Major Update

• Department of Education Releases Final Regulations Following Negotiated Rulemaking
  The US Department of Education has released its final rules that are a result of the negotiated rulemaking session held over the summer. The regulations include important topics to our community like the change from identifying online students’ place of residency to where they are “located”; a major change to consumer protection in professional licensure disclosure for all programs; and a change to distance education student complaint processes, among many other tweaks.There are some critics, including Robyn Smith, a consumer advocate who served on the rulemaking committee, who feels like the Department did not accurately represent the committee’s intent. However, others have praised some of the proposed changes or noted that the updated language is welcomed in opposition to the old regulations. The effective date of these regulations is July 1, 2020. Other rules remain in effect until that time, although the Secretary is allowing for early implementation for state authorization and the associated disclosure requirements beginning as of November 1, 2019. We encourage your institution and all program administrators to review these regulations and see how they may affect your university.

  Read the full text of the regulations.