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Public hearings signal intent to simplify some student and borrower programs
June 07, 2021
In what could be the beginning of a regulatory overhaul of several programs impacting students and borrowers, the Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) recently announced it will hold virtual public hearings on June 21, 23, and 24 to receive feedback on potential issues for future rulemaking sessions.
In what could be the beginning of a regulatory overhaul of several programs impacting students and borrowers, the Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) recently announced it will hold virtual public hearings on June 21, 23, and 24 to receive feedback on potential issues for future rulemaking sessions.
According to the Announcement, The Department suggests the following topics for regulation in the hearing notice but invites comment on any regulatory issue that that can improve outcomes for students, especially borrowers:
- Ability to benefit
- Borrower defense to repayment
- Certification procedures for participation in federal financial aid programs
- Change of ownership and change in control of institutions of higher education
- Closed school discharges
- Discharges for borrowers with a total and permanent disability
- Discharges for false certification of student eligibility
- Financial responsibility for participating institutions of higher education, such as events that indicate heightened financial risk
- Gainful employment
- Income-contingent loan repayment plans
- Mandatory pre-dispute arbitration and prohibition of class action lawsuits provisions in institutions’ enrollment agreements
- Pell Grant eligibility for prison education programs
- Public service loan forgiveness
- Standards of administrative capability
The hearings will be held from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM (EST) on June 21, 23, and 24. Individuals who would like to make comments at the public hearings must register by sending an email message to negreghearing@ed.gov no later than 12:00 PM (EST) on the business day prior to the public hearing at which they wish to speak. The message should include the name and email address of the speaker, the general topic(s) to be addressed, and at least two dates and times during which the individual would be available to speak.