Last week, Secretary DeVos announced proposed rules on distance learning in higher education. The proposed rules were the result of a negotiated rulemaking last year. In a statement, Sec. DeVos touted the Department of Education’s work on the proposed rules, saying the COVID-19 pandemic highlights why they are important. The Secretary claimed the rules “develop a new set of standards that are responsive to current realities, that embrace new technology, that open doors for much-needed innovation in higher education, and that expand access for students to the flexible, relevant education opportunities they need.”
The proposed rules cover a number of areas, including deemphasizing seat time, clarifying what may constitute interaction between students and instructors, simplifying how to determine equivalent credit hours for certain programs, ensuring incarcerated students remain Pell eligible, incentivizing employer participation in program development and requiring prompter action by ED on institutional applications to participate in HEA Title IV.
You can read ED’s press release on the subject here, or the full notice of proposed rulemaking here. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was published in the Federal Register on April 2, and comments are due by May 4.
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