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.
Secretary DeVos Issues Statement on Regulatory Reform Task Force Progress Report
US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION — U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos today released the following statement on the Department’s Regulatory Reform Task Force’s first progress report as required by President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 13777: “The Regulatory Reform Task Force has been hard at work over the last few months cataloguing over 150 regulations and…
Read MoreDepartment of Education Provides Year Round Pell and Increased Flexibility for Students
US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION – WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced Year Round Pell grants will be available to students beginning July 1, 2017. This policy change will ensure hundreds of thousands of college students have the resources needed to finish their coursework in a timeframe that meets their individual needs. “This decision is…
Read MoreUPCEA and Higher Education Groups Urge Congress to Continue Support for Student Aid, Research
UPCEA today co-signed a letter led by ACE and 32 other higher education associations to the leaders of the House and Senate budget and appropriations committees, asking them to maintain Congress’s “historic commitment” to student financial aid and scientific research as they begin work on funding the federal government for FY 2018, which begins Oct. 1. As…
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