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    <RIN_INFO>
        <RIN>1840-AD38</RIN>
        <PUBLICATION>
            <PUBLICATION_ID>201910</PUBLICATION_ID>
            <PUBLICATION_TITLE>The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions</PUBLICATION_TITLE>
        </PUBLICATION>
        <AGENCY>
            <CODE>1840</CODE>
            <NAME>Office of Postsecondary Education</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>OPE</ACRONYM>
        </AGENCY>
        <PARENT_AGENCY>
            <CODE>1800</CODE>
            <NAME>Department of Education</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>ED</ACRONYM>
        </PARENT_AGENCY>
        <RULE_TITLE>Ensuring Student Access to High Quality and Innovative Postsecondary Educational Programs</RULE_TITLE>
        <ABSTRACT><![CDATA[<!DOCTYPE html>
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<p>The Department proposes to create and amend, through negotiated rulemaking, regulations relating to institutional eligibility and operations for participation in Federal student financial aid under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, including those relating to credit hour, competency-based education, direct assessment programs, and regular and substantive interaction between faculty and students in the delivery of distance education programs, in order to promote greater access for students to high-quality, innovative programs of postsecondary education.</p>
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        <PRIORITY_CATEGORY>Economically Significant</PRIORITY_CATEGORY>
        <RIN_STATUS>Previously Published in The Unified Agenda</RIN_STATUS>
        <RULE_STAGE>Proposed Rule Stage</RULE_STAGE>
        <MAJOR>Undetermined</MAJOR>
        <UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
            <UNFUNDED_MANDATE>No</UNFUNDED_MANDATE>
        </UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
        <EO_13771_DESIGNATION>Other</EO_13771_DESIGNATION>
        <CFR_LIST>
            <CFR>Not Yet Determined</CFR>
        </CFR_LIST>
        <LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>20 U.S.C. 3474</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>20 U.S.C. 1221e-3</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>20 U.S.C. 1011 et seq.</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
        </LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
        <LEGAL_DLINE_LIST/>
        <RPLAN_ENTRY>Yes</RPLAN_ENTRY>
        <RPLAN_INFO>
            <STMT_OF_NEED><![CDATA[<!DOCTYPE html>
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<p>Update and revision to the outlined regulations is necessary so that the Department does not inhibit innovation and competition in postsecondary education. For example, regulations implemented regarding the credit-hour, regular and substantive interaction and institutional partnerships in instructional programs may limit innovation and inhibit student completion and graduation in the rapidly evolving postsecondary education landscape. Institutions need the regulatory flexibility to innovate and the Department is committed to ensuring program integrity with appropriate guardrails to protect students and taxpayer dollars.&nbsp; The focus of this rulemaking is on breaking down barriers to innovation and reducing regulatory burden while protecting students and taxpayers from unreasonable risk.</p>
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            <LEGAL_BASIS><![CDATA[<!DOCTYPE html>
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<p>The Department has the authority to establish a negotiated rulemaking committee with the purpose of creating, amending or rescinding regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations.&nbsp;</p>
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            <ALTERNATIVES><![CDATA[<!DOCTYPE html>
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<p>These are identified through the negotiated rulemaking process and presented in the notice of proposed rulemaking.</p>
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            <COSTS_AND_BENEFITS><![CDATA[<!DOCTYPE html>
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<p>These are identified through the negotiated rulemaking process and presented in the notice of proposed rulemaking.</p>
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            <RISKS><![CDATA[<!DOCTYPE html>
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<p>These are identified through the negotiated rulemaking process and presented in the notice of proposed rulemaking.</p>
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        </RPLAN_INFO>
        <TIMETABLE_LIST>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Notice of Intention to Commence Negotiated Rulemaking</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>07/31/2018</TTBL_DATE>
                <FR_CITATION>83 FR 36814</FR_CITATION>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>NPRM</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>12/00/2019</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
        </TIMETABLE_LIST>
        <RFA_REQUIRED>Undetermined</RFA_REQUIRED>
        <GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>Undetermined</GOVT_LEVEL>
        </GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
        <FEDERALISM>Undetermined</FEDERALISM>
        <ENERGY_AFFECTED>No</ENERGY_AFFECTED>
        <PUBLIC_COMMENT_URL>www.regulations.gov</PUBLIC_COMMENT_URL>
        <PRINT_PAPER>No</PRINT_PAPER>
        <INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>No</INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>
        <AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>Lynn</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>Mahaffie</LAST_NAME>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>1840</CODE>
                    <NAME>Office of Postsecondary Education</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>OPE</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>202 453-7862</PHONE>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>Room 4060, 400 Maryland Avenue SW,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Washington</CITY>
                    <STATE>DC</STATE>
                    <ZIP>20202</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
        </AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
    </RIN_INFO>
</REGINFO_RIN_DATA>
