Access to previous webinar recordings is available to all NASASPS members as part of the member benefits package.
2025 Webinar Recordings
How Different States Handle Student Complaints
Are student complaints becoming more complex—or just harder to manage? Join a dynamic panel of regulators from California, Connecticut, Georgia, and Ohio as they share real-world insights on how their states handle student complaints and what you can learn from their approaches. The session will kick off with a cross-state comparison of complaint processes, spotlighting both common practices and key differences. From there, panelists will dive into several hypothetical but realistic complaint scenarios, discussing how they would respond and inviting attendees to share their perspectives. You’ll walk away with practical strategies and fresh ideas to strengthen your complaint-handling process and improve outcomes for students and institutions alike.
This webinar was presented by Pat Neri, Program Manager-Compliance, Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission, Emily Witt, Licensing & Compliance Program Manager, Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools, Emily Bjornberg, Senior Consultant, Academic Affairs, Connecticut Office of Higher Education, Daniel Rangel, Investigations Chief, Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, and moderated by Sean Seepersad, Division Director, Connecticut Office of Higher Education.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
The presentation will provide background on the laws applicable to students with disabilities including the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The presentation will also provide an overview of the required interactive process and tips for policy best practices. Undue hardship and unreasonable accommodations will also be reviewed as well as tips for handling OCR disability complaints.
Learning Goals:
1. Background on the relevant laws and how they apply to institutions
2. An overview of how to engage in the required interactive process with students
3. How to effectively document the accommodation process including accommodation approvals
4. What types of accommodations are unreasonable and how to handle those
Attendees will be provided with a flow chart for the overall accommodation process
This webinar was presented by Jessica High, Special Counsel, Duane Morris LLP
Adjusting Expectations: U.S. Department of Education Requirements for Changes of Ownership
This panel has learned from experience that the U.S. Department of Education has recently adjusted their expectations related to state and accreditor documentation for schools going through a change in ownership. We will discuss those changes and how states, accreditors, and the schools themselves can work together to successfully navigate the new challenges. Even if institutions maintain good standing with the states, the Department may reject what is provided. We will talk about challenges related to timing and resources and provide insight and suggestions for best practices.
This webinar was presented by Katie Wendel and Hope Watson with Thompson Coburn, LLP and Kevin LaMountain, Executive Director, Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education
2024 Webinar Recordings
What’s Next for Higher Education Post-Election?
Presenters will guide you through the ramifications of the landmark SFFA v. Harvard affirmative action decision, analyzing its immediate and potential long-term impacts. We will delve into the evolving legal landscape, compliance obligations for higher education, and strategies for navigating the new environment. This presentation will: Unpack the Court’s opinions, highlighting key arguments and potential interpretations. Map out the evolving legal framework, including existing federal regulations and potential state legislation. Outline proactive steps for colleges and universities to ensure compliance and mitigate legal risks. Analyze potential legal challenges and legislative developments, providing insights into the future of affirmative action.
This webinar was presented by Christopher Murray, Partner, Thompson Coburn LLP
Navigating the Murky Waters: Affirmative Action Post- SCOTUS and Your Compliance Obligations
Presenters will guide you through the ramifications of the landmark SFFA v. Harvard affirmative action decision, analyzing its immediate and potential long-term impacts. We will delve into the evolving legal landscape, compliance obligations for higher education, and strategies for navigating the new environment. This presentation will: Unpack the Court’s opinions, highlighting key arguments and potential interpretations. Map out the evolving legal framework, including existing federal regulations and potential state legislation. Outline proactive steps for colleges and universities to ensure compliance and mitigate legal risks. Analyze potential legal challenges and legislative developments, providing insights into the future of affirmative action.
This webinar was presented by Katie Kraft, Thompson Coburn, Washington, D.C. and Stephanie Cohan, Associate, Thompson Coburn, Missouri
Breaking the Chains of Closed School Transcripts: Beyond Digital Records to Real Solutions
Unfortunately, digitization alone will not resolve the challenge when a closure leads to overlooked transfers of official transcripts. While digitization streamlines processes and reduces costs, the crucial issue arises when institutions hastily close, leaving students and institutions frustrated due to neglected transfers. To genuinely address this challenge, legislative changes are imperative for annualized standardization of digital storage. The key lies in achieving a delicate equilibrium between streamlined processes and regulatory advancements to resolve the core issues in transcript management.
