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# The Department of Education Announces Public Hearings on Higher Education Rulemaking  

# The Department of Education Announces Public Hearings on Higher Education Rulemaking  

March 23, 2023

**Contact:  **press@ed.gov

                                    -        
The U.S. Department of Education  (Department) announced today that it will hold virtual  public hearings on April 11, 12, and 13 to receive stakeholder feedback on  potential issues for future rulemaking sessions.

The Department’s regulatory efforts  reflect our commitment to supporting students and ensuring they can access  opportunities that will help them succeed.

“The Department’s primary responsibility  is to serve students and help them succeed,” said Education Secretary Miguel  Cardona. “That means we must continue to take a look at a range of regulations  to ensure that colleges and programs serve our students well and that  Department processes work in their best interest.”

Today’s announcement is the first step in  the process of issuing new regulations. Following the public hearings, the  Department will finalize the issues to be addressed through rulemaking and  solicit nominations for non-federal negotiators who can serve on the negotiated  rulemaking committee(s), which will convene in fall 2023.

The Department suggests the following  topics for regulation in the hearing notice but invites comment on any  regulatory issue that can improve outcomes for students. Potential topics may  include:
- The Secretary’s recognition of       accrediting agencies and related issues
- Institutional eligibility,       including State authorization
- Third-party servicers and       related issues
- The definition of distance       education as it pertains to clock hour programs and reporting students who       enroll primarily online
- Return of Title IV funds
- Cash management to address       disbursement of student funds
- Federal TRIO programs

We also invite public input on how the  Department could, through its Title IV regulations, help improve borrowers’  understanding of repayment options and ensure borrowers select an income-driven  repayment plan—instead of enrolling in deferment or forbearance—if doing so  would be in their best interest.

The virtual public hearings will be held  from April 11-13 from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern Time.  Individuals who would like to make comments at the public hearings must  register by sending an email message to negreghearing@ed.gov no  later than noon Eastern Time on the business day prior to the public hearing at  which they wish to speak. The message should include the name and email address  of the speaker, the general topic(s) to be addressed, and at least two dates  and times during which the individual would be available to speak.

The Department will attempt to accommodate  each speaker’s scheduling preference; however, if we are unable to do so,  determinations will be made on a first- come first-served basis, based on the  registration submission time and date. Participant comments will be limited to  four minutes. Individuals who wish to view the hearings without providing  comment must register to observe. The public is also invited to provide  written comment for 30 days following the official posting.

Further information on the public hearings is available  here. More on the  negotiated rulemaking process is available here.
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