processes in place through which 
the institution establishes that a student who registers in any course 
offered via distance education or correspondence is the same student 
who academically engages in the course or program; and
    (h) Makes clear in writing that institutions must use processes 
that protect student privacy and notify students of any projected 
additional student charges associated with the verification of student 
identity at the time of registration or enrollment.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1099b)


0
21. Section 602.18 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  602.18  Ensuring consistency in decision-making.

    (a) The agency must consistently apply and enforce standards that 
respect the stated mission of the institution, including religious 
mission, and that ensure that the education or training offered by an 
institution or program, including any offered through distance 
education, correspondence courses, or direct assessment education is of 
sufficient quality to achieve its stated objective for the duration of 
any accreditation or preaccreditation period.
    (b) The agency meets the requirement in paragraph (a) of this 
section if the agency--
    (1) Has written specification of the requirements for accreditation 
and preaccreditation that include clear standards for an institution or 
program to be accredited or preaccredited;
    (2) Has effective controls against the inconsistent application of 
the agency's standards;
    (3) Bases decisions regarding accreditation and preaccreditation on 
the agency's published standards and does not use as a negative factor 
the institution's religious mission-based policies, decisions, and 
practices in the areas covered by Sec.  602.16(a)(1)(ii), (iii), (iv), 
(vi), and (vii) provided, however, that the agency may require that the 
institution's or program's curricula include all core components 
required by the agency;
    (4) Has a reasonable basis for determining that the information the 
agency relies on for making accrediting decisions is accurate;
    (5) Provides the institution or program with a detailed written 
report that clearly identifies any deficiencies in the institution's or 
program's compliance with the agency's standards; and

[[Page 27481]]

    (6) Publishes any policies for retroactive application of an 
accreditation decision, which must not provide for an effective date 
that predates either--
    (i) An earlier denial by the agency of accreditation or 
preaccreditation to the institution or program; or
    (ii) The agency's formal approval of the institution or program for 
consideration in the agency's accreditation or preaccreditation 
process.
    (c) Nothing in this part prohibits an agency, when special 
circumstances exist, to include innovative program delivery approaches 
or, when an undue hardship on students occurs, from applying equivalent 
written standards, policies, and procedures that provide alternative 
means of satisfying one or more of the requirements set forth in 34 CFR 
602.16, 602.17, 602.19, 602.20, 602.22, and 602.24, as compared with 
written standards, policies, and procedures the agency ordinarily 
applies, if--
    (1) The alternative standards, policies, and procedures, and the 
selection of institutions or programs to which they will be applied, 
are approved by the agency's decision-making body and otherwise meet 
the intent of the agency's expectations and requirements;
    (2) The agency sets and applies equivalent goals and metrics for 
assessing the performance of institutions or programs;
    (3) The agency's process for establishing and applying the 
alternative standards, policies, and procedures, is set forth in its 
published accreditation manuals; and
    (4) The agency requires institutions or programs seeking the 
application of alternative standards to demonstrate the need for an 
alternative assessment approach, that students will receive equivalent 
benefit, and that students will not be harmed through such application.
    (d) Nothing in this part prohibits an agency from permitting the 
institution or program to be out of compliance with one or more of its 
standards, policies, and procedures adopted in satisfaction of 
Sec. Sec.  602.16, 602.17, 602.19, 602.20, 602.22, and 602.24 for a 
period of time, as determined by the agency annually, not to exceed 
three years unless the agency determines there is good cause to extend 
the period of time, and if--
    (1) The agency and the institution or program can show that the 
circumstances requiring the period of noncompliance are beyond the 
institution's or program's control, such as--
    (i) A natural disaster or other catastrophic event significantly 
impacting an institution's or program's operations;
    (ii) Accepting students from another institution that is 
implementing a teach-out or closing;
    (iii) Significant and documented local or national economic 
changes, such as an economic recession or closure of a large local 
employer;
    (iv) Changes relating to State licensure requirements;
    (v) The normal application of the agency's standards creates an 
undue hardship on students; or
    (vi) Instructors who do not meet the agency's typical faculty 
standards, but who are otherwise qualified by education or work 
experience, to teach courses within a dual or concurrent enrollment 
program, as defined in 20 U.S.C. 7801, or career and technical 
education courses;
    (2) The grant of the period of noncompliance is approved by the 
agency's decision-making body;
    (3) The agency projects that the institution or program has the 
resources necessary to achieve compliance with the standard, policy, or 
procedure postponed within the time allotted; and
    (4) The institution or program demonstrates to the satisfaction of 
the agency that the period of noncompliance will not--
    (i) Contribute to the cost of the program to the student without 
the student's consent;
    (ii) Create any undue hardship on, or harm to, students; or
    (iii) Compromise the program's academic quality.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1099b)


0
22. Section 602.19 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  602.19  Monitoring and reevaluation of accredited institutions 
and programs.

    (a) The agency must reevaluate, at regularly established intervals, 
the institutions or programs it has accredited or preaccredited.
    (b) The agency must demonstrate it has, and effectively applies, 
monitoring and evaluation approaches that enable the agency to identify 
problems with an institution's or program's continued compliance with 
agency standards and that take into account institutional or program 
strengths and stability. These approaches must include periodic 
reports, and collection and analysis of key data and indicators, 
identified by the agency, including, but not limited to, fiscal 
information and measures of student achievement, consistent with the 
provisions of Sec.  602.16(g)(1) and (2)2).f). This provision does not 
require institutions or programs to provide annual reports on each 
specific accreditation criterion.
    (c) Each agency must monitor overall growth of the institutions or 
programs it accredits and, at least annually, collect head-count 
enrollment data from those institutions or programs.
    (d) Institutional accrediting agencies must monitor the growth of 
programs at institutions experiencing significant enrollment growth, as 
reasonably defined by the agency.
    (e) Any agency that has notified the Secretary of a change in its 
scope in accordance with Sec.  602.27(a) must monitor the headcount 
enrollment of each institution it has accredited that offers distance 
education or correspondence courses. The Secretary will require a 
review, at the next meeting of the National Advisory Committee on 
Institutional Quality and Integrity, of any change in scope undertaken 
by an agency if the enrollment of an institution that offers distance 
education or correspondence courses that is accredited by such agency 
increases by 50 percent or more within any one institutional fiscal 
year. If any such institution has experienced an increase in head-count 
enrollment of 50 percent or more within one institutional fiscal year, 
the agency must report that information to the Secretary within 30 days 
of acquiring such data.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1099b)


0
23. Section 602.20 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  602.20  Enforcement of standards.

    (a) If the agency's review of an institution or program under any 
standard indicates that the institution or program is not in compliance 
with that standard, the agency must--
    (1) Follow its written policy for notifying the institution or 
program of the finding of noncompliance;
    (2) Provide the institution or program with a written timeline for 
coming into compliance that is reasonable, as determined by the 
agency's decision-making body, based on the nature of the finding, the 
stated mission, and educational objectives of the institution or 
program. The timeline may include intermediate checkpoints on the way 
to full compliance and must not exceed the lesser of four years or 150 
percent of the--
    (i) Length of the program in the case of a programmatic accrediting 
agency; or
    (ii) Length of the longest program at the institution in the case 
of an institutional accrediting agency;
    (3) Follow its written policies and procedures for granting a good 
cause

[[Page 27482]]

extension that may exceed the standard timeframe described in paragraph 
(a)(2) of this section when such an extension is determined by the 
agency to be warranted; and
    (4) Have a written policy to evaluate and approve or disapprove 
monitoring or compliance reports it requires, provide ongoing 
monitoring, if warranted, and evaluate an institution's or program's 
progress in resolving the finding of noncompliance.
    (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this section, the agency must 
have a policy for taking an immediate adverse action, and take such 
action, when the agency has determined that such action is warranted.
    (c) If the institution or program does not bring itself into 
compliance within the period specified in paragraph (a) of this 
section, the agency must take adverse action against the institution or 
program, but may maintain the institution's or program's accreditation 
or preaccreditation until the institution or program has had reasonable 
time to complete the activities in its teach-out agreement to assist 
students in transferring or completing their programs.
    (d) An agency that accredits institutions may limit the adverse or 
other action to particular programs that are offered by the institution 
or to particular additional locations of an institution, without 
necessarily taking action against the entire institution and all of its 
programs, provided the noncompliance was limited to that particular 
program or location.
    (e) All adverse actions taken under this subpart are subject to the 
arbitration requirements in 20 U.S.C. 1099b(e).
    (f) An agency is not responsible for enforcing requirements in 34 
CFR 668.14, 668.15, 668.16, 668.41, or 668.46, but if, in the course of 
an agency's work, it identifies instances or potential instances of 
noncompliance with any of these requirements, it must notify the 
Department.
    (g) The Secretary may not require an agency to take action against 
an institution or program that does not participate in any title IV, 
HEA or other Federal program as a result of a requirement specified in 
this part.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1099b)


0
24. Section 602.21 is amended by revising paragraphs (a) and (c) and 
adding paragraph (d) to read as follows:


Sec.  602.21  Review of standards.