This webinar was presented by John Ware Director, Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools; Pascal Buser, Director, New Mexico Private Post-Secondary Schools; Nicole Campbell, M.A.T.L., Division Chief, Pennsylvania Department of Education, Division of Law Enforcement Education and Trade Schools and Manda Koss, Verif-y
Strategies and Tools for Online-only Schools in Multiple States
Maintaining institutional eligibility in your home state takes a lot of work. Multiply that by being licensed in several states – how do you keep track of it all? If you are not an NC-Sara institution, you are faced with more tasks. There’s so much to consider, annual reporting, applications, fees etc. This presentation will share best practices and tools for maintaining institutional eligibility in multiple states. The different phases of the process for initial applications, the importance of establishing relationships, and understanding what could trigger physical presence.
This webinar was presented by Nadine Bailey, VP, Regulatory Affairs, Ultimate Medical Academy
In order to present the most timely and relevant content to the NASASPS audience, the speaker for this webinar is shifting the presentation topic to cover the Title IX Final Rule.
The U.S. Department of Education published the Title IX Final Rule on April 29, 2024. The Final Rule goes into effect on August 1, 2024 and contains significant changes, including expanding the scope of complaints that institutions must investigate, increasing employee reporting responsibilities, and clarifying institutional obligations regarding discrimination based on pregnancy or related conditions. This webinar will provide institutions of higher education with information on the significant changes and the impact on the Title IX Coordinator and other Title IX personnel.
This webinar was presented by Jessica High, Attorney, Duane Morris
Navigating the M&A Landscape: Current Trends and Implications for Higher Education Stakeholders
This presentation delves into the current trends driving higher ed consolidation, including declining enrollment, financial pressures, and the desire for expanded resources and offerings. We will explore common M&A structures and analyze their implications for student access, program quality, and institutional stability. Further, the presentation will address the complexities of M&A processes, highlighting common problems such as integration issues and potential disruptions to students. We will examine the Department of Education’s process for reviewing M&A activity, focusing on its role in ensuring institutional viability, financial stability, and student protection, and how that overlaps with the roles of states and accreditors.
This webinar was presented by Katie Wendel, Counsel, Thompson Coburn and Hope Watson, Counsel, Associate, Thompson Coburn
The Borrower Defense to Repayment (“BDR”) provisions of the Higher Education Act and related U.S. Department of Education regulations have recently been in the forefront of Title IV compliance matters. With various BDR regimes potentially applicable to schools and student borrowers, the Sweet v. Cardona settlement agreement for certain cohorts of BDR claimants, and recent litigation over the latest changes to the BDR regulations, it is important for all actors in the Title IV regulatory triad to remain current on how the BDR regulations are being implemented and what related actions are expected from the Department in the near term.
This webinar was presented by Jonathan Tarnow, Partner, Education Practice, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP and Sarah Pheasant, Associate, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
A State Hosted “College Fair” to Promote Awareness of Career/Trade Fields
With a growing workforce need for trades in Connecticut, the Connecticut Office of Higher Education (OHE) sought to increase awareness and interest in career/trade fields to address these needs. To do so, OHE created CareerConn – a one-day career school expo that connects high school students, adult learners and veterans with leading postsecondary career schools and selected employers. In this panel presentation, attendees will hear about both the virtual and face-to-face CareerConn events, research conducted assessing high school counselors’ awareness of private career schools, and the successes and challenges from a private career school that participated in both events.
This webinar was presented by Sean Seepersad, Division Director, Academic Affairs, Connecticut Office of Higher Education, Kevin Clark, Campus President, Lincoln Technical Institute – East Windsor, Connecticut and Francis Giglio, Sr. Vice President of Compliance and Regulatory Services, Lincoln Technical Institute – New Jersey
Reimagining Leadership (Because Leadership Impacts Everything)
Reimagining Leadership is an engaging and interactive presentation that reveals intentionality, personal development, and Leadership Engagement as tools leaders can use to connect, engage, and create great work environments that increase productivity and improve talent retention. Attendees are challenged to become more intentional, to take responsibility for their own personal growth, and to practice leadership practices and behaviors that increase employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention.
