Government Affairs

UPCEA helps provide colleges and universities in the online and professional continuing education field with advocacy and information on regulation and legislation. UPCEA builds greater awareness of the vital link between contemporary learners and public policy issues.

U.S. Department of Education Reveals New Distance Education and Program Integrity Rules: Final Outcomes and Responses to Concerns Raised by UPCEA

January 17, 2025

The Department of Education recently published new distance education and program integrity rules that address a number of topics raised during negotiated rulemaking sessions held in early 2024. Many of the proposals shared in the Department’s July 24, 2024, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) have been rescinded. Of those that remain, most are scheduled to…

Proposed Distance Education Rules Are Now Likely To Be Finalized Before the End of the Current Presidential Term | Policy Matters (December 2024)

December 31, 2024

Proposed Distance Education Rules Are Now Likely To Be Finalized Before the End of the Current Presidential Term On December 30, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) shared the final, unofficial version of its new program integrity and distance education regulations, which call for the collection of new but yet-to-be-established distance education and correspondence course enrollment data…

Election Outcomes: Proposed Distance Ed Rules and Incentive Compensation Changes Unlikely to Proceed | Policy Matters (November 2024)

November 27, 2024

Major Updates Recently Proposed Distance Education Regulations, Changes to Third-Party Servicers, Incentive Compensation, Are Unlikely to Move Forward The Department of Education’s recent negotiated rulemaking session aimed to revise key regulations, including those related to distance education. However, consensus among stakeholders wasn’t reached, leaving the Department to decide on proposed language. While some, like distance…

Department of Education Warns Institutions on Misleading Representations, Urges Compliance | Policy Matters (October 2024)

October 30, 2024

Major Updates Department of Education Warns Institutions on Misleading Representations, Urges Compliance The US Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid (FSA) recently released an announcement bulletin that highlights activities that could indicate institutions are engaging in substantial misrepresentations—such as misleading claims about program costs, job placement, or licensure—and as such, face serious penalties. The bulletin…