Collapse to view only § 1097a. Administrative subpoenas
- § 1088. Definitions
- § 1088a. Clock and credit hour treatment of diploma nursing schools
- § 1089. Master calendar
- § 1090. Free Application for Federal Student Aid
- § 1091. Student eligibility
- § 1091a. Statute of limitations, and State court judgments
- § 1091b. Institutional refunds
- § 1091c. Readmission requirements for servicemembers
- § 1092. Institutional and financial assistance information for students
- § 1092a. Combined payment plan
- § 1092b. National Student Loan Data System
- § 1092c. Simplification of lending process for borrowers
- § 1092d. Scholarship fraud assessment and awareness activities
- § 1092e. College access initiative
- § 1092f. Early awareness and outreach of financial aid eligibility
- § 1093. Distance education demonstration programs
- § 1093a. Articulation agreements
- § 1094. Program participation agreements
- § 1094a. Regulatory relief and improvement
- § 1094b. Assignment of identification numbers
- § 1095. Transfer of allotments
- § 1095a. Wage garnishment requirement
- § 1096. Administrative expenses
- § 1096a. Repealed.
- § 1097. Criminal penalties
- § 1097a. Administrative subpoenas
- § 1098. Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance
- § 1098a. Regional meetings and negotiated rulemaking
- § 1098b. Authorization of appropriations for administrative expenses
- § 1098c. Repealed.
- § 1098d. Procedures for cancellations and deferments for eligible disabled veterans
- § 1098e. Income-based repayment
- § 1098f. Deferral of loan repayment following active duty
- § 1098g. Exemption from State disclosure requirements
- § 1098h. Procedure and requirements for requesting tax return information from the Internal Revenue Service
§ 1088. Definitions
(a) Academic and award year
(1) For the purpose of any program under this subchapter, the term “award year” shall be defined as the period beginning July 1 and ending June 30 of the following year.
(2)
(A) For the purpose of any program under this subchapter, the term “academic year” shall—
(i) require a minimum of 30 weeks of instructional time for a course of study that measures its program length in credit hours; or
(ii) require a minimum of 26 weeks of instructional time for a course of study that measures its program length in clock hours; and
(iii) require an undergraduate course of study to contain an amount of instructional time whereby a full-time student is expected to complete at least—(I) 24 semester or trimester hours or 36 quarter credit hours in a course of study that measures its program length in credit hours; or(II) 900 clock hours in a course of study that measures its program length in clock hours.
(B) The Secretary may reduce such minimum of 30 weeks to not less than 26 weeks for good cause, as determined by the Secretary on a case-by-case basis, in the case of an institution of higher education that provides a 2-year or 4-year program of instruction for which the institution awards an associate or baccalaureate degree and that measures program length in credit hours or clock hours.
(b) Eligible program
(1) For purposes of this subchapter, the term “eligible program” means a program of at least—
(A) 600 clock hours of instruction, 16 semester hours, or 24 quarter hours, offered during a minimum of 15 weeks, in the case of a program that—
(i) provides a program of training to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized profession; and
(ii) admits students who have not completed the equivalent of an associate degree; or
(B) 300 clock hours of instruction, 8 semester hours, or 12 hours, offered during a minimum of 10 weeks, in the case of—
(i) an undergraduate program that requires the equivalent of an associate degree for admissions; or
(ii) a graduate or professional program.
(2)
(A) A program is an eligible program for purposes of part B of this subchapter if it is a program of at least 300 clock hours of instruction, but less than 600 clock hours of instruction, offered during a minimum of 10 weeks, that—
(i) has a verified completion rate of at least 70 percent, as determined in accordance with the regulations of the Secretary;
(ii) has a verified placement rate of at least 70 percent, as determined in accordance with the regulations of the Secretary; and
(iii) satisfies such further criteria as the Secretary may prescribe by regulation.
(B) In the case of a program being determined eligible for the first time under this paragraph, such determination shall be made by the Secretary before such program is considered to have satisfied the requirements of this paragraph.
(3) An otherwise eligible program that is offered in whole or in part through telecommunications is eligible for the purposes of this subchapter if the program is offered by an institution, other than a foreign institution, that has been evaluated and determined (before or after February 8, 2006) to have the capability to effectively deliver distance education programs by an accrediting agency or association that—
(A) is recognized by the Secretary under subpart 2 of part H; and
(B) has evaluation of distance education programs within the scope of its recognition, as described in section 1099b(n)(3) of this title.
(4) For purposes of this subchapter, the term “eligible program” includes an instructional program that, in lieu of credit hours or clock hours as the measure of student learning, utilizes direct assessment of student learning, or recognizes the direct assessment of student learning by others, if such assessment is consistent with the accreditation of the institution or program utilizing the results of the assessment. In the case of a program being determined eligible for the first time under this paragraph, such determination shall be made by the Secretary before such program is considered to be an eligible program.
(c) Third party servicerFor purposes of this subchapter, the term “third party servicer” means any individual, any State, or any private, for-profit or nonprofit organization, which enters into a contract with—
(1) any eligible institution of higher education to administer, through either manual or automated processing, any aspect of such institution’s student assistance programs under this subchapter; or
(2) any guaranty agency, or any eligible lender, to administer, through either manual or automated processing, any aspect of such guaranty agency’s or lender’s student loan programs under part B of this subchapter, including originating, guaranteeing, monitoring, processing, servicing, or collecting loans.
(d) Definitions for military defermentsFor purposes of parts B, D, and E of this subchapter:
(1) Active duty
(2) Military operation
(3) National emergency
(4) Serving on active dutyThe term “serving on active duty during a war or other military operation or national emergency” means service by an individual who is—
(A) a Reserve of an Armed Force ordered to active duty under section 12301(a), 12301(g), 12302, 12304, or 12306 of title 10 or any retired member of an Armed Force ordered to active duty under section 688 of such title, for service in connection with a war or other military operation or national emergency, regardless of the location at which such active duty service is performed; and
(B) any other member of an Armed Force on active duty in connection with such emergency or subsequent actions or conditions who has been assigned to a duty station at a location other than the location at which such member is normally assigned.
(5) Qualifying National Guard duty
(e) Consumer reporting agency
(f) Definition of educational service agency
(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 481, as added Pub. L. 99–498, title IV, § 407(a), Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1476; amended Pub. L. 100–50, § 15(1), June 3, 1987, 101 Stat. 355; Pub. L. 101–239, title II, § 2007(b), (c), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2120, 2121; Pub. L. 101–508, title III, § 3005(b), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–28; Pub. L. 102–26, § 2(a)(2), (3), (d)(2)(A), Apr. 9, 1991, 105 Stat. 123, 124; Pub. L. 102–325, title IV, § 481, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 609; Pub. L. 103–208, § 2(h)(1)–(6), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2475, 2476; Pub. L. 105–216, § 12, July 29, 1998, 112 Stat. 908; Pub. L. 105–244, title I, § 101(c), Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1617; Pub. L. 109–171, title VIII, §§ 8007(d), 8020(a), (b), Feb. 8, 2006, 120 Stat. 161, 177; Pub. L. 110–315, title IV, § 481, Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3271; Pub. L. 111–39, title IV, § 407(b)(1), July 1, 2009, 123 Stat. 1950; Pub. L. 114–95, title IX, § 9215(oo)(10), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2180.)
§ 1088a. Clock and credit hour treatment of diploma nursing schools
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, any regulations promulgated by the Secretary concerning the relationship between clock hours and semester, trimester, or quarter hours in calculating student grant, loan, or work assistance under this subchapter, shall not apply to a public or private nonprofit hospital-based school of nursing that awards a diploma at the completion of the school’s program of education.
(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 481A, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title III, § 360(a), Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3969.)
§ 1089. Master calendar
(a) Secretary required to comply with scheduleTo assure adequate notification and timely delivery of student aid funds under this subchapter, the Secretary shall adhere to the following calendar dates in the year preceding the award year:
(1) Development and distribution of Federal and multiple data entry forms—
(A) by February 1: first meeting of the technical committee on forms design of the Department;
(B) by March 1: proposed modifications, updates, and notices pursuant to sections 1087rr and 1090(a)(5) 1
1 See References in Text note below.
of this title published in the Federal Register;(C) by June 1: final modifications, updates, and notices pursuant to sections 1087rr and 1090(a)(5) 1 of this title published in the Federal Register;
(D) by August 15: application for Federal student assistance and multiple data entry data elements and instructions approved;
(E) by August 30: final approved forms delivered to servicers and printers;
(F) by October 1: Federal and multiple data entry forms and instructions printed; and
(G) by November 1: Federal and multiple data entry forms, instructions, and training materials distributed.
(2) Allocations of campus-based and Pell Grant funds—
(A) by August 1: distribution of institutional application for campus-based funds (FISAP) to institutions;
(B) by October 1: final date for submission of FISAP by institutions to the Department;
(C) by November 15: edited FISAP and computer printout received by institutions;
(D) by December 1: appeals procedures received by institutions;
(E) by December 15: edits returned by institutions to the Department;
(F) by February 1: tentative award levels received by institutions and final Pell Grant payment schedule;
(G) by February 15: closing date for receipt of institutional appeals by the Department;
(H) by March 1: appeals process completed;
(I) by April 1: final award notifications sent to institutions; and
(J) by June 1: Pell Grant authorization levels sent to institutions.
(3) The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, notify eligible institutions, guaranty agencies, lenders, interested software providers, and, upon request, other interested parties, by December 1 prior to the start of an award year of minimal hardware and software requirements necessary to administer programs under this subchapter.
(4) The Secretary shall attempt to conduct training activities for financial aid administrators and others in an expeditious and timely manner prior to the start of an award year in order to ensure that all participants are informed of all administrative requirements.
(b) Timing for reallocations
(c) Delay of effective date of late publications
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), any regulatory changes initiated by the Secretary affecting the programs under this subchapter that have not been published in final form by November 1 prior to the start of the award year shall not become effective until the beginning of the second award year after such November 1 date.
(2)
(A) The Secretary may designate any regulatory provision that affects the programs under this subchapter and is published in final form after November 1 as one that an entity subject to the provision may, in the entity’s discretion, choose to implement prior to the effective date described in paragraph (1). The Secretary may specify in the designation when, and under what conditions, an entity may implement the provision prior to that effective date. The Secretary shall publish any designation under this subparagraph in the Federal Register.
(B) If an entity chooses to implement a regulatory provision prior to the effective date described in paragraph (1), as permitted by subparagraph (A), the provision shall be effective with respect to that entity in accordance with the terms of the Secretary’s designation.
(d) Notice to Congress
(e) Compliance calendarPrior to the beginning of each award year, the Secretary shall provide to institutions of higher education a list of all the reports and disclosures required under this chapter. The list shall include—
(1) the date each report or disclosure is required to be completed and to be submitted, made available, or disseminated;
(2) the required recipients of each report or disclosure;
(3) any required method for transmittal or dissemination of each report or disclosure;
(4) a description of the span of each report or disclosure sufficient to allow the institution to identify the appropriate individuals to be assigned the responsibility for such report or disclosure;
(5) references to the statutory authority, applicable regulations, and current guidance issued by the Secretary regarding each report or disclosure; and
(6) any other information which is pertinent to the span or distribution of the report or disclosure.
(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 482, as added Pub. L. 99–498, title IV, § 407(a), Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1477; amended Pub. L. 100–50, § 15(2), June 3, 1987, 101 Stat. 355; Pub. L. 102–325, title IV, § 482, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 612; Pub. L. 103–208, § 2(h)(7), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2476; Pub. L. 104–66, title I, § 1042(b), Dec. 21, 1995, 109 Stat. 715; Pub. L. 105–244, title IV, § 481, Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1732; Pub. L. 110–315, title I, § 103(b)(9), title IV, § 482(a), Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3089, 3271; Pub. L. 111–39, title IV, § 407(b)(2), July 1, 2009, 123 Stat. 1950.)
§ 1090. Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(a) Simplified application for Federal student financial aid
(1) In general
(2) Free application
(A) In general
(B) Information required by the applicant
(i) In general
(ii) Information to be providedThe information described in this clause is the following:(I) Name.(II) Contact information, including address, phone number, email address, or other electronic address.(III) Social security number.(IV) Date of birth.(V) Marital status.(VI) Citizenship status, including alien registration number, if applicable.(VII) Sex.(VIII) Race or ethnicity, using categories developed in consultation with the Bureau of the Census and the Director of the Institute of Education Sciences that, to the greatest extent practicable, separately capture the racial groups specified in the American Community Survey of the Bureau of the Census.(IX) State of legal residence and date of residency.(X) The following information on secondary school completion:(aa) Name and location of the high school from which the applicant received, or will receive prior to the period of enrollment for which aid is sought, a regular high school diploma;(bb) name and location of the entity from which the applicant received, or will receive prior to the period of enrollment for which aid is sought, a recognized equivalent of a regular high school diploma; or(cc) if the applicant completed or will complete prior to the period of enrollment for which aid is sought, a secondary school education in a home school setting that is treated as a home school or private school under State law.(XI) Name of each institution where the applicant intends to apply for enrollment or continue enrollment.(XII) Year in school for period of enrollment for which aid is sought, including whether applicant will have finished first bachelor’s degree prior to the period of enrollment for which aid is sought.(XIII) Whether one or both of the applicant’s parents attended college.(XIV) Any required asset information, unless exempt under section 1087ss of this title, in which the applicant shall indicate—(aa) the annual amount of child support received, if applicable; and(bb) all required asset information not described in item (aa).(XV) The number of members of the applicant’s family who will also be enrolled in an eligible institution of higher education on at least a half-time basis during the same enrollment period as the applicant.(XVI) If the applicant meets any of the following designations:(aa) Is an unaccompanied homeless youth, or is unaccompanied, at risk of homelessness, and self-supporting.(bb) Is an emancipated minor.(cc) Is in legal guardianship.(dd) Has been a dependent ward of the court at any time since the applicant turned 13.(ee) Has been in foster care at any time since the applicant turned 13.(ff) Both parents have died since the applicant turned 13.(gg) Is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States or is serving (on the date of the application) on active duty in the Armed Forces for other than training purposes.(hh) Is under the age of 24 and has a dependent child or relative.(ii) Does not have access to parental information due to an unusual circumstance described in section 1087vv(d)(9) of this title.(XVII) If the applicant receives or has received any of the following means-tested Federal benefits within the last two years:(aa) The supplemental security income program under title XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.).(bb) The supplemental nutrition assistance program under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), a nutrition assistance program carried out under section 19 of such Act (7 U.S.C. 2028), or a supplemental nutrition assistance program carried out under section 1841(c) of title 48.(cc) The free and reduced price school lunch program established under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.).(dd) The program of block grants for States for temporary assistance for needy families established under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).(ee) The special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children established by section 1786 of title 42.(ff) The Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.).(gg) Federal housing assistance programs, including tenant-based assistance under section 1437f(o) of title 42, and public housing, as defined in section 1437a(b)(1) of title 42.(hh) Refundable credit for coverage under a qualified health plan under section 36B of title 26.(ii) The Earned Income Tax Credit under section 32 of title 26.(jj) Any other means-tested program determined by the Secretary to be appropriate.(XVIII) If the applicant, or, if necessary, the parents or spouse of the applicant, reported receiving tax exempt payments from an individual retirement plan (as defined in section 7701 of title 26) distribution or from pensions or annuities on a Federal tax return, information as to how much of the individual retirement plan distribution or pension or annuity disbursement was a qualified rollover.(XIX) If the applicant, or, if necessary, the parents or spouse of the applicant, reported receiving foreign income that is exempt from Federal taxation or for which a permanent resident of the United States or United States citizen receives a foreign tax credit, information regarding the amount of such foreign income.(XX) If the applicant, or, if applicable, the parents or spouse of the applicant, elects to report receiving college grant and scholarship aid included in gross income on a Federal tax return described in section 1087vv(e)(2) of this title, information regarding the amount of such aid 1
1 So in original. Probably should be followed by a period.
(iii) Prohibition against requesting information more than once
(iv) Change in family size
(v) Single question for homeless statusThe Secretary shall ensure that—(I) on the form developed under this section for which the information is applicable, there is a single, easily understood screening question to identify an applicant who is an unaccompanied homeless youth or is unaccompanied, at risk of homelessness, and self-supporting; and(II) such question is distinct from those relating to an individual who does not have access to parental income due to an unusual circumstance.
(vi) Adjustments
(C) Notification and approval of request for tax return information
(D) Authorizations available to the applicant
(i) Authorization to disclose FAFSA information, including a redisclosure of tax return information, to institution, State higher education agency, and designated scholarship organizationsAn applicant and, if necessary, the parents or spouse of the applicant shall provide the Secretary with authorization to disclose to an institution, State higher education agency, and scholarship organizations (designated (prior to December 19, 2019) by the Secretary under subsection (a)(3)(E)) 2
2 So in original. The second closing parenthesis probably should not appear.
as in effect on such date 33 So in original. Probably should be followed by a closing parenthesis.
, as specified by the applicant and in accordance with section 1098h of this title, in order for the applicant’s eligibility for Federal financial aid programs, State financial aid programs, institutional financial aid programs, and scholarship programs at scholarship organizations (designated (prior to December 19, 2019) by the Secretary under subsection (a)(3)(E)) 2 as in effect on such date 3, to be determined, the following:(I) Information described under section 6103(l)(13) of title 26.(II) All information provided by the applicant on the application described by this subsection to determine the applicant’s eligibility for Federal financial aid under this subchapter and for the application, award, and administration of such Federal financial aid, except the name of an institution to which an applicant selects to redisclose information shall not be disclosed to any other institution.(ii) Authorization to disclose to benefits programs
(E) Action by the SecretaryUpon receiving—
(i) an application under this section, the Secretary shall, as soon as practicable, perform the necessary functions with the Commissioner of Internal Revenue to calculate the applicant’s student aid index and scheduled award for a Federal Pell Grant, if applicable, assuming full-time enrollment for an academic year, and note to the applicant the assumptions relationship to the scheduled award; and
(ii) an authorization under subparagraph (D), the Secretary shall, as soon as practicable, disclose the information described under such subparagraph, as specified by the applicant, in order for the applicant’s eligibility for Federal, State, or institutional student financial aid programs or means-tested Federal benefit programs to be estimated or determined.
(F) Work study wages
(3) Information to be supplied by the Secretary of Education
(A) In generalUpon receiving and timely processing a free application that contains the information described in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall provide to the applicant the following information based on full-time attendance for an academic year:
(i) The estimated dollar amount of a Federal Pell Grant scheduled award for which the applicant is eligible for such award year.
(ii) Information on other types of Federal financial aid for which the applicant may be eligible (including situations in which the applicant could qualify for 150 percent of a scheduled Federal Pell Grant award and loans made under this subchapter) and how the applicant can find additional information regarding such aid.
(iii) Consumer-tested information regarding each institution selected by the applicant in accordance with paragraph (2)(B)(ii)(XI), which may include the following:(I) The following information, as collected through the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System or a successor Federal data system as designated by the Secretary:(aa) Net price by the income categories, as described under section 1015a(i)(6) of this title, and disaggregated by undergraduate and graduate programs, as applicable.(bb) Graduation rate.(cc) Retention rate.(dd) Transfer rate, if available.(II) Median debt of students upon completion.(III) Institutional default rate, as calculated under section 1085 of this title.
(iv) If the student is eligible for a student aid index of less than or equal to zero under section 1087mm of this title, a notification of the Federal means-tested benefits that they have not already indicated they receive, but for which they may be eligible, and relevant links and information on how to apply for such benefits.
(v) Information on education tax benefits described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 25A(a) of title 26 or other applicable education tax benefits determined in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury.
(vi) If the individual identified as a veteran, or as serving (on the date of the application) on active duty in the Armed Forces for other than training purposes, information on benefits administered by the Department of Veteran Affairs or Department of Defense, respectively.
(vii) If applicable, the applicant’s current outstanding balance of loans under this subchapter.
(B) Information provided to the State
(i) In general
(ii) Use of informationA State agency administering State-based financial aid—(I) shall use the information provided under clause (i) solely for the application, award, and administration of State-based financial aid for which the applicant is eligible;(II) may use the information, except for the information described under section 6103(l)(13) of title 26, for State agency research that does not release any individually identifiable information on any applicant to promote college attendance, persistence, and completion;(III) may use identifying information provided by student applicants on the FAFSA to determine whether or not a graduating secondary student has filed the application in coordination with local educational agencies or secondary schools to encourage students to complete the application; and(IV) may share the application information, excluding the information described under section 6103(l)(13) of title 26, with any other entity, only if such applicant provides explicit written consent of the applicant, except as provided in subclause (III).
(iii) Limitation on consent process
(iv) Prohibition
(C) Use of information provided to the institutionAn institution—
(i) shall use the information provided to it solely for the application, award, and administration of financial aid to the applicant;
(ii) may use the information provided, excluding the information described under section 6013(l)(13) 4
4 So in original. Probably should be “section 6103(l)(13)”.
of title 26, for research that does not release any individually identifiable information on any applicant, to promote college attendance, persistence, and completion; and(iii) shall not share such educational record information with any other entity without the explicit written consent of the applicant.
(D) Prohibition
(E) FAFSA information that includes tax return information
(4) Development of form and information exchangePrior to the design of the free application under this subsection, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, on an annual basis—
(A) consult with stakeholders to gather information about innovations and technology available to—
(i) ensure an efficient and effective process;
(ii) mitigate unintended consequences; and
(iii) determine the best practices for outreach to students and families during the transition to the streamlined process for the determination of Federal financial aid and Federal Pell Grant eligibility while reducing the data burden on applicants and families; and
(B) solicit public comments for the format of the free application that provides for adequate time to incorporate feedback prior to development of the application for the succeeding award year.
(5) No additional information requests permitted
(6) State-run programs
(A) In general
(B) Secretarial reviewIf a State determines that there is a need for additional data elements beyond those provided pursuant to this subsection for determining the eligibility of an applicant for State provided financial aid, the State shall forward a list of those additional data elements determined necessary, but not provided by virtue of the application under this subsection, to the Secretary. The Secretary shall make readily available to the public through the Department’s websites and other means—
(i) a list of States that do not require additional financial information separate from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and do not require asset information from students who qualify for the exemption from asset reporting under section 1087ss of this title for the purposes of awarding State scholarships and grant aid;
(ii) a list of States that require asset information from students who qualify for the exemption from asset reporting under section 1087ss of this title for the purposes of awarding State scholarships and grant aid;
(iii) a list of States that have indicated that they require additional financial information separate from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for purposes of awarding State scholarships and grant aid; and
(iv) with the publication of the lists under this subparagraph, information about additional resources available to applicants, including links to such State websites.
(7) Institution-run financial aid
(A) In generalThe Secretary shall conduct outreach to institutions of higher education to describe the benefits to students of relying solely on the student aid index, scheduled Pell Grant Award, or the financial data made available, upon authorization for release by the applicant, as a result of an application for aid under this subsection for determining the eligibility of the applicant for institutional financial aid. The Secretary shall make readily available to the public through its websites and other means—
(i) a list of institutions that do not require additional financial information separate from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and do not require asset information from students who qualify for the exemption from asset reporting under section 1087ss of this title for the purpose of awarding institution-run financial aid;
(ii) a list of institutions that require asset information from students who qualify for the exemption from asset reporting under section 1087ss of this title for the purpose of awarding institution-run financial aid;
(iii) a list of institutions that require additional financial information separate from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the purpose of awarding institution-run financial aid; and
(iv) with the publication of the list in clause (iii), information about additional resources available to applicants.
(8) Security of dataThe Secretary shall, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury—
(A) take all necessary steps to safeguard the data required to be transmitted for the purpose of this section between Federal agencies and to States and institutions of higher education and secure the transmittal of such data;
(B) provide guidance to States and institutions of higher education regarding their obligation to ensure the security of the data provided under this section and section 6103 of title 26; and
(C) provide guidance on the implementation of section 6103 of title 26, including how it intersects with the provisions of section 1232g of this title (commonly known as the “Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974”), and any additional consent processes that may be available to applicants in accordance with title 26 regarding sharing of Federal tax information.
(9) Report to Congress
(A) In generalNot later than 1 year after December 27, 2020, the Secretary shall report to the authorizing committees on the progress of the Secretary in carrying out this subsection, including planning and stakeholder consultation. Such report shall include—
(i) benchmarks for implementation;
(ii) entities and organizations that the Secretary consulted;
(iii) system requirements for such implementation and how they will be addressed;
(iv) any areas of concern and potential problem issues uncovered that may hamper such implementation; and
(v) solutions determined to address such issues.