Attendees are inspired to take control of their personal growth journey, to increase their level of leadership knowledge, and they learn behaviors that allow them to connect, engage, and create great work environments that increase productivity and improve retention of top talent.
This webinar was presented by Keith Shaw – A speaker, coach, facilitator and seasoned certified human resources leader with 30+ years of experience
SHEEO/NASASPS State Survey: Uses and Findings
Join us to learn about the uses and the key findings derived from the gathered data survey conducted by the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) and the National Association of State Administrators and Supervisors of Private Schools (NASASPS).
This webinar was presented by Lynette Kuhn, Division Chief, Department of Education | Division of Higher Education, Access, and Equity | Office of Postsecondary and Higher Education, Pennsylvania; Dustin Weeden, Associate Vice President, State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO); John Lane, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Equity Initiatives, SHEEO
2023 Webinar Recordings
Update on the Implementation of New Federal Truck Driver Training Rules
Effective February 7, 2022, a federal agency that oversees safety rules and regulations for commercial motor vehicles (known as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration or FMCSA) began implementation of a new national minimum standard for the training of entry-level truck drivers. As part of the implementation of these new rules, all providers of truck driver training are required to meet federal curriculum standards and register on a national training provider registry.
These training providers are also required to continue to meet existing state requirements for truck driver training, including registration and licensure requirements overseen by state regulators of private postsecondary education.
With the support of NASASPS members, the Commercial Vehicle Training Association (CVTA) has been engaged with FMCSA to support improved implementation of these rules. Since August, FMCSA has been rolling out enforcement enhancements. In this webinar, CVTA will summarize these enhancements and their impact on NASASPS members and take questions.
(Members, log in to view the recording of CVTA’s March 2023 webinar, then join us for this update.)
This webinar was presented by Andrea Poliakoff, CVTA Executive Director and Kyles Hayes, CVTA Vice President of Government Affairs
Understanding and Ensuring Professional Licensure Outcomes: A Practical How-To Guide
Under current Department of Education Title IV regulations, institutions must disclose whether programs meet educational requirements for licensure in all U.S. states/territories. Proposed regulations expand on this responsibility and may require institutions to certify that licensure requirements are met for all states/territories where students are located. During this session, Higher Education Licensure Pros will share their experience working with institutions to meet current disclosure requirements and prepare for possible expanded responsibilities by creating policies, building institutional infrastructure, and conducting the research and curriculum comparison required. A comprehensive best practice guide with templates, forms, and examples will be provided.
This webinar was presented by Kris Maul, JD, Co-Founder and Principal Higher Education Licensure Pros LLC and Nan Kalke, PhD, Co-Founder and Principal Higher Education Licensure Pros LLC.
Maintaining and servicing student transcripts from closed schools has been a challenging issue for state regulators for many years. During this webinar, three states (Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Mexico) will discuss how they are using improved technology to provide students direct access to their transcripts, which will significantly reduce the time and effort currently needed to service the records. In addition, we will discuss how implementing a process to collect electronic transcripts from open schools may provide a long-term solution to the closed school records dilemma.
This webinar was presented by John Ware, Director, Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools, Pascal Buser, Director, New Mexico Private Post-Secondary Schools, Nicole Campbell, M.A.T.L., Division Chief, Pennsylvania Department of Education, Division of Law Enforcement Education and Trade Schools, and Manda Koss, Verif-y
Skills to Careers: An Initiative Supporting Student Success for the Skills-Based Economy
No matter one’s role, all of us in the education space share the mission to help students achieve a future filled with opportunities and upward economic mobility. However, we are in the midst of a major economic shift towards a skills-based economy, changing the way employers seek and identify talent to hire. This webinar, designed for state administrators that regulate private career colleges and schools, provides an overview of this economic transition and discusses its impact on schools and students alike. Participants will be introduced to the Skills to Careers Initiative, a national collective effort dedicated to advancing skills-based education and hiring. Participants will learn how they can support the initiative by introducing schools to a suite of free supportive resources to enhance the visibility and verifiability of students’ skills to potential employers, boost their employability, and auto-match students’ skills with live jobs through AI technology. As part of this webinar, a brief demo of the supportive resources offered through the initiative will be provided.