    (a) The agency must maintain a comprehensive systematic program of 
review that involves all relevant constituencies and that demonstrates 
that its standards are adequate to evaluate the quality of the 
education or training provided by the institutions and programs it 
accredits and relevant to the educational or training needs of 
students.
* * * * *
    (c) If the agency determines, at any point during its systematic 
program of review, that it needs to make changes to its standards, the 
agency must initiate action within 12 months to make the changes and 
must complete that action within a reasonable period of time.
    (d) Before finalizing any changes to its standards, the agency 
must--
    (1) Provide notice to all of the agency's relevant constituencies, 
and other parties who have made their interest known to the agency, of 
the changes the agency proposes to make;
    (2) Give the constituencies and other interested parties adequate 
opportunity to comment on the proposed changes; and
    (3) Take into account and be responsive to any comments on the 
proposed changes submitted timely by the relevant constituencies and 
other interested parties.
* * * * *
0
25. Section 602.22 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  602.22  Substantive changes and other reporting requirements.

    (a) If the agency accredits institutions, it must maintain adequate 
substantive change policies that ensure that any substantive change to 
the institution's or program's mission after the agency has accredited 
or preaccredited the institution does not adversely affect the capacity 
of the institution to continue to meet the agency's standards. The 
agency meets this requirement if--
    (1) The agency requires the institution to obtain the agency's 
approval of the substantive change before the agency includes the 
change in the scope of accreditation or preaccreditation it previously 
granted to the institution; and
    (2) The agency's definition of substantive change covers high-
impact, high-risk changes, including at least the following:
    (i) Any substantial change in the established mission or objectives 
of the institution or its programs.
    (ii) Any change in the legal status, form of control, or ownership 
of the institution.
    (iii) The addition of programs that represent a significant 
departure from the existing offerings or educational programs, or 
method of delivery, from those that were offered or used when the 
agency last evaluated the institution.
    (iv) The addition of graduate programs by an institution that 
previously offered only undergraduate programs or certificates.
    (v) A change in the way an institution measures student progress, 
including whether the institution measures progress in clock hours or 
credit-hours, semesters, trimesters, or quarters, or uses time-based or 
non-time-based methods.
    (vi) A substantial increase in the number of clock hours or credit 
hours awarded, or an increase in the level of credential awarded, for 
successful completion of one or more programs.
    (vii) The acquisition of any other institution or any program or 
location of another institution.
    (viii) The addition of a permanent location at a site at which the 
institution is conducting a teach-out for students of another 
institution that has ceased operating before all students have 
completed their program of study.
    (ix) The addition of a new location or branch campus, except as 
provided in paragraph (c) of this section. The agency's review must 
include assessment of the institution's fiscal and administrative 
capability to operate the location or branch campus, the regular 
evaluation of locations, and verification of the following:
    (A) Academic control is clearly identified by the institution.
    (B) The institution has adequate faculty, facilities, resources, 
and academic and student support systems in place.
    (C) The institution is financially stable.
    (D) The institution had engaged in long-range planning for 
expansion.
    (x) Entering into a written arrangement under 34 CFR 668.5 under 
which an institution or organization not certified to participate in 
the title IV, HEA programs offers more than 25 and up to 50 percent of 
one or more of the accredited institution's educational programs.
    (xi) Addition of each direct assessment program.
    (3)(i) For substantive changes under only paragraph (a)(2)(iii), 
(v), (vi), (viii), or (x) of this section, the agency's decision-making 
body may designate agency senior staff to approve or disapprove the 
request in a timely, fair, and equitable manner; and
    (ii) In the case of a request under paragraph (a)(2)(x) of this 
section, the agency must make a final decision within 90 days of 
receipt of a materially complete request, unless the agency or its 
staff determine significant circumstances related to the substantive 
change require a review by the agency's

[[Page 27483]]

decision-making body to occur within 180 days.
    (b) Institutions that have been placed on probation or equivalent 
status, have been subject to negative action by the agency over the 
prior three academic years, or are under a provisional certification, 
as provided in 34 CFR 668.13, must receive prior approval for the 
following additional substantive changes (all other institutions must 
report these changes within 30 days to their accrediting agency):
    (1) A change in an existing program's method of delivery.
    (2) A change of 25 percent or more of a program since the agency's 
most recent accreditation review.
    (3) The development of customized pathways or abbreviated or 
modified courses or programs to--
    (i) Accommodate and recognize a student's existing knowledge, such 
as knowledge attained through employment or military service; and
    (ii) Close competency gaps between demonstrated prior knowledge or 
competency and the full requirements of a particular course or program.
    (4) Entering into a written arrangement under 34 CFR 668.5 under 
which an institution or organization not certified to participate in 
the title IV, HEA programs offers up to 25 percent of one or more of 
the accredited institution's educational programs.
    (c) Institutions that have successfully completed at least one 
cycle of accreditation and have received agency approval for the 
addition of at least two additional locations as provided in paragraph 
(a)(2)(ix) of this section, that have not been placed on probation or 
equivalent status or been subject to a negative action by the agency 
over the prior three academic years, and that are not under a 
provisional certification, as provided in 34 CFR 668.13, need not apply 
for agency approval of subsequent additions of locations, and may 
report these changes to the accrediting agency within 30 days, if the 
institution has met criteria established by the agency indicating 
sufficient capacity to add additional locations without individual 
prior approvals, including, at a minimum, satisfactory evidence of a 
system to ensure quality across a distributed enterprise that 
includes--
    (1) Clearly identified academic control;
    (2) Regular evaluation of the locations;
    (3) Adequate faculty, facilities, resources, and academic and 
student support systems;
    (4) Financial stability; and
    (5) Long-range planning for expansion.
    (d) The agency must have an effective mechanism for conducting, at 
reasonable intervals, visits to a representative sample of additional 
locations approved under paragraphs (a)(2)(viii) and (ix) of this 
section.
    (e) The agency may determine the procedures it uses to grant prior 
approval of the substantive change. However, these procedures must 
specify an effective date, on which the change is included in the 
program's or institution's accreditation, that does not pre-date either 
an earlier agency denial of the substantive change, or the agency's 
formal approval of the substantive change for consideration by the 
agency for inclusion in the program's or institution's accreditation or 
preaccreditation. An agency may designate the date of a change in 
ownership as the effective date of its approval of that substantive 
change if the accreditation decision is made within 30 days of the 
change in ownership. Except as provided in paragraphs (d) and (f) of 
this section, these procedures may, but need not, require a visit by 
the agency.
    (f) If the agency's accreditation of an institution enables the 
institution to seek eligibility to participate in title IV, HEA 
programs, the agency's procedures for the approval of an additional 
location that is not a branch campus where at least 50 percent of an 
educational program is offered must include--
    (1) A visit, within six months, to each additional location the 
institution establishes, if the institution--
    (i) Has a total of three or fewer additional locations;
    (ii) Has not demonstrated, to the agency's satisfaction, that the 
additional location is meeting all of the agency's standards that apply 
to that additional location; or
    (iii) Has been placed on warning, probation, or show cause by the 
agency or is subject to some limitation by the agency on its 
accreditation or preaccreditation status;
    (2) A mechanism for conducting, at reasonable intervals, visits to 
a representative sample of additional locations of institutions that 
operate more than three additional locations; and
    (3) A mechanism, which may, at the agency's discretion, include 
visits to additional locations, for ensuring that accredited and 
preaccredited institutions that experience rapid growth in the number 
of additional locations maintain education quality.
    (g) The purpose of the visits described in paragraph (f) of this 
section is to verify that the additional location has the personnel, 
facilities, and resources the institution claimed it had in its 
application to the agency for approval of the additional location.
    (h) The agency's substantive change policy must define when the 
changes made or proposed by an institution are or would be sufficiently 
extensive to require the agency to conduct a new comprehensive 
evaluation of that institution.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1099b)


0
26. Section 602.23 is amended by:
0
a. Revising paragraphs (a)(2), (a)(5) introductory text, and (d);
0
b. Redesignating paragraph (f) as paragraph (g); and
0
c. Adding a new paragraph (f).
    The revisions and addition read as follows:


Sec.  602.23  Operating procedures all agencies must have.

