This Web page provides the public with background information  regarding the Department’s negotiated rulemaking effort to make changes to the  regulations for the programs authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act  of 1965 in 2017. 

For more information about negotiated rulemaking in general,  please see our question  and answer page.

**Negotiated Rulemaking Committee Meetings**

All sessions will run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., unless otherwise indicated. 

Committee meetings are open to the public.

**Borrower Defenses and Financial Responsibility**

**Session 1: November 13-15, 2017**

The  Holiday Inn Washington Capitol      550 C Street, SW      Congressional II Room      Washington, DC 20024

**Session 2: January 8-11, 2018**

The U.S.  Department of EducationUnion Center  Plaza (UCP) Learning Center830 First Street  NE., Lobby LevelWashington, DC 20002

**Session 3: February 12-15, 2018**

The U.S. Department of Education      Barnard Auditorium      400 Maryland Ave., SW      Washington, DC 20202

**Gainful Employment**

**Session 1: December 4-7, 2017**

The  U.S. Department of Education      Union Center Plaza (UCP) Learning Center      830 First Street, NE,  Lobby Level      Washington, DC 20002

**Session 2: February 5-8, 2018**

The U.S. Department of EducationBarnard Auditorium400 Maryland Ave., SWWashington, DC 20202

**Session 3: March 12-15, 2018**

The U.S. Department of Education      Potomac Center Plaza Auditorium      550 12th Street, SW      Washington, DC 20202

**Federal Register  Notices by Date**

- Intent to Establish  Negotiated Rulemaking Committee; Public Hearings

On   June 16, 2017, the Department published a notice in the*Federal Register * announcing our  intention to establish a negotiated rulemaking committee to prepare proposed  regulations for the Federal Student Aid programs authorized under title  IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). This notice announced two public hearings at which  interested parties may comment on the topics suggested by the Department in the  notice, and suggest additional topics for consideration for action by the negotiated  rulemaking committee.

www.regulations.gov
**Public Hearings  Information**
July 10,  2017--U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C.,
 Barnard Auditorium, 400  Maryland Ave., SW., Washington, D.C.  20202.      
Nearest Metro stop:  L’Enfant Plaza on the Orange, Blue, Green,  Yellow, and Silver Lines.
List of Presenters 
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Hearing Transrcipt 
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 (163KB)

July 12,  2017—Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas,
 Underwood Law  Library-Walsh Classroom, 6550 Hillcrest Ave., Dallas, TX 75275.      
Parking spaces for the hearing will be available  in the Daniel Parking Structure located across the street from the Dedman  School of Law.
Campus Parking Map 
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How to take public transportation to SMU 
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(34KB)
SMU’s Maps and Directions page 
List of Presenters 
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 (16KB) 
Hearing Transrcipt 
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 (1.97MB)

The public hearings will be held from 9:00 a.m. to  4:00 p.m., local time. 

- Request for negotiator nominations

On August 30, 2017, the  Department published a notice in the *Federal  Register*requesting nominations for negotiators to serve on  two negotiated rulemaking committees that will address 1) gainful  employment issues; and 2) borrower defenses to repayment of Federal student  loans and other matters, the authority of guaranty agencies in the Federal  Family Education Loan Program to charge collection costs to a defaulted borrower  who enters into a repayment agreement with the guaranty agency, and limited  financial responsibility issues, which will be addressed by a subcommittee.  In addition, the notice requested nominations  for individuals with pertinent expertise to participate on the financial  responsibility subcommittee. Information on how to  submit a nomination is provided in the Federal Register notice. The deadline  for submitting nominations is Friday, September 29, 2017.