# Presentation: 337060

## Department of Education	“Distance Education Demonstration Program”Marianne R. PhelpsSpecial AssistantOffice of Postsecondary Education

## Background

- 1992 HEA Fraud and Abuse Amendments
- Correspondence schools
- Quality
- Program length
- Accrediting agency recognition
- Aid requirements structured around traditional concepts of higher education

## 1998 Higher Education Amendments 

- Distance Education Demonstration Program
- Clear trend toward Distance Education
- Continued concern about possibilities for fraud and abuse
- Requires strict monitoring
- Administrative capability criterion

## Statutory Purposes of Program

- Test quality and viability
- Increase access
- Help determine:
- Most effective means of delivering Distance Education
- Statutory and regulatory changes needed
- Appropriate level of student assistance

## Program Structure

- 15 Participants
- Additional 35 3rd Year
- Statutory waivers
- 50% Rules
- 30week academic year
- Regulatory waivers – general provisions

## Participants

- 9 single institutions
- 6 consortia
- 99 institutions total
- 5 public
- 5 private
- 2 public and private
- 3 proprietary

## Distribution of Participants by State

- * Multi state

## Some Ideas Participants are Testing

- BA/BS completion programs
- Course sharing
- Increasing capacity to meet student needs
- Enriching on-campus offerings with distance education courses
- New methods of enrollment tracking
- Excluding living expenses from the calculation of cost of attendance
- Multiple Disbursements/Just in Time Delivery

## List of Waivers

- Set 1 50% Rules
- Courses
- Students
- Telecommunications student/correspondence student
- Set 2  Time Requirements
- 30 week academic year
- Definition of a week of instruction

## List of Waivers (cont.)

- Set 3 - Correspondence student/halftime only
- Additional waivers for Western Governors University

## Schedule for 2001 Application Cycle

- Federal Register Notice – September 15
- Technical Assistance Workshops (proposed)
- Washington, DC - October 18 (firm)
- Albuquerque, NM (WCET) - November 1 (firm)
- Chicago, IL - November 8 or 9
- Seattle, WA - November 28 or 29
- Technical Assistance to Potential Applicants -- On–going
- Application Due Date – February 15

## Applicant Screening  - March 1 – 15
Reader Recruitment and Selection – February 15 – March 15
First Reading – April 1 – 15
Second Reading – May 1 –2
New Participants Announced – May 15

- Reader Recruitment and Selection – February 15 – March 15
- First Reading – April 1 – 15
- Second Reading – May 1 –2
- New Participants Announced – May 15

- Schedule for 2001 Application Cycle (cont.)

## Thoughts for Potential Applicants

- Examine Current Uses of Technology in Your Curriculum
- Consider How Distance Education Relates to Your Mission
- Examine Your Business Plan
- Develop Clear Goals
- Analyze Where You Are
- Obtain Active Support from CEO
- Establish Team to Develop Application

## Additional Thoughts for Consortia

- Obtain Agreement from CEO’s of All Institutions
- Determine Which Institutions Are the Most Committed
- Develop Team of Personnel from Committed Schools

## The Ideal Application -Characteristics

- Well Written
- Clear Description of Distance Education Program(s)
- Understanding of USDE Waiver Authority
- Specific Plan for Administration of Aid

## The Ideal Application -Characteristics (cont.)

- Promise of Contributing to the Purposes of the Distance Education Demonstration Program
- Well formulated quantitative and qualitative goals

## Significance in Comparison with Other Applications

- of Distance Education Program(s)
- of Issues Project Poses to Student Aid
- of the Opportunity for ED to Learn from Applicant’s Participation

## Be Prepared If You Are Selected

- To Submit the Required Data Collections
- To Attend One or More Participant Meetings per Year
- To Work in Partnership with ED Staff
- FOR A GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCE!

## Department of Education    Distance Education Demonstration ProgramEmail:  OPEDistanceDemo@ed.gov        http://www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/PPI/DistEd/Learning Anytime Anywhere Partnerships        http://www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/FIPSE/LAAP