    (a) * * *
    (2) The procedures that institutions or programs must follow in 
applying for accreditation, preaccreditation, or substantive changes 
and the sequencing of those steps relative to any applications or 
decisions required by States or the Department relative to the agency's 
preaccreditation, accreditation, or substantive change decisions;
* * * * *
    (5) A list of the names, academic and professional qualifications, 
and relevant employment and organizational affiliations of--
* * * * *
    (d) If an institution or program elects to make a public disclosure 
of its accreditation or preaccreditation status, the agency must ensure 
that the institution or program discloses that status accurately, 
including the specific academic or instructional programs covered by 
that status and the name and contact information for the agency.
* * * * *
    (f)(1) If preaccreditation is offered--
    (i) The agency's preaccreditation policies must limit the status to 
institutions or programs that the agency has determined are likely to 
succeed in obtaining accreditation;
    (ii) The agency must require all preaccredited institutions to have 
a teach-out plan, which must ensure students completing the teach-out 
would meet curricular requirements for professional licensure or 
certification, if any, and which must include a list of academic 
programs offered by the institution and the names of other institutions 
that offer similar programs and that could potentially enter into a 
teach-out agreement with the institution;

[[Page 27484]]

    (iii) An agency that denies accreditation to an institution it has 
preaccredited may maintain the institution's preaccreditation for 
currently enrolled students until the institution has had a reasonable 
time to complete the activities in its teach-out plan to assist 
students in transferring or completing their programs, but for no more 
than 120 days unless approved by the agency for good cause; and
    (iv) The agency may not move an accredited institution or program 
from accredited to preaccredited status unless, following the loss of 
accreditation, the institution or program applies for initial 
accreditation and is awarded preaccreditation status under the new 
application. Institutions that participated in the title IV, HEA 
programs before the loss of accreditation are subject to the 
requirements of 34 CFR 600.11(c).
    (2) All credits and degrees earned and issued by an institution or 
program holding preaccreditation from a nationally recognized agency 
are considered by the Secretary to be from an accredited institution or 
program.
* * * * *
0
27. Section 602.24 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  602.24  Additional procedures certain institutional agencies must 
have.

    If the agency is an institutional accrediting agency and its 
accreditation or preaccreditation enables those institutions to obtain 
eligibility to participate in title IV, HEA programs, the agency must 
demonstrate that it has established and uses all of the following 
procedures:
    (a) Branch campus. The agency must require the institution to 
notify the agency if it plans to establish a branch campus and to 
submit a business plan for the branch campus that describes--
    (1) The educational program to be offered at the branch campus; and
    (2) The projected revenues and expenditures and cash flow at the 
branch campus.
    (b) Site visits. The agency must undertake a site visit to a new 
branch campus or following a change of ownership or control as soon as 
practicable, but no later than six months after the establishment of 
that campus or the change of ownership or control.
    (c) Teach-out plans and agreements. (1) The agency must require an 
institution it accredits to submit a teach-out plan as defined in 34 
CFR 600.2 to the agency for approval upon the occurrence of any of the 
following events:
    (i) For a nonprofit or proprietary institution, the Secretary 
notifies the agency of a determination by the institution's independent 
auditor expressing doubt with the institution's ability to operate as a 
going concern or indicating an adverse opinion or a finding of material 
weakness related to financial stability.
    (ii) The agency acts to place the institution on probation or 
equivalent status.
    (iii) The Secretary notifies the agency that the institution is 
participating in title IV, HEA programs under a provisional program 
participation agreement and the Secretary has required a teach-out plan 
as a condition of participation.
    (2) The agency must require an institution it accredits or 
preaccredits to submit a teach-out plan and, if practicable, teach-out 
agreements (as defined in 34 CFR 600.2) to the agency for approval upon 
the occurrence of any of the following events:
    (i) The Secretary notifies the agency that it has placed the 
institution on the reimbursement payment method under 34 CFR 668.162(c) 
or the heightened cash monitoring payment method requiring the 
Secretary's review of the institution's supporting documentation under 
34 CFR 668.162(d)(2).
    (ii) The Secretary notifies the agency that the Secretary has 
initiated an emergency action against an institution, in accordance 
with section 487(c)(1)(G) of the HEA, or an action to limit, suspend, 
or terminate an institution participating in any title IV, HEA program, 
in accordance with section 487(c)(1)(F) of the HEA.
    (iii) The agency acts to withdraw, terminate, or suspend the 
accreditation or preaccreditation of the institution.
    (iv) The institution notifies the agency that it intends to cease 
operations entirely or close a location that provides one hundred 
percent of at least one program, including if the location is being 
moved and is considered by the Secretary to be a closed school.
    (v) A State licensing or authorizing agency notifies the agency 
that an institution's license or legal authorization to provide an 
educational program has been or will be revoked.
    (3) The agency must evaluate the teach-out plan to ensure it 
includes a list of currently enrolled students, academic programs 
offered by the institution, and the names of other institutions that 
offer similar programs and that could potentially enter into a teach-
out agreement with the institution.
    (4) If the agency approves a teach-out plan that includes a program 
or institution that is accredited by another recognized accrediting 
agency, it must notify that accrediting agency of its approval.
    (5) The agency may require an institution it accredits or 
preaccredits to enter into a teach-out agreement as part of its teach-
out plan.
    (6) The agency must require a closing institution to include in its 
teach-out agreement--
    (i) A complete list of students currently enrolled in each program 
at the institution and the program requirements each student has 
completed;
    (ii) A plan to provide all potentially eligible students with 
information about how to obtain a closed school discharge and, if 
applicable, information on State refund policies;
    (iii) A record retention plan to be provided to all enrolled 
students that delineates the final disposition of teach-out records 
(e.g., student transcripts, billing, financial aid records);
    (iv) Information on the number and types of credits the teach-out 
institution is willing to accept prior to the student's enrollment; and
    (v) A clear statement to students of the tuition and fees of the 
educational program and the number and types of credits that will be 
accepted by the teach-out institution.
    (7) The agency must require an institution it accredits or 
preaccredits that enters into a teach-out agreement, either on its own 
or at the request of the agency, to submit that teach-out agreement for 
approval. The agency may approve the teach-out agreement only if the 
agreement meets the requirements of 34 CFR 600.2 and this section, is 
consistent with applicable standards and regulations, and provides for 
the equitable treatment of students being served by ensuring that the 
teach-out institution--
    (i) Has the necessary experience, resources, and support services 
to provide an educational program that is of acceptable quality and 
reasonably similar in content, delivery modality, and scheduling to 
that provided by the institution that is ceasing operations either 
entirely or at one of its locations; however, while an option via an 
alternate method of delivery may be made available to students, such an 
option is not sufficient unless an option via the same method of 
delivery as the original educational program is also provided;
    (ii) Has the capacity to carry out its mission, and meet all 
obligations to existing students; and
    (iii) Demonstrates that it--
    (A) Can provide students access to the program and services without 
requiring

[[Page 27485]]

them to move or travel for substantial distances or durations; and
    (B) Will provide students with information about additional 
charges, if any.
    (8) Irrespective of any teach-out plan or signed teach-out 
agreement, the agency must not permit an institution to serve as a 
teach-out institution under the following conditions:
    (i) The institution is subject to the conditions in paragraph 
(c)(1) or (2).
    (ii) The institution is under investigation, subject to an action, 
or being prosecuted for an issue related to academic quality, 
misrepresentation, fraud, or other severe matters by a law enforcement 
agency.
    (9) The agency is permitted to waive requirements regarding the 
percentage of credits which must be earned by a student at the 
institution awarding the educational credential if the student is 
completing his or her program through a written teach-out agreement.
    (10) The agency must require the institution to provide copies of 
all notifications from the institution related to the institution's 
closure or to teach-out options to ensure the information accurately 
represents students' ability to transfer credits and may require 
corrections.
    (d) Closed institution. If an institution the agency accredits or 
preaccredits closes without a teach-out plan or agreement, the agency 
must work with the Department and the appropriate State agency, to the 
extent feasible, to assist students in finding reasonable opportunities 
to complete their education without additional charges.
    (e) Transfer of credit policies. The accrediting agency must 
confirm, as part of its review for initial accreditation or 
preaccreditation, or renewal of accreditation, that the institution has 
transfer of credit policies that--
    (1) Are publicly disclosed in accordance with Sec.  668.43(a)(11); 
and
    (2) Include a statement of the criteria established by the 
institution regarding the transfer of credit earned at another 
institution of higher education.
    (f) Agency designations. In its accrediting practice, the agency 
must--
    (1) Adopt and apply the definitions of ``branch campus'' and 
``additional location'' in 34 CFR 600.2;
    (2) On the Secretary's request, conform its designations of an 
institution's branch campuses and additional locations with the 
Secretary's if it learns its designations diverge; and
    (3) Ensure that it does not accredit or preaccredit an institution 
comprising fewer than all of the programs, branch campuses, and 
locations of an institution as certified for title IV participation by 
the Secretary, except with notice to and permission from the Secretary.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1099b)


0
28. Section 602.25 is amended by revising paragraphs (f)(1)(iii) and 
(iv) to read as follows:


Sec.  602.25  Due process.