(B) UpdatesThe Secretary shall provide updates to the authorizing committees—
(i) as to the progress and planning described in subparagraph (A) prior to implementation of the revisions to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid under this subsection not less often than quarterly; and
(ii) at least 6 months and 1 year after implementation of the revisions to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
(b) Adjustments and improvements
(1) In generalThe Secretary shall disclose in a consumer-tested format, upon completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid under this section, that the student may, on a case-by-case basis, qualify for an adjustment under section 1087tt of this title to the cost of attendance or the values of the data items required to calculate the Federal Pell Grant or the need analysis for the student or parent. Such disclosure shall specify—
(A) examples of the special circumstances under which a student or family member may qualify for such adjustment or determination of independence; and
(B) additional information regarding the steps a student or family member may take in order to seek an adjustment under section 1087tt of this title.
(2) Consumer testing
(A) In general
(B) Updates
(3) Accessibility of the FAFSAThe Secretary shall—
(A) in conjunction with the Bureau of the Census, determine the most common languages spoken by English learner students and their parents in the United States;
(B) develop and make publicly available versions of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form in not fewer than 11 of the most common languages determined under subparagraph (A) and make such versions available and accessible to applicants in paper and electronic formats; and
(C) ensure that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid is available in formats accessible to individuals with disabilities and compliant with the most recent Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, or successor guidelines.
(4) Reapplication in a succeeding academic year
(5) Technology accessibilityThe Secretary shall make the application under this section available through prevalent technology. Such technology shall, at a minimum, enable applicants to—
(A) save data; and
(B) submit the application under this subchapter to the Secretary through such technology.
(6) Verification burdenThe Secretary shall—
(A) to the maximum extent practicable, streamline and simplify the process of verification for applicants for Federal financial aid;
(B) in establishing policies and procedures to verify applicants’ eligibility for Federal financial aid, consider—
(i) the burden placed on low-income applicants;
(ii) the risk to low-income applicants of failing to complete the application, enroll in college, or complete a postsecondary credential as a result of being selected for verification;
(iii) the effectiveness of the policies and procedures in preventing overpayments; and
(iv) the reasons for the source of any improper payments; and
(C) issue a public report not less often than annually that includes the number and percentage of applicants subject to verification, whether the applicants ultimately received Federal financial aid disbursements, the extent to which the student aid index changed for such applicants as a result of verification, and the extent to which such applicants’ eligibility for Federal financial aid under this subchapter changed.
(7) StudiesThe Secretary shall periodically conduct studies on—
(A) whether the Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a barrier to college enrollment by examining—
(i) the effect of States requiring additional information specified in clauses (ii) and (iii) of subsection (a)(6)(B) on the determination of State financial aid awards, including—(I) how much financial aid awards would change if the additional information were not required; and(II) the number of students who started but did not finish the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, compared to the baseline year of 2021; and
(ii) the number of students who—(I) started a Free Application for Federal Student Aid but did not receive financial assistance under this subchapter for the applicable academic year; and(II) if available, did not enroll in an institution of higher education in the applicable academic year;
(B) the most common barriers faced by applicants in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid; and
(C) the most common reasons that students and families do not fill out the Free Applications for Federal Student Aid.
(c) Data and information
(1) In generalThe Secretary shall publish data in a publicly accessible manner—
(A) annually on the total number of Free Applications for Federal Student Aid submitted by application cycle, disaggregated by demographic characteristics, type of institution or institutions of higher education to which the applicant applied, the applicant’s State of legal residence, and high school and public school district;
(B) quarterly on the total number of Free Applications for Federal Student Aid submitted by application cycle, disaggregated by type of institution or institutions of higher education to which the applicant applied, the applicant’s State of legal residence, and high school and public school district;
(C) weekly on the total number of Free Applications for Federal Student Aid submitted, disaggregated by high school and public school district; and
(D) annually on the number of individuals who apply for federal financial aid pursuant to this section who indicated that they are—
(i) an unaccompanied homeless youth or unaccompanied, at risk of homelessness, and self-supporting; or
(ii) a foster care youth.
(2) ContentsThe data described in paragraph (1)(D) with respect to homeless youth shall include, at a minimum, for each application cycle—
(A) the total number of all applicants who were determined to be individuals described in section 1087vv(d)(8) of this title; and
(B) the number of applicants described in subparagraph (A), disaggregated—
(i) by State; and
(ii) by the sources of determination as described in section 1087uu–2(b) of this title.
(3) Data sharing
(d) Ensuring form usability
(1) Signature
(2) Free preparation authorizedNotwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, an applicant may use a preparer for consultative or preparation services for the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid without charging a fee to the applicant if the preparer—
(A) includes, at the time the application is submitted to the Department, the name, address or employer’s address, social security number or employer identification number, and organizational affiliation of the preparer on the applicant’s form;
(B) is subject to the same penalties as an applicant for purposely giving false or misleading information in the application;
(C) clearly informs each individual upon initial contact, that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a free form that may be completed without professional assistance; and
(D) does not produce, use, or disseminate any other form for the purpose of applying for Federal financial aid other than the Free Application for Federal Student Aid developed by the Secretary under this section.
(3) Charges to students and parents for use of forms prohibited
(4) Application processing cycle
(5) Early estimates
(6) Additional forms
(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 483, as added Pub. L. 99–498, title IV, § 407(a), Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1478; amended Pub. L. 100–50, § 15(3)–(6), June 3, 1987, 101 Stat. 356; Pub. L. 102–325, title IV, § 483, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 612; Pub. L. 103–208, § 2(h)(8)–(12), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2476; Pub. L. 105–244, title IV, § 482, Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1733; Pub. L. 110–315, title I, § 103(b)(10), title IV, § 483(a), Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3090, 3272; Pub. L. 111–39, title IV, § 407(b)(3), July 1, 2009, 123 Stat. 1950; Pub. L. 111–152, title II, § 2101(b)(4), Mar. 30, 2010, 124 Stat. 1073; Pub. L. 116–260, div. FF, title VII, § 702(m)(1), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 3168; Pub. L. 117–103, div. R, § 102(b)(4), Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 819.)
§ 1091. Student eligibility
(a) In generalIn order to receive any grant, loan, or work assistance under this subchapter, a student must—
(1) be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a degree, certificate, or other program (including a program of study abroad approved for credit by the eligible institution at which such student is enrolled) leading to a recognized educational credential at an institution of higher education that is an eligible institution in accordance with the provisions of section 1094 of this title, except as provided in subsections (b)(3) and (b)(4), and not be enrolled in an elementary or secondary school;
(2) if the student is presently enrolled at an institution, be maintaining satisfactory progress in the course of study the student is pursuing in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c);(q)
(3) not owe a refund on grants previously received at any institution under this subchapter, or be in default on any loan from a student loan fund at any institution provided for in part E, or a loan made, insured, or guaranteed by the Secretary under this subchapter for attendance at any institution;
(4) file with the Secretary, as part of the original financial aid application process, a certification, which need not be notarized, but which shall include—
(A) a statement of educational purpose stating that the money attributable to such grant, loan, or loan guarantee will be used solely for expenses related to attendance or continued attendance at such institution; and
(B) such student’s social security number;
(5) be a citizen or national of the United States, a permanent resident of the United States, or able to provide evidence from the Immigration and Naturalization Service that he or she is in the United States for other than a temporary purpose with the intention of becoming a citizen or permanent resident; and
(6) if the student has been convicted of, or has pled nolo contendere or guilty to, a crime involving fraud in obtaining funds under this subchapter, have completed the repayment of such funds to the Secretary, or to the holder in the case of a loan under this subchapter obtained by fraud.
(b) Eligibility for student loans
(1) In order to be eligible to receive any loan under this subchapter (other than a loan under section 1078–2 or 1078–3 of this title, or under section 1078–8 of this title pursuant to an exercise of discretion under section 1087tt of this title) for any period of enrollment, a student who is not a graduate or professional student (as defined in regulations of the Secretary), and who is enrolled in a program at an institution which has a participation agreement with the Secretary to make awards under subpart 1 of part A of this subchapter, shall—
(A)
(i) have received a determination of eligibility or ineligibility for a Pell Grant under such subpart 1 for such period of enrollment; and (ii) if determined to be eligible, have filed an application for a Pell Grant for such enrollment period; or
(B) have (i) filed an application with the Pell Grant processor for such institution for such enrollment period, and (ii) received from the financial aid administrator of the institution a preliminary determination of the student’s eligibility or ineligibility for a grant under such subpart 1.
(2) In order to be eligible to receive any loan under section 1078–1 1
1 See References in Text note below.
of this title for any period of enrollment, a student shall—(A) have received a determination of need for a loan under section 1078(a)(2)(B) of this title;
(B) if determined to have need for a loan under section 1078 of this title, have applied for such a loan; and
(C) has applied for a loan under section 1078–8 of this title, if such student is eligible to apply for such a loan.
(3) A student who—
(A) is carrying at least one-half the normal full-time work load for the course of study that the student is pursuing, as determined by an eligible institution, and
(B) is enrolled in a course of study necessary for enrollment in a program leading to a degree or certificate,
shall be, notwithstanding paragraph (1) of subsection (a), eligible to apply for loans under part B or D of this subchapter. The eligibility described in this paragraph shall be restricted to one 12-month period.
(4) A student who—
(A) is carrying at least one-half the normal full-time work load for the course of study the student is pursuing, as determined by the institution, and
(B) is enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a program at an eligible institution necessary for a professional credential or certification from a State that is required for employment as a teacher in an elementary or secondary school in that State,
shall be, notwithstanding paragraph (1) of subsection (a), eligible to apply for loans under part B, D, or E or work-study assistance under part C of this subchapter.
(5) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, no incarcerated student is eligible to receive a loan under this subchapter.
(c) Satisfactory progress
(1) For the purpose of subsection (a)(2), a student is maintaining satisfactory progress if—
(A) the institution at which the student is in attendance, reviews the progress of the student at the end of each academic year, or its equivalent, as determined by the institution, and
(B) the student has a cumulative C average, or its equivalent or academic standing consistent with the requirements for graduation, as determined by the institution, at the end of the second such academic year.
(2) Whenever a student fails to meet the eligibility requirements of subsection (a)(2) as a result of the application of this subsection and subsequent to that failure the student has academic standing consistent with the requirements for graduation, as determined by the institution, for any grading period, the student may, subject to this subsection, again be eligible under subsection (a)(2) for a grant, loan, or work assistance under this subchapter.
(3) Any institution of higher education at which the student is in attendance may waive the provisions of paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) of this subsection for undue hardship based on—
(A) the death of a relative of the student,
(B) the personal injury or illness of the student, or
(C) special circumstances as determined by the institution.
(d) Students who are not high school graduates
(1) Student eligibilityIn order for a student who does not have a certificate of graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the recognized equivalent of such certificate, to be eligible for any assistance under subparts 1, 3, and 4 of part A and parts B, C, D, and E of this subchapter, the student shall meet the requirements of one of the following subparagraphs:
(A) The student is enrolled in an eligible career pathway program and meets one of the following standards:
(i) The student shall take an independently administered examination and shall achieve a score, specified by the Secretary, demonstrating that such student can benefit from the education or training being offered. Such examination shall be approved by the Secretary on the basis of compliance with such standards for development, administration, and scoring as the Secretary may prescribe in regulations.
(ii) The student shall be determined as having the ability to benefit from the education or training in accordance with such process as the State shall prescribe. Any such process described or approved by a State for the purposes of this section shall be effective 6 months after the date of submission to the Secretary unless the Secretary disapproves such process. In determining whether to approve or disapprove such process, the Secretary shall take into account the effectiveness of such process in enabling students without secondary school diplomas or the equivalent thereof to benefit from the instruction offered by institutions utilizing such process, and shall also take into account the cultural diversity, economic circumstances, and educational preparation of the populations served by the institutions.
(iii) The student shall be determined by the institution of higher education as having the ability to benefit from the education or training offered by the institution of higher education upon satisfactory completion of 6 credit hours or the equivalent coursework that are applicable toward a degree or certificate offered by the institution of higher education.
(B) The student has completed a secondary school education in a home school setting that is treated as a home school or private school under State law.
(2) Eligible career pathway programIn this subsection, the term “eligible career pathway program” means a program that combines rigorous and high-quality education, training, and other services that—
(A) aligns with the skill needs of industries in the economy of the State or regional economy involved;
(B) prepares an individual to be successful in any of a full range of secondary or postsecondary education options, including apprenticeships registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the “National Apprenticeship Act”; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.) (referred to individually in this chapter as an “apprenticeship”, except in section 171); 1
(C) includes counseling to support an individual in achieving the individual’s education and career goals;
(D) includes, as appropriate, education offered concurrently with and in the same context as workforce preparation activities and training for a specific occupation or occupational cluster;
(E) organizes education, training, and other services to meet the particular needs of an individual in a manner that accelerates the educational and career advancement of the individual to the extent practicable;
(F) enables an individual to attain a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent, and at least 1 recognized postsecondary credential; and
(G) helps an individual enter or advance within a specific occupation or occupational cluster.
(e) Certification for GSL eligibilityEach eligible institution may certify student eligibility for a loan by an eligible lender under part B of this subchapter prior to completing the review for accuracy of the information submitted by the applicant required by regulations issued under this subchapter, if—
(1) checks for the loans are mailed to the eligible institution prior to disbursements;
(2) the disbursement is not made until the review is complete; and
(3) the eligible institution has no evidence or documentation on which the institution may base a determination that the information submitted by the applicant is incorrect.
(f) Loss of eligibility for violation of loan limits
(1) No student shall be eligible to receive any grant, loan, or work assistance under this subchapter if the eligible institution determines that the student fraudulently borrowed in violation of the annual loan limits under part B, part D, or part E of this subchapter in the same academic year, or if the student fraudulently borrowed in excess of the aggregate maximum loan limits under such part B, part D, or part E.
(2) If the institution determines that the student inadvertently borrowed amounts in excess of such annual or aggregate maximum loan limits, such institution shall allow the student to repay any amount borrowed in excess of such limits prior to certifying the student’s eligibility for further assistance under this subchapter.
(g) Verification of immigration status
(1) In general
(2) Special rule
(3) Verification mechanisms
(4) ReviewIn the case of such an individual who is not a citizen or national of the United States, if the statement described in paragraph (1) is submitted but the documentation required under paragraph (2) is not presented or if the documentation required under paragraph (2)(A) is presented but such documentation is not verified under paragraph (3)—
(A) the institution—
(i) shall provide a reasonable opportunity to submit to the institution evidence indicating a satisfactory immigration status, and
(ii) may not delay, deny, reduce, or terminate the individual’s eligibility for the grant, loan, or work assistance on the basis of the individual’s immigration status until such a reasonable opportunity has been provided; and
(B) if there are submitted documents which the institution determines constitute reasonable evidence indicating such status—
(i) the institution shall transmit to the Immigration and Naturalization Service either photostatic or other similar copies of such documents, or information from such documents, as specified by the Immigration and Naturalization Service, for official verification,
(ii) pending such verification, the institution may not delay, deny, reduce, or terminate the individual’s eligibility for the grant, loan, or work assistance on the basis of the individual’s immigration status, and
(iii) the institution shall not be liable for the consequences of any action, delay, or failure of the Service to conduct such verification.
(h) Limitations of enforcement actions against institutionsThe Secretary shall not take any compliance, disallowance, penalty, or other regulatory action against an institution of higher education with respect to any error in the institution’s determination to make a student eligible for a grant, loan, or work assistance based on citizenship or immigration status—
(1) if the institution has provided such eligibility based on a verification of satisfactory immigration status by the Immigration and Naturalization Service,
(2) because the institution, under subsection (g)(4)(A)(i), was required to provide a reasonable opportunity to submit documentation, or
(3) because the institution, under subsection (g)(4)(B)(i), was required to wait for the response of the Immigration and Naturalization Service to the institution’s request for official verification of the immigration status of the student.
(i) Validity of loan guarantees for loan payments made before immigration status verification completedNotwithstanding subsection (h),1 if—
(1) a guaranty is made under this subchapter for a loan made with respect to an individual,
(2) at the time the guaranty is entered into, the provisions of subsection (h) 1 had been complied with,
(3) amounts are paid under the loan subject to such guaranty, and
(4) there is a subsequent determination that, because of an unsatisfactory immigration status, the individual is not eligible for the loan,
the official of the institution making the determination shall notify and instruct the entity making the loan to cease further payments under the loan, but such guaranty shall not be voided or otherwise nullified with respect to such payments made before the date the entity receives the notice.
(j) Repealed. Pub. L. 110–315, title IV, § 485(a)(4), Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3288
(k) Special rule for correspondence courses
(l) Courses offered through distance education
(1) Relation to correspondence courses
(A) In general
(B) Exception
(2) Reductions of financial aid
(3) Special rule
(m) Students with a first baccalaureate or professional degree
(n) Study abroad
(o) Verification of social security numberThe Secretary of Education, in cooperation with the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, shall verify any social security number provided by a student to an eligible institution under subsection (a)(4) and shall enforce the following conditions:
(1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), an institution shall not deny, reduce, delay, or terminate a student’s eligibility for assistance under this part because social security number verification is pending.
(2) If there is a determination by the Secretary that the social security number provided to an eligible institution by a student is incorrect, the institution shall deny or terminate the student’s eligibility for any grant, loan, or work assistance under this subchapter until such time as the student provides documented evidence of a social security number that is determined by the institution to be correct.
(3) If there is a determination by the Secretary that the social security number provided to an eligible institution by a student is incorrect, and a correct social security number cannot be provided by such student, and a loan has been guaranteed for such student under part B of this subchapter, the institution shall notify and instruct the lender and guaranty agency making and guaranteeing the loan, respectively, to cease further disbursements of the loan, but such guaranty shall not be voided or otherwise nullified with respect to such disbursements made before the date that the lender and the guaranty agency receives such notice.
(4) Nothing in this subsection shall permit the Secretary to take any compliance, disallowance, penalty, or other regulatory action against—
(A) any institution of higher education with respect to any error in a social security number, unless such error was a result of fraud on the part of the institution; or
(B) any student with respect to any error in a social security number, unless such error was a result of fraud on the part of the student.
(p) Use of income data with IRS
(q) Students with intellectual disabilities
(1) Definitions
(2) RequirementsNotwithstanding subsections (a), (c), and (d), in order to receive any grant or work assistance under section 1070a of this title, subpart 3 of part A, or part C, a student with an intellectual disability shall—
(A) be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program for students with intellectual disabilities at an institution of higher education;
(B) be maintaining satisfactory progress in the program as determined by the institution, in accordance with standards established by the institution; and
(C) meet the requirements of paragraphs (3), (4), (5), and (6) of subsection (a).
(3) Authority
(4) Regulations
(r) Data analysis on access to Federal student aid for certain populations
(1) Development of the system
(2) Results from analysis
(3) Data updating
(4) Report to Congress
(s) Exception to required registration with the Selective Service System
(t) Confined or incarcerated individuals
(1) DefinitionsIn this subsection:
(A) Confined or incarcerated individualThe term “confined or incarcerated individual”—
(i) means an individual who is serving a criminal sentence in a Federal, State, or local penal institution, prison, jail, reformatory, work farm, or other similar correctional institution; and
(ii) does not include an individual who is in a halfway house or home detention or is sentenced to serve only weekends.
(B) Prison education programThe term “prison education program” means an education or training program that—
(i) is an eligible program under this subchapter offered by an institution of higher education (as defined in section 1001 or 1002(a)(1)(B) of this title);
(ii) is offered by an institution that has been approved to operate in a correctional facility by the appropriate State department of corrections or other entity that is responsible for overseeing correctional facilities, or by the Bureau of Prisons;
(iii) has been determined by the appropriate State department of corrections or other entity that is responsible for overseeing correctional facilities, or by the Bureau of Prisons, to be operating in the best interest of students, the determination of which shall be made by the State department of corrections or other entity or by the Bureau of Prisons, respectively, and may be based on—(I) rates of confined or incarcerated individuals continuing their education post-release;(II) job placement rates for such individuals;(III) earnings for such individuals;(IV) rates of recidivism for such individuals;(V) the experience, credentials, and rates of turnover or departure of instructors;(VI) the transferability of credits for courses available to confined or incarcerated individuals and the applicability of such credits toward related degree or certificate programs; or(VII) offering relevant academic and career advising services to participating confined or incarcerated individuals while they are confined or incarcerated, in advance of reentry, and upon release;
(iv) offers transferability of credits to at least 1 institution of higher education (as defined in section 1001 or 1002(a)(1)(B) of this title) in the State in which the correctional facility is located, or, in the case of a Federal correctional facility, in the State in which most of the individuals confined or incarcerated in such facility will reside upon release;
(v) is offered by an institution that has not been subject, during the 5 years preceding the date of the determination, to—(I) any suspension, emergency action, or termination of programs under this subchapter;(II) any adverse action by the institution’s accrediting agency or association; or(III) any action by the State to revoke a license or other authority to operate;
(vi) satisfies any applicable educational requirements for professional licensure or certification, including licensure or certification examinations needed to practice or find employment in the sectors or occupations for which the program prepares the individual, in the State in which the correctional facility is located or, in the case of a Federal correctional facility, in the State in which most of the individuals confined or incarcerated in such facility will reside upon release; and
(vii) does not offer education that is designed to lead to licensure or employment for a specific job or occupation in the State if such job or occupation typically involves prohibitions on the licensure or employment of formerly incarcerated individuals in the State in which the correctional facility is located, or, in the case of a Federal correctional facility, in the State in which most of the individuals confined or incarcerated in such facility will reside upon release.
(2) Technical assistance
(3) Federal Pell Grant eligibility
(4) Evaluation
(A) In generalNot later than 1 year after December 27, 2020, in order to evaluate and improve the impact of activities supported under this subsection, the Secretary, in partnership with the Director of the Institute of Education Sciences, shall award 1 or more grants or contracts to, or enter into cooperative agreements with, experienced public and private institutions and organizations to enable the institutions and organizations to conduct an external evaluation that shall—
(i) assess the ability of confined or incarcerated individuals to access and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid;
(ii) examine in-custody outcomes and post-release outcomes related to providing Federal Pell Grants to confined or incarcerated individuals, including—(I) attainment of a postsecondary degree or credential;(II) safety in penal institutions with prison education programs;(III) the size of waiting lists for prison education programs;(IV) the extent to which such individuals continue their education post-release;(V) employment and earnings outcomes for such individuals; and(VI) rates of recidivism for such individuals;
(iii) track individuals who received Federal Pell Grants under subpart 1 of part A at 1, 3, and 5 years after the individuals’ release from confinement or incarceration; and
(iv) examine the extent to which institutions provide re-entry or relevant career services to participating confined or incarcerated individuals as part of the prison education program and the efficacy of such services, if offered.
(B) Report
(5) ReportNot later than 1 year after December 27, 2020, and on at least an annual basis thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the authorizing committees, and make publicly available on the website of the Department, a report on the—
(A) impact of this subsection which shall include, at a minimum—
(i) the names and types of institutions of higher education offering prison education programs at which confined or incarcerated individuals are enrolled and receiving Federal Pell Grants;
(ii) the number of confined or incarcerated individuals receiving Federal Pell Grants through each prison education program;
(iii) the amount of Federal Pell Grant expenditures for each prison education program;
(iv) the average amount of Federal Pell Grant expenditures per full-time equivalent students in a prison education program compared to the average amount of Federal Pell Grant expenditures per full-time equivalent students not in prison education programs;
(v) the demographics of confined or incarcerated individuals receiving Federal Pell Grants;
(vi) the cost of attendance for such individuals;
(vii) the mode of instruction (such as distance education, in-person instruction, or a combination of such modes) for each prison education program;
(viii) information on the academic outcomes of such individuals (such as credits attempted and earned, and credential and degree completion) and any information available from student satisfaction surveys conducted by the applicable institution or correctional facility;
(ix) information on post-release outcomes of such individuals, including, to the extent practicable, continued postsecondary enrollment, earnings, credit transfer, and job placement;
(x) rates of recidivism for confined or incarcerated individuals receiving Federal Pell Grants;
(xi) information on transfers of confined or incarcerated individuals between prison education programs;
(xii) the most common programs and courses offered in prison education programs; and
(xiii) rates of instructor turnover or departure for courses offered in prison education programs;
(B) results of each prison education program at each institution of higher education, including the information described in clauses (ii) through (xiii) of subparagraph (A); and
(C) findings regarding best practices with respect to prison education programs.
