Higher Education Standards Improvement Act

To improve program integrity through State evaluation of institutions of higher education, requirements for student complaint submissions, and the establishment of policies and procedures to address closure of institutions of higher education, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Higher Education Standards Improvement Act 2. State responsibilities Section 495(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1099a(a) (1) in paragraph (2)— (A) by inserting and the accrediting agency or association involved Secretary (B) by striking revokes a license takes a negative action, or revokes a license, (C) by striking and (2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (4) evaluate each institution of higher education located in the State or seeking authorization to operate in the State to determine if such institution of higher education meets the applicable standards of the State relating to— (A) facilities, equipment, and supplies; and (B) measures of program length and other factors relevant for a student or graduate to receive a professional license from the State; (5) certify to the Secretary that the State shall— (A) accept student complaints from— (i) all students attending an institution of higher education located in the State; and (ii) all students who are residents of the State and attend an institution of higher education not located in the State through correspondence or distance education; and (B) report to the Secretary and accrediting bodies— (i) relevant student complaints received by the State, including multiple student complaints that present consistent allegations with respect to an institution of higher education in the State; and (ii) such othe (6) establish policies and procedures to anticipate and respond to the closure of an institution of higher education, which shall include— (A) the maintenance of sufficient cash reserves (or an equivalent alternative) in accordance with regulations issued pursuant to section 498(c)(6)(A) to ensure repayment of any required refunds; (B) a plan to address ensuring custodial record-keeping of institutional records and student transcripts in the case of such a closure; (C) the maintenance of contact information adequate to ensure communication directly between the State and each student in the case of such a closure; and (D) in the case of an institution of higher education located in the State, to develop a process to identify when a campus of such institution of higher education closes in any State. .

Summary: Higher Education Standards Improvement Act This bill requires states to take certain actions related to their oversight of institutions of higher education (IHEs). Specifically, states must (1) evaluate each IHE to determine if it meets standards for facilities, equipment, program length, and other relevant factors for a student to receive a professional license from the state; (2) accept and report student complaints that present consistent allegations with respect to an IHE; and (3) establish policies and procedures to anticipate and respond to the closure of an IHE. Such policies and procedures shall include maintaining sufficient cash reserves to ensure the repayment of any required refunds, a plan to ensure custodial record-keeping of institutional records and student transcripts, and the maintenance of contact information to ensure direct communication between the state and each student in the event of an IHE closure.