* * * * *
    (f) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (iii) Does not serve only an advisory or procedural role, and has 
and uses the authority to make the following decisions: To affirm, 
amend, or remand adverse actions of the original decision-making body; 
and
    (iv) Affirms, amends, or remands the adverse action. A decision to 
affirm or amend the adverse action is implemented by the appeals panel 
or by the original decision-making body, at the agency's option; 
however, in the event of a decision to remand the adverse action to the 
original decision-making body for further consideration, the appeals 
panel must explain the basis for a decision that differs from that of 
the original decision-making body and the original decision-making body 
in a remand must act in a manner consistent with the appeals panel's 
decisions or instructions.
* * * * *
0
29. Section 602.26 is amended by:
0
a. Redesignating paragraphs (b), (c), (d), and (e) as paragraphs (c), 
(d), (e), and (f);
0
b. Adding a new paragraph (b); and
0
c. Revising newly redesignated paragraphs (c), (d), (e), and (f).
    The addition and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  602.26  Notification of accrediting decisions.

* * * * *
    (b) Provides written notice of a final decision of a probation or 
equivalent status or an initiated adverse action to the Secretary, the 
appropriate State licensing or authorizing agency, and the appropriate 
accrediting agencies at the same time it notifies the institution or 
program of the decision and requires the institution or program to 
disclose such an action within seven business days of receipt to all 
current and prospective students;
    (c) Provides written notice of the following types of decisions to 
the Secretary, the appropriate State licensing or authorizing agency, 
and the appropriate accrediting agencies at the same time it notifies 
the institution or program of the decision, but no later than 30 days 
after it reaches the decision:
    (1) A final decision to deny, withdraw, suspend, revoke, or 
terminate the accreditation or preaccreditation of an institution or 
program.
    (2) A final decision to take any other adverse action, as defined 
by the agency, not listed in paragraph (c)(1) of this section;
    (d) Provides written notice to the public of the decisions listed 
in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section within one business day of 
its notice to the institution or program;
    (e) For any decision listed in paragraph (c) of this section, the 
agency requires the institution or program to disclose the decision to 
current and prospective students within seven business days of receipt 
and makes available to the Secretary, the appropriate State licensing 
or authorizing agency, and the public, no later than 60 days after the 
decision, a brief statement summarizing the reasons for the agency's 
decision and the official comments that the affected institution or 
program may wish to make with regard to that decision, or evidence that 
the affected institution has been offered the opportunity to provide 
official comment;
    (f) Notifies the Secretary, the appropriate State licensing or 
authorizing agency, the appropriate accrediting agencies, and, upon 
request, the public if an accredited or preaccredited institution or 
program--
    (1) Decides to withdraw voluntarily from accreditation or 
preaccreditation, within 10 business days of receiving notification 
from the institution or program that it is withdrawing voluntarily from 
accreditation or preaccreditation; or
    (2) Lets its accreditation or preaccreditation lapse, within 10 
business days of the date on which accreditation or preaccreditation 
lapses.
* * * * *
0
30. Section 602.27 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  602.27   Other information an agency must provide the Department.

    (a) The agency must submit to the Department--
    (1) A list, updated annually, of its accredited and preaccredited 
institutions and programs, which may be provided electronically;
    (2) A summary of the agency's major accrediting activities during 
the previous year (an annual data summary), if requested by the 
Secretary to carry out the Secretary's responsibilities related to this 
part;
    (3) Any proposed change in the agency's policies, procedures, or

[[Page 27486]]

accreditation or preaccreditation standards that might alter its--
    (i) Scope of recognition, except as provided in paragraph (a)(4) of 
this section; or
    (ii) Compliance with the criteria for recognition;
    (4) Notification that the agency has expanded its scope of 
recognition to include distance education or correspondence courses as 
provided in section 496(a)(4)(B)(i)(I) of the HEA. Such an expansion of 
scope is effective on the date the Department receives the 
notification;
    (5) The name of any institution or program it accredits that the 
agency has reason to believe is failing to meet its title IV, HEA 
program responsibilities or is engaged in fraud or abuse, along with 
the agency's reasons for concern about the institution or program; and
    (6) If the Secretary requests, information that may bear upon an 
accredited or preaccredited institution's compliance with its title IV, 
HEA program responsibilities, including the eligibility of the 
institution or program to participate in title IV, HEA programs.
    (b) If an agency has a policy regarding notification to an 
institution or program of contact with the Department in accordance 
with paragraph (a)(5) or (6) of this section, it must provide for a 
case-by-case review of the circumstances surrounding the contact, and 
the need for the confidentiality of that contact. When the Department 
determines a compelling need for confidentiality, the agency must 
consider that contact confidential upon specific request of the 
Department.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1099b)

Sec.  602.30  [Removed and Reserved]

0
31. Section 602.30 is removed and reserved.
0
32. Section 602.31 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  602.31  Agency applications and reports to be submitted to the 
Department.

    (a) Applications for recognition or renewal of recognition. An 
accrediting agency seeking initial or continued recognition must submit 
a written application to the Secretary. Each accrediting agency must 
submit an application for continued recognition at least once every 
five years, or within a shorter time period specified in the final 
recognition decision, and, for an agency seeking renewal of 
recognition, 24 months prior to the date on which the current 
recognition expires. The application, to be submitted concurrently with 
information required by Sec.  602.32(a) and, if applicable, Sec.  
602.32(b), must consist of--
    (1) A statement of the agency's requested scope of recognition;
    (2) Documentation that the agency complies with the criteria for 
recognition listed in subpart B of this part, including a copy of its 
policies and procedures manual and its accreditation standards; and
    (3) Documentation of how an agency that includes or seeks to 
include distance education or correspondence courses in its scope of 
recognition applies its standards in evaluating programs and 
institutions it accredits that offer distance education or 
correspondence courses.
    (b) Applications for expansions of scope. An agency seeking an 
expansion of scope by application must submit a written application to 
the Secretary. The application must--
    (1) Specify the scope requested;
    (2) Provide copies of any relevant standards, policies, or 
procedures developed and applied by the agency for its use in 
accrediting activities conducted within the expansion of scope proposed 
and documentation of the application of these standards, policies, or 
procedures; and
    (3) Provide the materials required by Sec.  602.32(j) and, if 
applicable, Sec.  602.32(m).
    (c) Compliance or monitoring reports. If an agency is required to 
submit a compliance or monitoring report, it must do so within 30 days 
following the end of the period for achieving compliance as specified 
in the decision of the senior Department official or Secretary, as 
applicable.
    (d) Review following an increase in headcount enrollment. If an 
agency that has notified the Secretary in writing of its change in 
scope to include distance education or correspondence courses in 
accordance with Sec.  602.27(a)(4) reports an increase in headcount 
enrollment in accordance with Sec.  602.19(e) for an institution it 
accredits, or if the Department notifies the agency of such an increase 
at one of the agency's accredited institutions, the agency must, within 
45 days of reporting the increase or receiving notice of the increase 
from the Department, as applicable, submit a report explaining--
    (1) How the agency evaluates the capacity of the institutions or 
programs it accredits to accommodate significant growth in enrollment 
and to maintain education quality;
    (2) The specific circumstances regarding the growth at the 
institution or program that triggered the review and the results of any 
evaluation conducted by the agency; and
    (3) Any other information that the agency deems appropriate to 
demonstrate the effective application of the criteria for recognition 
or that the Department may require.
    (e) Consent to sharing of information. By submitting an application 
for recognition, the agency authorizes Department staff throughout the 
application process and during any period of recognition--
    (1) To observe its site visits to one or more of the institutions 
or programs it accredits or preaccredits, on an announced or 
unannounced basis;
    (2) To visit locations where agency activities such as training, 
review and evaluation panel meetings, and decision meetings take place, 
on an announced or unannounced basis;
    (3) To obtain copies of all documents the staff deems necessary to 
complete its review of the agency; and
    (4) To gain access to agency records, personnel, and facilities.
    (f) Public availability of agency records obtained by the 
Department. (1) The Secretary's processing and decision-making on 
requests for public disclosure of agency materials reviewed under this 
part are governed by the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552; the 
Trade Secrets Act, 18 U.S.C. 1905; the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, 
5 U.S.C. 552a; the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. Appdx. 1; 
and all other applicable laws. In recognition proceedings, agencies 
must, before submission to the Department--
    (i) Redact the names and any other personally identifiable 
information about individual students and any other individuals who are 
not agents of the agency or of an institution the agency is reviewing;
    (ii) Redact the personal addresses, personal telephone numbers, 
personal email addresses, Social Security numbers, and any other 
personally identifiable information regarding individuals who are 
acting as agents of the agency or of an institution under review;
    (iii) Designate all business information within agency submissions 
that the agency believes would be exempt from disclosure under 
exemption 4 of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 
552(b)(4). A blanket designation of all information contained within a 
submission, or of a category of documents, as meeting this exemption 
will not be considered a good faith effort and will be disregarded; and
    (iv) Ensure documents submitted are only those required for 
Department review or as requested by Department officials.