(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 484, as added Pub. L. 99–498, title IV, § 407(a), Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1479; amended Pub. L. 99–603, title I, § 121(a)(3), Nov. 6, 1986, 100 Stat. 3388; Pub. L. 100–50, § 15(7)–(9), June 3, 1987, 101 Stat. 356, 357; Pub. L. 100–369, §§ 1, 2, 6, July 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 835, 836; Pub. L. 100–525, § 2(g), Oct. 24, 1988, 102 Stat. 2611; Pub. L. 101–508, title III, § 3005(a), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–27; Pub. L. 102–26, § 2(b), (c)(2), (d)(2)(A), Apr. 9, 1991, 105 Stat. 123, 124; Pub. L. 102–73, title VIII, § 801(a), July 25, 1991, 105 Stat. 359; Pub. L. 102–325, title IV, § 484(a), (b)(1), (c)–(h), July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 615–619; Pub. L. 103–208, § 2(h)(13)–(25), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2476, 2477; Pub. L. 103–382, title III, § 360A, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3969; Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title V, § 507(b), Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–673; Pub. L. 105–244, title IV, § 483(a)–(f)(1), Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1735, 1736; Pub. L. 109–171, title VIII, §§ 8020(c), 8021, Feb. 8, 2006, 120 Stat. 178; Pub. L. 109–270, § 2(c)(2), Aug. 12, 2006, 120 Stat. 746; Pub. L. 110–315, title IV, § 485(a), Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3287; Pub. L. 111–39, title IV, § 407(b)(4), July 1, 2009, 123 Stat. 1950; Pub. L. 112–74, div. F, title III, § 309(c)(1), Dec. 23, 2011, 125 Stat. 1100; Pub. L. 113–235, div. G, title III, § 309(a)(1), Dec. 16, 2014, 128 Stat. 2504; Pub. L. 114–113, div. H, title III, § 313(1), Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 2638; Pub. L. 116–91, § 6(b), Dec. 19, 2019, 133 Stat. 1196; Pub. L. 116–260, div. FF, title VII, § 702(n)(1)(A), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 3182.)
§ 1091a. Statute of limitations, and State court judgments
(a) In general
(1) It is the purpose of this subsection to ensure that obligations to repay loans and grant overpayments are enforced without regard to any Federal or State statutory, regulatory, or administrative limitation on the period within which debts may be enforced.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of statute, regulation, or administrative limitation, no limitation shall terminate the period within which suit may be filed, a judgment may be enforced, or an offset, garnishment, or other action initiated or taken by—
(A) an institution that receives funds under this subchapter that is seeking to collect a refund due from a student on a grant made, or work assistance awarded, under this subchapter;
(B) a guaranty agency that has an agreement with the Secretary under section 1078(c) of this title that is seeking the repayment of the amount due from a borrower on a loan made under part B of this subchapter after such guaranty agency reimburses the previous holder of the loan for its loss on account of the default of the borrower;
(C) an institution that has an agreement with the Secretary pursuant to section 1087c or 1087cc(a) of this title that is seeking the repayment of the amount due from a borrower on a loan made under part D or E of this subchapter after the default of the borrower on such loan; or
(D) the Secretary, the Attorney General, or the administrative head of another Federal agency, as the case may be, for payment of a refund due from a student on a grant made under this subchapter, or for the repayment of the amount due from a borrower on a loan made under this subchapter that has been assigned to the Secretary under this subchapter.
(b) Assessment of costs and other chargesNotwithstanding any provision of State law to the contrary—
(1) a borrower who has defaulted on a loan made under this subchapter shall be required to pay, in addition to other charges specified in this subchapter reasonable collection costs;
(2) in collecting any obligation arising from a loan made under part B of this subchapter, a guaranty agency or the Secretary shall not be subject to a defense raised by any borrower based on a claim of infancy; and
(3) in collecting any obligation arising from a loan made under part E, an institution of higher education that has an agreement with the Secretary pursuant to section 1087cc(a) of this title shall not be subject to a defense raised by any borrower based on a claim of infancy.
(c) State court judgments
(d) Special rule
(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 484A, as added Pub. L. 99–498, title IV, § 407(a), Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1482; amended Pub. L. 102–26, § 3(a), Apr. 9, 1991, 105 Stat. 124; Pub. L. 105–244, title IV, § 484, Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1737; Pub. L. 110–315, title IV, § 486, Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3290.)
§ 1091b. Institutional refunds
(a) Return of subchapter IV funds
(1) In general
(2) Leave of absence
(A) Leave not treated as withdrawalIn the case of a student who takes 1 or more leaves of absence from an institution for not more than a total of 180 days in any 12-month period, the institution may consider the student as not having withdrawn from the institution during the leave of absence, and not calculate the amount of grant and loan assistance provided under this subchapter that is to be returned in accordance with this section if—
(i) the institution has a formal policy regarding leaves of absence;
(ii) the student followed the institution’s policy in requesting a leave of absence; and
(iii) the institution approved the student’s request in accordance with the institution’s policy.
(B) Consequences of failure to return
(3) Calculation of amount of subchapter IV assistance earned
(A) In generalThe amount of grant or loan assistance under this subchapter that is earned by the recipient for purposes of this section is calculated by—
(i) determining the percentage of grant and loan assistance under this subchapter that has been earned by the student, as described in subparagraph (B); and
(ii) applying such percentage to the total amount of such grant and loan assistance that was disbursed (and that could have been disbursed) to the student, or on the student’s behalf, for the payment period or period of enrollment for which the assistance was awarded, as of the day the student withdrew.
(B) Percentage earnedFor purposes of subparagraph (A)(i), the percentage of grant or loan assistance under this subchapter that has been earned by the student is—
(i) equal to the percentage of the payment period or period of enrollment for which assistance was awarded that was completed (as determined in accordance with subsection (d)) as of the day the student withdrew, provided that such date occurs on or before the completion of 60 percent of the payment period or period of enrollment; or
(ii) 100 percent, if the day the student withdrew occurs after the student has completed (as determined in accordance with subsection (d)) 60 percent of the payment period or period of enrollment.
(C) Percentage and amount not earnedFor purposes of subsection (b), the amount of grant and loan assistance awarded under this subchapter that has not been earned by the student shall be calculated by—
(i) determining the complement of the percentage of grant assistance under subparts 1 and 3 of part A, or loan assistance under parts B, D, and E, that has been earned by the student described in subparagraph (B); and
(ii) applying the percentage determined under clause (i) to the total amount of such grant and loan assistance that was disbursed (and that could have been disbursed) to the student, or on the student’s behalf, for the payment period or period of enrollment, as of the day the student withdrew.
(4) Differences between amounts earned and amounts received
(A) In general
(B) Return
(b) Return of subchapter IV program funds
(1) Responsibility of the institutionThe institution shall return not later than 45 days from the determination of withdrawal, in the order specified in paragraph (3), the lesser of—
(A) the amount of grant and loan assistance awarded under this subchapter that has not been earned by the student, as calculated under subsection (a)(3)(C); or
(B) an amount equal to—
(i) the total institutional charges incurred by the student for the payment period or period of enrollment for which such assistance was awarded; multiplied by
(ii) the percentage of grant and loan assistance awarded under this subchapter that has not been earned by the student, as described in subsection (a)(3)(C)(i).
(2) Responsibility of the student
(A) In general
(B) Special ruleThe student (or parent in the case of funds due to a loan borrowed by a parent under part B or D) shall return or repay, as appropriate, the amount determined under subparagraph (A) to—
(i) a loan program under this subchapter in accordance with the terms of the loan; and
(ii) a grant program under this subchapter, as an overpayment of such grant and shall be subject to—(I) repayment arrangements satisfactory to the institution; or(II) overpayment collection procedures prescribed by the Secretary.
(C) Grant overpayment requirements
(i) In generalNotwithstanding subparagraphs (A) and (B), a student shall only be required to return grant assistance in the amount (if any) by which—(I) the amount to be returned by the student (as determined under subparagraphs (A) and (B)), exceeds(II) 50 percent of the total grant assistance received by the student under this subchapter for the payment period or period of enrollment.
(ii) Minimum
(D) Waivers of Federal Pell Grant repayment by students affected by disastersThe Secretary may waive the amounts that students are required to return under this section with respect to Federal Pell Grants if the withdrawals on which the returns are based are withdrawals by students—
(i) who were residing in, employed in, or attending an institution of higher education that is located in an area in which the President has declared that a major disaster exists, in accordance with section 5170 of title 42;
(ii) whose attendance was interrupted because of the impact of the disaster on the student or the institution; and
(iii) whose withdrawal ended within the academic year during which the designation occurred or during the next succeeding academic year.
(E) Waivers of grant assistance repayment by students affected by disastersIn addition to the waivers authorized by subparagraph (D), the Secretary may waive the amounts that students are required to return under this section with respect to any other grant assistance under this subchapter if the withdrawals on which the returns are based are withdrawals by students—
(i) who were residing in, employed in, or attending an institution of higher education that is located in an area in which the President has declared that a major disaster exists, in accordance with section 5170 of title 42;
(ii) whose attendance was interrupted because of the impact of the disaster on the student or the institution; and
(iii) whose withdrawal ended within the academic year during which the designation occurred or during the next succeeding academic year.
(3) Order of return of subchapter IV funds
(A) In generalExcess funds returned by the institution or the student, as appropriate, in accordance with paragraph (1) or (2), respectively, shall be credited to outstanding balances on loans made under this subchapter to the student or on behalf of the student for the payment period or period of enrollment for which a return of funds is required. Such excess funds shall be credited in the following order:
(i) To outstanding balances on loans made under section 1078–8 of this title for the payment period or period of enrollment for which a return of funds is required.
(ii) To outstanding balances on loans made under section 1078 of this title for the payment period or period of enrollment for which a return of funds is required.
(iii) To outstanding balances on unsubsidized loans (other than parent loans) made under part D for the payment period or period of enrollment for which a return of funds is required.
(iv) To outstanding balances on subsidized loans made under part D for the payment period or period of enrollment for which a return of funds is required.
(v) To outstanding balances on loans made under part E for the payment period or period of enrollment for which a return of funds is required.
(vi) To outstanding balances on loans made under section 1078–2 of this title for the payment period or period of enrollment for which a return of funds is required.
(vii) To outstanding balances on parent loans made under part D for the payment period or period of enrollment for which a return of funds is required.
(B) Remaining excessesIf excess funds remain after repaying all outstanding loan amounts, the remaining excess shall be credited in the following order:
(i) To awards under subpart 1 of part A for the payment period or period of enrollment for which a return of funds is required.
(ii) To awards under subpart 3 of part A for the payment period or period of enrollment for which a return of funds is required.
(iii) To other assistance awarded under this subchapter for which a return of funds is required.
(c) Withdrawal date
(1) In generalIn this section, the term “day the student withdrew”—
(A) is the date that the institution determines—
(i) the student began the withdrawal process prescribed by the institution;
(ii) the student otherwise provided official notification to the institution of the intent to withdraw; or
(iii) in the case of a student who does not begin the withdrawal process or otherwise notify the institution of the intent to withdraw, the date that is the mid-point of the payment period for which assistance under this subchapter was disbursed or a later date documented by the institution; or
(B) for institutions required to take attendance, is determined by the institution from such attendance records.
(2) Special rule
(d) Percentage of the payment period or period of enrollment completedFor purposes of subsection (a)(3)(B), the percentage of the payment period or period of enrollment for which assistance was awarded that was completed, is determined—
(1) in the case of a program that is measured in credit hours, by dividing the total number of calendar days comprising the payment period or period of enrollment for which assistance is awarded into the number of calendar days completed in that period as of the day the student withdrew; and
(2) in the case of a program that is measured in clock hours, by dividing the total number of clock hours comprising the payment period or period of enrollment for which assistance is awarded into the number of clock hours scheduled to be completed by the student in that period as of the day the student withdrew.
(e) Effective date
(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 484B, as added Pub. L. 102–325, title IV, § 485(a), July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 619; amended Pub. L. 103–208, § 2(h)(26), (27), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2477; Pub. L. 105–244, title IV, § 485, Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1737; Pub. L. 109–66, § 2, Sept. 21, 2005, 119 Stat. 1999; Pub. L. 109–67, § 2, Sept. 21, 2005, 119 Stat. 2001; Pub. L. 109–171, title VIII, § 8022, Feb. 8, 2006, 120 Stat. 178.)
§ 1091c. Readmission requirements for servicemembers
(a) Definition of service in the uniformed services
(b) Discrimination against students who serve in the uniformed services prohibited
(c) Readmission procedures
(1) In generalAny student whose absence from an institution of higher education is necessitated by reason of service in the uniformed services shall be entitled to readmission to the institution of higher education if—
(A) the student (or an appropriate officer of the Armed Forces or official of the Department of Defense) gives advance written or verbal notice of such service to the appropriate official at the institution of higher education;
(B) the cumulative length of the absence and of all previous absences from that institution of higher education by reason of service in the uniformed services does not exceed five years; and
(C) except as otherwise provided in this section, the student submits a notification of intent to reenroll in the institution of higher education in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (4).
(2) Exceptions
(A) Military necessityNo notice is required under paragraph (1)(A) if the giving of such notice is precluded by military necessity, such as—
(i) a mission, operation, exercise, or requirement that is classified; or
(ii) a pending or ongoing mission, operation, exercise, or requirement that may be compromised or otherwise adversely affected by public knowledge.
(B) Failure to give advance notice
(3) ApplicabilityThis section shall apply to a student who is absent from an institution of higher education by reason of service in the uniformed services if such student’s cumulative period of service in the Armed Forces (including the National Guard or Reserve), with respect to the institution of higher education for which a student seeks readmission, does not exceed five years, except that any such period of service shall not include any service—
(A) that is required, beyond five years, to complete an initial period of obligated service;
(B) during which such student was unable to obtain orders releasing such student from a period of service in the uniformed services before the expiration of such five-year period and such inability was through no fault of such student; or
(C) performed by a member of the Armed Forces (including the National Guard and Reserves) who is—
(i) ordered to or retained on active duty under section 688, 12301(a), 12301(g), 12302, 12304, or 12305 of title 10 or under section 251, 252,1
1 See References in Text note below.
359, 360, 367, or 712 1 of title 14;(ii) ordered to or retained on active duty (other than for training) under any provision of law because of a war or national emergency declared by the President or the Congress, as determined by the Secretary concerned;
(iii) ordered to active duty (other than for training) in support, as determined by the Secretary concerned, of an operational mission for which personnel have been ordered to active duty under section 12304 of title 10;
(iv) ordered to active duty in support, as determined by the Secretary concerned, of a critical mission or requirement of the Armed Forces (including the National Guard or Reserve); or
(v) called into Federal service as a member of the National Guard under chapter 13 of title 10 or section 12406 of title 10.
(4) Notification of intent to return
(A) In general
(B) Hospitalization or convalescence
(C) Special rule
(5) Documentation
(A) In generalA student who submits an application for readmission to an institution of higher education under this section shall provide to the institution of higher education documentation to establish that—
(i) the student has not exceeded the service limitations established under this section; and
(ii) the student’s eligibility for readmission has not been terminated due to an exception in subsection (d).
(B) Prohibited documentation demands
(6) No change in academic status
(d) Exception from readmission eligibilityA student’s eligibility for readmission to an institution of higher education under this section by reason of such student’s service in the uniformed services terminates upon the occurrence of any of the following events:
(1) A separation of such person from the Armed Forces (including the National Guard and Reserves) with a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge.
(2) A dismissal of such person permitted under section 1161(a) of title 10.
(3) A dropping of such person from the rolls pursuant to section 1161(b) of title 10.
(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 484C, as added Pub. L. 110–315, title IV, § 487, Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3290; amended Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title XII, § 1204(a)(6), (b)(2), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 2017.)
§ 1092. Institutional and financial assistance information for students
(a) Information dissemination activities
(1) Each eligible institution participating in any program under this subchapter shall carry out information dissemination activities for prospective and enrolled students (including those attending or planning to attend less than full time) regarding the institution and all financial assistance under this subchapter. The information required by this section shall be produced and be made readily available upon request, through appropriate publications, mailings, and electronic media, to an enrolled student and to any prospective student. Each eligible institution shall, on an annual basis, provide to all enrolled students a list of the information that is required to be provided by institutions to students by this section and section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act [20 U.S.C. 1232g] (commonly known as the “Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974”), together with a statement of the procedures required to obtain such information. The information required by this section shall accurately describe—
(A) the student financial assistance programs available to students who enroll at such institution;
(B) the methods by which such assistance is distributed among student recipients who enroll at such institution;
(C) any means, including forms, by which application for student financial assistance is made and requirements for accurately preparing such application;
(D) the rights and responsibilities of students receiving financial assistance under this subchapter;
(E) the cost of attending the institution, including (i) tuition and fees, (ii) books and supplies, (iii) estimates of typical student room and board costs or typical commuting costs, and (iv) any additional cost of the program in which the student is enrolled or expresses a specific interest;
(F) a statement of—
(i) the requirements of any refund policy with which the institution is required to comply;
(ii) the requirements under section 1091b of this title for the return of grant or loan assistance provided under this subchapter; and
(iii) the requirements for officially withdrawing from the institution;
(G) the academic program of the institution, including (i) the current degree programs and other educational and training programs, (ii) the instructional, laboratory, and other physical plant facilities which relate to the academic program, (iii) the faculty and other instructional personnel, and (iv) any plans by the institution for improving the academic program of the institution;
(H) each person designated under subsection (c) of this section, and the methods by which and locations in which any person so designated may be contacted by students and prospective students who are seeking information required by this subsection;
(I) special facilities and services available to students with disabilities;
(J) the names of associations, agencies, or governmental bodies which accredit, approve, or license the institution and its programs, and the procedures under which any current or prospective student may obtain or review upon request a copy of the documents describing the institution’s accreditation, approval, or licensing;
(K) the standards which the student must maintain in order to be considered to be making satisfactory progress, pursuant to section 1091(a)(2) of this title;
(L) the completion or graduation rate of certificate- or degree-seeking, full-time, undergraduate students entering such institutions;
(M) the terms and conditions of the loans that students receive under parts B, D, and E;
(N) that enrollment in a program of study abroad approved for credit by the home institution may be considered enrollment in the home institution for purposes of applying for Federal student financial assistance;
(O) the campus crime report prepared by the institution pursuant to subsection (f), including all required reporting categories;
(P) institutional policies and sanctions related to copyright infringement, including—
(i) an annual disclosure that explicitly informs students that unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material, including unauthorized peer-to-peer file sharing, may subject the students to civil and criminal liabilities;
(ii) a summary of the penalties for violation of Federal copyright laws; and
(iii) a description of the institution’s policies with respect to unauthorized peer-to-peer file sharing, including disciplinary actions that are taken against students who engage in unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials using the institution’s information technology system;
(Q) student body diversity at the institution, including information on the percentage of enrolled, full-time students who—
(i) are male;
(ii) are female;
(iii) receive a Federal Pell Grant; and
(iv) are a self-identified member of a major racial or ethnic group;
(R) the placement in employment of, and types of employment obtained by, graduates of the institution’s degree or certificate programs, gathered from such sources as alumni surveys, student satisfaction surveys, the National Survey of Student Engagement, the Community College Survey of Student Engagement, State data systems, or other relevant sources;
(S) the types of graduate and professional education in which graduates of the institution’s four-year degree programs enrolled, gathered from such sources as alumni surveys, student satisfaction surveys, the National Survey of Student Engagement, State data systems, or other relevant sources;
(T) the fire safety report prepared by the institution pursuant to subsection (i);
(U) the retention rate of certificate- or degree-seeking, first-time, full-time, undergraduate students entering such institution; and
(V) institutional policies regarding vaccinations.
(2) For the purpose of this section, the term “prospective student” means any individual who has contacted an eligible institution requesting information concerning admission to that institution.
(3) In calculating the completion or graduation rate under subparagraph (L) of paragraph (1) of this subsection or under subsection (e), a student shall be counted as a completion or graduation if, within 150 percent of the normal time for completion of or graduation from the program, the student has completed or graduated from the program, or enrolled in any program of an eligible institution for which the prior program provides substantial preparation. The information required to be disclosed under such subparagraph—
(A) shall be made available by July 1 each year to enrolled students and prospective students prior to the students enrolling or entering into any financial obligation; and
(B) shall cover the one-year period ending on August 31 of the preceding year.
(4) For purposes of this section, institutions may—
(A) exclude from the information disclosed in accordance with subparagraph (L) of paragraph (1) the completion or graduation rates of students who leave school to serve in the Armed Forces, on official church missions, or with a recognized foreign aid service of the Federal Government; or
(B) in cases where the students described in subparagraph (A) represent 20 percent or more of the certificate- or degree-seeking, full-time, undergraduate students at the institution, recalculate the completion or graduation rates of such students by excluding from the calculation described in paragraph (3) the time period during which such students were not enrolled due to their service in the Armed Forces, on official church missions, or with a recognized foreign aid service of the Federal Government.
(5) The Secretary shall permit any institution of higher education that is a member of an athletic association or athletic conference that has voluntarily published completion or graduation rate data or has agreed to publish data that, in the opinion of the Secretary, is substantially comparable to the information required under this subsection, to use such data to satisfy the requirements of this subsection.
(6) Each institution may provide supplemental information to enrolled and prospective students showing the completion or graduation rate for students described in paragraph (4) or for students transferring into the institution or information showing the rate at which students transfer out of the institution.
(7)
(A)
(i) Subject to clause (ii), the information disseminated under paragraph (1)(L), or reported under subsection (e), shall be disaggregated by gender, by each major racial and ethnic subgroup, by recipients of a Federal Pell Grant, by recipients of a loan made under part B or D (other than a loan made under section 1078–8 of this title or a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan) who did not receive a Federal Pell Grant, and by recipients of neither a Federal Pell Grant nor a loan made under part B or D (other than a loan made under section 1078–8 of this title or a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan), if the number of students in such subgroup or with such status is sufficient to yield statistically reliable information and reporting will not reveal personally identifiable information about an individual student. If such number is not sufficient for such purposes, then the institution shall note that the institution enrolled too few of such students to so disclose or report with confidence and confidentiality.
(ii) The requirements of clause (i) shall not apply to two-year, degree-granting institutions of higher education until academic year 2011-2012.
(B)
(i) In order to assist two-year degree-granting institutions of higher education in meeting the requirements of paragraph (1)(L) and subsection (e), the Secretary, in consultation with the Commissioner for Education Statistics, shall, not later than 90 days after August 14, 2008, convene a group of representatives from diverse institutions of higher education, experts in the field of higher education policy, state 1
1 So in original. Probably should be capitalized.
higher education officials, students, and other stakeholders in the higher education community, to develop recommendations regarding the accurate calculation and reporting of the information required to be disseminated or reported under paragraph (1)(L) and subsection (e) by two-year, degree-granting institutions of higher education. In developing such recommendations, the group of representatives shall consider the mission and role of two-year degree-granting institutions of higher education, and may recommend additional or alternative measures of student success for such institutions in light of the mission and role of such institutions.(ii) The Secretary shall widely disseminate the recommendations required under this subparagraph to two-year, degree-granting institutions of higher education, the public, and the authorizing committees not later than 18 months after the first meeting of the group of representatives convened under clause (i).
(iii) The Secretary shall use the recommendations from the group of representatives convened under clause (i) to provide technical assistance to two-year, degree-granting institutions of higher education in meeting the requirements of paragraph (1)(L) and subsection (e).
(iv) The Secretary may modify the information required to be disseminated or reported under paragraph (1)(L) or subsection (e) by a two-year, degree-granting institution of higher education—(I) based on the recommendations received under this subparagraph from the group of representatives convened under clause (i);(II) to include additional or alternative measures of student success if the goals of the provisions of paragraph (1)(L) and subsection (e) can be met through additional means or comparable alternatives; and(III) during the period beginning on August 14, 2008, and ending on June 30, 2011.