This webinar was presented by Robert Pearl Starks, Vice President, Product Development, MaxKnowledge, Inc.
Fundamentals of Quality Assessment for Online Learning
Whether you are new to online teaching and learning or are an experienced provider of distance education, the learning activities in this session, along with facilitated discussion and feedback amongst session participants, will help develop, enhance, and refine how you evaluate online learning for educational quality. Participants will receive examples of the online learning assessment tools used by members of DEAC’s evaluator peer corps and build their own assessment practice in their respective role at an institution or regulatory body.
In this session, participants will receive an overview of foundational concepts for evaluating online learning education quality. The session will provide assessment tools and feature DEAC’s evaluation rubrics for the review of online curricula, faculty qualifications for teaching in online education settings, faculty-student engagement, and learning resources for students. In addition, the session will introduce the key features of high-quality instructional design and the important role instructional designers play in developing curricula for online teaching and learning.
This webinar was presented by Leah Matthews, Executive Director, Distance Education Accrediting Commission
Building Belonging for School Personnel: Key Insights from Research to Practice
School and district leaders face formidable challenges in the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic that posed an existential threat to education. For instance, recent federal data show signs of student enrollment declines, government financial support shortages, and record-breaking teacher/staff turnover, amid the “Great Resignation.” Teacher/staff turnover and school morale are linked to several factors, one of which is workplace belonging, although extant research on the topic is sparse. In this session, the speaker will present key insights from current empirical research on the topic, highlighting how educational leaders can build staff belonging in schools and districts.
Design & Compliance Crossover: Recommendations for Innovative Collaborations
Crossover episodes from TV shows like Law & Order feature characters from other shows who join the original cast to solve a special case. These crossover episodes have become popular due to their complex plots that are creatively solved using the expertise of characters from both shows in exciting and unexpected ways. The accreditation and compliance work of institutions is due for an explosive crossover episode where the case (oversight reports) is solved by the original cast (compliance officers and administrators) and crossover expert witnesses (faculty and instructional designers) collaborating in efficient and innovative ways.
The goal of this session is to encourage accreditation and compliance professionals to consider other units and roles that could bring “crossover episode” innovation and expertise to the reports, policies, messaging, and defensible positions held by the institution. At the conclusion of our webinar, participants will be familiar with Brown’s “The Seven Silos of Accountability in Higher Education” (2017). Brown (2017) identifies them as assessment, accreditation, institutional research, institutional effectiveness, educational evaluation, educational measurement, and higher education public policy. Participants will consider three examples of crossovers that help meet the reporting, messaging, training, and defensible position needs of an institution (the examples will use SIUE as the case study) 1. Instructional Designers 2. Professional Development/Faculty Development 3. Academic Administration. Participants will have a prototype tool to assist them with identifying their institution’s silos, associated functions, and ways to use crossovers to increase efficiency and innovation by optimizing colleagues’ expertise.
This webinar was presented by Pamela Williams, Instructional Designer & Technologist, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Jacob Fling, Manager of Federal, State, and Licensure Compliance, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
The Recognition of Essential Workforce Skills- One Accreditor’s Mission to Enhance Student Success
This webinar will share a new and innovative initiative that formally recognizes programs of accredited institutions that effectively embed defined “Essential Workforce Skills” (i.e., soft skills) into vocational and career-oriented programs.
Participants will be introduced to
- Adopting a framework for high-quality career education programs which includes not only technical and academic competencies, but also workforce competency.
- Identifying and defining Essential Workforce Skills;
- Translating skill definitions to practical, real-world examples;
- Helping students recognize the essential workforce skills they’re already practicing in conjunction with technical skills;
- Intentionally introducing soft skill problems into technical tasks; and
- Helping students effectively signal their skills to employers.
This webinar was presented by Michale S. McComis, Ed.D., Executive Director, ACCSC
Education Mergers and Acquisitions: Current Market and Future Outlooks
In this session, Emily Murphy and Aaron Lacey, partners in the Higher Education practice at Thompson Coburn LLP, will discuss the status of the mergers and acquisitions market for higher education institutions. They will discuss higher education transactions that are presently occurring across both the non-profit and for-profit sectors, with specific examples from their vast experience in this space. Emily and Aaron will provide an overview of the regulatory changes happening in the market and speculate on the likely impact of those changes in 2023 and 2024. They will highlight issues relevant to the regulated community in particular.
