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Data Biden-Harris Administration Takes Next Steps on Rulemaking to Strengthen Institutional Quality and Program Integrity
                                                          Biden-Harris Administration Takes Next Steps on Rulemaking to Strengthen Institutional Quality and Program Integrity
Issue papers outline how the Administration is working towards ensuring high-quality educational opportunities for students
January 2, 2024
**Contact:** Press Office, (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov
The Biden-Harris  Administration today moved forward in its efforts to help ensure students are  well served by the institutions of higher education they attend and that  Federal Student Aid programs work in their best interest. Today, the U.S.  Department of Education (Department) released six issue papers across a range  of categories to further these goals, which will be discussed during the first  meeting of the Institutional Quality and Program Integrity Committee, meeting  January 8-11.
The issue papers  include proposals to ensure that accrediting agencies and state authorizing  agencies -- key pillars of program integrity, along with the federal government  -- are appropriately holding institutions accountable for providing  high-quality educational opportunities. They also include proposals to create  more consumer-friendly policies to ensure students have access to their aid to  help cover college costs and receive fair treatment across aid programs.  Finally, the proposals include expanding eligibility to TRIO programs to help serve disadvantaged student populations.
“The Biden-Harris Administration remains committed to  ensuring that higher education institutions and programs are held accountable  for delivering on their promise of a better future for students and our  financial aid programs are helping students accomplish their goals,” said U.S.  Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal. “These efforts are another step in  improving the higher education system and ensuring colleges are providing all  students with high-quality opportunities for upward social and economic  mobility.”
The topics on the agenda for the first meeting of the  Institutional Quality and Program Integrity Committee include:
**Cash       Management** rules which govern the procedures institutions must follow for issuing and       managing Title IV aid. Proposals seek to create more student-friendly       policies to ensure students receive the aid to which they are entitled.
  **Return of Title IV Funds**rules which outline the       process institutions must conduct when a student ceases attendance during       a payment period or period of enrollment. Proposals would prevent balances       from becoming immediately due and streamline and simplify the process for       institutions.
  **Accreditation** rules which guide the process the Department uses to       recognize accrediting agencies, the independent private non-profit and       state entities responsible for overseeing the quality of education       provided by institutions and programs. Through its proposals, the       Department seeks to implement a system of risk-based review, increase the       rigor of accreditation, and support accreditation as a critical pillar of       the program integrity triad.
  **State Authorization** rules which govern the requirements for an institution       to be considered legally authorized by the state in which it operates, a       requirement for Title IV eligibility. Proposals and questions for       discussion seek to address the requirements for state approval and       licensure, as well as state authorization reciprocity agreements, to       ensure adequate oversight of institutions.
  **Distance Education** rules which govern the offering of distance education.       Proposals under consideration would enable the Department to get better       data and compare outcomes for students enrolled online, and to better       protect students in the event of college closures. Proposals also seek to       strengthen the Department’s ability to oversee distance education programs       overall.
  **TRIO**rules       which govern eligibility of the Federal TRIO programs that provide       services to individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. The proposal would       expand participations to more students from disadvantaged       backgrounds.The committee will be comprised of non-federal negotiators  from 15 constituency groups. A subcommittee focused on TRIO programs will meet  on January 12 and include five impacted constituency groups. Through the  negotiated rulemaking process, the Department will hear input on the proposals  and discussion topics put forward from the non-federal negotiators and hear  from members of the public at the end of each day. Through this process, the Department  will continue to refine and develop its proposals for consideration. The  committee will meet again in February and March, and the subcommittee will meet  again in February.
The Department is also releasing a list of the individuals  who will serve on the negotiating committee and subcommittee, which can be  found here.  Additional information and updates on the rulemaking process will be posted here.  Members of the public who wish to register to view the sessions or provide  public testimony can find that information beneath the Program  Integrity and Institutional Quality and TRIO Subcommittee headings by clicking on Session 1: January 8 - 11, 2024 and then Materials**.**
Today’s announcement builds on the Biden-Harris  Administration’s ambitious efforts to protect students and taxpayers, hold  colleges accountable, and ensure that all students can afford to get the  education and skills they need after high school. The issue papers and  committee meetings are part of a process known as “negotiated rulemaking,”  which is required under the H*igher Education Act of 1965*, as amended,  for any regulations related to the Federal student financial aid programs.
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