[[Page 27487]]

    (2) The agency may, but is not required to, redact the identities 
of institutions that it believes are not essential to the Department's 
review of the agency and may identify any other material the agency 
believes would be exempt from public disclosure under FOIA, the factual 
basis for the request, and any legal basis the agency has identified 
for withholding the document from public disclosure.
    (3) The Secretary processes FOIA requests in accordance with 34 CFR 
part 5 and makes all documents provided to the Advisory Committee 
available to the public.
    (4) Upon request by Department staff, the agency must disclose to 
Department staff any specific material the agency has redacted that 
Department staff believes is needed to conduct the staff review. 
Department staff will make any arrangements needed to ensure that the 
materials are not made public if prohibited by law.
    (g) Length of submissions. The Secretary may publish reasonable, 
uniform limits on the length of submissions described in this section.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1099b)

0
34. Section 602.32 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  602.32  Procedures for recognition, renewal of recognition, 
expansion of scope, compliance reports, and increases in enrollment.

    (a) An agency preparing for renewing recognition will submit, 24 
months prior to the date on which the current recognition expires, and 
in conjunction with the materials required by Sec.  602.31(a), a list 
of all institutions or programs that the agency plans to consider for 
an award of initial or renewed accreditation over the next year or, if 
none, over the succeeding year, as well as any institutions or programs 
currently subject to compliance report review or reporting 
requirements. An agency that does not anticipate a review of any 
institution or program for an initial award of accreditation or renewed 
accreditation in the 24 months prior to the date of recognition 
expiration may submit a list of institutions or programs it has 
reviewed for an initial award of accreditation or renewal of 
accreditation at any time since the prior award of recognition or 
leading up to the application for an initial award of recognition.
    (b) An agency seeking initial recognition must follow the policies 
and procedures outlined in paragraph (a) of this section, but in 
addition must also submit--
    (1) Letters of support for the agency from at least three 
accredited institutions or programs, three educators, and, if 
appropriate, three employers or practitioners, explaining the role for 
such an agency and the reasons for their support; and
    (2) Letters from at least one program or institution that will rely 
on the agency as its link to a Federal program upon recognition of the 
agency or intends to seek multiple accreditation which will allow it in 
the future to designate the agency as its Federal link.
    (c) Department staff publishes a notice of the agency's submission 
of an application in the Federal Register inviting the public to 
comment on the agency's compliance with the criteria for recognition 
and establishing a deadline for receipt of public comment.
    (d) The Department staff analyzes the agency's application for 
initial or renewal of recognition, to determine whether the agency 
satisfies the criteria for recognition, taking into account all 
available relevant information concerning the compliance of the agency 
with those criteria and in the agency's consistency in applying the 
criteria. The analysis of an application includes--
    (1)(i) Observations from site visits, on an announced or 
unannounced basis, to the agency or to a location where the agency 
conducts activities such as training, review and evaluation panel 
meetings, or decision meetings;
    (ii) Observations from site visits, on an announced or unannounced 
basis, to one or more of the institutions or programs the agency 
accredits or preaccredits;
    (iii) A file review at the agency of documents, at which time 
Department staff may retain copies of documents needed for inclusion in 
the administrative record;
    (iv) Review of the public comments and other third-party 
information Department staff receives by the established deadline, the 
agency's responses to the third-party comments, as appropriate, and any 
other information Department staff obtains for purposes of evaluating 
the agency under this part; and
    (v) Review of complaints or legal actions involving the agency.
    (2) Review of complaints or legal actions against an accredited or 
preaccredited institution or programs accredited or preaccredited by 
the agency, which may be considered but are not necessarily 
determinative of compliance.
    (e) The Department may view as a negative factor when considering 
an application for initial, or expansion of scope of, recognition as 
proposed by an agency, among other factors, any evidence that the 
agency was part of a concerted effort to unnecessarily restrict the 
qualifications necessary for a student to sit for a licensure or 
certification examination or otherwise be eligible for entry into a 
profession.
    (f) Department staff's evaluation of an agency may also include a 
review of information directly related to institutions or programs 
accredited or preaccredited by the agency relative to their compliance 
with the agency's standards, the effectiveness of the standards, and 
the agency's application of those standards, but must make all 
materials relied upon in the evaluation available to the agency for 
review and comment.
    (g) If, at any point in its evaluation of an agency seeking initial 
recognition, Department staff determines that the agency fails to 
demonstrate compliance with the basic eligibility requirements in 
Sec. Sec.  602.10 through 602.15, the staff--
    (1) Returns the agency's application and provides the agency with 
an explanation of the deficiencies that caused staff to take that 
action; and
    (2) Requires that the agency withdraw its application and instructs 
the agency that it may reapply when the agency is able to demonstrate 
compliance.
    (h) Except with respect to an application that has been returned 
and is withdrawn under paragraph (g) of this section, when Department 
staff completes its evaluation of the agency, the staff--
    (1) Prepares a written draft analysis of the agency's application;
    (2) Sends to the agency the draft analysis including any identified 
areas of potential noncompliance and all third-party comments and 
complaints, if applicable, and any other materials the Department 
received by the established deadline or is including in its review;
    (3) Invites the agency to provide a written response to the draft 
analysis and third-party comments or other material included in the 
review, specifying a deadline that provides at least 180 days for the 
agency's response;
    (4) Reviews the response to the draft analysis the agency submits, 
if any, and prepares the written final analysis--
    (i) Indicating that the agency is in full compliance, substantial 
compliance, or noncompliance with each of the criteria for recognition; 
and
    (ii) Recommending that the senior Department official approve, 
renew with compliance reporting requirements due in 12 months, renew 
with compliance reporting requirement with a deadline in excess of 12 
months based on a finding of good cause and extraordinary

[[Page 27488]]

circumstances, approve with monitoring or other reporting requirements, 
deny, limit, suspend, or terminate recognition; and
    (5) Provides to the agency, no later than 30 days before the 
Advisory Committee meeting, the final staff analysis and any other 
available information provided to the Advisory Committee under Sec.  
602.34(c).
    (i) The agency may request that the Advisory Committee defer acting 
on an application at that Advisory Committee meeting if Department 
staff fails to provide the agency with the materials described, and 
within the timeframes provided, in paragraphs (g)(3) and (5) of this 
section. If the Department staff's failure to send the materials in 
accordance with the timeframe described in paragraph (g)(3) or (5) of 
this section is due to the failure of the agency to, by the deadline 
established by the Secretary, submit reports to the Department, other 
information the Secretary requested, or its response to the draft 
analysis, the agency forfeits its right to request a deferral of its 
application.
    (j)(1) An agency seeking an expansion of scope, either as part of 
the regular renewal of recognition process or during a period of 
recognition, must submit an application to the Secretary, separately or 
as part of the policies and procedures outlined in paragraph (a) of 
this section, that satisfies the requirements of Sec. Sec.  602.12(b) 
and 602.31(b) and--
    (i) States the reason for the expansion of scope request;
    (ii) Includes letters from at least three institutions or programs 
that would seek accreditation under one or more of the elements of the 
expansion of scope; and
    (iii) Explains how the agency must expand capacity to support the 
expansion of scope, if applicable, and, if necessary, how it will do so 
and how its budget will support that expansion of capacity.
    (2) The application will be considered in accordance with 
paragraphs (c) through (h) of this section.
    (k) The Department may view as a negative factor when considering 
an application for initial or expansion of scope of recognition as 
proposed by an agency, among other factors, any evidence that the 
agency was part of a concerted effort to unnecessarily restrict the 
qualifications necessary for a student to sit for a licensure or 
certification examination or otherwise be eligible for entry into a 
profession.
    (l) Department staff's evaluation of a compliance report includes 
review of public comments solicited by Department staff in the Federal 
Register received by the established deadline, the agency's responses 
to the third-party comments, as appropriate, other third-party 
information Department staff receives, and additional information 
described in paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section, as appropriate.
    (m) If an agency is required to be reviewed by the Advisory 
Committee under Sec.  602.19(e), the Department will follow the process 
outlined in Sec.  602.32(a) through (h).