Presented by Aaron Lacey, Thompson Coburn LLP and Emily Murphy, Thompson Coburn LLP
The Role of State Administrators and Supervisors of Private Schools in Implementing New Federal Truck Driver Training Rules
Effective February 7, 2022, a federal agency that oversees safety rules and regulations for commercial motor vehicles (known as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or FMCSA) began implementation of a new national minimum standard for the training of entry-level truck drivers. As part of the implementation of these new rules, all providers of truck driver training are required to meet federal curriculum standards and register on a national training provider registry.
These training providers are also required to continue to meet existing state requirements for truck driver training, including registration and licensure requirements overseen by state regulators of private postsecondary education.
However, members of the Commercial Vehicle Training Association (CVTA) have observed active training providers that fail to meet these requirements. CVTA will present a webinar providing an overview of these standards and the role that state private postsecondary education regulators can play to ensure these standards are implemented effectively in support of adequate training of truck drivers in states across the country.
Presented by Andrew Poliakoff, Executive Director and Kyle Hayes, Director of Government Relations of the Commercial Vehicle Training Association
[Presentation slide deck] (Webinar chat log)
Apprenticeships 101: Introductory Information from the U.S. Department of Labor
The purpose of this webinar is to provide an overview of Registered Apprenticeship (RA) to the members of NASASPS. We will focus on the role of postsecondary institutions in the Registered Apprenticeship system. Apprenticeship programs combine on-the-job training with more traditional classroom learning, which community and technical colleges often deliver. The earn and learn model of career preparation makes apprenticeships debt-free pathways into good-paying, in-demand fields, and can offer economic opportunity and advancement.
Discussion topics included the seven components of Registered Apprenticeship, the three types of apprenticeship deliveries, the mutual benefits to both students and RA providers and the roles of government funding and the Department of Labor throughout the RA program process.
In addition to covering the material included on the presentation slide deck, this session includes an ending Q&A portion moderated by Matt Grayson, NASASPS where attendees posed a number of relevant questions related to how organizations can enroll in the DOL apprenticeship program and the parameters sponsors must adhere to.
Presented by Megan Baird, Deputy Administrator and Gemma Thomas, Strategic Partnerships Lead of the United States Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship.
[Presentation slide deck]
2022 Webinar Recordings
Financial Soundness
State regulators often have the same issues—how can we best review the finances of authorized institutions? How can we conduct reviews when we are short-staffed? What are some quick items to look for to determine financial viability? How are institutions of varying sizes and accreditation status treated differently? Can staff without financial backgrounds do this work? In this webinar, you will hear answers to these questions and more from staff at the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission. [Presentation slide deck]
Navigating Student Loans: Options and Resources for Student Loan Borrowers
Join NASASPS and the Student Borrower Protection Center for an hour-long webinar about student loans. This introductory webinar will go over the federal and private student loan industry, with an emphasis on repayment and cancellation programs that are available to federal student loan borrowers across the country. The program will include an overview of income-driven repayment plans, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, and options for borrowers who are in default on their federal student loans. There will be time reserved for questions. [Presentation slide deck]
Lessons from a Risk-Based Oversight Model Designed to Protect Students and Taxpayers
Over the past 20 years, many higher education institutions have closed without warning, leaving student veterans without degrees and with few options to complete their degrees and get better jobs. Partially in response to these concerns and recognizing the limited staffing and budgets of state approving agencies to provide quality assurance, Congress passed for the first time a law requiring risk-based reviews for GI Bill programs.
Six pilot state approving agencies have now successfully implemented a process targeting reviews to schools most likely to leave veterans worse off—having used up their limited GI Bill benefits, often taking out loans, and lacking a marketable degree. Importantly, this piloted system is built on public data, making it replicable to other contexts, such as state and federal oversight of the nearly quarter trillion dollar annual federal investment in Title IV financial aid. In both the Title IV and GI Bill contexts, regulators have limited resources that should be focused on improving or weeding out schools and providers that pose a greater level of risk.
