These proposals reflect changing demographics in postsecondary education and new ways institutions are delivering higher education, while ensuring that students get what they pay for and taxpayer dollars are well spent. Institutions are examining new ways to reach out to students, including working parents, workers that seek additional training to advance, and students with disabilities.
Distance learning provides opportunities to individuals who face such time and place constraints.
The Administration's reauthorization proposal for distance education broadens opportunities for distance learners by expanding institutional and student aid eligibility, eliminating the different treatments in cost of attendance between distance learners and on-campus learners, while ensuring quality through accreditation. Currently, institutions that offer more than 50 percent of their courses by distance or have more than 50 percent of their students as distance learners are ineligible to participate in the Title IV student aid programs. Expanding, at this time, institutional eligibility at degree-granting institutions only is a cautious approach that provides greater assurance that the distance programs will be high quality and serve students well. Eliminate the differences in cost of attendance treatments between distance learners and on-campus learners. This approach is appropriate in light of the societal benefits that result from an educated population regardless of whether the student attends a residential-based institution or completes a program from a distance.