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1099b)

0
35. Section 602.33 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  602.33  Procedures for review of agencies during the period of 
recognition, including the review of monitoring reports.

    (a) Department staff may review the compliance of a recognized 
agency with the criteria for recognition at any time--
    (1) Based on the submission of a monitoring report as directed by a 
decision by the senior Department official or Secretary; or
    (2) Based on any information that, as determined by Department 
staff, appears credible and raises issues relevant to the criteria for 
recognition.
    (b) The review may include, but need not be limited to, any of the 
activities described in Sec.  602.32(d) and (f).
    (c) If, in the course of the review, and after providing the agency 
the documentation concerning the inquiry and consulting with the 
agency, Department staff notes that one or more deficiencies may exist 
in the agency's compliance with the criteria for recognition or in the 
agency's effective application of those criteria, Department staff--
    (1) Prepares a written draft analysis of the agency's compliance 
with the criteria of concern;
    (2) Sends to the agency the draft analysis including any identified 
areas of noncompliance and all supporting documentation;
    (3) Invites the agency to provide a written response to the draft 
analysis within 90 days;
    (4) Reviews any response provided by the agency, including any 
monitoring report submitted, and either--
    (i) Concludes the review;
    (ii) Continues monitoring of the agency's areas of deficiencies; or
    (iii)(A) Notifies the agency, in the event that the agency's 
response or monitoring report does not satisfy the staff, that the 
draft analysis will be finalized for presentation to the Advisory 
Committee;
    (B) Publishes a notice in the Federal Register with an invitation 
for the public to comment on the agency's compliance with the criteria 
in question and establishing a deadline for receipt of public comment;
    (C) Provides the agency with a copy of all public comments received 
and invites a written response from the agency;
    (D) Finalizes the staff analysis as necessary to reflect its review 
of any agency response and any public comment received;
    (E) Provides to the agency, no later than 30 days before the 
Advisory Committee meeting, the final staff analysis and a recognition 
recommendation and any other information provided to the Advisory 
Committee under Sec.  602.34(c); and
    (F) Submits the matter for review by the Advisory Committee in 
accordance with Sec.  602.34.

 (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1099b)

0
36. Section 602.34 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  602.34  Advisory Committee meetings.

    (a) Department staff submits a proposed schedule to the Chairperson 
of the Advisory Committee based on anticipated completion of staff 
analyses.
    (b) The Chairperson of the Advisory Committee establishes an agenda 
for the next meeting and, in accordance with the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, presents it to the Designated Federal Official for 
approval.
    (c) Before the Advisory Committee meeting, Department staff 
provides the Advisory Committee with--
    (1) The agency's application for recognition, renewal of 
recognition, or expansion of scope when Advisory Committee review is 
required, or the agency's compliance report and supporting 
documentation submitted by the agency;
    (2) The final Department staff analysis of the agency developed in 
accordance with Sec.  602.32 or Sec.  602.33, and any supporting 
documentation;
    (3) The agency's response to the draft analysis;
    (4) Any written third-party comments the Department received about 
the agency on or before the established deadline;
    (5) Any agency response to third-party comments; and
    (6) Any other information Department staff relied upon in 
developing its analysis.
    (d) At least 30 days before the Advisory Committee meeting, the 
Department publishes a notice of the meeting in the Federal Register 
inviting interested parties to make oral presentations before the 
Advisory Committee.
    (e) The Advisory Committee considers the materials provided under 
paragraph (c) of this section in a public meeting and invites 
Department staff, the

[[Page 27489]]

agency, and other interested parties to make oral presentations during 
the meeting. A transcript is made of all Advisory Committee meetings.
    (f) The written motion adopted by the Advisory Committee regarding 
each agency's recognition will be made available during the Advisory 
Committee meeting. The Department will provide each agency, upon 
request, with a copy of the motion on recognition at the meeting. Each 
agency that was reviewed will be sent an electronic copy of the motion 
relative to that agency as soon as practicable after the meeting.
    (g) After each meeting of the Advisory Committee, the Advisory 
Committee forwards to the senior Department official its recommendation 
with respect to each agency, which may include, but is not limited to--
    (1)(i) For an agency that is fully compliant, approve initial or 
renewed recognition;
    (ii) Continue recognition with a required compliance report to be 
submitted to the Department within 12 months from the decision of the 
senior Department official;
    (iii) In conjunction with a finding of exceptional circumstances 
and good cause, continue recognition for a specified period in excess 
of 12 months pending submission of a compliance report;
    (iv) In the case of substantial compliance, grant initial 
recognition or renewed recognition and recommend a monitoring report 
with a set deadline to be reviewed by Department staff to ensure that 
corrective action is taken and full compliance is achieved or 
maintained (or for action by staff under Sec.  602.33 if it is not); or
    (v) Deny, limit, suspend, or terminate recognition;
    (2) Grant or deny a request for expansion of scope; or
    (3) Revise or affirm the scope of the agency.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1099b)


0
37. Section 602.35 is amended:
0
a. In paragraph (a), by adding the word ``business'' between ``ten'' 
and ``days'';
0
b. In paragraph (c)(1), by removing the words ``documentary evidence'' 
and adding in its place the word ``documentation''; and
0
c. In paragraph (c)(2), by adding the word ``business'' between ``ten'' 
and ``days'' and adding a sentence to the end of the paragraph.
    The addition reads as follows:


Sec.  602.35  Responding to the Advisory Committee's recommendation.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (2) * * * No additional comments or new documentation may be 
submitted after the responses described in this paragraph are 
submitted.
* * * * *
0
38. Section 602.36 is amended by:
0
a. Removing the word ``evidence'' in paragraph (a)(5) and adding in its 
place the word ``documentation'';
0
b. Revising paragraphs (b) and (e);
0
c. Adding paragraph (f);
0
d. Redesignating paragraphs (g) through (j).
    The revisions and addition read as follows:


Sec.  602.36  Senior Department official's decision.

* * * * *
    (b) In the event that statutory authority or appropriations for the 
Advisory Committee ends, or there are fewer duly appointed Advisory 
Committee members than needed to constitute a quorum, and under 
extraordinary circumstances when there are serious concerns about an 
agency's compliance with subpart B of this part that require prompt 
attention, the senior Department official may make a decision on an 
application for renewal of recognition or compliance report on the 
record compiled under Sec.  602.32 or Sec.  602.33 after providing the 
agency with an opportunity to respond to the final staff analysis. Any 
decision made by the senior Department official under this paragraph 
from the Advisory Committee may be appealed to the Secretary as 
provided in Sec.  602.37.
* * * * *
    (e) The senior Department official's decision may include, but is 
not limited to, approving for recognition; approving with a monitoring 
report; denying, limiting, suspending, or terminating recognition 
following the procedures in paragraph (g) of this section; granting or 
denying an application for an expansion of scope; revising or affirming 
the scope of the agency; or continuing recognition pending submission 
and review of a compliance report under Sec. Sec.  602.32 and 602.34 
and review of the report by the senior Department official under this 
section.
    (1)(i) The senior Department official approves recognition if the 
agency has demonstrated compliance or substantial compliance with the 
criteria for recognition listed in subpart B of this part. The senior 
Department official may determine that the agency has demonstrated 
compliance or substantial compliance with the criteria for recognition 
if the agency has a compliant policy or procedure in place but has not 
had the opportunity to apply such policy or procedure.
    (ii) If the senior Department official approves recognition, the 
recognition decision defines the scope of recognition and the 
recognition period. The recognition period does not exceed five years, 
including any time during which recognition was continued to permit 
submission and review of a compliance report.
    (iii) If the scope of recognition is less than that requested by 
the agency, the senior Department official explains the reasons for 
continuing or approving a lesser scope.
    (2)(i) Except as provided in paragraph (e)(3) of this section, if 
the agency fails to comply with the criteria for recognition listed in 
subpart B of this part, the senior Department official denies, limits, 
suspends, or terminates recognition.
    (ii) If the senior Department official denies, limits, suspends, or 
terminates recognition, the senior Department official specifies the 
reasons for this decision, including all criteria the agency fails to 
meet and all criteria the agency has failed to apply effectively.
    (3)(i) If the senior Department official concludes an agency is 
noncompliant, the senior Department official may continue the agency's 
recognition, pending submission of a compliance report that will be 
subject to review in the recognition process, provided that--
    (A) The senior Department official concludes that the agency will 
demonstrate compliance with, and effective application of, the criteria 
for recognition within 12 months from the date of the senior Department 
official's decision; or
    (B) The senior Department official identifies a deadline more than 
12 months from the date of the decision by which the senior Department 
official concludes the agency will demonstrate full compliance with, 
and effective application of, the criteria for recognition, and also 
identifies exceptional circumstances and good cause for allowing the 
agency more than 12 months to achieve compliance and effective 
application.
    (ii) In the case of a compliance report ordered under paragraph 
(e)(3)(i) of this section, the senior Department official specifies the 
criteria the compliance report must address, and the time period for 
achieving compliance and effective application of the criteria. The 
compliance report documenting compliance and effective application of 
criteria is due not later than 30 days after the end of the period 
specified in the senior Department official's decision.