This briefing will share information about the implementation of the pilot and findings that are applicable to the work of NASASPS members. [Presentation slide deck]
2021 Webinar Recordings
Three U.S. Post-COVID Legislative, Regulatory, and Higher Education Recommendations: Future Considerations for Policy, Compliance, Accreditation, and Curricula
The novel coronavirus has dramatically altered teaching and learning for the foreseeable future. In addition to economic and workforce effects, the present predicts gaps from learning deficiencies for all current K-12 students (Education Journal, 2021). Therefore, the direct syllogism anticipates fewer numbers of qualified college applicants in the coming generation. Thus, bold action can mitigate negative potential future social disruption impacts. Virtual practitioner training, license and program reciprocity, and interdisciplinary studies can ensure quality practitioner mobility and the ability to meet the workforce needs of all fields across the nation—at local, state, regional, and national levels.
2021 NASASPS Virtual Conference: Day 1
2021 NASASPS Virtual Conference: Day 2
2019 Webinar Recordings
State Regulator FAQs Resource & Getting the Most Out of NASASPS
Webinar Slides
This webinar introduces the newest NASASPS members-only resource, State Regulator FAQs, and covers how to get the most out of a membership with NASASPS.
Understanding the Entry-Level Driver Training Regulation
Don Lefeve, President of the Commercial Vehicle Training Association presents the overall goals of the Entry-Level Driver Training Regulation, regulation requirements, state requirements and potential issues at the state level.
State Authorization Redux: A Deep Dive Into the Latest Version of the Federal SA Rule
Wondering what’s going on with the federal state authorization rule and what it means to your institution? This webinar will take a deep-dive into the federal regulations, providing a status update and a survey of key elements – what’s new, what isn’t and what does it mean to you? How is the rule different from obligations under SARA, and what does it mean for programs leading to professional licensure? Join us for this webinar and get answers to these and other burning state authorization questions, along with practical ideas to ensure compliance at your campus.
2018 Webinar Recordings
Washington Potpourri – The Election is Over – What’s Next?
Now that the November elections are over, Dr. Sharon Bob will try to forecast what will happen next in higher education. Will there finally be a reauthorization of the Higher Education Act? In addition, now that we have passed November 1, the magic date for the publication of final regulations, she will review the rules institutions and other entities will be subject to on or after July 1, 2019. This webinar will also take a look at what role accreditors will be asked to play in the future as we look toward a new round of rulemaking by the Department.
Navigating the Hurdles of Building a National Online Presence
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University will share best practices for starting or growing your online presence. Presenters will discuss how they have successfully navigated and aligned the intersecting and often conflicting regulatory environments of State Authorizations, Accreditation, Veteran’s Administration, Title IV, and SEVIS. This presentation will also focus on how the regulatory environment has changed how they do business in regards to Online education-market programs, advise in certain states, etc.
Murky Waters – Navigating State Authorization Compliance
Institutional personnel are understandably confused due to mixed messages about the status of Federal regulations for State Authorization of Distance Education and the early drafts of the HEA Reauthorization. We will provide the specifics (as we know them) of the new Federal regulation as well as the possible future of the regulations prior to the July 1 effective date. Additionally, state authorization aspects of the new House version of the HEA Reauthorization, The PROSPER Act, will be addressed. We must help institutional personnel understand that state authorization is rooted in compliance with the state laws that regulate the activities of an institution that occur within that state. Regardless of the future of the Federal Regulations, compliance responsibilities must still be maintained by the institutions through the regulations and requirements of the state and of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
An Update on USED’s Rewrite of the ‘Borrower Defense’ Rule
In October 2017, the U.S. Department of Education selected Thompson Coburn partner Aaron Lacey to serve as one of 17 negotiators charged with reworking the complex and controversial regulation commonly referred to as the “borrower defense” rule. Between November 2017 and February 2018, Aaron worked with the Department’s other designated negotiators — including student and consumer advocates, agency representatives, accreditors, financial aid administrators, and representatives from different types of institutions of higher education — to revise the rule, which will apply to all institutions of higher education. This webinar reports on the ultimate conclusion of the negotiations. Aaron walks through the final draft rule put forth by the Department during the rule making, discusses the arguments surrounding the more controversial elements of the rule, and offers his thoughts on what the proposed rule may contain.