(b) Exit counseling for borrowers
(1)
(A) Each eligible institution shall, through financial aid offices or otherwise, provide counseling to borrowers of loans that are made, insured, or guaranteed under part B (other than loans made pursuant to section 1078–3 of this title or loans under section 1078–2 of this title made on behalf of a student) or made under part D (other than Federal Direct Consolidation Loans or Federal Direct PLUS Loans made on behalf of a student) or made under part E of this subchapter prior to the completion of the course of study for which the borrower enrolled at the institution or at the time of departure from such institution. The counseling required by this subsection shall include—
(i) information on the repayment plans available, including a description of the different features of each plan and sample information showing the average anticipated monthly payments, and the difference in interest paid and total payments, under each plan;
(ii) debt management strategies that are designed to facilitate the repayment of such indebtedness;
(iii) an explanation that the borrower has the options to prepay each loan, pay each loan on a shorter schedule, and change repayment plans;
(iv) for any loan forgiveness or cancellation provision of this subchapter, a general description of the terms and conditions under which the borrower may obtain full or partial forgiveness or cancellation of the principal and interest, and a copy of the information provided by the Secretary under section 1092(d) of this title;
(v) for any forbearance provision of this subchapter, a general description of the terms and conditions under which the borrower may defer repayment of principal or interest or be granted forbearance, and a copy of the information provided by the Secretary under section 1092(d) of this title;
(vi) the consequences of defaulting on a loan, including adverse credit reports, delinquent debt collection procedures under Federal law, and litigation;
(vii) information on the effects of using a consolidation loan under section 1078–3 of this title or a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan to discharge the borrower’s loans under parts B, D, and E, including at a minimum—(I) the effects of consolidation on total interest to be paid, fees to be paid, and length of repayment;(II) the effects of consolidation on a borrower’s underlying loan benefits, including grace periods, loan forgiveness, cancellation, and deferment opportunities;(III) the option of the borrower to prepay the loan or to change repayment plans; and(IV) that borrower benefit programs may vary among different lenders;
(viii) a general description of the types of tax benefits that may be available to borrowers;
(ix) a notice to borrowers about the availability of the National Student Loan Data System and how the system can be used by a borrower to obtain information on the status of the borrower’s loans; and
(x) an explanation that—(I) the borrower may be contacted during the repayment period by third-party student debt relief companies;(II) the borrower should use caution when dealing with those companies; and(III) the services that those companies typically provide are already offered to borrowers free of charge through the Department or the borrower’s servicer; and
(B) In the case of borrower who leaves an institution without the prior knowledge of the institution, the institution shall attempt to provide the information described in subparagraph (A) to the student in writing.
(2)
(A) Each eligible institution shall require that the borrower of a loan made under part B, D, or E submit to the institution, during the exit interview required by this subsection—
(i) the borrower’s expected permanent address after leaving the institution (regardless of the reason for leaving);
(ii) the name and address of the borrower’s expected employer after leaving the institution;
(iii) the address of the borrower’s next of kin; and
(iv) any corrections in the institution’s records relating the borrower’s name, address, social security number, references, and driver’s license number.
(B) The institution shall, within 60 days after the interview, forward any corrected or completed information received from the borrower to the guaranty agency indicated on the borrower’s student aid records.
(C) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit an institution of higher education from utilizing electronic means to provide personalized exit counseling.
(c) Financial assistance information personnel
(d) Departmental publication of descriptions of assistance programs
(1) The Secretary shall make available to eligible institutions, eligible lenders, and secondary schools descriptions of Federal student assistance programs including the rights and responsibilities of student and institutional participants, in order to (A) assist students in gaining information through institutional sources, and (B) assist institutions in carrying out the provisions of this section, so that individual and institutional participants will be fully aware of their rights and responsibilities under such programs. In particular, such information shall include information to enable students and prospective students to assess the debt burden and monthly and total repayment obligations that will be incurred as a result of receiving loans of varying amounts under this subchapter. Such information shall also include information on the various payment options available for student loans, including income-sensitive and income-based repayment plans for loans made, insured, or guaranteed under part B and income-contingent and income-based repayment plans for loans made under part D. In addition, such information shall include information to enable borrowers to assess the practical consequences of loan consolidation, including differences in deferment eligibility, interest rates, monthly payments, and finance charges, and samples of loan consolidation profiles to illustrate such consequences. The Secretary shall provide information concerning the specific terms and conditions under which students may obtain partial or total cancellation or defer repayment of loans for service, shall indicate (in terms of the Federal minimum wage) the maximum level of compensation and allowances that a student borrower may receive from a tax-exempt organization to qualify for a deferment, and shall explicitly state that students may qualify for such partial cancellations or deferments when they serve as a paid employee of a tax-exempt organization. The Secretary shall also provide information on loan forbearance, including the increase in debt that results from capitalization of interest. Such information shall be provided by eligible institutions and eligible lenders at any time that information regarding loan availability is provided to any student.
(2) The Secretary, to the extent the information is available, shall compile information describing State and other prepaid tuition programs and savings programs and disseminate such information to States, eligible institutions, students, and parents in departmental publications.
(3) The Secretary, to the extent practicable, shall update the Department’s Internet site to include direct links to databases that contain information on public and private financial assistance programs. The Secretary shall only provide direct links to databases that can be accessed without charge and shall make reasonable efforts to verify that the databases included in a direct link are not providing fraudulent information. The Secretary shall prominently display adjacent to any such direct link a disclaimer indicating that a direct link to a database does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation of the database, the provider of the database, or any services or products of such provider. The Secretary shall provide additional direct links to information resources from which students may obtain information about fraudulent and deceptive practices in the provision of services related to student financial aid.
(4) The Secretary shall widely publicize the location of the information described in paragraph (1) among the public, eligible institutions, and eligible lenders, and promote the use of such information by prospective students, enrolled students, families of prospective and enrolled students, and borrowers.
(e) Disclosures required with respect to athletically related student aid
(1) Each institution of higher education which participates in any program under this subchapter and is attended by students receiving athletically related student aid shall annually submit a report to the Secretary which contains—
(A) the number of students at the institution of higher education who received athletically related student aid broken down by race and sex in the following sports: basketball, football, baseball, cross country/track, and all other sports combined;
(B) the number of students at the institution of higher education, broken down by race and sex;
(C) the completion or graduation rate for students at the institution of higher education who received athletically related student aid broken down by race and sex in the following sports: basketball, football, baseball, cross country/track and all other sports combined;
(D) the completion or graduation rate for students at the institution of higher education, broken down by race and sex;
(E) the average completion or graduation rate for the 4 most recent completing or graduating classes of students at the institution of higher education who received athletically related student aid broken down by race and sex in the following categories: basketball, football, baseball, cross country/track, and all other sports combined; and
(F) the average completion or graduation rate for the 4 most recent completing or graduating classes of students at the institution of higher education broken down by race and sex.
(2) When an institution described in paragraph (1) of this subsection offers a potential student athlete athletically related student aid, such institution shall provide to the student and the student’s parents, guidance counselor, and coach the information contained in the report submitted by such institution pursuant to paragraph (1). If the institution is a member of a national collegiate athletic association that compiles graduation rate data on behalf of the association’s member institutions that the Secretary determines is substantially comparable to the information described in paragraph (1), the distribution of the compilation of such data to all secondary schools in the United States shall fulfill the responsibility of the institution to provide information to a prospective student athlete’s guidance counselor and coach.
(3) For purposes of this subsection, institutions may—
(A) exclude from the reporting requirements under paragraphs (1) and (2) the completion or graduation rates of students and student athletes who leave school to serve in the Armed Forces, on official church missions, or with a recognized foreign aid service of the Federal Government; or
(B) in cases where the students described in subparagraph (A) represent 20 percent or more of the certificate- or degree-seeking, full-time, undergraduate students at the institution, calculate the completion or graduation rates of such students by excluding from the calculations described in paragraph (1) the time period during which such students were not enrolled due to their service in the Armed Forces, on official church missions, or with a recognized foreign aid service of the Federal Government.
(4) Each institution of higher education described in paragraph (1) may provide supplemental information to students and the Secretary showing the completion or graduation rate when such completion or graduation rate includes students transferring into and out of such institution.
(5) The Secretary, using the reports submitted under this subsection, shall compile and publish a report containing the information required under paragraph (1) broken down by—
(A) individual institutions of higher education; and
(B) athletic conferences recognized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
(6) The Secretary shall waive the requirements of this subsection for any institution of higher education that is a member of an athletic association or athletic conference that has voluntarily published completion or graduation rate data or has agreed to publish data that, in the opinion of the Secretary, is substantially comparable to the information required under this subsection.
(7) The Secretary, in conjunction with the National Junior College Athletic Association, shall develop and obtain data on completion or graduation rates from two-year colleges that award athletically related student aid. Such data shall, to the extent practicable, be consistent with the reporting requirements set forth in this section.
(8) For purposes of this subsection, the term “athletically related student aid” means any scholarship, grant, or other form of financial assistance the terms of which require the recipient to participate in a program of intercollegiate athletics at an institution of higher education in order to be eligible to receive such assistance.
(9) The reports required by this subsection shall be due each July 1 and shall cover the 1-year period ending August 31 of the preceding year.
(f) Disclosure of campus security policy and campus crime statistics
(1) Each eligible institution participating in any program under this subchapter, other than a foreign institution of higher education, shall on August 1, 1991, begin to collect the following information with respect to campus crime statistics and campus security policies of that institution, and beginning September 1, 1992, and each year thereafter, prepare, publish, and distribute, through appropriate publications or mailings, to all current students and employees, and to any applicant for enrollment or employment upon request, an annual security report containing at least the following information with respect to the campus security policies and campus crime statistics of that institution:
(A) A statement of current campus policies regarding procedures and facilities for students and others to report criminal actions or other emergencies occurring on campus and policies concerning the institution’s response to such reports.
(B) A statement of current policies concerning security and access to campus facilities, including campus residences, and security considerations used in the maintenance of campus facilities.
(C) A statement of current policies concerning campus law enforcement, including—
(i) the law enforcement authority of campus security personnel;
(ii) the working relationship of campus security personnel with State and local law enforcement agencies, including whether the institution has agreements with such agencies, such as written memoranda of understanding, for the investigation of alleged criminal offenses; and
(iii) policies which encourage accurate and prompt reporting of all crimes to the campus police and the appropriate law enforcement agencies, when the victim of such crime elects or is unable to make such a report.
(D) A description of the type and frequency of programs designed to inform students and employees about campus security procedures and practices and to encourage students and employees to be responsible for their own security and the security of others.
(E) A description of programs designed to inform students and employees about the prevention of crimes.
(F) Statistics concerning the occurrence on campus, in or on noncampus buildings or property, and on public property during the most recent calendar year, and during the 2 preceding calendar years for which data are available—
(i) of the following criminal offenses reported to campus security authorities or local police agencies:(I) murder;(II) sex offenses, forcible or nonforcible;(III) robbery;(IV) aggravated assault;(V) burglary;(VI) motor vehicle theft;(VII) manslaughter;(VIII) arson;(IX) arrests or persons referred for campus disciplinary action for liquor law violations, drug-related violations, and weapons possession; and
(ii) of the crimes described in subclauses (I) through (VIII) of clause (i), of larceny-theft, simple assault, intimidation, and destruction, damage, or vandalism of property, and of other crimes involving bodily injury to any person, in which the victim is intentionally selected because of the actual or perceived race, gender, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity,,2
2 So in original.
ethnicity, or disability of the victim that are reported to campus security authorities or local police agencies, which data shall be collected and reported according to category of prejudice; and(iii) of domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking incidents that were reported to campus security authorities or local police agencies.
(G) A statement of policy concerning the monitoring and recording through local police agencies of criminal activity at off-campus student organizations which are recognized by the institution and that are engaged in by students attending the institution, including those student organizations with off-campus housing facilities.
(H) A statement of policy regarding the possession, use, and sale of alcoholic beverages and enforcement of State underage drinking laws and a statement of policy regarding the possession, use, and sale of illegal drugs and enforcement of Federal and State drug laws and a description of any drug or alcohol abuse education programs as required under section 1011i of this title.
(I) A statement advising the campus community where law enforcement agency information provided by a State under section 14071(j) 3
3 See References in Text note below.
of title 42, concerning registered sex offenders may be obtained, such as the law enforcement office of the institution, a local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction for the campus, or a computer network address.(J) A statement of current campus policies regarding immediate emergency response and evacuation procedures, including the use of electronic and cellular communication (if appropriate), which policies shall include procedures to—
(i) immediately notify the campus community upon the confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or staff occurring on the campus, as defined in paragraph (6), unless issuing a notification will compromise efforts to contain the emergency;
(ii) publicize emergency response and evacuation procedures on an annual basis in a manner designed to reach students and staff; and
(iii) test emergency response and evacuation procedures on an annual basis.
(2) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize the Secretary to require particular policies, procedures, or practices by institutions of higher education with respect to campus crimes or campus security.
(3) Each institution participating in any program under this subchapter, other than a foreign institution of higher education, shall make timely reports to the campus community on crimes considered to be a threat to other students and employees described in paragraph (1)(F) that are reported to campus security or local law police agencies. Such reports shall be provided to students and employees in a manner that is timely, that withholds the names of victims as confidential, and that will aid in the prevention of similar occurrences.
(4)
(A) Each institution participating in any program under this subchapter, other than a foreign institution of higher education, that maintains a police or security department of any kind shall make, keep, and maintain a daily log, written in a form that can be easily understood, recording all crimes reported to such police or security department, including—
(i) the nature, date, time, and general location of each crime; and
(ii) the disposition of the complaint, if known.
(B)
(i) All entries that are required pursuant to this paragraph shall, except where disclosure of such information is prohibited by law or such disclosure would jeopardize the confidentiality of the victim, be open to public inspection within two business days of the initial report being made to the department or a campus security authority.
(ii) If new information about an entry into a log becomes available to a police or security department, then the new information shall be recorded in the log not later than two business days after the information becomes available to the police or security department.
(iii) If there is clear and convincing evidence that the release of such information would jeopardize an ongoing criminal investigation or the safety of an individual, cause a suspect to flee or evade detection, or result in the destruction of evidence, such information may be withheld until that damage is no longer likely to occur from the release of such information.
(5) On an annual basis, each institution participating in any program under this subchapter, other than a foreign institution of higher education, shall submit to the Secretary a copy of the statistics required to be made available under paragraph (1)(F). The Secretary shall—
(A) review such statistics and report to the authorizing committees on campus crime statistics by September 1, 2000;
(B) make copies of the statistics submitted to the Secretary available to the public; and
(C) in coordination with representatives of institutions of higher education, identify exemplary campus security policies, procedures, and practices and disseminate information concerning those policies, procedures, and practices that have proven effective in the reduction of campus crime.
(6)
(A) In this subsection:
(i) The terms “dating violence”, “domestic violence”, and “stalking” have the meaning given such terms in section 12291(a) of title 34.
(ii) The term “campus” means—(I) any building or property owned or controlled by an institution of higher education within the same reasonably contiguous geographic area of the institution and used by the institution in direct support of, or in a manner related to, the institution’s educational purposes, including residence halls; and(II) property within the same reasonably contiguous geographic area of the institution that is owned by the institution but controlled by another person, is used by students, and supports institutional purposes (such as a food or other retail vendor).
(iii) The term “noncampus building or property” means—(I) any building or property owned or controlled by a student organization recognized by the institution; and(II) any building or property (other than a branch campus) owned or controlled by an institution of higher education that is used in direct support of, or in relation to, the institution’s educational purposes, is used by students, and is not within the same reasonably contiguous geographic area of the institution.
(iv) The term “public property” means all public property that is within the same reasonably contiguous geographic area of the institution, such as a sidewalk, a street, other thoroughfare, or parking facility, and is adjacent to a facility owned or controlled by the institution if the facility is used by the institution in direct support of, or in a manner related to the institution’s educational purposes.
(v) The term “sexual assault” means an offense classified as a forcible or nonforcible sex offense under the uniform crime reporting system of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
(B) In cases where branch campuses of an institution of higher education, schools within an institution of higher education, or administrative divisions within an institution are not within a reasonably contiguous geographic area, such entities shall be considered separate campuses for purposes of the reporting requirements of this section.
(7) The statistics described in clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph (1)(F) shall be compiled in accordance with the definitions used in the uniform crime reporting system of the Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the modifications in such definitions as implemented pursuant to the Hate Crime Statistics Act. For the offenses of domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking, such statistics shall be compiled in accordance with the definitions used in section 12291(a) of title 34. Such statistics shall not identify victims of crimes or persons accused of crimes.
(8)
(A) Each institution of higher education participating in any program under this subchapter and title IV of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964,3 other than a foreign institution of higher education, shall develop and distribute as part of the report described in paragraph (1) a statement of policy regarding—
(i) such institution’s programs to prevent domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; and
(ii) the procedures that such institution will follow once an incident of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking has been reported, including a statement of the standard of evidence that will be used during any institutional conduct proceeding arising from such a report.
(B) The policy described in subparagraph (A) shall address the following areas:
(i) Education programs to promote the awareness of rape, acquaintance rape, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, which shall include—(I) primary prevention and awareness programs for all incoming students and new employees, which shall include—(aa) a statement that the institution of higher education prohibits the offenses of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking;(bb) the definition of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in the applicable jurisdiction;(cc) the definition of consent, in reference to sexual activity, in the applicable jurisdiction;(dd) safe and positive options for bystander intervention that may be carried out by an individual to prevent harm or intervene when there is a risk of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking against a person other than such individual;(ee) information on risk reduction to recognize warning signs of abusive behavior and how to avoid potential attacks; and(ff) the information described in clauses (ii) through (vii); and(II) ongoing prevention and awareness campaigns for students and faculty, including information described in items (aa) through (ff) of subclause (I).
(ii) Possible sanctions or protective measures that such institution may impose following a final determination of an institutional disciplinary procedure regarding rape, acquaintance rape, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
(iii)(I) the importance of preserving evidence as may be necessary to the proof of criminal domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or in obtaining a protection order;(II) to whom the alleged offense should be reported;(III) options regarding law enforcement and campus authorities, including notification of the victim’s option to—(aa) notify proper law enforcement authorities, including on-campus and local police;(bb) be assisted by campus authorities in notifying law enforcement authorities if the victim so chooses; and(cc) decline to notify such authorities; and(IV) where applicable, the rights of victims and the institution’s responsibilities regarding orders of protection, no contact orders, restraining orders, or similar lawful orders issued by a criminal, civil, or tribal court.
(iv) Procedures for institutional disciplinary action in cases of alleged domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, which shall include a clear statement that—(I) such proceedings shall—(aa) provide a prompt, fair, and impartial investigation and resolution; and(bb) be conducted by officials who receive annual training on the issues related to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking and how to conduct an investigation and hearing process that protects the safety of victims and promotes accountability;(II) the accuser and the accused are entitled to the same opportunities to have others present during an institutional disciplinary proceeding, including the opportunity to be accompanied to any related meeting or proceeding by an advisor of their choice; and(III) both the accuser and the accused shall be simultaneously informed, in writing, of—(aa) the outcome of any institutional disciplinary proceeding that arises from an allegation of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking;(bb) the institution’s procedures for the accused and the victim to appeal the results of the institutional disciplinary proceeding;(cc) of any change to the results that occurs prior to the time that such results become final; and(dd) when such results become final.
(v) Information about how the institution will protect the confidentiality of victims, including how publicly-available recordkeeping will be accomplished without the inclusion of identifying information about the victim, to the extent permissible by law.
(vi) Written notification of students and employees about existing counseling, health, mental health, victim advocacy, legal assistance, and other services available for victims both on-campus and in the community.
(vii) Written notification of victims about options for, and available assistance in, changing academic, living, transportation, and working situations, if so requested by the victim and if such accommodations are reasonably available, regardless of whether the victim chooses to report the crime to campus police or local law enforcement.
(C) A student or employee who reports to an institution of higher education that the student or employee has been a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, whether the offense occurred on or off campus, shall be provided with a written explanation of the student or employee’s rights and options, as described in clauses (ii) through (vii) of subparagraph (B).
(9) The Secretary, in consultation with the Attorney General of the United States, shall provide technical assistance in complying with the provisions of this section to an institution of higher education who requests such assistance.
(10) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the reporting or disclosure of privileged information.
(11) The Secretary shall report to the appropriate committees of Congress each institution of higher education that the Secretary determines is not in compliance with the reporting requirements of this subsection.
(12) For purposes of reporting the statistics with respect to crimes described in paragraph (1)(F), an institution of higher education shall distinguish, by means of separate categories, any criminal offenses that occur—
(A) on campus;
(B) in or on a noncampus building or property;
(C) on public property; and
(D) in dormitories or other residential facilities for students on campus.
(13) Upon a determination pursuant to section 1094(c)(3)(B) of this title that an institution of higher education has substantially misrepresented the number, location, or nature of the crimes required to be reported under this subsection, the Secretary shall impose a civil penalty upon the institution in the same amount and pursuant to the same procedures as a civil penalty is imposed under section 1094(c)(3)(B) of this title.
(14)
(A) Nothing in this subsection may be construed to—
(i) create a cause of action against any institution of higher education or any employee of such an institution for any civil liability; or
(ii) establish any standard of care.
(B) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, evidence regarding compliance or noncompliance with this subsection shall not be admissible as evidence in any proceeding of any court, agency, board, or other entity, except with respect to an action to enforce this subsection.
(15) The Secretary shall annually report to the authorizing committees regarding compliance with this subsection by institutions of higher education, including an up-to-date report on the Secretary’s monitoring of such compliance.
(16)
(A) The Secretary shall seek the advice and counsel of the Attorney General of the United States concerning the development, and dissemination to institutions of higher education, of best practices information about campus safety and emergencies.
(B) The Secretary shall seek the advice and counsel of the Attorney General of the United States and the Secretary of Health and Human Services concerning the development, and dissemination to institutions of higher education, of best practices information about preventing and responding to incidents of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, including elements of institutional policies that have proven successful based on evidence-based outcome measurements.
(17) No officer, employee, or agent of an institution participating in any program under this subchapter shall retaliate, intimidate, threaten, coerce, or otherwise discriminate against any individual for exercising their rights or responsibilities under any provision of this subsection.
(18) This subsection may be cited as the “Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act”.
(g) Data required
(1) In generalEach coeducational institution of higher education that participates in any program under this subchapter, and has an intercollegiate athletic program, shall annually, for the immediately preceding academic year, prepare a report that contains the following information regarding intercollegiate athletics:
(A) The number of male and female full-time undergraduates that attended the institution.
(B) A listing of the varsity teams that competed in intercollegiate athletic competition and for each such team the following data:
(i) The total number of participants, by team, as of the day of the first scheduled contest for the team.
(ii) Total operating expenses attributable to such teams, except that an institution may also report such expenses on a per capita basis for each team and expenditures attributable to closely related teams such as track and field or swimming and diving, may be reported together, although such combinations shall be reported separately for men’s and women’s teams.
(iii) Whether the head coach is male or female and whether the head coach is assigned to that team on a full-time or part-time basis. Graduate assistants and volunteers who serve as head coaches shall be considered to be head coaches for the purposes of this clause.
(iv) The number of assistant coaches who are male and the number of assistant coaches who are female for each team and whether a particular coach is assigned to that team on a full-time or part-time basis. Graduate assistants and volunteers who serve as assistant coaches shall be considered to be assistant coaches for the purposes of this clause.
(C) The total amount of money spent on athletically related student aid, including the value of waivers of educational expenses, separately for men’s and women’s teams overall.
(D) The ratio of athletically related student aid awarded male athletes to athletically related student aid awarded female athletes.
(E) The total amount of expenditures on recruiting, separately for men’s and women’s teams overall.
(F) The total annual revenues generated across all men’s teams and across all women’s teams, except that an institution may also report such revenues by individual team.
(G) The average annual institutional salary of the head coaches of men’s teams, across all offered sports, and the average annual institutional salary of the head coaches of women’s teams, across all offered sports.
(H) The average annual institutional salary of the assistant coaches of men’s teams, across all offered sports, and the average annual institutional salary of the assistant coaches of women’s teams, across all offered sports.
(I)
(i) The total revenues, and the revenues from football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, all other men’s sports combined and all other women’s sports combined, derived by the institution from the institution’s intercollegiate athletics activities.
(ii) For the purpose of clause (i), revenues from intercollegiate athletics activities allocable to a sport shall include (without limitation) gate receipts, broadcast revenues, appearance guarantees and options, concessions, and advertising, but revenues such as student activities fees or alumni contributions not so allocable shall be included in the calculation of total revenues only.
(J)
(i) The total expenses, and the expenses attributable to football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, all other men’s sports combined, and all other women’s sports combined, made by the institution for the institution’s intercollegiate athletics activities.
(ii) For the purpose of clause (i), expenses for intercollegiate athletics activities allocable to a sport shall include (without limitation) grants-in-aid, salaries, travel, equipment, and supplies, but expenses such as general and administrative overhead not so allocable shall be included in the calculation of total expenses only.
(2) Special rule
(3) Disclosure of information to students and public
(4) Submission; report; information availability
(A) On an annual basis, each institution of higher education described in paragraph (1) shall provide to the Secretary, within 15 days of the date that the institution makes available the report under paragraph (1), the information contained in the report.
(B) The Secretary shall ensure that the reports described in subparagraph (A) are made available to the public within a reasonable period of time.
