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.

US Department of Education Begins Substantial Negotiated Rulemaking Sessions

January 17, 2019

Beginning Tuesday January 15, following a day and a half of weather delay, the Department of Education initiated negotiated rulemaking sessions covering a considerable number of issues important to UPCEA and its membership. Meetings will continue through the months of February and conclude in March. Among the issues being discussed include, but is not limited to:…

UPCEA Submits Comments on Proposed Public Charge Rule

December 10, 2018

Higher education groups request exemption for Title IV student aid and international students ​UPCEA today joined over 150,000 groups and individuals submitting comments on the Trump administration’s proposal​ to overhaul how the government evaluates whether a would-be immigrant is “not likely to be a public charge”—that is, not likely to use public benefits such as food stamps or Medicaid,…

UPCEA & Other Associations Urge HHS Not to Pursue Definition of Sex

November 29, 2018

​Shortly before the November election, word leaked that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was considering developing a definition of “sex” that would, in effect, maintain that an individual’s sex was determined at birth and was unchangeable. In a letter​ last week, UPCEA, along with ACE and 27 other higher education associations, urged HHS not…

Department of Education Announces Formal Rulemaking Committee, Seeks Nominations

October 15, 2018

Following their request for input on a wide-ranging set of topics to be placed into a single negotiated rulemaking session, the Department has formally announced their intent to hold sessions in January, February, and March related to these issues. The department has decided to split this rulemaking session into one main committee regarding “Accreditation and…