As institutions of higher education continue to innovate with online courses and professional continuing education programs, having a general understanding of the regulatory landscape that such initiatives are subject to is critical to their long-term success. These resources provide an introduction to foundational topics in federal legislation and regulations impacting online and professional continuing education for universities and colleges.
Introduction to the Online Learning Regulatory Landscape
How the “Regulatory Triad” Applies to Online and Interstate Learning Experiences.
As institutions of higher education continue to innovate with online courses and programs, having a general understanding of the regulatory landscape that such initiatives are subject to is critical to their long-term success. The geographic reach of these programs (e.g., whether offered only in the institution’s home state, nationally, or internationally) can introduce new jurisdictions beyond what the institution may have explored for any in-person program. Moreover, online programs can be subject to a variety of additional definitions, regulations, and expectations from enforcement agencies and accreditors that are unique to the instructional modality regardless of where such programs are being offered.
This resource provides an introduction to foundational topics for online education regulatory compliance in the United States.
Access our Introduction to the Online Learning Regulatory Landscape: Brief and Primer
An Introduction to Negotiated Rulemaking for Higher Education
How stakeholders come together with the federal government to influence, and provide expertise on, the implementation and execution of regulations.
Negotiated Rulemaking (Neg Reg) is a process used by the U.S. Department of Education to develop federal regulations for implementing the Higher Education Act (HEA), a law that governs federal higher education programs, including federal financial aid. This process is particularly important for regulations under Title IV (federal financial aid) and teacher quality enhancement. Unlike other federal agencies, the Department of Education frequently uses Neg Reg, though the Education Secretary can waive this requirement in certain situations. This process is crucial for higher education institutions, as it regularly creates regulations that impact their operations. Non-compliance with these regulations can lead to penalties like fees, reimbursement of student tuition, or ineligibility for Title IV funds.
Access our Introduction to Negotiated Rulemaking for Higher Education: Brief and Primer
Policy Matters: Newsletter
As a compliment to our Policy Matters: Briefs and Insights, you can also keep up to date on the latest through our monthly Policy Matters Newsletter.
Below you can find the latest versions of the newsletter. You can also find a full archive of the Newsletter found here.
UPCEA Joins Cautionary Chorus on House HEA Legislation
National Adult Learner Coalition weighs in on PROSPER Act House HEA Legislation movement UPCEA, along with the National Adult Learner Coalition, joined with many other higher education organizations to join in chorus to urge cautious and deliberative movement on the US House of Representative’s push for a re-authorization of the Higher Education Act, H.R. 4508,…
Read MoreLetter to Finance Committee on Senate Tax Plan
UPCEA, along with ACE, and nearly 50 other higher education associations sent this letter to Senate Committee on Finance Chairman Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) regarding the higher education provisions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R. 1). The groups write they are concerned about provisions in the bill…
Read MoreNational Adult Learner Coalition Addresses Tax Cuts and Jobs Act H.R. 1
The National Adult Learner Coalition, a group of organizations of which UPCEA is a founding member, wrote to Congressional leadership to express our concerns with H.R.1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and its elimination of the Lifetime Learning Credit and Section 127 of the Internal Revenue Code. Our organizations are focused on how the…
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