(C) Not later than 180 days after October 7, 1998, the Secretary shall notify all secondary schools in all States regarding the availability of the information made available under paragraph (1), and how such information may be accessed.
(5) “Operating expenses” defined
(h) Transfer of credit policies
(1) DisclosureEach institution of higher education participating in any program under this subchapter shall publicly disclose, in a readable and comprehensible manner, the transfer of credit policies established by the institution which shall include a statement of the institution’s current transfer of credit policies that includes, at a minimum—
(A) any established criteria the institution uses regarding the transfer of credit earned at another institution of higher education; and
(B) a list of institutions of higher education with which the institution has established an articulation agreement.
(2) Rule of constructionNothing in this subsection shall be construed to—
(A) authorize the Secretary or the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity to require particular policies, procedures, or practices by institutions of higher education with respect to transfer of credit;
(B) authorize an officer or employee of the Department to exercise any direction, supervision, or control over the curriculum, program of instruction, administration, or personnel of any institution of higher education, or over any accrediting agency or association;
(C) limit the application of the General Education Provisions Act [20 U.S.C. 1221 et seq.]; or
(D) create any legally enforceable right on the part of a student to require an institution of higher education to accept a transfer of credit from another institution.
(i) Disclosure of fire safety standards and measures
(1) Annual fire safety reports on student housing requiredEach eligible institution participating in any program under this subchapter that maintains on-campus student housing facilities shall, on an annual basis, publish a fire safety report, which shall contain information with respect to the campus fire safety practices and standards of that institution, including—
(A) statistics concerning the following in each on-campus student housing facility during the most recent calendar years for which data are available:
(i) the number of fires and the cause of each fire;
(ii) the number of injuries related to a fire that result in treatment at a medical facility;
(iii) the number of deaths related to a fire; and
(iv) the value of property damage caused by a fire;
(B) a description of each on-campus student housing facility fire safety system, including the fire sprinkler system;
(C) the number of regular mandatory supervised fire drills;
(D) policies or rules on portable electrical appliances, smoking, and open flames (such as candles), procedures for evacuation, and policies regarding fire safety education and training programs provided to students, faculty, and staff; and
(E) plans for future improvements in fire safety, if determined necessary by such institution.
(2) Report to the Secretary
(3) Current information to campus communityEach institution described in paragraph (1) shall—
(A) make, keep, and maintain a log, recording all fires in on-campus student housing facilities, including the nature, date, time, and general location of each fire; and
(B) make annual reports to the campus community on such fires.
(4) Responsibilities of the SecretaryThe Secretary shall—
(A) make the statistics submitted under paragraph (1)(A) to the Secretary available to the public; and
(B) in coordination with nationally recognized fire organizations and representatives of institutions of higher education, representatives of associations of institutions of higher education, and other organizations that represent and house a significant number of students—
(i) identify exemplary fire safety policies, procedures, programs, and practices, including the installation, to the technical standards of the National Fire Protection Association, of fire detection, prevention, and protection technologies in student housing, dormitories, and other buildings;
(ii) disseminate the exemplary policies, procedures, programs and practices described in clause (i) to the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration;
(iii) make available to the public information concerning those policies, procedures, programs, and practices that have proven effective in the reduction of fires; and
(iv) develop a protocol for institutions to review the status of their fire safety systems.
(5) Rules of constructionNothing in this subsection shall be construed to—
(A) authorize the Secretary to require particular policies, procedures, programs, or practices by institutions of higher education with respect to fire safety, other than with respect to the collection, reporting, and dissemination of information required by this subsection;
(B) affect section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act [20 U.S.C. 1232g] (commonly known as the “Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974”) or the regulations issued under section 264 of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 1320d–2 note);
(C) create a cause of action against any institution of higher education or any employee of such an institution for any civil liability; or
(D) establish any standard of care.
(6) Compliance report
(7) Evidence
(j) Missing person procedures
(1) Option and proceduresEach institution of higher education that provides on-campus housing and participates in any program under this subchapter shall—
(A) establish a missing student notification policy for students who reside in on-campus housing that—
(i) informs each such student that such student has the option to identify an individual to be contacted by the institution not later than 24 hours after the time that the student is determined missing in accordance with official notification procedures established by the institution under subparagraph (B);
(ii) provides each such student a means to register confidential contact information in the event that the student is determined to be missing for a period of more than 24 hours;
(iii) advises each such student who is under 18 years of age, and not an emancipated individual, that the institution is required to notify a custodial parent or guardian not later 24 hours after the time that the student is determined to be missing in accordance with such procedures;
(iv) informs each such residing student that the institution will notify the appropriate law enforcement agency not later than 24 hours after the time that the student is determined missing in accordance with such procedures; and
(v) requires, if the campus security or law enforcement personnel has been notified and makes a determination that a student who is the subject of a missing person report has been missing for more than 24 hours and has not returned to the campus, the institution to initiate the emergency contact procedures in accordance with the student’s designation; and
(B) establish official notification procedures for a missing student who resides in on-campus housing that—
(i) includes procedures for official notification of appropriate individuals at the institution that such student has been missing for more than 24 hours;
(ii) requires any official missing person report relating to such student be referred immediately to the institution’s police or campus security department; and
(iii) if, on investigation of the official report, such department determines that the missing student has been missing for more than 24 hours, requires—(I) such department to contact the individual identified by such student under subparagraph (A)(i);(II) if such student is under 18 years of age, and not an emancipated individual, the institution to immediately contact the custodial parent or legal guardian of such student; and(III) if subclauses (I) or (II) do not apply to a student determined to be a missing person, inform the appropriate law enforcement agency.
(2) Rule of constructionNothing in this subsection shall be construed—
(A) to provide a private right of action to any person to enforce any provision of this subsection; or
(B) to create a cause of action against any institution of higher education or any employee of the institution for any civil liability.
(k) Repealed. Pub. L. 116–260, div. FF, title VII, § 702(n)(1)(C), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 3186
(l) Entrance counseling for borrowers
(1) Disclosure required prior to disbursement
(A) In generalEach eligible institution shall, at or prior to the time of a disbursement to a first-time borrower of a loan made, insured, or guaranteed under part B (other than a loan made pursuant to section 1078–3 of this title or a loan made on behalf of a student pursuant to section 1078–2 of this title) or made under part D (other than a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan or a Federal Direct PLUS loan made on behalf of a student), ensure that the borrower receives comprehensive information on the terms and conditions of the loan and of the responsibilities the borrower has with respect to such loan in accordance with paragraph (2). Such information—
(i) shall be provided in a simple and understandable manner; and
(ii) may be provided—(I) during an entrance counseling session conduction in person;(II) on a separate written form provided to the borrower that the borrower signs and returns to the institution; or(III) online, with the borrower acknowledging receipt of the information.
(B) Use of interactive programs
(2) Information to be providedThe information to be provided to the borrower under paragraph (1)(A) shall include the following:
(A) To the extent practicable, the effect of accepting the loan to be disbursed on the eligibility of the borrower for other forms of student financial assistance.
(B) An explanation of the use of the master promissory note.
(C) Information on how interest accrues and is capitalized during periods when the interest is not paid by either the borrower or the Secretary.
(D) In the case of a loan made under section 1078–2 or 1078–8 of this title, a Federal Direct PLUS Loan, or a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, the option of the borrower to pay the interest while the borrower is in school.
(E) The definition of half-time enrollment at the institution, during regular terms and summer school, if applicable, and the consequences of not maintaining half-time enrollment.
(F) An explanation of the importance of contacting the appropriate offices at the institution of higher education if the borrower withdraws prior to completing the borrower’s program of study so that the institution can provide exit counseling, including information regarding the borrower’s repayment options and loan consolidation.
(G) Sample monthly repayment amounts based on—
(i) a range of levels of indebtedness of—(I) borrowers of loans under section 1078 or 1078–8 of this title; and(II) as appropriate, graduate borrowers of loans under section 1078, 1078–2, or 1078–8 of this title; or
(ii) the average cumulative indebtedness of other borrowers in the same program as the borrower at the same institution.
(H) The obligation of the borrower to repay the full amount of the loan, regardless of whether the borrower completes or does not complete the program in which the borrower is enrolled within the regular time for program completion.
(I) The likely consequences of default on the loan, including adverse credit reports, delinquent debt collection procedures under Federal law, and litigation.
(J) Information on the National Student Loan Data System and how the borrower can access the borrower’s records.
(K) The name of and contact information for the individual the borrower may contact if the borrower has any questions about the borrower’s rights and responsibilities or the terms and conditions of the loan.
(m) Disclosures of reimbursements for service on advisory boards
(1) DisclosureEach institution of higher education participating in any program under this subchapter shall report, on an annual basis, to the Secretary, any reasonable expenses paid or provided under section 1650(d) of title 15 to any employee who is employed in the financial aid office of the institution, or who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to education loans or other financial aid of the institution. Such reports shall include—
(A) the amount for each specific instance of reasonable expenses paid or provided;
(B) the name of the financial aid official, other employee, or agent to whom the expenses were paid or provided;
(C) the dates of the activity for which the expenses were paid or provided; and
(D) a brief description of the activity for which the expenses were paid or provided.
(2) Report to Congress
(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 485, as added Pub. L. 99–498, title IV, § 407(a), Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1482; amended Pub. L. 100–50, § 15(10), (11), June 3, 1987, 101 Stat. 357; Pub. L. 101–542, title I, §§ 103(a), (b), 104(a), title II, § 204(a), Nov. 8, 1990, 104 Stat. 2381–2385; Pub. L. 101–610, title II, §§ 201–203, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3171, 3172; Pub. L. 102–26, § 10(a)–(d), Apr. 9, 1991, 105 Stat. 128; Pub. L. 102–164, title VI, § 603, Nov. 15, 1991, 105 Stat. 1066; Pub. L. 102–325, title IV, § 486(a)–(c)(2), July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 620, 621; Pub. L. 103–208, § 2(h)(28)–(37), (k)(9), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2477, 2486; Pub. L. 103–382, title III, § 360B(c), Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3970; Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(e) [title III, § 308], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–233, 3009–262; Pub. L. 105–18, title VI, § 60001(a), June 12, 1997, 111 Stat. 214; Pub. L. 105–244, title I, § 102(b)(3), title IV, § 486, Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1622, 1741; Pub. L. 106–386, div. B, title VI, § 1601(c)(1), Oct. 28, 2000, 114 Stat. 1537; Pub. L. 110–315, title I, § 103(b)(11), title IV, § 488, title X, § 1011(c), Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3090, 3293, 3482; Pub. L. 111–39, title IV, § 407(b)(5), July 1, 2009, 123 Stat. 1951; Pub. L. 113–4, title III, § 304(a), Mar. 7, 2013, 127 Stat. 89; Pub. L. 116–251, § 3, Dec. 22, 2020, 134 Stat. 1129; Pub. L. 116–260, div. FF, title VII, § 702(n)(1)(C), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 3186.)
§ 1092a. Combined payment plan
(a) Eligibility for plan
(b) Applicability of other requirements
(c) Lender eligibility
Such lender may offer a combined payment plan only if—
(1) the lender holds an outstanding loan of that borrower which is selected by the borrower for incorporation into a combined payment plan pursuant to this section (including loans which are selected by the borrower for consolidation under this section); or
(2) the borrower certifies that the borrower has sought and has been unable to obtain a combined payment plan from the holders of the outstanding loans of that borrower.
(d) Borrower selection of competing offers
(e) Effect of plan
Upon selection of a lender to administer the combined payment plan, the lender may reissue any loan under part A of title VII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 292 et seq.) selected by the borrower for incorporation in the combined payment plan which is not held by such lender and the proceeds of such reissued loan shall be paid by the lender to the holder or holders of the loans so selected to discharge the liability on such loans, if—
(1) the lender selected to administer the combined payment plan has determined to its satisfaction, in accordance with reasonable and prudent business practices, for each loan being reissued (A) that the loan is a legal, valid, and binding obligation of the borrower; (B) that each such loan was made and serviced in compliance with applicable laws and regulations; and (C) the insurance on such loan is in full force and effect; and
(2) the loan being reissued was not in default (as defined in section 707(e)(3) of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 292f(e)(3)]) at the time the request for a combined payment plan is made.
(f) Notes and insurance certificates
(1) Each loan reissued under subsection (e) shall be evidenced by a note executed by the borrower. The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall insure such loan under a certificate of comprehensive insurance with no insurance limit, but any such certificate shall only be issued to an authorized holder of loans insured under part A of title VII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 292 et seq.) (including the Student Loan Marketing Association). Such certificates shall provide that all loans reissued under this section shall be fully insured against loss of principal and interest. Any insurance issued with respect to loans reissued under this section shall be excluded from the limitation on maximum insurance authority set forth in section 710 of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 292i]. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 729(a) 1
1 See References in Text note below.
of the Public Health Service Act, the reissued loan shall be made in an amount, including outstanding principal, capitalized interest, accrued unpaid interest not yet capitalized, and authorized late charges. The proceeds of each such loan will be paid by the lender to the holder of the original loan being reissued and the borrower’s obligation to that holder on that loan shall be discharged.(2) Except as otherwise specifically provided for under the provisions of this section, the terms of any reissued loan shall be the same as the terms of the original loan. The maximum repayment period for a loan reissued under this section shall not exceed the remainder of the period which would have been permitted on the original loan. If the lender holds more than one loan insured under part A of title VII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 292 et seq.), the maximum repayment period for all such loans may extend to the latest date permitted for any individual loan. Any reissued loan may be consolidated with any other Health Education Assistance Loan as provided in the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 201 et seq.], and, with the concurrence of the borrower, repayment of any such loans during any period may be made in amounts that are less than the interest that accrues on such loans during that period.
(g) Termination of borrower eligibility
(h) Fees and premiums
(i) Commencement of repayment
(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 485A, as added Pub. L. 99–498, title IV, § 407(a), Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1484; amended Pub. L. 100–50, § 15(12), June 3, 1987, 101 Stat. 357; Pub. L. 111–39, title IV, § 407(b)(6), July 1, 2009, 123 Stat. 1951.)
§ 1092b. National Student Loan Data System
(a) Development of SystemThe Secretary shall consult with a representative group of guaranty agencies, eligible lenders, and eligible institutions to develop a mutually agreeable proposal for the establishment of a National Student Loan Data System containing information regarding loans made, insured, or guaranteed under part B and loans made under parts D and E, and for allowing the electronic exchange of data between program participants and the system. In establishing such data system, the Secretary shall place a priority on providing for the monitoring of enrollment, student status, information about current loan holders and servicers, and internship and residency information. Such data system shall also permit borrowers to use the system to identify the current loan holders and servicers of such borrower’s loan not later than one year after October 7, 1998. The information in the data system shall include (but is not limited to)—
(1) the amount and type of each such loan made;
(2) the names and social security numbers of the borrowers;
(3) the guaranty agency responsible for the guarantee of the loan;
(4) the institution of higher education or organization responsible for loans made under parts D and E;
(5) the exact amount of loans partially or totally canceled or in deferment for service under the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.), for service under the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 [42 U.S.C. 4950 et seq.], and for comparable full-time service as a volunteer for a tax-exempt organization of demonstrated effectiveness;
(6) the eligible institution in which the student was enrolled or accepted for enrollment at the time the loan was made, and any additional institutions attended by the borrower;
(7) the total amount of loans made to any borrower and the remaining balance of the loans;
(8) the lender, holder, and servicer of such loans;
(9) information concerning the date of any default on the loan and the collection of the loan, including any information concerning the repayment status of any defaulted loan on which the Secretary has made a payment pursuant to section 1080(a) of this title or the guaranty agency has made a payment to the previous holder of the loan;
(10) information regarding any deferments or forbearance granted on such loans; and
(11) the date of cancellation of the note upon completion of repayment by the borrower of the loan or payment by the Secretary pursuant to section 1087 of this title.
(b) Additional informationFor the purposes of research and policy analysis, the proposal shall also contain provisions for obtaining additional data concerning the characteristics of borrowers and the extent of student loan indebtedness on a statistically valid sample of borrowers under part B. Such data shall include—
(1) information concerning the income level of the borrower and his family and the extent of the borrower’s need for student financial assistance, including loans;
(2) information concerning the type of institution attended by the borrower and the year of the program of education for which the loan was obtained;
(3) information concerning other student financial assistance received by the borrower; and
(4) information concerning Federal costs associated with the student loan program under part B, including the costs of interest subsidies, special allowance payments, and other subsidies.
(c) Verification
(d) Principles for administering the data systemIn managing the National Student Loan Data System, the Secretary shall take actions necessary to maintain confidence in the data system, including, at a minimum—
(1) ensuring that the primary purpose of access to the data system by guaranty agencies, eligible lenders, and eligible institutions of higher education is for legitimate program operations, such as the need to verify the eligibility of a student, potential student, or parent for loans under part B, D, or E;
(2) prohibiting nongovernmental researchers and policy analysts from accessing personally identifiable information;
(3) creating a disclosure form for students and potential students that is distributed when such students complete the common financial reporting form under section 1090 of this title, and as a part of the exit counseling process under section 1092(b) of this title, that—
(A) informs the students that any subchapter IV grant or loan the students receive will be included in the National Student Loan Data System, and instructs the students on how to access that information;
(B) describes the categories of individuals or entities that may access the data relating to such grant or loan through the data system, and for what purposes access is allowed;
(C) defines and explains the categories of information included in the data system;
(D) provides a summary of the provisions of section 1232g of this title (commonly known as the “Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974”) and other applicable Federal privacy statutes, and a statement of the students’ rights and responsibilities with respect to such statutes;
(E) explains the measures taken by the Department to safeguard the students’ data; and
(F) includes other information as determined appropriate by the Secretary;
(4) requiring guaranty agencies, eligible lenders, and eligible institutions of higher education that enter into an agreement with a potential student, student, or parent of such student regarding a loan under part B, D, or E, to inform the student or parent that such loan shall be—
(A) submitted to the data system; and
(B) accessible to guaranty agencies, eligible lenders, and eligible institutions of higher education determined by the Secretary to be authorized users of the data system;
(5) regularly reviewing the data system to—
(A) delete inactive users from the data system;
(B) ensure that the data in the data system are not being used for marketing purposes; and
(C) monitor the use of the data system by guaranty agencies and eligible lenders to determine whether an agency or lender is accessing the records of students in which the agency or lender has no existing financial interest;
(6) developing standardized protocols for limiting access to the data system that include—
(A) collecting data on the usage of the data system to monitor whether access has been or is being used contrary to the purposes of the data system;
(B) defining the steps necessary for determining whether, and how, to deny or restrict access to the data system; and
(C) determining the steps necessary to reopen access to the data system following a denial or restriction of access; and
(7) preventing access to the data system and any other system used to administer a program under this subchapter by any person or entity for the purpose of assisting a student in managing loan repayment or applying for any repayment plan, consolidation loan, or other benefit authorized by this subchapter, unless such access meets the requirements described in subsection (e).
(e) Requirements for third-party data system access
(1) In generalAs provided in paragraph (7) of subsection (d), an authorized person or entity described in paragraph (2) may access the data system and any other system used to administer a program under this subchapter if that access—
(A) is in compliance with terms of service, information security standards, and a code of conduct which shall be established by the Secretary and published in the Federal Register;
(B) is obtained using an access device (as defined in section 1029(e)(1) of title 18) issued by the Secretary to the authorized person or entity; and
(C) is obtained without using any access device (as defined in section 1029(e)(1) of title 18) issued by the Secretary to a student, borrower, or parent.
(2) Authorized person or entityAn authorized person or entity described in this paragraph means—
(A) a guaranty agency, eligible lender, or eligible institution, or a third-party organization acting on behalf of a guaranty agency, eligible lender, or eligible institution, that is in compliance with applicable Federal law (including regulations and guidance); or
(B) a licensed attorney representing a student, borrower, or parent, or another individual who works for a Federal, State, local, or Tribal government or agency, or for a nonprofit organization, providing financial or student loan repayment counseling to a student, borrower, or parent, if—
(i) that attorney or other individual has never engaged in unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices, as determined by the Secretary;
(ii) that attorney or other individual does not work for an entity that has engaged in unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices (including an entity that is owned or operated by a person or entity that engaged in such practices), as determined by the Secretary;
(iii) system access is provided only through a separate point of entry; and
(iv) the attorney or other individual has consent from the relevant student, borrower, or parent to access the system.
(f) Reports to Congress
(1) Annual reportNot later than September 30 of each fiscal year, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the authorizing committees a report describing—
(A) the effectiveness of existing privacy safeguards in protecting student, borrower, and parent information in the data system;
(B) the success of any new authorization protocols in more effectively preventing abuse of the data system;
(C) the reduction in improper data system access as described in subsection (d)(7);
(D) the ability of the Secretary to monitor how the system is being used, relative to the intended purposes of the data system; and
(E) any protocols, codes of conduct, terms of service, or information security standards developed under paragraphs (6) or (7) of subsection (d) during the preceding fiscal year.
(2) Study
(A) In generalThe Secretary shall conduct a study regarding—
(i) available mechanisms for providing students and parents with the ability to opt in or opt out of allowing eligible lenders to access their records in the National Student Loan Data System; and
(ii) appropriate protocols for limiting access to the data system, based on the risk assessment required under subchapter III of chapter 35 of title 44.
(B) Submission of study
(g) Standardization of data reporting
(1) In general
(2) ActivitiesFor the purpose of establishing standards under this section, the Secretary shall—
(A) consult with guaranty agencies, lenders, institutions of higher education, and organizations representing the groups described in paragraph (1);
(B) develop standards designed to be implemented by all guaranty agencies and lenders with minimum modifications to existing data processing hardware and software; and
(C) publish the specifications selected to be used to encourage the automation of exchanges of information between all parties involved in loans under this subchapter.
(h) Common identifiersThe Secretary shall, not later than July 1, 1993—
(1) revise the codes used to identify institutions and students in the student loan data system authorized by this section to make such codes consistent with the codes used in each database used by the Department of Education that contains information of participation in programs under this subchapter; and
(2) modify the design or operation of the system authorized by this section to ensure that data relating to any institution is readily accessible and can be used in a form compatible with the integrated postsecondary education data system (IPEDS).
(i) Integration of databases
(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 485B, as added Pub. L. 99–498, title IV, § 407(a), Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1486; amended Pub. L. 100–50, § 15(13), June 3, 1987, 101 Stat. 357; Pub. L. 101–239, title II, § 2008, Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2121; Pub. L. 101–610, title II, § 204, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3172; Pub. L. 102–325, title IV, § 487, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 623; Pub. L. 103–208, § 2(h)(38)–(41), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2478; Pub. L. 105–244, title IV, § 487, Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1746; Pub. L. 110–315, title IV, § 489, Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3303; Pub. L. 111–39, title IV, § 407(b)(7), July 1, 2009, 123 Stat. 1952; Pub. L. 116–251, § 4, Dec. 22, 2020, 134 Stat. 1130.)
§ 1092c. Simplification of lending process for borrowers
(a) All like loans treated as one
(b) One lender, one guaranty agency
(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 485C, as added Pub. L. 102–325, title IV, § 488, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 624.)
§ 1092d. Scholarship fraud assessment and awareness activities
(a) Annual report on scholarship fraud
(1) Requirement
(2) Initial report
(b) National awareness activities
The Secretary of Education shall, in conjunction with the Federal Trade Commission, maintain a scholarship fraud awareness site on the Internet web site of the Department of Education. The scholarship fraud awareness site may include the following:
(1) Appropriate materials from the Project Scholarscam awareness campaign of the Commission, including examples of common fraudulent schemes.
(2) A list of companies and individuals who have been convicted of scholarship fraud in Federal or State court.
(3) An Internet-based message board to provide a forum for public complaints and experiences with scholarship fraud.
(4) An electronic comment form for individuals who have experienced scholarship fraud or have questions about scholarship fraud, with appropriate mechanisms for the transfer of comments received through such forms to the Department and the Commission.
(5) Internet links to other sources of information on scholarship fraud, including Internet web sites of appropriate nongovernmental organizations, colleges and universities, and government agencies.
(6) An Internet link to the Better Business Bureau in order to assist individuals in assessing the business practices of other persons and entities.
(7) Information on means of communicating with the Federal Student Aid Information Center, including telephone and Internet contact information.
(Pub. L. 106–420, § 5, Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1868.)
§ 1092e. College access initiative
(a) State-by-State information
(b) Guaranty agency activities
(1) Plan and activity required
(2) Activities
(3) Funding
(4) Rule of construction
(c) Access to information
(1) Secretary’s responsibility
(2) Guaranty agency responsibility
(3) Publicity
(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 485D, as added Pub. L. 109–171, title VIII, § 8023, Feb. 8, 2006, 120 Stat. 179.)
