1 Department of Education “Distance Education Demonstration Program” Marianne R. Phelps Special Assistant Office of Postsecondary Education

2 Background z1992 HEA Fraud and Abuse Amendments yCorrespondence schools yQuality xProgram length xAccrediting agency recognition zAid requirements structured around traditional concepts of higher education

Higher Education Amendments zDistance Education Demonstration Program yClear trend toward Distance Education yContinued concern about possibilities for fraud and abuse xRequires strict monitoring xAdministrative capability criterion

4 Statutory Purposes of Program zTest quality and viability zIncrease access zHelp determine: yMost effective means of delivering Distance Education yStatutory and regulatory changes needed yAppropriate level of student assistance

5 Program Structure z15 Participants zAdditional 35 3 rd Year zStatutory waivers y50% Rules y30week academic year zRegulatory waivers – general provisions

6 Participants z9 single institutions z6 consortia z99 institutions total z5 public z5 private z2 public and private z3 proprietary

7 Distribution of Participants by State *11* 11*11* * Multi state

8 Some Ideas Participants are Testing zBA/BS completion programs zCourse sharing zIncreasing capacity to meet student needs zEnriching on-campus offerings with distance education courses zNew methods of enrollment tracking zExcluding living expenses from the calculation of cost of attendance zMultiple Disbursements/Just in Time Delivery

9 List of Waivers zSet 1 50% Rules yCourses yStudents yTelecommunications student/correspondence student zSet 2 Time Requirements y30 week academic year yDefinition of a week of instruction

10 List of Waivers (cont.) zSet 3 - Correspondence student/halftime only zAdditional waivers for Western Governors University

11 Schedule for 2001 Application Cycle zFederal Register Notice – September 15 zTechnical Assistance Workshops (proposed) xWashington, DC - October 18 (firm) xAlbuquerque, NM (WCET) - November 1 (firm) xChicago, IL - November 8 or 9 xSeattle, WA - November 28 or 29 zTechnical Assistance to Potential Applicants -- On–going zApplication Due Date – February 15

12 zApplicant Screening - March 1 – 15 zReader Recruitment and Selection – February 15 – March 15 zFirst Reading – April 1 – 15 zSecond Reading – May 1 –2 zNew Participants Announced – May 15 Schedule for 2001 Application Cycle (cont.)

13 Thoughts for Potential Applicants zExamine Current Uses of Technology in Your Curriculum zConsider How Distance Education Relates to Your Mission zExamine Your Business Plan zDevelop Clear Goals zAnalyze Where You Are zObtain Active Support from CEO zEstablish Team to Develop Application

14 Additional Thoughts for Consortia zObtain Agreement from CEO’s of All Institutions zDetermine Which Institutions Are the Most Committed zDevelop Team of Personnel from Committed Schools

15 The Ideal Application - Characteristics zWell Written zClear Description of Distance Education Program(s) zUnderstanding of USDE Waiver Authority zSpecific Plan for Administration of Aid

16 The Ideal Application - Characteristics (cont.) zPromise of Contributing to the Purposes of the Distance Education Demonstration Program zWell formulated quantitative and qualitative goals

17 Significance in Comparison with Other Applications zof Distance Education Program(s) zof Issues Project Poses to Student Aid zof the Opportunity for ED to Learn from Applicant’s Participation

18 Be Prepared If You Are Selected zTo Submit the Required Data Collections zTo Attend One or More Participant Meetings per Year zTo Work in Partnership with ED Staff zFOR A GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCE!

19 Department of Education Distance Education Demonstration Program Learning Anytime Anywhere Partnerships