Feds Release Final State Authorization Rules for Distance Ed Programs

More than 5.5 million students are enrolled in distance education courses at degree-granting postsecondary institutions, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. In an effort to protect these students, the federal government has been working to improve oversight and clarify the state authorization requirements for institutions to participate in federal student aid disbursement programs.

Last Friday, the United States Department of Education published its final rules for distance education students, which incorporates feedback from postsecondary institutions and associations; distance education advocates; student and consumer advocacy groups; and state attorney generals. Effective July 1, 2018, colleges and universities will be required to receive authorization to operate from each state in which the institution enrolls students, if such authorization is required by the state.

The regulations also impose new obligations on institutions that have branch campuses in foreign countries: If 50 percent or more of an educational program is offered abroad, then the branch campus must be legally authorized by “an appropriate government authority” in that country. The department can request documentation of legal authorization from the foreign institution at any time without objection.

The final rules are available on the department website here.

About the Author

Sri Ravipati is Web producer for THE Journal and Campus Technology. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • abstract human figures stand on a glowing grid floor in a vibrant digital landscape with floating holographic buildings, luminous data orbs, and a neon blue and purple gradient sky

    Metaverse Org Declares the Technology Is Accelerating in Spite of Rise of AI

    A new report from the Metaverse Standards Forum (MSF) declares the technology initiative is alive and well, despite skyrocketing attention paid to artificial intelligence.

  • Three cubes of noticeably increasing sizes are arranged in a straight row on a subtle abstract background

    A Sense of Scale

    Gardner Campbell explores the notion of scale in education and shares some of his own experience "playing with scale" — scaling up and/or scaling down — in an English course at VCU.

  • college building with a central domed rotunda, arched windows, and columns, overlaid with glowing blue circuit patterns

    Kishwaukee College Moves to Ellucian Colleague SaaS

    Illinois's Kishwaukee College is modernizing its administrative systems with an Ellucian Colleague SaaS rollout that will bring AI-powered tools to human resources, finance, and student management.

  • Two figures, one male and one female, stand beside a transparent digital interface displaying AI symbols like neural networks, code, and a shield, against a clean blue gradient background.

    Report Makes Business Case for Responsible AI

    A new report commissioned by Microsoft and published last month by research firm IDC notes that 91% of organizations use AI tech and expect more than a 24% improvement in customer experience, business resilience, sustainability, and operational efficiency due to AI in 2024.