§ 1092f. Early awareness and outreach of financial aid eligibility
(a) In general
(b) Pell Grant early awareness estimates
(1) In generalThe Secretary shall produce a consumer-tested method of estimating student eligibility for Federal Pell Grants under section 1070a(b) of this title utilizing the variables of family size and adjusted gross income, presented in electronic format. There shall be a method for students to indicate whether they are, or will be in—
(A) a single-parent household;
(B) a household with two parents; or
(C) a household with no children or dependents.
(2) Consumer testing
(A) In general
(B) Updates
(3) DistributionThe method of estimating eligibility described in paragraph (1) shall be—
(A) made publicly and prominently available on the Department’s website; and
(B) actively shared by the Secretary with—
(i) institutions of higher education participating in programs under this subchapter;
(ii) all middle and secondary schools eligible for funds under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 [20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.];
(iii) local educational agencies and middle schools and high schools that serve students not less than 25 percent of whom meet a measure of poverty as described in section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 [20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)]; and
(iv) agencies responsible for administering means-tested Federal benefit programs, as defined in section 1087ss(b)(4)(H) of this title.
(4) Electronic estimator on FAFSA
(c) Early awareness plansThe Secretary shall establish and implement early awareness and outreach plans to provide early information about the availability of Federal financial aid and estimates of prospective students’ eligibility for Federal financial aid as well as to promote the attainment of postsecondary education specifically among prospective first-generation students and families as well as low-income individuals and families, as follows:
(1) Outreach plans for low-income families
(A) In generalThe Secretary shall develop plans for each population described in this subparagraph to disseminate information about the availability of Federal financial aid under this subchapter, in addition to and in coordination with the distribution of the method of estimating eligibility under subsection (b), to—
(i) all middle schools and secondary schools eligible for funds under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 [20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.];
(ii) local educational agencies and middle schools and high schools that serve students not less than 25 percent of whom meet a measure of poverty as described in section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act [20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)];
(iii) households receiving assistance under the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.); and
(iv) agencies responsible for administering means-tested Federal benefit programs, as defined in section 1087ss(b)(4)(H) of this title.
(B) Content of plansThe plans described in paragraph (A) shall—
(i) provide students and their families with information on—(I) the availability of the College Scorecard or any similar successor website;(II) the electronic estimates of financial aid available under subsection (b);(III) Federal financial aid available to students, including eligibility criteria for the Federal financial aid and an explanation of the Federal financial aid programs (including applicable Federal educational tax credits); and(IV) resources that can inform students of financial aid that may be available from state-based financial aid, state-based college savings programs, and scholarships and other non-governmental sources;
(ii) describe how the dissemination of information will be conducted by the Secretary.
(C) Reporting and updates
(D) Partnership
(2) Interagency coordination plans
(A) In generalThe Secretary shall develop interagency coordination plans in order to inform more students and families, including low-income individuals or families and recipients of means-tested Federal benefits, about the availability of Federal financial aid under this subchapter through participation in existing Federal programs or tax benefits that serve low-income individuals or families, in coordination with the following Secretaries:
(i) The Secretary of the Treasury.
(ii) The Secretary of Labor.
(iii) The Secretary of Health and Human Services.
(iv) The Secretary of Agriculture.
(v) The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
(vi) The Secretary of Commerce.
(vii) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
(viii) The Secretary of the Interior.
(B) Process, activities, and goalsEach interagency coordination plan under subparagraph (A) shall—
(i) identify opportunities in which low-income individuals and families could be informed of the availability of Federal financial aid under this subchapter through access to other Federal programs that serve low-income individuals and families;
(ii) identify methods to effectively inform low-income individuals and families of the availability of Federal financial aid for postsecondary education under this subchapter and assist such individuals in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid;
(iii) develop early awareness and FAFSA completion activities that align with the opportunities and methods identified under clauses (i) and (ii);
(iv) establish goals regarding the effects of the activities to be implemented under clause (iii); and
(v) provide information on how students and families can maintain access to Federal programs that serve low-income individuals and families operated by the agencies identified under subsection (A) while attending an institution of higher education.
(C) Plan with Secretary of the Treasury
(D) Reporting and updates
(3) Nationwide participation in early awareness plans
(A) In generalThe Secretary shall solicit voluntary public commitments from entities, such as States, State systems of higher education, institutions of higher education, and other interested organizations, to carry out early awareness plans, which shall include goals, to—
(i) notify prospective and existing students who are low-income individuals and families about their eligibility for Federal aid under this subchapter, as well as State-based financial aid, if applicable, on an annual basis;
(ii) increase the number of prospective and current students who are low-income individuals and families filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid; and
(iii) increase the number of prospective and current students who are low-income individuals and families enrolling in postsecondary education.
(B) Reporting and updates
(C) Early awareness champions
(d) Public awareness campaign
(1) In general
(2) Coordination
(3) Reporting
(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 485E, as added Pub. L. 110–315, title IV, § 490, Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3305; amended Pub. L. 111–152, title II, § 2101(b)(5), Mar. 30, 2010, 124 Stat. 1073; Pub. L. 116–260, div. FF, title VII, § 702(o), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 3186; Pub. L. 117–103, div. R, § 102(b)(5), Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 819.)
§ 1093. Distance education demonstration programs
(a) PurposeIt is the purpose of this section—
(1) to allow demonstration programs that are strictly monitored by the Department of Education to test the quality and viability of expanded distance education programs currently restricted under this chapter;
(2) to provide for increased student access to higher education through distance education programs; and
(3) to help determine—
(A) the most effective means of delivering quality education via distance education course offerings;
(B) the specific statutory and regulatory requirements which should be altered to provide greater access to high quality distance education programs; and
(C) the appropriate level of Federal assistance for students enrolled in distance education programs.
(b) Demonstration programs authorized
(1) In general
(2) Waivers
(3) Eligible applicants
(A) Eligible institutions
(B) Prohibition
(C) Special rule
(D) Requirement
(c) Application
(1) In general
(2) ContentsEach application shall include—
(A) a description of the institution, system, or consortium’s consultation with a recognized accrediting agency or association with respect to quality assurances for the distance education programs to be offered;
(B) a description of the statutory and regulatory requirements described in subsection (b)(2) or, if applicable, subsection (b)(3)(D) for which a waiver is sought and the reasons for which the waiver is sought;
(C) a description of the distance education programs to be offered;
(D) a description of the students to whom distance education programs will be offered;
(E) an assurance that the institution, system, or consortium will offer full cooperation with the ongoing evaluations of the demonstration program provided for in this section; and
(F) such other information as the Secretary may require.
(d) Selection
(1) In general
(2) ConsiderationsIn selecting institutions to participate in the demonstration program in the first or succeeding years of the program, the Secretary shall take into account—
(A) the number and quality of applications received;
(B) the Department’s capacity to oversee and monitor each institution’s participation;
(C) an institution’s—
(i) financial responsibility;
(ii) administrative capability; and
(iii) program or programs being offered via distance education; and
(D) ensuring the participation of a diverse group of institutions with respect to size, mission, and geographic distribution.
(e) Notification
(f) Evaluations and reports
(1) EvaluationThe Secretary shall evaluate the demonstration programs authorized under this section on an annual basis. Such evaluations specifically shall review—
(A) the extent to which the institution, system or consortium has met the goals set forth in its application to the Secretary, including the measures of program quality assurance;
(B) the number and types of students participating in the programs offered, including the progress of participating students toward recognized certificates or degrees and the extent to which participation in such programs increased;
(C) issues related to student financial assistance for distance education;
(D) effective technologies for delivering distance education course offerings; and
(E) the extent to which statutory or regulatory requirements not waived under the demonstration program present difficulties for students or institutions.
(2) Policy analysis
(3) Annual reportsThe Secretary shall provide reports to the authorizing committees on an annual basis regarding—
(A) the demonstration programs authorized under this section; and
(B) the number and types of students receiving assistance under this subchapter for instruction leading to a recognized certificate, as provided for in section 1091(l)(1) of this title, including the progress of such students toward recognized certificates and the degree to which participation in such programs leading to such certificates increased.
(g) OversightIn conducting the demonstration program authorized under this section, the Secretary shall, on a continuing basis—
(1) assure compliance of institutions, systems or consortia with the requirements of this subchapter (other than the sections and regulations that are waived under subsections (b)(2) and (b)(3)(D));
(2) provide technical assistance;
(3) monitor fluctuations in the student population enrolled in the participating institutions, systems or consortia; and
(4) consult with appropriate accrediting agencies or associations and appropriate State regulatory authorities.
(h) “Distance education” definedFor the purpose of this section, the term “distance education” means an educational process that is characterized by the separation, in time or place, between instructor and student. Such term may include courses offered principally through the use of—
(1) television, audio, or computer transmission, such as open broadcast, closed circuit, cable, microwave, or satellite transmission;
(2) audio or computer conferencing;
(3) video cassettes or discs; or
(4) correspondence.
(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 486, as added Pub. L. 99–498, title IV, § 407(a), Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1487; amended Pub. L. 102–325, title IV, § 489, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 624; Pub. L. 105–244, title IV, § 488, Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1746; Pub. L. 110–315, title I, § 103(b)(12), title IV, § 491, Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3090, 3307.)
§ 1093a. Articulation agreements
(a) Definition
(b) Program to encourage articulation agreements
(1) Program established
The Secretary shall carry out a program for States, in cooperation with public institutions of higher education, to develop, enhance, and implement comprehensive articulation agreements between or among such institutions in a State, and (to the extent practicable) across State lines, by 2010. Such articulation agreements shall be made widely and publicly available on the websites of States and such institutions. In developing, enhancing, and implementing articulation agreements, States and public institutions of higher education may employ strategies, where applicable, including—
(A) common course numbering;
(B) a general education core curriculum;
(C) management systems regarding course equivalency, transfer of credit, and articulation; and
(D) other strategies identified by the Secretary.
(2) Technical assistance provided
(3) Rule of construction
(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 486A, as added Pub. L. 110–315, title IV, § 492, Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3307.)
§ 1094. Program participation agreements
(a) Required for programs of assistance; contentsIn order to be an eligible institution for the purposes of any program authorized under this subchapter, an institution must be an institution of higher education or an eligible institution (as that term is defined for the purpose of that program) and shall, except with respect to a program under subpart 4 of part A, enter into a program participation agreement with the Secretary. The agreement shall condition the initial and continuing eligibility of an institution to participate in a program upon compliance with the following requirements:
(1) The institution will use funds received by it for any program under this subchapter and any interest or other earnings thereon solely for the purpose specified in and in accordance with the provision of that program.
(2) The institution shall not charge any student a fee for processing or handling any application, form, or data required to determine the student’s eligibility for assistance under this subchapter or the amount of such assistance.
(3) The institution will establish and maintain such administrative and fiscal procedures and records as may be necessary to ensure proper and efficient administration of funds received from the Secretary or from students under this subchapter, together with assurances that the institution will provide, upon request and in a timely fashion, information relating to the administrative capability and financial responsibility of the institution to—
(A) the Secretary;
(B) the appropriate guaranty agency; and
(C) the appropriate accrediting agency or association.
(4) The institution will comply with the provisions of subsection (c) of this section and the regulations prescribed under that subsection, relating to fiscal eligibility.
(5) The institution will submit reports to the Secretary and, in the case of an institution participating in a program under part B or part E, to holders of loans made to the institution’s students under such parts at such times and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require to carry out the purpose of this subchapter.
(6) The institution will not provide any student with any statement or certification to any lender under part B that qualifies the student for a loan or loans in excess of the amount that student is eligible to borrow in accordance with sections 1075(a), 1078(a)(2), and 1078(b)(1)(A) and (B) of this title.
(7) The institution will comply with the requirements of section 1092 of this title.
(8) In the case of an institution that advertises job placement rates as a means of attracting students to enroll in the institution, the institution will make available to prospective students, at or before the time of application (A) the most recent available data concerning employment statistics, graduation statistics, and any other information necessary to substantiate the truthfulness of the advertisements, and (B) relevant State licensing requirements of the State in which such institution is located for any job for which the course of instruction is designed to prepare such prospective students.
(9) In the case of an institution participating in a program under part B or D, the institution will inform all eligible borrowers enrolled in the institution about the availability and eligibility of such borrowers for State grant assistance from the State in which the institution is located, and will inform such borrowers from another State of the source for further information concerning such assistance from that State.
(10) The institution certifies that it has in operation a drug abuse prevention program that is determined by the institution to be accessible to any officer, employee, or student at the institution.
(11) In the case of any institution whose students receive financial assistance pursuant to section 1091(d) of this title, the institution will make available to such students a program proven successful in assisting students in obtaining a certificate of high school equivalency.
(12) The institution certifies that—
(A) the institution has established a campus security policy; and
(B) the institution has complied with the disclosure requirements of section 1092(f) of this title.
(13) The institution will not deny any form of Federal financial aid to any student who meets the eligibility requirements of this subchapter on the grounds that the student is participating in a program of study abroad approved for credit by the institution.
(14)
(A) The institution, in order to participate as an eligible institution under part B or D, will develop a Default Management Plan for approval by the Secretary as part of its initial application for certification as an eligible institution and will implement such Plan for two years thereafter.
(B) Any institution of higher education which changes ownership and any eligible institution which changes its status as a parent or subordinate institution shall, in order to participate as an eligible institution under part B or D, develop a Default Management Plan for approval by the Secretary and implement such Plan for two years after its change of ownership or status.
(C) This paragraph shall not apply in the case of an institution in which (i) neither the parent nor the subordinate institution has a cohort default rate in excess of 10 percent, and (ii) the new owner of such parent or subordinate institution does not, and has not, owned any other institution with a cohort default rate in excess of 10 percent.
(15) The institution acknowledges the authority of the Secretary, guaranty agencies, lenders, accrediting agencies, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the State agencies under subpart 1 of part H to share with each other any information pertaining to the institution’s eligibility to participate in programs under this subchapter or any information on fraud and abuse.
(16)
(A) The institution will not knowingly employ an individual in a capacity that involves the administration of programs under this subchapter, or the receipt of program funds under this subchapter, who has been convicted of, or has pled nolo contendere or guilty to, a crime involving the acquisition, use, or expenditure of funds under this subchapter, or has been judicially determined to have committed fraud involving funds under this subchapter or contract with an institution or third party servicer that has been terminated under section 1082 of this title involving the acquisition, use, or expenditure of funds under this subchapter, or who has been judicially determined to have committed fraud involving funds under this subchapter.
(B) The institution will not knowingly contract with or employ any individual, agency, or organization that has been, or whose officers or employees have been—
(i) convicted of, or pled nolo contendere or guilty to, a crime involving the acquisition, use, or expenditure of funds under this subchapter; or
(ii) judicially determined to have committed fraud involving funds under this subchapter.
(17) The institution will complete surveys conducted as a part of the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) or any other Federal postsecondary institution data collection effort, as designated by the Secretary, in a timely manner and to the satisfaction of the Secretary.
(18) The institution will meet the requirements established pursuant to section 1092(g) of this title.
(19) The institution will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that the student borrow additional funds, on any student because of the student’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution as a result of the delayed disbursement of the proceeds of a loan made under this subchapter due to compliance with the provisions of this subchapter, or delays attributable to the institution.
(20) The institution will not provide any commission, bonus, or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on success in securing enrollments or financial aid to any persons or entities engaged in any student recruiting or admission activities or in making decisions regarding the award of student financial assistance, except that this paragraph shall not apply to the recruitment of foreign students residing in foreign countries who are not eligible to receive Federal student assistance.
(21) The institution will meet the requirements established by the Secretary and accrediting agencies or associations, and will provide evidence to the Secretary that the institution has the authority to operate within a State.
(22) The institution will comply with the refund policy established pursuant to section 1091b of this title.
(23)
(A) The institution, if located in a State to which section 20503(b) of title 52 does not apply, will make a good faith effort to distribute a mail voter registration form, requested and received from the State, to each student enrolled in a degree or certificate program and physically in attendance at the institution, and to make such forms widely available to students at the institution.
(B) The institution shall request the forms from the State 120 days prior to the deadline for registering to vote within the State. If an institution has not received a sufficient quantity of forms to fulfill this section from the State within 60 days prior to the deadline for registering to vote in the State, the institution shall not be held liable for not meeting the requirements of this section during that election year.
(C) This paragraph shall apply to general and special elections for Federal office, as defined in section 30101(3) of title 52, and to the elections for Governor or other chief executive within such State).1
1 So in original. The closing parenthesis probably should not appear.
(D) The institution shall be considered in compliance with the requirements of subparagraph (A) for each student to whom the institution electronically transmits a message containing a voter registration form acceptable for use in the State in which the institution is located, or an Internet address where such a form can be downloaded, if such information is in an electronic message devoted exclusively to voter registration.
(24) In the case of a proprietary institution of higher education (as defined in section 1002(b) of this title), such institution will derive not less than ten percent of such institution’s revenues from sources other than Federal funds that are disbursed or delivered to or on behalf of a student to be used to attend such institution (referred to in this paragraph and subsection (d) as “Federal education assistance funds”), as calculated in accordance with subsection (d)(1), or will be subject to the sanctions described in subsection (d)(2).
(25) In the case of an institution that participates in a loan program under this subchapter, the institution will—
(A) develop a code of conduct with respect to such loans with which the institution’s officers, employees, and agents shall comply, that—
(i) prohibits a conflict of interest with the responsibilities of an officer, employee, or agent of an institution with respect to such loans; and
(ii) at a minimum, includes the provisions described in subsection (e);
(B) publish such code of conduct prominently on the institution’s website; and
(C) administer and enforce such code by, at a minimum, requiring that all of the institution’s officers, employees, and agents with responsibilities with respect to such loans be annually informed of the provisions of the code of conduct.
(26) The institution will, upon written request, disclose to the alleged victim of any crime of violence (as that term is defined in section 16 of title 18), or a nonforcible sex offense, the report on the results of any disciplinary proceeding conducted by such institution against a student who is the alleged perpetrator of such crime or offense with respect to such crime or offense. If the alleged victim of such crime or offense is deceased as a result of such crime or offense, the next of kin of such victim shall be treated as the alleged victim for purposes of this paragraph.
(27) In the case of an institution that has entered into a preferred lender arrangement, the institution will at least annually compile, maintain, and make available for students attending the institution, and the families of such students, a list, in print or other medium, of the specific lenders for loans made, insured, or guaranteed under this subchapter or private education loans that the institution recommends, promotes, or endorses in accordance with such preferred lender arrangement. In making such list, the institution shall comply with the requirements of subsection (h).
(28)
(A) The institution will, upon the request of an applicant for a private education loan, provide to the applicant the form required under section 1638(e)(3) of title 15, and the information required to complete such form, to the extent the institution possesses such information.
(B) For purposes of this paragraph, the term “private education loan” has the meaning given such term in section 1650 of title 15.
(29) The institution certifies that the institution—
(A) has developed plans to effectively combat the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material, including through the use of a variety of technology-based deterrents; and
(B) will, to the extent practicable, offer alternatives to illegal downloading or peer-to-peer distribution of intellectual property, as determined by the institution in consultation with the chief technology officer or other designated officer of the institution.
(b) Hearings
(1) An institution that has received written notice of a final audit or program review determination and that desires to have such determination reviewed by the Secretary shall submit to the Secretary a written request for review not later than 45 days after receipt of notification of the final audit or program review determination.
(2) The Secretary shall, upon receipt of written notice under paragraph (1), arrange for a hearing and notify the institution within 30 days of receipt of such notice the date, time, and place of such hearing. Such hearing shall take place not later than 120 days from the date upon which the Secretary notifies the institution.
(c) Audits; financial responsibility; enforcement of standards
(1) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this subchapter, the Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to provide for—
(A)
(i) except as provided in clauses (ii) and (iii), a financial audit of an eligible institution with regard to the financial condition of the institution in its entirety, and a compliance audit of such institution with regard to any funds obtained by it under this subchapter or obtained from a student or a parent who has a loan insured or guaranteed by the Secretary under this subchapter, on at least an annual basis and covering the period since the most recent audit, conducted by a qualified, independent organization or person in accordance with standards established by the Comptroller General for the audit of governmental organizations, programs, and functions, and as prescribed in regulations of the Secretary, the results of which shall be submitted to the Secretary and shall be available to cognizant guaranty agencies, eligible lenders, State agencies, and the appropriate State agency notifying the Secretary under subpart 1 of part H, except that the Secretary may modify the requirements of this clause with respect to institutions of higher education that are foreign institutions, and may waive such requirements with respect to a foreign institution whose students receive less than $500,000 in loans under this subchapter during the award year preceding the audit period;
(ii) with regard to an eligible institution which is audited under chapter 75 of title 31, deeming such audit to satisfy the requirements of clause (i) for the period covered by such audit; or
(iii) at the discretion of the Secretary, with regard to an eligible institution (other than an eligible institution described in section 1002(a)(1)(C) of this title) that has obtained less than $200,000 in funds under this subchapter during each of the 2 award years that precede the audit period and submits a letter of credit payable to the Secretary equal to not less than ½ of the annual potential liabilities of such institution as determined by the Secretary, deeming an audit conducted every 3 years to satisfy the requirements of clause (i), except for the award year immediately preceding renewal of the institution’s eligibility under section 1099c(g) of this title;
(B) in matters not governed by specific program provisions, the establishment of reasonable standards of financial responsibility and appropriate institutional capability for the administration by an eligible institution of a program of student financial aid under this subchapter, including any matter the Secretary deems necessary to the sound administration of the financial aid programs, such as the pertinent actions of any owner, shareholder, or person exercising control over an eligible institution;
(C)
(i) except as provided in clause (ii), a compliance audit of a third party servicer (other than with respect to the servicer’s functions as a lender if such functions are otherwise audited under this part and such audits meet the requirements of this clause), with regard to any contract with an eligible institution, guaranty agency, or lender for administering or servicing any aspect of the student assistance programs under this subchapter, at least once every year and covering the period since the most recent audit, conducted by a qualified, independent organization or person in accordance with standards established by the Comptroller General for the audit of governmental organizations, programs, and functions, and as prescribed in regulations of the Secretary, the results of which shall be submitted to the Secretary; or
(ii) with regard to a third party servicer that is audited under chapter 75 of title 31, such audit shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of clause (i) for the period covered by such audit;
(D)
(i) a compliance audit of a secondary market with regard to its transactions involving, and its servicing and collection of, loans made under this subchapter, at least once a year and covering the period since the most recent audit, conducted by a qualified, independent organization or person in accordance with standards established by the Comptroller General for the audit of governmental organizations, programs, and functions, and as prescribed in regulations of the Secretary, the results of which shall be submitted to the Secretary; or
(ii) with regard to a secondary market that is audited under chapter 75 of title 31, such audit shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of clause (i) for the period covered by the audit;
(E) the establishment, by each eligible institution under part B responsible for furnishing to the lender the statement required by section 1078(a)(2)(A)(i) of this title, of policies and procedures by which the latest known address and enrollment status of any student who has had a loan insured under this part and who has either formally terminated his enrollment, or failed to re-enroll on at least a half-time basis, at such institution, shall be furnished either to the holder (or if unknown, the insurer) of the note, not later than 60 days after such termination or failure to re-enroll;
(F) the limitation, suspension, or termination of the participation in any program under this subchapter of an eligible institution, or the imposition of a civil penalty under paragraph (3)(B) whenever the Secretary has determined, after reasonable notice and opportunity for hearing, that such institution has violated or failed to carry out any provision of this subchapter, any regulation prescribed under this subchapter, or any applicable special arrangement, agreement, or limitation, except that no period of suspension under this section shall exceed 60 days unless the institution and the Secretary agree to an extension or unless limitation or termination proceedings are initiated by the Secretary within that period of time;
(G) an emergency action against an institution, under which the Secretary shall, effective on the date on which a notice and statement of the basis of the action is mailed to the institution (by registered mail, return receipt requested), withhold funds from the institution or its students and withdraw the institution’s authority to obligate funds under any program under this subchapter, if the Secretary—
(i) receives information, determined by the Secretary to be reliable, that the institution is violating any provision of this subchapter, any regulation prescribed under this subchapter, or any applicable special arrangement, agreement, or limitation,
(ii) determines that immediate action is necessary to prevent misuse of Federal funds, and
(iii) determines that the likelihood of loss outweighs the importance of the procedures prescribed under subparagraph (D) for limitation, suspension, or termination,
except that an emergency action shall not exceed 30 days unless limitation, suspension, or termination proceedings are initiated by the Secretary against the institution within that period of time, and except that the Secretary shall provide the institution an opportunity to show cause, if it so requests, that the emergency action is unwarranted;
(H) the limitation, suspension, or termination of the eligibility of a third party servicer to contract with any institution to administer any aspect of an institution’s student assistance program under this subchapter, or the imposition of a civil penalty under paragraph (3)(B), whenever the Secretary has determined, after reasonable notice and opportunity for a hearing, that such organization, acting on behalf of an institution, has violated or failed to carry out any provision of this subchapter, any regulation prescribed under this subchapter, or any applicable special arrangement, agreement, or limitation, except that no period of suspension under this subparagraph shall exceed 60 days unless the organization and the Secretary agree to an extension, or unless limitation or termination proceedings are initiated by the Secretary against the individual or organization within that period of time; and
(I) an emergency action against a third party servicer that has contracted with an institution to administer any aspect of the institution’s student assistance program under this subchapter, under which the Secretary shall, effective on the date on which a notice and statement of the basis of the action is mailed to such individual or organization (by registered mail, return receipt requested), withhold funds from the individual or organization and withdraw the individual or organization’s authority to act on behalf of an institution under any program under this subchapter, if the Secretary—
(i) receives information, determined by the Secretary to be reliable, that the individual or organization, acting on behalf of an institution, is violating any provision of this subchapter, any regulation prescribed under this subchapter, or any applicable special arrangement, agreement, or limitation,
(ii) determines that immediate action is necessary to prevent misuse of Federal funds, and
(iii) determines that the likelihood of loss outweighs the importance of the procedures prescribed under subparagraph (F), for limitation, suspension, or termination,
except that an emergency action shall not exceed 30 days unless the limitation, suspension, or termination proceedings are initiated by the Secretary against the individual or organization within that period of time, and except that the Secretary shall provide the individual or organization an opportunity to show cause, if it so requests, that the emergency action is unwarranted.
