Understanding Federal Compliance Expectations for the Periodic

Understanding Federal Compliance Expectations for the Periodic Review Report

Ellie A. Fogarty – Vice President Debra G. Klinman – Vice President

Middle States Commission on Higher Education

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Overview • National Context • Certification Statement – Distance Education (Student Identity Verification) – Transfer of Credit – Credit Hours – Title IV Cohort Default Rate

• Resources for Additional Information

Middle States Commission on Higher Education

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National Context • Accreditation developed and evolved to promote mission-centered, continuous quality improvement through peer evaluation. • HEA 1965 (with subsequent re-authorizations, including 2008) named accreditors as gatekeepers for institutional access to federal funding. Various regulations have ensued. • Today, while accreditors continue to focus on quality improvement, USDE sees the primary purpose of accreditation as safeguarding federal funds.

Certification Statement • Signed by CEO and Board Chair • Attached to the executive summary of the Periodic Review Report • Affirms compliance with – MSCHE Requirements of Affiliation – Accreditation-relevant federal requirements

• Student Achievement is documented through compliance with Standards 8, 11, 12, and 14

Middle States Commission on Higher Education

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Distance Education • Distance Education – Instruction delivered via technology – Regular student/faculty interaction

• Correspondence Education – Instructional materials delivered, mail or email – Student initiated interaction as needed

Middle States Commission on Higher Education

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Student Identity Verification • HEOA 2008: Institutions must document how student identity is verified – Secure username and password – Proctored exams – New technologies – Protection of student privacy – Notification of student fees at registration

• Peer reviewers evaluate compliance Middle States Commission on Higher Education

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Transfer of Credit • Generally addressed under Standards 8 and 11 • HEOA 2008: Institutions must publicly document – Criteria for Transfer Decisions

– List of Articulation Agreements

• Peer reviewers evaluate compliance Middle States Commission on Higher Education

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Credit Hours • Unit of measurement of academic work • Federal definition consistent with Carnegie Unit • HEOA 2008: Institutions must document that any “reasonable equivalencies” to federal definition can be verified through student learning outcomes • Peer reviewers evaluate compliance Middle States Commission on Higher Education

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Title IV Cohort Default Rate • The percentage of students in a given fiscal year who cannot repay federal loans • Each year, the US Department of Education calculates and publishes the average rate • Institutions must document where they stand in relation to averages • Typically the responsibility of the financial aid office or CFO • Peer reviewers evaluate compliance Middle States Commission on Higher Education

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Resources US Dept of Education http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/policy.html http://www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/leg/hea08/index.html

Official Cohort Default Rates for Schools http://www2.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/defaultmanagement/cdr.html

Middle States Commission on Higher Education http://www.msche.org/ Middle States Commission on Higher Education

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Questions?

Middle States Commission on Higher Education

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