[[Page 27490]]

    (iii) If the record includes a compliance report required under 
paragraph (e)(3)(i) of this section, and the senior Department official 
determines that an agency has not complied with the criteria for 
recognition, or has not effectively applied those criteria, during the 
time period specified by the senior Department official in accordance 
with paragraph (e)(3)(i) of this section, the senior Department 
official denies, limits, suspends, or terminates recognition, except, 
in extraordinary circumstances, upon a showing of good cause for an 
extension of time as determined by the senior Department official and 
detailed in the senior Department official's decision. If the senior 
Department official determines good cause for an extension has been 
shown, the senior Department official specifies the length of the 
extension and what the agency must do during it to merit a renewal of 
recognition.
    (f) If the senior Department official determines that the agency is 
substantially compliant, or is fully compliant but has concerns about 
the agency maintaining compliance, the senior Department official may 
approve the agency's recognition or renewal of recognition and require 
periodic monitoring reports that are to be reviewed and approved by 
Department staff.
    (g) If the senior Department official determines, based on the 
record, that a decision to deny, limit, suspend, or terminate an 
agency's recognition may be warranted based on a finding that the 
agency is noncompliant with one or more criteria for recognition, or if 
the agency does not hold institutions or programs accountable for 
complying with one or more of the agency's standards or criteria for 
accreditation that were not identified earlier in the proceedings as an 
area of noncompliance, the senior Department official provides--
    (1) The agency with an opportunity to submit a written response 
addressing the finding; and
    (2) The staff with an opportunity to present its analysis in 
writing.
    (h) If relevant and material information pertaining to an agency's 
compliance with recognition criteria, but not contained in the record, 
comes to the senior Department official's attention while a decision 
regarding the agency's recognition is pending before the senior 
Department official, and if the senior Department official concludes 
the recognition decision should not be made without consideration of 
the information, the senior Department official either--
    (1)(i) Does not make a decision regarding recognition of the 
agency; and
    (ii) Refers the matter to Department staff for review and analysis 
under Sec.  602.32 or Sec.  602.33, as appropriate, and consideration 
by the Advisory Committee under Sec.  602.34; or
    (2)(i) Provides the information to the agency and Department staff;
    (ii) Permits the agency to respond to the senior Department 
official and the Department staff in writing, and to include additional 
documentation relevant to the issue, and specifies a deadline;
    (iii) Provides Department staff with an opportunity to respond in 
writing to the agency's submission under paragraph (h)(2)(ii) of this 
section, specifying a deadline; and
    (iv) Issues a recognition decision based on the record described in 
paragraph (a) of this section, as supplemented by the information 
provided under this paragraph.
    (i) No agency may submit information to the senior Department 
official, or ask others to submit information on its behalf, for 
purposes of invoking paragraph (h) of this section. Before invoking 
paragraph (h) of this section, the senior Department official will take 
into account whether the information, if submitted by a third party, 
could have been submitted in accordance with Sec.  602.32(a) or Sec.  
602.33(c)().
    (j) If the senior Department official does not reach a final 
decision to approve, deny, limit, suspend, or terminate an agency's 
recognition before the expiration of its recognition period, the senior 
Department official automatically extends the recognition period until 
a final decision is reached.
    (k) Unless appealed in accordance with Sec.  602.37, the senior 
Department official's decision is the final decision of the Secretary.
* * * * *
0
38. Section 602.37 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  602.37  Appealing the senior Department official's decision to 
the Secretary.

    (a) The agency may appeal the senior Department official's decision 
to the Secretary. Such appeal stays the decision of the senior 
Department official until final disposition of the appeal. If an agency 
wishes to appeal, the agency must--
    (1) Notify the Secretary and the senior Department official in 
writing of its intent to appeal the decision of the senior Department 
official, no later than 10 business days after receipt of the decision;
    (2) Submit its appeal to the Secretary in writing no later than 30 
days after receipt of the decision; and
    (3) Provide the senior Department official with a copy of the 
appeal at the same time it submits the appeal to the Secretary.
    (b) The senior Department official may file a written response to 
the appeal. To do so, the senior Department official must--
    (1) Submit a response to the Secretary no later than 30 days after 
receipt of a copy of the appeal; and
    (2) Provide the agency with a copy of the senior Department 
official's response at the same time it is submitted to the Secretary.
    (c) Once the agency's appeal and the senior Department official's 
response, if any, have been provided, no additional written comments 
may be submitted by either party.
    (d) Neither the agency nor the senior Department official may 
include in its submission any new documentation it did not submit 
previously in the proceeding.
    (e) On appeal, the Secretary makes a recognition decision, as 
described in Sec.  602.36(e). If the decision requires a compliance 
report, the report is due within 30 days after the end of the period 
specified in the Secretary's decision. The Secretary renders a final 
decision after taking into account the senior Department official's 
decision, the agency's written submissions on appeal, the senior 
Department official's response to the appeal, if any, and the entire 
record before the senior Department official. The Secretary notifies 
the agency in writing of the Secretary's decision regarding the 
agency's recognition.
    (f) The Secretary may determine, based on the record, that a 
decision to deny, limit, suspend, or terminate an agency's recognition 
may be warranted based on a finding that the agency is noncompliant 
with, or ineffective in its application with respect to, a criterion or 
criteria for recognition not identified as an area of noncompliance 
earlier in the proceedings. In that case, the Secretary, without 
further consideration of the appeal, refers the matter to the senior 
Department official for consideration of the issue under Sec.  
602.36(g). After the senior Department official makes a decision, the 
agency may, if desired, appeal that decision to the Secretary.
    (g) If relevant and material information pertaining to an agency's 
compliance with recognition criteria, but not contained in the record, 
comes to the Secretary's attention while a decision regarding the 
agency's

[[Page 27491]]

recognition is pending before the Secretary, and if the Secretary 
concludes the recognition decision should not be made without 
consideration of the information, the Secretary either--
    (1)(i) Does not make a decision regarding recognition of the 
agency; and
    (ii) Refers the matter to Department staff for review and analysis 
under Sec.  602.32 or Sec.  602.33, as appropriate; review by the 
Advisory Committee under Sec.  602.34; and consideration by the senior 
Department official under Sec.  602.36; or
    (2)(i) Provides the information to the agency and the senior 
Department official;
    (ii) Permits the agency to respond to the Secretary and the senior 
Department official in writing, and to include additional documentation 
relevant to the issue, and specifies a deadline;
    (iii) Provides the senior Department official with an opportunity 
to respond in writing to the agency's submission under paragraph 
(g)(2)(ii) of this section, specifying a deadline; and
    (iv) Issues a recognition decision based on all the materials 
described in paragraphs (e) and (g) of this section.
    (h) No agency may submit information to the Secretary, or ask 
others to submit information on its behalf, for purposes of invoking 
paragraph (g) of this section. Before invoking paragraph (g) of this 
section, the Secretary will take into account whether the information, 
if submitted by a third party, could have been submitted in accordance 
with Sec.  602.32(a) or Sec.  602.33(c).
    (i) If the Secretary does not reach a final decision on appeal to 
approve, deny, limit, suspend, or terminate an agency's recognition 
before the expiration of its recognition period, the Secretary 
automatically extends the recognition period until a final decision is 
reached.

 (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1099b)

PART 603--SECRETARY'S RECOGNITION PROCEDURES FOR STATE AGENCIES

0
39. The authority citation for part 603 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1094(C)(4), unless otherwise noted.


Sec.  603.24  [Amended]

0
40. Section 603.24 is amended by removing paragraph (c) and 
redesignating paragraph (d) as paragraph (c).

PART 654--[REMOVED AND RESERVED]

0
41. Under the authority of Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1099b, part 654 is 
removed and reserved.