(2) If an individual who, or entity that, exercises substantial control, as determined by the Secretary in accordance with the definition of substantial control in subpart 3 of part H, over one or more institutions participating in any program under this subchapter, or, for purposes of paragraphs (1)(H) and (I), over one or more organizations that contract with an institution to administer any aspect of the institution’s student assistance program under this subchapter, is determined to have committed one or more violations of the requirements of any program under this subchapter, or has been suspended or debarred in accordance with the regulations of the Secretary, the Secretary may use such determination, suspension, or debarment as the basis for imposing an emergency action on, or limiting, suspending, or terminating, in a single proceeding, the participation of any or all institutions under the substantial control of that individual or entity.
(3)
(A) Upon determination, after reasonable notice and opportunity for a hearing, that an eligible institution has engaged in substantial misrepresentation of the nature of its educational program, its financial charges, or the employability of its graduates, the Secretary may suspend or terminate the eligibility status for any or all programs under this subchapter of any otherwise eligible institution, in accordance with procedures specified in paragraph (1)(D) of this subsection, until the Secretary finds that such practices have been corrected.
(B)
(i) Upon determination, after reasonable notice and opportunity for a hearing, that an eligible institution—(I) has violated or failed to carry out any provision of this subchapter or any regulation prescribed under this subchapter; or(II) has engaged in substantial misrepresentation of the nature of its educational program, its financial charges, and the employability of its graduates,
the Secretary may impose a civil penalty upon such institution of not to exceed $25,000 for each violation or misrepresentation.
(ii) Any civil penalty may be compromised by the Secretary. In determining the amount of such penalty, or the amount agreed upon in compromise, the appropriateness of the penalty to the size of the institution of higher education subject to the determination, and the gravity of the violation, failure, or misrepresentation shall be considered. The amount of such penalty, when finally determined, or the amount agreed upon in compromise, may be deducted from any sums owing by the United States to the institution charged.
(4) The Secretary shall publish a list of State agencies which the Secretary determines to be reliable authority as to the quality of public postsecondary vocational education in their respective States for the purpose of determining eligibility for all Federal student assistance programs.
(5) The Secretary shall make readily available to appropriate guaranty agencies, eligible lenders, State agencies notifying the Secretary under subpart 1 of part H, and accrediting agencies or associations the results of the audits of eligible institutions conducted pursuant to paragraph (1)(A).
(6) The Secretary is authorized to provide any information collected as a result of audits conducted under this section, together with audit information collected by guaranty agencies, to any Federal or State agency having responsibilities with respect to student financial assistance, including those referred to in subsection (a)(15) of this section.
(7) Effective with respect to any audit conducted under this subsection after December 31, 1988, if, in the course of conducting any such audit, the personnel of the Department of Education discover, or are informed of, grants or other assistance provided by an institution in accordance with this subchapter for which the institution has not received funds appropriated under this subchapter (in the amount necessary to provide such assistance), including funds for which reimbursement was not requested prior to such discovery or information, such institution shall be permitted to offset that amount against any sums determined to be owed by the institution pursuant to such audit, or to receive reimbursement for that amount (if the institution does not owe any such sums).
(d) Implementation of non-Federal revenue requirement
(1) CalculationIn making calculations under subsection (a)(24), a proprietary institution of higher education shall—
(A) use the cash basis of accounting, except in the case of loans described in subparagraph (D)(i) that are made by the proprietary institution of higher education;
(B) consider as revenue only those funds generated by the institution from—
(i) tuition, fees, and other institutional charges for students enrolled in programs eligible for assistance under this subchapter;
(ii) activities conducted by the institution that are necessary for the education and training of the institution’s students, if such activities are—(I) conducted on campus or at a facility under the control of the institution;(II) performed under the supervision of a member of the institution’s faculty; and(III) required to be performed by all students in a specific educational program at the institution; and
(iii) funds paid by a student, or on behalf of a student by a party other than the institution, for an education or training program that is not eligible for funds under this subchapter, if the program—(I) is approved or licensed by the appropriate State agency;(II) is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Secretary; or(III) provides an industry-recognized credential or certification;
(C) presume that any Federal education assistance funds that are disbursed or delivered to or on behalf of a student will be used to pay the student’s tuition, fees, or other institutional charges, regardless of whether the institution credits those funds to the student’s account or pays those funds directly to the student, except to the extent that the student’s tuition, fees, or other institutional charges are satisfied by—
(i) grant funds provided by non-Federal public agencies or private sources independent of the institution;
(ii) funds provided under a contractual arrangement with a Federal, State, or local government agency for the purpose of providing job training to low-income individuals who are in need of that training;
(iii) funds used by a student from savings plans for educational expenses established by or on behalf of the student and which qualify for special tax treatment under title 26; or
(iv) institutional scholarships described in subparagraph (D)(iii);
(D) include institutional aid as revenue to the school only as follows:
(i) in the case of loans made by a proprietary institution of higher education on or after July 1, 2008 and prior to July 1, 2012, the net present value of such loans made by the institution during the applicable institutional fiscal year accounted for on an accrual basis and estimated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and related standards and guidance, if the loans—(I) are bona fide as evidenced by enforceable promissory notes;(II) are issued at intervals related to the institution’s enrollment periods; and(III) are subject to regular loan repayments and collections;
(ii) in the case of loans made by a proprietary institution of higher education on or after July 1, 2012, only the amount of loan repayments received during the applicable institutional fiscal year, excluding repayments on loans made and accounted for as specified in clause (i); and
(iii) in the case of scholarships provided by a proprietary institution of higher education, only those scholarships provided by the institution in the form of monetary aid or tuition discounts based upon the academic achievements or financial need of students, disbursed during each fiscal year from an established restricted account, and only to the extent that funds in that account represent designated funds from an outside source or from income earned on those funds;
(E) in the case of each student who receives a loan on or after July 1, 2008, and prior to July 1, 2011, that is authorized under section 1078–8 of this title or that is a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, treat as revenue received by the institution from sources other than funds received under this subchapter, the amount by which the disbursement of such loan received by the institution exceeds the limit on such loan in effect on the day before May 7, 2008; and
(F) exclude from revenues—
(i) the amount of funds the institution received under part C, unless the institution used those funds to pay a student’s institutional charges;
(ii) the amount of funds the institution received under subpart 4 of part A;
(iii) the amount of funds provided by the institution as matching funds for a program under this subchapter;
(iv) the amount of funds provided by the institution for a program under this subchapter that are required to be refunded or returned; and
(v) the amount charged for books, supplies, and equipment, unless the institution includes that amount as tuition, fees, or other institutional charges.
(2) Sanctions
(A) Ineligibility
(B) Additional enforcementIn addition to such other means of enforcing the requirements of this subchapter as may be available to the Secretary, if a proprietary institution of higher education fails to meet a requirement of subsection (a)(24) for any institutional fiscal year, then the institution’s eligibility to participate in the programs authorized by this subchapter becomes provisional for the two institutional fiscal years after the institutional fiscal year in which the institution failed to meet the requirement of subsection (a)(24), except that such provisional eligibility shall terminate—
(i) on the expiration date of the institution’s program participation agreement under this subsection that is in effect on the date the Secretary determines that the institution failed to meet the requirement of subsection (a)(24); or
(ii) in the case that the Secretary determines that the institution failed to meet a requirement of subsection (a)(24) for two consecutive institutional fiscal years, on the date the institution is determined ineligible in accordance with subparagraph (A).
(3) Publication on college navigator websiteThe Secretary shall publicly disclose on the College Navigator website—
(A) the identity of any proprietary institution of higher education that fails to meet a requirement of subsection (a)(24); and
(B) the extent to which the institution failed to meet such requirement.
(4) Report to CongressNot later than July 1, 2009, and July 1 of each succeeding year, the Secretary shall submit to the authorizing committees a report that contains, for each proprietary institution of higher education that receives assistance under this subchapter, as provided in the audited financial statements submitted to the Secretary by each institution pursuant to the requirements of subsection (a)(24)—
(A) the amount and percentage of such institution’s revenues received from sources under this subchapter; and
(B) the amount and percentage of such institution’s revenues received from other sources.
(e) Code of conduct requirementsAn institution of higher education’s code of conduct, as required under subsection (a)(25), shall include the following requirements:
(1) Ban on revenue-sharing arrangements
(A) Prohibition
(B) DefinitionFor purposes of this paragraph, the term “revenue-sharing arrangement” means an arrangement between an institution and a lender under which—
(i) a lender provides or issues a loan that is made, insured, or guaranteed under this subchapter to students attending the institution or to the families of such students; and
(ii) the institution recommends the lender or the loan products of the lender and in exchange, the lender pays a fee or provides other material benefits, including revenue or profit sharing, to the institution, an officer or employee of the institution, or an agent.
(2) Gift ban
(A) Prohibition
(B) Definition of gift
(i) In general
(ii) ExceptionsThe term “gift” shall not include any of the following:(I) Standard material, activities, or programs on issues related to a loan, default aversion, default prevention, or financial literacy, such as a brochure, a workshop, or training.(II) Food, refreshments, training, or informational material furnished to an officer or employee of an institution, or to an agent, as an integral part of a training session that is designed to improve the service of a lender, guarantor, or servicer of education loans to the institution, if such training contributes to the professional development of the officer, employee, or agent.(III) Favorable terms, conditions, and borrower benefits on an education loan provided to a student employed by the institution if such terms, conditions, or benefits are comparable to those provided to all students of the institution.(IV) Entrance and exit counseling services provided to borrowers to meet the institution’s responsibilities for entrance and exit counseling as required by subsections (b) and (l) of section 1092 of this title, as long as—(aa) the institution’s staff are in control of the counseling, (whether in person or via electronic capabilities); and(bb) such counseling does not promote the products or services of any specific lender.(V) Philanthropic contributions to an institution from a lender, servicer, or guarantor of education loans that are unrelated to education loans or any contribution from any lender, guarantor, or servicer that is not made in exchange for any advantage related to education loans.(VI) State education grants, scholarships, or financial aid funds administered by or on behalf of a State.
(iii) Rule for gifts to family membersFor purposes of this paragraph, a gift to a family member of an officer or employee of an institution, to a family member of an agent, or to any other individual based on that individual’s relationship with the officer, employee, or agent, shall be considered a gift to the officer, employee, or agent if—(I) the gift is given with the knowledge and acquiescence of the officer, employee, or agent; and(II) the officer, employee, or agent has reason to believe the gift was given because of the official position of the officer, employee, or agent.
(3) Contracting arrangements prohibited
(A) Prohibition
(B) ExceptionsNothing in this subsection shall be construed as prohibiting—
(i) an officer or employee of an institution who is not employed in the institution’s financial aid office and who does not otherwise have responsibilities with respect to education loans, or an agent who does not have responsibilities with respect to education loans, from performing paid or unpaid service on a board of directors of a lender, guarantor, or servicer of education loans;
(ii) an officer or employee of the institution who is not employed in the institution’s financial aid office but who has responsibility with respect to education loans as a result of a position held at the institution, or an agent who has responsibility with respect to education loans, from performing paid or unpaid service on a board of directors of a lender, guarantor, or servicer of education loans, if the institution has a written conflict of interest policy that clearly sets forth that officers, employees, or agents must recuse themselves from participating in any decision of the board regarding education loans at the institution; or
(iii) an officer, employee, or contractor of a lender, guarantor, or servicer of education loans from serving on a board of directors, or serving as a trustee, of an institution, if the institution has a written conflict of interest policy that the board member or trustee must recuse themselves from any decision regarding education loans at the institution.
(4) Interaction with borrowersThe institution shall not—
(A) for any first-time borrower, assign, through award packaging or other methods, the borrower’s loan to a particular lender; or
(B) refuse to certify, or delay certification of, any loan based on the borrower’s selection of a particular lender or guaranty agency.
(5) Prohibition on offers of funds for private loans
(A) ProhibitionThe institution shall not request or accept from any lender any offer of funds to be used for private education loans (as defined in section 1650 of title 15), including funds for an opportunity pool loan, to students in exchange for the institution providing concessions or promises regarding providing the lender with—
(i) a specified number of loans made, insured, or guaranteed under this subchapter;
(ii) a specified loan volume of such loans; or
(iii) a preferred lender arrangement for such loans.
(B) Definition of opportunity pool loan
(6) Ban on staffing assistance
(A) Prohibition
(B) Certain assistance permittedNothing in paragraph (1) shall be construed to prohibit the institution from requesting or accepting assistance from a lender related to—
(i) professional development training for financial aid administrators;
(ii) providing educational counseling materials, financial literacy materials, or debt management materials to borrowers, provided that such materials disclose to borrowers the identification of any lender that assisted in preparing or providing such materials; or
(iii) staffing services on a short-term, nonrecurring basis to assist the institution with financial aid-related functions during emergencies, including State-declared or federally declared natural disasters, federally declared national disasters, and other localized disasters and emergencies identified by the Secretary.
(7) Advisory board compensation
(f) Institutional requirements for teach-outs
(1) In general
(2) Teach-out plan defined
(g) Inspector General report on gift ban violationsThe Inspector General of the Department shall—
(1) submit an annual report to the authorizing committees identifying all violations of an institution’s code of conduct that the Inspector General has substantiated during the preceding year relating to the gift ban provisions described in subsection (e)(2); and
(2) make the report available to the public through the Department’s website.
(h) Preferred lender list requirements
(1) In generalIn compiling, maintaining, and making available a preferred lender list as required under subsection (a)(27), the institution will—
(A) clearly and fully disclose on such preferred lender list—
(i) not less than the information required to be disclosed under section 1019b(a)(2)(A) of this title;
(ii) why the institution has entered into a preferred lender arrangement with each lender on the preferred lender list, particularly with respect to terms and conditions or provisions favorable to the borrower; and
(iii) that the students attending the institution, or the families of such students, do not have to borrow from a lender on the preferred lender list;
(B) ensure, through the use of the list of lender affiliates provided by the Secretary under paragraph (2), that—
(i) there are not less than three lenders of loans made under part B that are not affiliates of each other included on the preferred lender list and, if the institution recommends, promotes, or endorses private education loans, there are not less than two lenders of private education loans that are not affiliates of each other included on the preferred lender list; and
(ii) the preferred lender list under this paragraph—(I) specifically indicates, for each listed lender, whether the lender is or is not an affiliate of each other lender on the preferred lender list; and(II) if a lender is an affiliate of another lender on the preferred lender list, describes the details of such affiliation;
(C) prominently disclose the method and criteria used by the institution in selecting lenders with which to enter into preferred lender arrangements to ensure that such lenders are selected on the basis of the best interests of the borrowers, including—
(i) payment of origination or other fees on behalf of the borrower;
(ii) highly competitive interest rates, or other terms and conditions or provisions of loans under this subchapter or private education loans;
(iii) high-quality servicing for such loans; or
(iv) additional benefits beyond the standard terms and conditions or provisions for such loans;
(D) exercise a duty of care and a duty of loyalty to compile the preferred lender list under this paragraph without prejudice and for the sole benefit of the students attending the institution, or the families of such students;
(E) not deny or otherwise impede the borrower’s choice of a lender or cause unnecessary delay in loan certification under this subchapter for those borrowers who choose a lender that is not included on the preferred lender list; and
(F) comply with such other requirements as the Secretary may prescribe by regulation.
(2) Lender affiliates list
(A) In general
(B) Use of most recent list
(i) DefinitionsFor the purpose of this section:
(1) Agent
(2) AffiliateThe term “affiliate” means a person that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with another person. A person controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with another person if—
(A) the person directly or indirectly, or acting through one or more others, owns, controls, or has the power to vote five percent or more of any class of voting securities of such other person;
(B) the person controls, in any manner, the election of a majority of the directors or trustees of such other person; or
(C) the Secretary determines (after notice and opportunity for a hearing) that the person directly or indirectly exercises a controlling interest over the management or policies of such other person’s education loans.
(3) Education loan
(4) Eligible institution
(5) Officer
(6) Preferred lender arrangement
(j) Construction
(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 487, as added Pub. L. 99–498, title IV, § 407(a), Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1488; amended Pub. L. 101–239, title II, §§ 2003(c)(2), 2006(c), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2114, 2118; Pub. L. 101–542, title II, § 205, Nov. 8, 1990, 104 Stat. 2387; Pub. L. 102–26, § 2(c)(3), Apr. 9, 1991, 105 Stat. 124; Pub. L. 102–325, title IV, § 490, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 625; Pub. L. 103–208, § 2(h)(42), (43), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2478; Pub. L. 105–244, title I, § 102(b)(4), title IV, § 489(a), (b)(1), (c), Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1622, 1750, 1751; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(4) [title III, § 314], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1535, 1501A–266; Pub. L. 110–315, title IV, § 493(a)(1)(A), (b)–(d), Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3308, 3309–3317; Pub. L. 111–39, title IV, § 407(b)(8), July 1, 2009, 123 Stat. 1952; Pub. L. 117–2, title II, § 2013(a), (b), Mar. 11, 2021, 135 Stat. 28.)
§ 1094a. Regulatory relief and improvement
(a) Quality Assurance Program
(1) In general
(2) Criteria and consideration
(3) Waiver
(4) Determination
The Secretary is authorized to determine—
(A) when an institution that is unable to administer the Quality Assurance Program shall be removed from such program; and
(B) when institutions desiring to cease participation in such program will be required to complete the current award year under the requirements of the Quality Assurance Program.
(5) Review and evaluation
(b) Regulatory improvement and streamlining experiments
(1) In general
(2) Report
The Secretary shall review and evaluate the experience of institutions participating as experimental sites and shall, on a biennial basis, submit a report based on the review and evaluation to the authorizing committees. Such report shall include—
(A) a list of participating institutions and the specific statutory or regulatory waivers granted to each institution;
(B) the findings and conclusions reached regarding each of the experiments conducted; and
(C) recommendations for amendments to improve and streamline this chapter, based on the results of the experiment.
(3) Selection
(A) In general
(B) Waivers
(4) Determination of success
For the purposes of paragraph (1), the Secretary shall make a determination of success regarding an institution’s participation as an experimental site based on—
(A) the ability of the experimental site to reduce administrative burdens to the institution, as documented in the Secretary’s biennial report under paragraph (2), without creating costs for the taxpayer; and
(B) whether the experimental site has improved the delivery of services to, or otherwise benefitted, students.
(c) “Current award year” defined
(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 487A, as added Pub. L. 102–325, title IV, § 491, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 629; amended Pub. L. 105–244, title IV, § 490, Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1751; Pub. L. 110–315, title I, § 103(b)(13), title IV, § 494, Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3090, 3318; Pub. L. 111–39, title IV, § 407(b)(9), July 1, 2009, 123 Stat. 1952.)
§ 1094b. Assignment of identification numbers
The Secretary shall assign to each participant in subchapter IV programs, including institutions, lenders, and guaranty agencies, a single Department of Education identification number to be used to identify its participation in each of the subchapter IV programs.
(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 487B, as added Pub. L. 102–325, title IV, § 491, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 630.)
§ 1095. Transfer of allotments
In order to offer an arrangement of types of aid, including institutional and State aid which best fits the needs of each individual student, an institution may (1) transfer a total of 25 percent of the institutions 1
1 So in original. Probably should be “institution’s”.
allotment under section 1087bb of this title to the institution’s allotment under section 1070b–3 or 1087–52 of this title (or both); (2) transfer 25 percent of the institution’s allotment under section 1087–52 of this title to the institution’s allotment under section 1070b–3 or 1087bb of this title (or both); and (3) transfer 25 percent of the institution’s allotment under section 1070b–3 of this title to the institution’s allotment under section 1087–52 of this title. Funds transferred to an institution’s allotment under another section may be used as a part of and for the same purposes as funds allotted under that section. The Secretary shall have no control over such transfer, except as specifically authorized, except for the collection and dissemination of information.(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 488, as added Pub. L. 99–498, title IV, § 407(a), Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1490; amended Pub. L. 100–50, § 15(14), June 3, 1987, 101 Stat. 357; Pub. L. 102–325, title IV, § 492, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 630; Pub. L. 110–315, title IV, § 494A, Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3319.)
§ 1095a. Wage garnishment requirement
(a) Garnishment requirements
Notwithstanding any provision of State law, a guaranty agency, or the Secretary in the case of loans made, insured or guaranteed under this subchapter that are held by the Secretary, may garnish the disposable pay of an individual to collect the amount owed by the individual, if he or she is not currently making required repayment under a repayment agreement with the Secretary, or, in the case of a loan guaranteed under part B on which the guaranty agency received reimbursement from the Secretary under section 1078(c) of this title, with the guaranty agency holding the loan, as appropriate, provided that—
(1) the amount deducted for any pay period may not exceed 15 percent of disposable pay, except that a greater percentage may be deducted with the written consent of the individual involved;
(2) the individual shall be provided written notice, sent by mail to the individual’s last known address, a minimum of 30 days prior to the initiation of proceedings, from the guaranty agency or the Secretary, as appropriate, informing such individual of the nature and amount of the loan obligation to be collected, the intention of the guaranty agency or the Secretary, as appropriate, to initiate proceedings to collect the debt through deductions from pay, and an explanation of the rights of the individual under this section;
(3) the individual shall be provided an opportunity to inspect and copy records relating to the debt;
(4) the individual shall be provided an opportunity to enter into a written agreement with the guaranty agency or the Secretary, under terms agreeable to the Secretary, or the head of the guaranty agency or his designee, as appropriate, to establish a schedule for the repayment of the debt;
(5) the individual shall be provided an opportunity for a hearing in accordance with subsection (b) on the determination of the Secretary or the guaranty agency, as appropriate, concerning the existence or the amount of the debt, and, in the case of an individual whose repayment schedule is established other than by a written agreement pursuant to paragraph (4), concerning the terms of the repayment schedule;
(6) the employer shall pay to the Secretary or the guaranty agency as directed in the withholding order issued in this action, and shall be liable for, and the Secretary or the guaranty agency, as appropriate, may sue the employer in a State or Federal court of competent jurisdiction to recover, any amount that such employer fails to withhold from wages due an employee following receipt of such employer of notice of the withholding order, plus attorneys’ fees, costs, and, in the court’s discretion, punitive damages, but such employer shall not be required to vary the normal pay and disbursement cycles in order to comply with this paragraph;
(7) if an individual has been reemployed within 12 months after having been involuntarily separated from employment, no amount may be deducted from the disposable pay of such individual until such individual has been reemployed continuously for at least 12 months; and
(8) an employer may not discharge from employment, refuse to employ, or take disciplinary action against an individual subject to wage withholding in accordance with this section by reason of the fact that the individual’s wages have been subject to garnishment under this section, and such individual may sue in a State or Federal court of competent jurisdiction any employer who takes such action. The court shall award attorneys’ fees to a prevailing employee and, in its discretion, may order reinstatement of the individual, award punitive damages and back pay to the employee, or order such other remedy as may be reasonably necessary.
