[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 40 (Wednesday, February 28, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14739-14740]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-04136]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-0932]


Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review: 
Application for Approval of an Institution of Higher Learning Facility; 
Institution of Higher Learning--Program Submission List; Application 
for Approval of Organizations Other Than Institutions of Higher 
Learning; Non-Institution of Higher Learning--Program Submission List

AGENCY: Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 
this notice announces that the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), 
Department of Veterans Affairs, will submit the collection of 
information abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes the nature 
of the information collection and its expected cost and burden, and it 
includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice by clicking on the following link www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, select ``Currently under Review--Open for Public 
Comments'', then search the list for the information collection by 
Title or ``OMB Control No. 2900-0932.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maribel Aponte, Office of Enterprise 
and Integration, Data Governance Analytics (008), 810 Vermont Ave. NW, 
Washington, DC 20420, (202) 266-4688 or email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3875594a515a5d5416594857564c5d784e59165f574e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="eea38f9c878c8b82c08f9e81809a8bae988fc0898198">[email protected]</span></a>. 
Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 2900-0932'' in any correspondence.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Authority: Public Law 117-333 sec. 11; 38 U.S.C. 3672 and 3674.
    Title: Application for Approval of an Institution of Higher 
Learning Facility, VA Form 22-10287; Institution of Higher Learning--
Program Submission List, VA Form 22-10287a; Application for Approval of 
Organizations Other Than Institutions of Higher Learning, VA Form 22-
10288; Non-Institution of Higher Learning--Program Submission List, VA 
Form 22-10288a.
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0932.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Abstract: Public Law 117-333 sec. 11, enacted January 5, 2023, 
amended title 38 U.S.C. 3672, ``Approval of Courses''. This provision 
of the law required VA to create and design two new uniform 
applications and any accompanying documentation for approval of courses 
of educational programs, and for those forms to be available for use by 
October 1, 2023. The Program Office created those four forms to meet 
the amended criteria of 38 U.S.C. 3672.
    These forms are completed by educational institutions, training 
establishments and other organizations seeking approval of one or more 
programs of study for the payment of VA Education benefits rendered to 
eligible beneficiaries. The institutions submit the forms to the State 
Approving Agencies (SAAs) of jurisdiction for their review. By law, 
each SAA has the authority to make such approvals in their respective 
state. VA contracts with SAAs in each state for this approval 
assessment work.
    Prior to the new legislative requirement, each SAA used their own 
application form(s), making it difficult for training institutions 
operating in more than one state to readily complete the process, as 
different states required different information. The amendment to title 
38 U.S.C. 3672 now ensures uniformity in the program approval process 
across all states. The uniform SAA applications are used by educational 
and training institutions to apply for initial approval of their 
programs for payment of VA benefits; to make revisions of existing 
program approvals, or to submit withdrawals of approved programs no 
longer being offered. The institutions complete either the VA Form 22-
10287, or the VA Form 22-10288, based on the type of training offered 
at their institution. Institutions of Higher Learning (IHLs) will use 
the VA Form 22-10287 exclusively, and all other types of educational 
training establishments will use the VA Form 22-10288. Each institution 
may use the associated ``Program List'', VA Form 22-10287a or VA Form 
22-10288a to add, revise, or remove any program offered. In some cases, 
institutions may use their

[[Page 14740]]

own documentation to make administrative revision(s) such as changes of 
address, banking information, or ownership changes, when all program 
offerings remain the same. The VA Forms 22-10287 and 22-10288, and any 
associated program list or documentation are submitted by the 
educational or training institution to the SAA of jurisdiction for 
review. Currently the educational institution sends the requests for 
program approval to the SAAs either via email, direct mail, an SAA 
portal, or as directed by the SAA. The SAA makes an approval decision 
and notifies the institution accordingly. The SAA then sends the 
approval package to the VA Education Liaison Representative (ELR) of 
jurisdiction. Program reviews will be conducted in the near future to 
determine the availability of advanced automation technology for 
submitting the applications between educational and training 
institutions, SAAs and VA, which may help to reduce future burdens. The 
approval package includes the application/form received from the 
training institution, the SAA's findings, and any additional related 
information that supports payment of GI Bill benefits, as well as a 
copy of the notification sent to the training institution. The VA 
Education Liaison Representative (ELR) reviews the approval package for 
completeness, or requests additional information, if required. After 
the package is deemed complete, the ELR processes the package by 
entering the required information into VA's internal ``Web Enabled 
Approval Management System (WEAMS)''. The ELR provides the report to 
the training institution, which contains the final approval 
information. The ELR then sends a copy to the SAA of jurisdiction. 
Finally, the approval data entered in WEAMS by the ELR is then used by 
Veterans Claims Examiners to adjudicate education benefit claims.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number. The Federal Register Notice with a 
60-day comment period soliciting comments on this collection of 
information was published at 88 FR 89502 on Wednesday, December 27, 
2023, Page(s) 89502-89503.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 70,400 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden Time per Respondent: 8 hours or 480 
minutes.
    Frequency of Response: Once.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 8,800.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Maribel Aponte,
VA PRA Clearance Officer, Office of Enterprise and Integration, Data 
Governance Analytics, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2024-04136 Filed 2-27-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P


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