Creating and Implementing a Regulatory Compliance Plan
Regulatory compliance is an organization’s adherence to laws, regulations and guidelines relevant to its business. This webinar provides an overview of regulatory compliance as it pertains to the postsecondary education sector. State agencies will learn the steps to create and implement an audit compliance plan that meets state specific needs. Topics that will be addressed include: determining an agency’s authority to conduct compliance audits; knowing what to look for; creating documents; planning for visits; and creating an audit compliance plan.
NASASPS Membership Webinar – A Look at the New Website
NASASPS staff provides a review of the new features and functions available on the upgraded NASASPS website. The session also includes a short tutorial on how to use the website and will allow time for questions and answers.
2017 Webinar Recordings
Legislation and Regulations Under the Trump Administration
Almost six months have passed since President Trump was inaugurated. The presentation will provide an overview of the status of the re-authorization of the Higher Education Act and the issues under consideration in the 115th Congress. The presentation will also include a discussion on the status of various regulations including gainful employment, state authorization, and borrower-defense to repayment. Are the rules being weakened under Secretary DeVos?
The Trump Effect on the Protection of Students as Consumers: a Multi-tiered Panel Discussion
As the new administration begins, it is imperative that we as members of the higher education community understand the myriad of ways in which students may be impacted and the degree to which any changes that are made will remove consumer protections aimed at ensuring confidence in the best
practices of higher education.
NASASPS Webinar: Federal Regulation of State Authorization – What’s Next?
The Obama-era rules linking Title IV eligibility to state authorization go into effect July 1, 2018 and, so far, no effort has been made to re-visit them. The rules, which apply regardless of whether an institution participates in SARA, are complex and impose burdensome new disclosure requirements that will take some time to prepare. Learn what is required, and how the new rules interrelate with SARA and other Department of Education regulations.
In November 2016 the U.S. Department of Education published final regulations to establish new standards and processes for determining whether a Federal Direct Loan borrower has a defense to repayment of a loan based on an institution’s act or omission. The final regulations, which generally are scheduled to become effective July 1, 2017, also add new requirements related to the Department’s measurement of institutional financial responsibility, discharge of federal education loans from closed schools and campuses, and the use of pre-dispute resolution agreements and limits on class actions. Although the regulations are largely a response to developments in the for-profit education sector, most portions of the rule apply to all institutions that participate in the Title IV federal student financial aid programs. While institutions prepare to comply, it is possible that the new Congress or the Trump Administration will scale back the new regulations. Please join other NASASPS members for a discussion with Elizabeth Meers and Michelle Tellock of Hogan Lovells US LLP about the new regulations, potential changes to the regulations, and the impact of these developments on institutions and students.
2016 Webinar Recordings
Washington Potpourri: Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act & USDOE Regulations
Dr. Sharon Bob will provide an overview of where we are in the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. She will also discuss what President Obama has accomplished in higher education during his two terms in office and what we can expect from the new President. Dr. Bob will provide an overview of the final state authorization regulations and the final borrower defense regulations. Other topics to be included are the status of institutions accredited by ACICS and other federal agency activities.
NASASPS Webinar – Gainful Employment Update: The Next Six Months for Schools
This session will focus on the next six months in the gainful employment cycle. Aaron Lacey of Thompson Coburn LLP will discuss the upcoming release of the draft Debt-to-Earnings Rates, as well as the two types of “challenges” schools will be able to make to the data they receive. Aaron also will review the new disclosure requirements recently proposed by the U.S. Department of Education (set to take effect January 1, 2017), as well as the “student warnings” schools with failing rates will be required to make once the final rates are released. Throughout the session, Aaron will discuss the likely impact on the regulated community and offer thoughts regarding action items authorizing agencies may want to consider as they prepare to work with struggling schools.
Dr. Sharon Bob will provide an overview of where we are in the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. She will also discuss what President Obama has accomplished in higher education during his two terms in office and what we can expect from the new President. Dr. Bob will provide an overview of the final state authorization regulations and the final borrower defense regulations. Other topics to be included are the status of institutions accredited by ACICS and other federal agency activities.
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