PART 668--STUDENT ASSISTANCE GENERAL PROVISIONS

0
42. The authority citation for part 668 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1001-1003, 1070g, 1085, 1088, 1091, 1092, 
1094, 1099c-1, 1221-3, and 1231a, unless otherwise noted.


Sec.  668.8  [Amended]

0
43. Section 668.8 is amended in paragraph (l)(2) introductory text by 
removing the words ``in accordance with 34 CFR 602.24(f) or, if 
applicable, 34 CFR 603.24(c),''.


Sec.  668.14  [Amended]

0
44. Section 668.14 is amended in paragraph (b)(32) introductory text by 
removing the citation ``34 CFR 602.3'' and adding in its place ``34 CFR 
600.2''.
0
45. Section 668.26 is amended by:
0
a. Redesignating paragraph (e) as paragraph (f); and
0
b. Adding new paragraph (e).
    The addition reads as follows:


Sec.  668.26  End of an institution's participation in the Title IV, 
HEA programs.

* * * * *
    (e) Notwithstanding paragraph (d) of this section, with agreement 
from the institution's accrediting agency and State, the Secretary may 
permit an institution to continue to originate, award, or disburse 
funds under a title IV, HEA program for no more than 120 days following 
the end of the institution's participation in the program if--
    (1) The institution has notified the Secretary of its plans to 
conduct an orderly closure in accordance with any applicable 
requirements of its accrediting agency;
    (2) As part of the institution's orderly closure, it is performing 
a teach-out that has been approved by its accrediting agency;
    (3) The institution agrees to abide by the conditions of the 
program participation agreement that was in effect prior to the end of 
its participation, except that it will originate, award, or disburse 
funds under that program only to previously enrolled students who can 
complete the program within 120 days of the date that the institution's 
participation ended; and
    (4) The institution presents the Secretary with acceptable written 
assurances that--
    (i) The health and safety of the institution's students are not at 
risk;
    (ii) The institution has adequate financial resources to ensure 
that instructional services remain available to students during the 
teach-out; and
    (iii) The institution is not subject to probation or its equivalent 
or adverse action by the institution's State authorizing body or 
accrediting agency.
* * * * *


Sec.  668.41  [Amended]

0
46. Section 668.41 is amended by:
0
a. Removing the word ``calculates'' and adding in its place the phrase 
``publishes or uses in advertising'' in paragraph (d)(5)(i)(A);
0
b. Removing and reserving paragraph (d)(5)(ii); and
0
c. Removing paragraph (d)(5)(iii).
0
47. Section 668.43 is amended by:
0
a. Removing the word ``and'' at the end of paragraph (a)(5)(iii);
0
b. Adding the word ``and'' at the end of paragraph (a)(5)(iv)'
0
c. Adding paragraph (a)(5)(v);
0
d. Removing the word ``and'' at the end of paragraph (a)(10)(iii);
0
e. Revising paragraphs (a)(11) and (12);
0
f. Adding paragraphs (a)(13) through (20); and
0
g. Adding paragraph (c).
    The additions read as follows:


Sec.  668.43  Institutional information.

    (a) * * *
    (5) * * *
    (v) If an educational program is designed to meet educational 
requirements for a specific professional license or certification that 
is required for employment in an occupation, or is advertised as 
meeting such requirements, information regarding whether completion of 
that program would be sufficient to meet licensure requirements in a 
State for that occupation, including--
    (A) A list of all States for which the institution has determined 
that its curriculum meets the State educational requirements for 
licensure or certification;
    (B) A list of all States for which the institution has determined 
that its curriculum does not meet the State educational requirements 
for licensure or certification; and
    (C) A list of all States for which the institution has not made a 
determination that its curriculum meets the State educational 
requirements for licensure or certification;
* * * * *
    (11) A description of the transfer of credit policies established 
by the institution which must include a

[[Page 27492]]

statement of the institution's current transfer of credit policies that 
includes, at a minimum--
    (i) Any established criteria the institution uses regarding the 
transfer of credit earned at another institution and any types of 
institutions or sources from which the institution will not accept 
credits; and
    (ii) A list of institutions with which the institution has 
established an articulation agreement; and
    (iii) Written criteria used to evaluate and award credit for prior 
learning experience including, but not limited to, service in the armed 
forces, paid or unpaid employment, or other demonstrated competency or 
learning.
    (12) A description of written arrangements the institution has 
entered into in the program description in accordance with Sec.  668.5, 
including, but not limited to, information on--
    (i) The portion of the educational program that the institution 
that grants the degree or certificate is not providing;
    (ii) The name and location of the other institutions or 
organizations that are providing the portion of the educational program 
that the institution that grants the degree or certificate is not 
providing;
    (iii) The method of delivery of the portion of the educational 
program that the institution that grants the degree or certificate is 
not providing; and
    (iv) Estimated additional costs students may incur as the result of 
enrolling in an educational program that is provided, in part, under 
the written arrangement.
    (13) The percentage of those enrolled, full-time students at the 
institution who--
    (i) Are male;
    (ii) Are female;
    (iii) Receive a Federal Pell Grant; and
    (iv) Are a self-identified member of a racial or ethnic group;
    (14) If the institution's accrediting agency or State requires the 
institution to calculate and report a placement rate, the institution's 
placement in employment of, and types of employment obtained by, 
graduates of the institution's degree or certificate programs, gathered 
from such sources as alumni surveys, student satisfaction surveys, the 
National Survey of Student Engagement, the Community College Survey of 
Student Engagement, State data systems, or other relevant sources 
approved by the institution's accrediting agency as applicable;
    (15) The types of graduate and professional education in which 
graduates of the institution's four-year degree programs enrolled, 
gathered from such sources as alumni surveys, student satisfaction 
surveys, the National Survey of Student Engagement, State data systems, 
or other relevant sources;
    (16) The fire safety report prepared by the institution pursuant to 
Sec.  668.49;
    (17) The retention rate of certificate- or degree-seeking, first-
time, full-time, undergraduate students entering such institution;
    (18) Institutional policies regarding vaccinations;
    (19) If the institution is required to maintain a teach-out plan by 
its accrediting agency, notice that the institution is required to 
maintain such teach-out plan and the reason that the accrediting agency 
required such plan under Sec.  602.24(c)(1); and
    (20) If the institution is aware that it is under investigation, 
action, or prosecution by a law enforcement agency for an issue related 
to academic quality, misrepresentation, fraud, or other severe matter, 
notice of that fact.
* * * * *
    (c) Direct disclosures to students. (1) If the institution has made 
a determination under paragraph (a)(5)(v) of this section that the 
program's curriculum does not meet the State educational requirements 
for licensure or certification in the State in which a prospective 
student is located, or if the institution has not made a determination 
regarding whether the program's curriculum meets the State educational 
requirements for licensure or certification, the institution must 
provide notice to that effect to the student prior to the student's 
enrollment in the program.
    (2) If the institution makes a determination under paragraph 
(a)(5)(v)(B) of this section that a program's curriculum does not meet 
the State educational requirements for licensure or certification in a 
State in which a student who is currently enrolled in such program is 
located, the institution must provide notice to that effect to the 
student within 14 calendar days of making such determination.
    (3)(i) Disclosures under paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) of this section 
must be made directly to the student in writing, which may include 
through email or other electronic communication.
    (ii)(A) For purposes of this paragraph (c), an institution must 
make a determination regarding the State in which a student is located 
in accordance with the institution's policies or procedures, which must 
be applied consistently to all students.
    (B) The institution must, upon request, provide the Secretary with 
written documentation of its determination of a student's location 
under paragraph (c)(3)(ii)(A) of this section, including the basis for 
such determination; and
    (C) An institution must make a determination regarding the State in 
which a student is located at the time of the student's initial 
enrollment in an educational program and, if applicable, upon formal 
receipt of information from the student, in accordance with the 
institution's procedures under paragraph (c)(3)(ii)(A) of this section, 
that the student's location has changed to another State.
* * * * *


Sec.  668.188  [Amended]

0
48. Section 668.188 is amended in paragraph (c) introductory text by 
removing the citation ``34 CFR 602.3'' and adding in its place ``34 CFR 
600.2''.

PART 674--FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN PROGRAM

0
49. The authority citation for part 674 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070g, 1087aa-1087hh; Pub. L. 111-256, 124 
Stat. 2643; unless otherwise noted.


Sec.  674.33  [Amended]

0
50. Section 674.33 is amended in paragraph (g)(4)(i)(C) by removing the 
citation ``34 CFR 602.2'' and adding in its place ``34 CFR 600.2''.

[FR Doc. 2019-12371 Filed 6-11-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P