(b) Hearing requirements
(c) Notice requirements
(d) No attachment of student assistance
(e) “Disposable pay” defined
(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 488A, as added Pub. L. 102–164, title VI, § 605(a), Nov. 15, 1991, 105 Stat. 1066; amended Pub. L. 105–244, title IV, § 490A, Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1753; Pub. L. 109–171, title VIII, § 8024, Feb. 8, 2006, 120 Stat. 180.)
§ 1096. Administrative expenses
(a) Amount of payments
(b) Purpose of payments
(1) The sums paid to institutions under this part are for the sole purpose of administering the programs described in subsection (a).
(2) If the institution enrolls a significant number of students who are (A) attending the institution less than full time, or (B) independent students, the institution shall use a reasonable proportion of the funds available under this section for financial aid services during times and in places that will most effectively accommodate the needs of such students.
(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 489, as added Pub. L. 99–498, title IV, § 407(a), Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1491; amended Pub. L. 99–603, title I, § 121(b)(7), Nov. 6, 1986, 100 Stat. 3391; Pub. L. 100–50, § 15(15), June 3, 1987, 101 Stat. 357; Pub. L. 102–325, title IV, §§ 446(c), 493, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 567, 630; Pub. L. 103–208, § 2(h)(44), (k)(6), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2478, 2486; Pub. L. 110–315, title IV, § 494B, Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3319; Pub. L. 111–39, title IV, § 407(b)(10), July 1, 2009, 123 Stat. 1953.)
§ 1096a. Repealed. Pub. L. 102–325, title IV, § 494, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 631
§ 1097. Criminal penalties
(a) In general
(b) Assignment of loans
(c) Inducements to lend or assign
(d) Obstruction of justice
(e) Access to Department of Education information technology systems for fraud, commercial advantage, or private financial gain
(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 490, as added Pub. L. 99–498, title IV, § 407(a), Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1491; amended Pub. L. 102–325, title IV, § 495, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 631; Pub. L. 116–251, § 2(a), Dec. 22, 2020, 134 Stat. 1129.)
§ 1097a. Administrative subpoenas
(a) Authority
(b) Enforcement
(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 490A, as added Pub. L. 105–244, title IV, § 490B, Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1754.)
§ 1098. Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance
(a) Establishment and purpose
(1) There is established in the Department an independent Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance (hereafter in this section referred to as the “Advisory Committee”) which shall provide advice and counsel to the authorizing committees and to the Secretary on student financial aid matters.
(2) The purpose of the Advisory Committee is—
(A) to provide extensive knowledge and understanding of the Federal, State, and institutional programs of postsecondary student assistance;
(B) to provide technical expertise with regard to systems of needs analysis and application forms;
(C) to make recommendations that will result in the maintenance of access to postsecondary education for low- and middle-income students;
(D) to provide knowledge and understanding of early intervention programs, and to make recommendations that will result in early awareness by low- and moderate-income students and families—
(i) of their eligibility for assistance under this subchapter; and
(ii) to the extent practicable, of their eligibility for other forms of State and institutional need-based student assistance;
(E) to make recommendations that will expand and improve partnerships among the Federal Government, States, institutions of higher education, and private entities to increase the awareness and the total amount of need-based student assistance available to low- and moderate-income students; and
(F) to collect information on Federal regulations, and on the impact of Federal regulations on student financial assistance and on the cost of receiving a postsecondary education, and to make recommendations to help streamline the regulations for institutions of higher education from all sectors.
(b) Independence of Advisory Committee
(c) Membership
(1) The Advisory Committee shall consist of 11 members appointed as follows:
(A) Four members shall be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate, of whom two members shall be appointed from recommendations by the Majority Leader of the Senate, and two members shall be appointed from recommendations by the Minority Leader of the Senate.
(B) Four members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, of whom two members shall be appointed from recommendations by the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, and two members shall be appointed from recommendations by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
(C) Three members shall be appointed by the Secretary, of whom at least one member shall be a student.
(2) Each member of the Advisory Committee, with the exception of a student member, shall be appointed on the basis of technical qualifications, professional experience, and demonstrated knowledge in the fields of higher education, student financial aid, financing post-secondary education, and the operations and financing of student loan guarantee agencies.
(3) The appointment of a member under subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) shall be effective upon publication of such appointment in the Congressional Record.
(d) Functions of the CommitteeThe Advisory Committee shall—
(1) develop, review, and comment annually upon the system of needs analysis established under part F of this subchapter;
(2) monitor, apprise, and evaluate the effectiveness of student aid delivery and recommend improvements;
(3) recommend data collection needs and student information requirements which would improve access and choice for eligible students under this subchapter and assist the Department of Education in improving the delivery of student aid;
(4) assess the impact of legislative and administrative policy proposals;
(5) review and comment upon, prior to promulgation, all regulations affecting programs under this subchapter, including proposed regulations;
(6) recommend to the authorizing committees and to the Secretary such studies, surveys, and analyses of student financial assistance programs, policies, and practices, including the special needs of low-income, disadvantaged, and nontraditional students, and the means by which the needs may be met;
(7) review and comment upon standards by which financial need is measured in determining eligibility for Federal student assistance programs;
(8) appraise the adequacies and deficiencies of current student financial aid information resources and services and evaluate the effectiveness of current student aid information programs;
(9) provide an annual report to the authorizing committees that provides analyses and policy recommendations regarding—
(A) the adequacy of need-based grant aid for low- and moderate-income students; and
(B) the postsecondary enrollment and graduation rates of low- and moderate-income students;
(10) develop and maintain an information clearinghouse to help institutions of higher education understand the regulatory impact of the Federal Government on institutions of higher education from all sectors, in order to raise awareness of institutional legal obligations and provide information to improve compliance with, and to reduce the duplication and inefficiency of, Federal regulations; and
(11) make special efforts to advise Members of Congress and such Members’ staff of the findings and recommendations made pursuant to this paragraph.
(e) Operations of the Committee
(1) Each member of the Advisory Committee shall be appointed for a term of 4 years, except that, of the members first appointed—
(A) 4 shall be appointed for a term of 1 year;
(B) 4 shall be appointed for a term of 2 years; and
(C) 3 shall be appointed for a term of 3 years,
as designated at the time of appointment by the Secretary.
(2) Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term of a predecessor shall be appointed only for the remainder of such term. A member of the Advisory Committee serving on August 14, 2008, shall be permitted to serve the duration of the member’s term, regardless of whether the member was previously appointed to more than one term.
(3) No officers or full-time employees of the Federal Government shall serve as members of the Advisory Committee.
(4) The Advisory Committee shall elect a Chairman and a Vice Chairman from among its members.
(5) Six members of the Advisory Committee shall constitute a quorum.
(6) The Advisory Committee shall meet at the call of the Chairman or a majority of its members.
(f) Submission to Department for comment
(g) Compensation and expenses
(h) Personnel and resources
(1) The Advisory Committee may appoint such personnel as may be determined necessary by the Chairman without regard to the provisions of title 5 governing appointments in the competitive service, and may be paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, but no individual so appointed shall be paid in excess of the rate authorized for GS–18 of the General Schedule. The Advisory Committee may appoint not more than 1 full-time equivalent, nonpermanent, consultant without regard to the provisions of title 5. The Advisory Committee shall not be required by the Secretary to reduce personnel to meet agency personnel reduction goals.
(2) In carrying out its duties under this chapter, the Advisory Committee shall consult with other Federal agencies, representatives of State and local governments, and private organizations to the extent feasible.
(3)
(A) The Advisory Committee is authorized to secure directly from any executive department, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, independent establishment, or instrumentality information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics for the purpose of this section and each such department, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, independent establishment, or instrumentality is authorized and directed, to the extent permitted by law, to furnish such information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics directly to the Advisory Committee, upon request made by the Chairman.
(B) The Advisory Committee may enter into contracts for the acquisition of information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics for the purpose of this section.
(4) The Advisory Committee is authorized to obtain the services of experts and consultants without regard to section 3109 of title 5 and to set pay in accordance with such section.
(5) The head of each Federal agency shall, to the extent not prohibited by law, cooperate with the Advisory Committee in carrying out this section.
(6) The Advisory Committee is authorized to utilize, with their consent, the services, personnel, information, and facilities of other Federal, State, local, and private agencies with or without reimbursement.
(i) Availability of funds
(j) Special analyses and activitiesThe Advisory Committee shall—
(1) monitor and evaluate the modernization of student financial aid systems and delivery processes and simplifications, including recommendations for improvement;
(2) assess the adequacy of current methods for disseminating information about programs under this subchapter and recommend improvements, as appropriate, regarding early needs assessment and information for first-year secondary school students;
(3) assess and make recommendations concerning the feasibility and degree of use of appropriate technology in the application for, and delivery and management of, financial assistance under this subchapter, as well as policies that promote use of such technology to reduce cost and enhance service and program integrity, including electronic application and reapplication, just-in-time delivery of funds, reporting of disbursements and reconciliation;
(4) conduct a review and analysis of regulations in accordance with subsection (l); and
(5) conduct a study in accordance with subsection (m).
(k) Term of Committee
(l) Review and analysis of regulations
(1) Recommendations
(2) Review and analysis of regulations
(A) Review of current regulations
(B) Review and collection of future regulationsThe Advisory Committee shall—
(i) monitor all Federal regulations, including notices of proposed rulemaking, for their impact or potential impact on higher education; and
(ii) provide a succinct description of each regulation or proposed regulation that is generally relevant to institutions of higher education from all sectors.
(C) Maintenance of public websiteThe Advisory Committee shall develop and maintain an easy to use, searchable, and regularly updated website that—
(i) provides information collected in subparagraph (B);
(ii) provides an area for the experts and members of the public to provide recommendations for ways in which the regulations may be streamlined; and
(iii) publishes the study conducted by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences under section 1106 of the Higher Education Opportunity Act.
(3) Consultation
(A) In general
(B) Review panels
(4) Periodic updates to the authorizing committeesThe Advisory Committee shall—
(A) submit, not later than two years after the completion of the negotiated rulemaking process required under section 1098a of this title resulting from the amendments to this chapter made by the Higher Education Opportunity Act, a report to the authorizing committees and the Secretary detailing the review panels’ findings and recommendations with respect to the review of regulations; and
(B) provide periodic updates to the authorizing committees regarding—
(i) the impact of all Federal regulations on all sectors of higher education; and
(ii) suggestions provided through the website for streamlining or eliminating duplicative regulations.
(5) Additional support
(m) Study of innovative pathways to baccalaureate degree attainment
(1) Study required
(2) Scope of study
(3) Required aspects of the studyIn performing the study described in this subsection, the Advisory Committee shall examine the following aspects of such innovative programs:
(A) The impact of such programs on baccalaureate attainment rates.
(B) The degree to which a student’s total cost of attaining a baccalaureate degree can be reduced by such programs.
(C) The ways in which low- and moderate-income students can be specifically targeted by such programs.
(D) The ways in which nontraditional students can be specifically targeted by such programs.
(E) The cost-effectiveness for the Federal Government, States, and institutions of higher education to implement such programs.
(4) Consultation
(A) In general
(B) Consultation with the authorizing committees
(5) Reports to authorizing committees
(A) Interim report
(B) Final report
(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 491, as added Pub. L. 99–498, title IV, § 407(a), Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1492; amended Pub. L. 100–50, § 15(16)–(18), June 3, 1987, 101 Stat. 357; Pub. L. 102–325, title IV, § 496, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 631; Pub. L. 103–208, § 2(h)(45), (46), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2478; Pub. L. 105–244, title IV, § 490C, Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1754; Pub. L. 110–315, title IV, § 494C, Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3319; Pub. L. 111–39, title IV, § 407(b)(11), July 1, 2009, 123 Stat. 1953; Pub. L. 113–174, § 2, Sept. 26, 2014, 128 Stat. 1900; Pub. L. 117–286, § 4(a)(147), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4322.)
§ 1098a. Regional meetings and negotiated rulemaking
(a) Meetings
(1) In general
(2) Issues
(b) Draft regulations
(1) In general
(2) Expansion of negotiated rulemaking
(c) Applicability of chapter 10 of title 5
(d) Authorization of appropriations
(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 492, as added Pub. L. 102–325, title IV, § 497, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 633; amended Pub. L. 105–244, title IV, § 490D, Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1755; Pub. L. 110–315, title IV, § 494D, Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3324; Pub. L. 111–39, title IV, § 407(b)(12), July 1, 2009, 123 Stat. 1953; Pub. L. 117–286, § 4(a)(148), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4322.)
§ 1098b. Authorization of appropriations for administrative expenses
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 1993 and for each succeeding fiscal year thereafter for administrative expenses necessary for carrying out this subchapter, including expenses for staff personnel, program reviews, and compliance activities.
(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 493, as added Pub. L. 102–325, title IV, § 497, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 634.)
§ 1098c. Repealed. Pub. L. 110–315, title IV, § 494E, Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3324
§ 1098d. Procedures for cancellations and deferments for eligible disabled veterans
The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall develop and implement a procedure to permit Department of Veterans Affairs physicians to provide the certifications and affidavits needed to enable disabled veterans enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system to document such veterans’ eligibility for deferments or cancellations of student loans made, insured, or guaranteed under this subchapter. Not later than 6 months after October 7, 1998, the Secretary and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs jointly shall report to Congress on the progress made in developing and implementing the procedure.
(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 493B, as added Pub. L. 105–244, title IV, § 490F, Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1758.)
§ 1098e. Income-based repayment
(a) DefinitionsIn this section:
(1) Excepted PLUS loan
(2) Excepted consolidation loan
(3) Partial financial hardshipThe term “partial financial hardship”, when used with respect to a borrower, means that for such borrower—
(A) the annual amount due on the total amount of loans made, insured, or guaranteed under part B or D (other than an excepted PLUS loan or excepted consolidation loan) to a borrower as calculated under the standard repayment plan under section 1078(b)(9)(A)(i) or 1087e(d)(1)(A) of this title, based on a 10-year repayment period; exceeds
(B) 15 percent of the result obtained by calculating, on at least an annual basis, the amount by which—
(i) the borrower’s, and the borrower’s spouse’s (if applicable), adjusted gross income; exceeds
(ii) 150 percent of the poverty line applicable to the borrower’s family size as determined under section 9902(2) of title 42.
(b) Income-based repayment program authorizedNotwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the Secretary shall carry out a program under which—
(1) a borrower of any loan made, insured, or guaranteed under part B or D (other than an excepted PLUS loan or excepted consolidation loan) who has a partial financial hardship (whether or not the borrower’s loan has been submitted to a guaranty agency for default aversion or had been in default) may elect, during any period the borrower has the partial financial hardship, to have the borrower’s aggregate monthly payment for all such loans not exceed the result described in subsection (a)(3)(B) divided by 12;
(2) the holder of such a loan shall apply the borrower’s monthly payment under this subsection first toward interest due on the loan, next toward any fees due on the loan, and then toward the principal of the loan;
(3) any interest due and not paid under paragraph (2)—
(A) shall, on subsidized loans, be paid by the Secretary for a period of not more than 3 years after the date of the borrower’s election under paragraph (1), except that such period shall not include any period during which the borrower is in deferment due to an economic hardship described in section 1085(o) of this title; and
(B) be capitalized—
(i) in the case of a subsidized loan, subject to subparagraph (A), at the time the borrower—(I) ends the election to make income-based repayment under this subsection; or(II) begins making payments of not less than the amount specified in paragraph (6)(A); or
(ii) in the case of an unsubsidized loan, at the time the borrower—(I) ends the election to make income-based repayment under this subsection; or(II) begins making payments of not less than the amount specified in paragraph (6)(A);
(4) any principal due and not paid under paragraph (2) shall be deferred;
(5) the amount of time the borrower makes monthly payments under paragraph (1) may exceed 10 years;
(6) if the borrower no longer has a partial financial hardship or no longer wishes to continue the election under this subsection, then—
(A) the maximum monthly payment required to be paid for all loans made to the borrower under part B or D (other than an excepted PLUS loan or excepted consolidation loan) shall not exceed the monthly amount calculated under section 1078(b)(9)(A)(i) or 1087e(d)(1)(A) of this title, based on a 10-year repayment period, when the borrower first made the election described in this subsection; and
(B) the amount of time the borrower is permitted to repay such loans may exceed 10 years;
(7) the Secretary shall repay or cancel any outstanding balance of principal and interest due on all loans made under part B or D (other than a loan under section 1078–2 of this title or a Federal Direct PLUS Loan) to a borrower who—
(A) at any time, elected to participate in income-based repayment under paragraph (1); and
(B) for a period of time prescribed by the Secretary, not to exceed 25 years, meets 1 or more of the following requirements—
(i) has made reduced monthly payments under paragraph (1) or paragraph (6);
(ii) has made monthly payments of not less than the monthly amount calculated under section 1078(b)(9)(A)(i) or 1087e(d)(1)(A) of this title, based on a 10-year repayment period, when the borrower first made the election described in this subsection;
(iii) has made payments of not less than the payments required under a standard repayment plan under section 1078(b)(9)(A)(i) or 1087e(d)(1)(A) of this title with a repayment period of 10 years;
(iv) has made payments under an income-contingent repayment plan under ; or
(v) has been in deferment due to an economic hardship described in section 1085(o) of this title;
(8) a borrower who is repaying a loan made under part B or D pursuant to income-based repayment may elect, at any time, to terminate repayment pursuant to income-based repayment and repay such loan under the standard repayment plan; and
(9) the special allowance payment to a lender calculated under section 1087–1(b)(2)(I) of this title, when calculated for a loan in repayment under this section, shall be calculated on the principal balance of the loan and on any accrued interest unpaid by the borrower in accordance with this section.
(c) Eligibility determinations
(1) In general
(2) Procedures for eligibilityThe Secretary shall—
(A) consider, but is not limited to, the procedures established in accordance with section 1087e(e)(1) of this title or in connection with income sensitive repayment schedules under section 1078(b)(9)(A)(iii) or 1078–3(b)(1)(E) of this title; and
(B) carry out, with respect to borrowers of any loan made under part D (other than an excepted PLUS loan or excepted consolidation loan), procedures for income-based repayment plans that are equivalent to the procedures carried out under section 1087e(e)(8) of this title with respect to income-contingent repayment plans.
(d) Special rule for married borrowers filing separately
(e) Special terms for new borrowers on and after July 1, 2014With respect to any loan made to a new borrower on or after July 1, 2014—
(1) subsection (a)(3)(B) shall be applied by substituting “10 percent” for “15 percent”; and
(2) subsection (b)(7)(B) shall be applied by substituting “20 years” for “25 years”.
(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 493C, as added Pub. L. 110–84, title II, § 203(a), Sept. 27, 2007, 121 Stat. 792; amended Pub. L. 110–153, § 2, Dec. 21, 2007, 121 Stat. 1824; Pub. L. 110–315, title IV, § 494F, Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3324; Pub. L. 111–152, title II, § 2213, Mar. 30, 2010, 124 Stat. 1081; Pub. L. 116–91, § 4(b), Dec. 19, 2019, 133 Stat. 1193.)
§ 1098f. Deferral of loan repayment following active duty
(a) Deferral of loan repayment following active duty
(b) Active duty
Notwithstanding section 1088(d) of this title, in this section, the term “active duty” has the meaning given such term in section 101(d)(1) of title 10, except that such term—
(1) does not include active duty for training or attendance at a service school; but
(2) includes, in the case of members of the National Guard, active State duty.
(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 493D, as added Pub. L. 110–84, title II, § 204, Sept. 27, 2007, 121 Stat. 795.)
§ 1098g. Exemption from State disclosure requirements
Loans made, insured, or guaranteed pursuant to a program authorized by title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.) shall not be subject to any disclosure requirements of any State law.
(Pub. L. 97–320, title VII, § 701(b), Oct. 15, 1982, 96 Stat. 1538.)
§ 1098h. Procedure and requirements for requesting tax return information from the Internal Revenue Service
(a) Notification and approval requirements
(1) Federal student financial aidIn the case of any written or electronic application under section 1090 of this title by an individual for Federal student financial aid under a program authorized under subpart 1 of part A, part C, or part D, the Secretary, with respect to such individual and any parent or spouse whose financial information, including return information, is required to be provided on such application, shall—
(A) notify such individuals that—
(i) if such individuals provide approval under subparagraph (B)—(I) the Secretary will have the authority to request that the Secretary of the Treasury disclose return information of such individuals to authorized persons (as defined in section 6103(l)(13) of title 26) for the relevant purposes described in such section; and(II) the return information of such individuals may be redisclosed pursuant to clauses (iii), (iv), (v), and (vi) of section 6103(l)(13)(D) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, for the relevant purposes described in such section; and
(ii) the failure to provide such approval for the disclosures described in subclauses (I) and (II) of clause (i) will result in the Secretary being unable to calculate eligibility for such aid to such individual;
(B) require, as a condition of eligibility for such aid, that such individuals affirmatively approve the disclosures described in subclauses (I) and (II) of subparagraph (A)(i); and
(C) if an individual is pursuing provisional independent student status due to an unusual circumstance, as described in section 1087tt of this title and provided for in section 1087uu–2 of this title, require such individual to provide an affirmative approval under subparagraph (B), but not require a parent of such individual to provide an affirmative approval under subparagraph (B).
(2) Income-contingent and income-based repayment
(A) New applicantsIn the case of any written or electronic application by an individual for an income-contingent or income-based repayment plan for a loan under part D, the Secretary, with respect to such individual and any spouse of such individual, shall—
(i) provide to such individuals the notification described in paragraph (1)(A)(i);
(ii) require, as a condition of eligibility for such repayment plan, that such individuals—(I) affirmatively approve the disclosures described in subclauses (I) and (II) of paragraph (1)(A)(i), to the extent applicable, and agree that such approval shall serve as an ongoing approval of such disclosures until the date on which the individual elects to opt out of such disclosures under section 1087e(e)(8) of this title or the equivalent procedures established under section 1098e(c)(2)(B) of this title, as applicable; or(II) provide such information as the Secretary may require to confirm the eligibility of such individual for such repayment plan.
(B) Recertifications
(3) Total and permanent disabilityIn the case of any written or electronic application by an individual for a discharge of a loan under this subchapter based on total and permanent disability (within the meaning of section 1087(a) of this title) that requires income monitoring, the Secretary shall—
(A) provide to such individual the notification described in paragraph (1)(A)(i)(I); and
(B) require, as a condition of eligibility for such discharge, that such individual—
(i) affirmatively approve the disclosure described in paragraph (1)(A)(i)(I) and agree that such approval shall serve as an ongoing approval of such disclosure until the earlier of—(I) the date on which the individual elects to opt out of such disclosure under section 1087(a)(3)(A) of this title; or(II) the first day on which such loan may no longer be reinstated; or
(ii) provide such information as the Secretary may require to confirm the eligibility of such individual for such discharge.
(b) Limit on authority
(c) Access to FAFSA information
(1) Redisclosure of informationThe information in a complete, unredacted Student Aid Report (including any return information disclosed under section 6103(l)(13) of title 26) with respect to an application described in subsection (a)(1) of an applicant for Federal student financial aid—
(A) upon request for such information by such applicant, shall be provided to such applicant by—
(i) the Secretary; or
(ii) in a case in which the Secretary has requested that institutions of higher education carry out the requirements of this subparagraph, an institution of higher education that has received such information; and
(B) with the written consent by the applicant to an institution of higher education, may be provided by such institution of higher education as is necessary to a scholarship granting organization (including a tribal organization (defined in section 5304 of title 25)), or to an organization assisting the applicant in applying for and receiving Federal, State, local, or tribal assistance, that is designated by the applicant to assist the applicant in applying for and receiving financial assistance for any component of the applicant’s cost of attendance (defined in section 1087ll of this title) at that institution.
(2) Discussion of information
(3) Restriction on disclosing information
(4) DefinitionsIn this subsection:
(A) Student Aid Report
(B) Written consentThe term “written consent” means a separate, written document that is signed and dated (which may include by electronic format) by an applicant, which—
(i) indicates that the information being disclosed includes return information disclosed under section 6103(l)(13) of title 26 with respect to the applicant;
(ii) states the purpose for which the information is being disclosed; and
(iii) states that the information may only be used for the specific purpose and no other purposes.
(5) Record keeping requirementAn institution of higher education shall—
(A) keep a record of each written consent made under this subsection for a period of at least 3 years from the date of the student’s last date of attendance at the institution; and
(B) make each such record readily available for review by the Secretary.
(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 494, as added Pub. L. 116–91, § 6(a), Dec. 19, 2019, 133 Stat. 1194; amended