Editor’s note: This weekly update from the government relations office at the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) provides the latest on what’s happening in Washington and how AACC is advancing policies to support community colleges and students. Send questions, feedback and more to: kgimborys@aacc.nche.edu.
- Department of Education wraps up second Negotiated Rulemaking table
- Department of Education announces flexibilities for colleges, recognizing challenges posed by FAFSA delays
Department of Education wraps up second Negotiated Rulemaking table
Last week, the Department of Education (ED) hosted the second of three negotiated rulemaking sessions on Title IV program integrity and quality issues, including accreditation, state authorization, distance education, return of Title IV funds, cash management, and TRIO eligibility. The final rulemaking sessions will take place from March 4-7. The topics for discussion are consequential for community colleges.
The second rulemaking table presented many of the same themes, concerns, and disagreements as the first session, which took place in early January. These include a shared commitment between ED and negotiators to simplify processes around return of Title IV funds but disagreements over how to capture withdrawal dates for students enrolled online. Other areas of conflict included the cash management proposal to require colleges to move to an “opt-in” model for including textbooks in tuition and fees (a key component of “inclusive access” programs utilized by many community colleges), the regulation of distance education programs, and state authorization issues around reciprocity agreements. These issues failed to generate unanimous support during temperature checks and, at this stage, it is unclear if negotiators will be able to reach consensus on these papers.
AACC is highly engaged in this rulemaking and with the negotiators representing community colleges, and we will continue to update members in the coming months.
Department of Education announces flexibilities for colleges, recognizing challenges posed by FAFSA delays
On Tuesday, the ED announced that, in recognition of the challenges posed by the delayed release of the Free Application of Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and delayed processing of financial aid applications, the agency will be delivering additional flexibilities for colleges for the 2024-25 award year. These flexibilities include reducing income verification requirements for applicants who manually input financial information, suspending routine school compliance reviews, and providing flexibility on renewing participation in the federal student aid programs. ED also announced that they will be releasing test Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs) to colleges by February 16 – a key ask of college financial aid officers to help them prepare to package award offers.
AACC’s Matthew Dembicki has more information on the new announcement and political dynamics around FAFSA implementation in the Community College Daily.