## Accessing OPE’s Guidance Documents

In accordance with Executive Order 13891, this page provides links to the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) inventory of guidance. On February 26, 2020, the Department published a Federal Register notice announcing the existence and location of this guidance portal at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-02-26/pdf/2020-03811.pdf.

The Department’s main guidance page can be found at https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/types-of-guidance-documents.html

## Federal Student Aid Programs

OPE is responsible for the implementation of programs authorized under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). OPE formulates Federal postsecondary education policy including policy relating to the Federal student aid programs authorized under Title IV of the HEA. The Knowledge Center at FSA Partner Connect website consolidates guidance, resources, and information related to the administration and processing of Title IV Federal student aid into one online site.

The most recent postings to the site are listed in the What's New section. Additionally, the majority of OPE's guidance is issued in the form of Dear Colleague Letters (DCLs) or electronic announcements (EAs). These guidance documents can be found at the Knowledge Center Homepage under the Quick Reference section and are organized by date and also by topic. 

OPE also works with the Department’s Office of Federal Student Aid to publish handbooks to help institutions of higher education navigate and comply with Department regulations. We publish both the Federal Student Aid Handbook and the Handbook for Campus Safety and Security Reporting (Clery Act Handbook). These handbooks are updated regularly to reflect changes to statute, Department regulations, and Department policy. 

### Federal Student Aid Handbook

The Federal Student Aid Handbook consists of the Application and Verification Guide, nine numbered volumes, and appendices. Each volume and appendix is posted in the Knowledge Center after being reviewed and approved by the appropriate offices in Federal Student Aid and OPE.

https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/fsa-handbook

### Frequently Asked Questions

**90/10 FAQs**

- 90/10 FAQs - Archived Guidance

**Certification Procedures Regulations FAQs**

**Direct Assessment (Competency-Based) Programs FAQs**

**FAFSA Simplification FAQs**

-  FAFSA Simplification FAQs - Archived Guidance 

**Financial Responsibility Regulations FAQs - Coming Soon**

**GE Program Length Limitations FAQs - Coming Soon**

**Institutional Readmission Requirements for Servicemembers FAQs**

**Prison Education Programs FAQs**

- Prison Education Programs FAQs - Archived Guidance

**Program Integrity FAQs**

**State Authorization Regulations FAQs**

### The Handbook for Campus Safety and Security Reporting

The Handbook for Campus  Safety and Security Reporting, which is sometimes referred to as the “Clery  Handbook,” provides step-by-step procedures, examples, and references for  higher education institutions to follow in meeting the campus safety and  security requirements of the HEA. 

**The Handbook for Campus  Safety and Security Reporting**  PDF** (3.4MB)** (June 2016 Version)

## Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) CARES Act and CRRSAA Guidance Documents 

### HEERF II Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA)

- CRRSAA HEERF II Section 314(a)(1) Frequently Asked  Questions  (January 14, 2021)
- CRRSAA HEERF II Section 314(a)(4) Frequently Asked  Questions  (January 14, 2021)

### HEERF CARES Act Guidance Documents

- CARES Act HEERF Rollup FAQs  (Rollup of  all five previously-released HEERF FAQ documents in one document) (Issued  October 14, 2020 and revised November 20, 2020)
- CARES Act HEERF Round 3 FAQs  (Issued  October 14, 2020 and revised November 20, 2020)
- CARES Act HEERF Supplemental FAQs  (Issued  June 30, 2020 and revised September 8, 2020)
- CARES Act HEERF Student FAQs  (May 15,  2020)
- CARES Act HEERF Emergency Financial Aid Grants to  Students under Section 18004(a)(1) and 18004(c) FAQs  (April 9,  2020)
- CARES Act HEERF Institutional Portion under Section  18004(a)(1) and 18004(c)FAQs  (April 9, 2020)

## Accreditation

Under the HEA the  Department “recognizes” (approves) agencies that the Secretary of Education  determines to be reliable authorities as to the quality of education or  training provided by institutions of higher education, and the Department  publishes a list of nationally recognized accrediting agencies. The Department  does not accredit individual educational institutions or programs and is not  directly involved in the institutional or programmatic accrediting process. The  Department recognizes only agencies that apply for recognition; many do not.  Along with its recognition decision, the Department designates the scope of  accrediting activities to which its recognition pertains.

https://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/accreditation-handbook.pdf

### Other Accreditation Guidance

In addition, the  Department has published several guidance documents to help accreditation  agencies, institutions of higher education and students understand the  recognition process. 

Frequently  Asked Questions Regarding Federal Recognition for Accrediting Agencies

Retroactive  Establishment of the Date of Accreditation 

Focused Review Guidance PDF (228K)

MS Word

## International and Foreign Language Education

The  International and Foreign Language Education (IFLE) office administers Title VI  (domestic) and Fulbright-Hays (overseas) grant and fellowship programs that  strengthen foreign language instruction, area/international studies teaching  and research, professional development for educators, and curriculum  development at the K-12, graduate, and postsecondary levels.

IFLE publishes  Program Administrative Manuals (PAM) and handbooks for many of its grant  programs to assist grantees in complying with the HEA, the Fulbright-Hays Act and  Department regulations. These documents are generally reviewed and updated (as  appropriate) every time the Department conducts a new competition for that  grant program. IFLE has not published similar guides for the American Overseas  Research Centers, Centers for International Business Education Program, and the  International Research and Studies grant programs but plans to do so after FY  2020 competitions for such programs has been completed. 

### Guidance on Title VI Programs

 Title VI Language Resource Centers FY2022 - 2025 Program Administration Manual  PDF (1M)

National Resource Center (NRC) and Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) FY 2022 - 2025 Program Administration Manual PDF (2.6M)

PDF

### Guidance on Fulbright-Hays Programs

 Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA) Program Administration Manual  PDF (314K); Frequently Asked Questions 

Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad (GPA) Handbook; Frequently Asked Questions 

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