81 FR 20251 - Program Integrity and Improvement

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 67 (April 7, 2016)

The U.S. Department of Education is establishing the date for early implementation of certain regulations for the Federal Student Aid programs authorized under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA).

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 67 (Thursday, April 7, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 20251-20252]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-08055]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

34 CFR Part 668

[Docket ID ED-2015-OPE-0020]
RIN 1840-AD14


Program Integrity and Improvement

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Announcement of early implementation date.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Education is establishing the date for 
early implementation of certain regulations for the Federal Student Aid 
programs authorized under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, 
as amended (HEA).

DATES: The early implementation date for Sec. Sec.  668.2(b) and 
668.163(a)(1) and (c), published in the Federal Register of October 30, 
2015 (80 FR 67126), is April 7, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For repeat coursework: Vanessa 
Freeman, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW., Room 
6W236, Washington, DC 20202-1100. Telephone: (202) 453-7378 or by email 
at: [email protected]; or Aaron Washington, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW., Room 6W246, Washington, DC 20202-
1100. Telephone: (202) 453-7241 or by email at: 
[email protected]. For cash management: Ashley Higgins, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW., Room 6W234, Washington, 
DC 20202-1100. Telephone: (202) 453-6097 or by email at: 
[email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf or text 
telephone, call the Federal Relay Service, toll free, at 1-800-877-
8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 30, 2015, we published final 
rules in the Federal Register (80 FR 67126) amending the cash 
management regulations and other sections of the Student Assistance 
General Provisions regulations issued under the HEA.
    Section 482(c) of the HEA requires that regulations affecting 
programs under title IV be published in final form by November 1 prior 
to the start of the award year (July 1) to which they apply. However, 
that section of the HEA also permits the Secretary to designate any 
regulation as one that an entity subject to the regulations may choose 
to implement earlier, and to specify the conditions for early 
implementation. The Secretary is exercising the authority under Section 
482(c) of the HEA to early implement specific sections of the

[[Page 20252]]

Program Integrity and Improvement regulations.
    Section 668.2(b) specifies that in a term-based program a student 
may repeat any coursework previously taken in the program but the 
coursework may not include more than one repetition of a previously 
passed course. This provision applies to graduate and professional as 
well as undergraduate students. Section 668.163(a)(1) specifies that 
educational institutions must maintain title IV, HEA program funds in 
depository accounts and guidelines that domestic and foreign 
educational institutions must follow in selecting this account. 
Finally, Sec.  668.163(c) states that educational institutions in a 
State must maintain title IV, HEA program funds in an interest-bearing 
depository account. This section also explains in which instances 
interest on funds can be retained or must be remitted to the Department 
of Health and Human Services.

Implementation Date of These Regulations

    The Secretary is exercising the authority under section 482(c) of 
the HEA to designate the following amended regulations in 34 CFR part 
668 for early implementation beginning on April 7, 2016:
    (1) Section 668.2(b) (Retaking Coursework);
    (2) Section 668.163(a)(1) (Depository account); and
    (3) Section 668.163(c) (Interest-bearing depository account).
    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, 
audiotape, or compact disc) by contacting Ashley Higgins, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW., Room 6W234, Washington, 
DC 20202-1100. Telephone: (202) 453-6097 or by email: 
[email protected].
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free 
Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the 
Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System 
at: www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, as well 
as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal 
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF 
you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the 
site. You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at: 
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

    Program Authority:  20 U.S.C. 1098a.

    Dated: April 4, 2016.
John B. King, Jr.,
Secretary of Education.
[FR Doc. 2016-08055 Filed 4-6-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P