1. Understanding Federal Compliance Expectations for the Periodic Review Report Ellie A. Fogarty – Vice President Debra G. Klinman – Vice President Middle States Commission on Higher Education1

2. Overview National Context Certification Statement –Distance Education (Student Identity Verification) –Transfer of Credit –Credit Hours –Title IV Cohort Default Rate Resources for Additional Information Middle States Commission on Higher Education2

3. National Context Accreditation developed and evolved to promote mission-centered, continuous quality improvement through peer evaluation. HEA 1965 (with subsequent re-authorizations, including 2008) named accreditors as gatekeepers for institutional access to federal funding. Various regulations have ensued. Today, while accreditors continue to focus on quality improvement, USDE sees the primary purpose of accreditation as safeguarding federal funds.

4. Certification Statement Signed by CEO and Board Chair Attached to the executive summary of the Periodic Review Report Affirms compliance with –MSCHE Requirements of Affiliation –Accreditation-relevant federal requirements Student Achievement is documented through compliance with Standards 8, 11, 12, and 14

5. Middle States Commission on Higher Education 5

6. Distance Education –Instruction delivered via technology –Regular student/faculty interaction Correspondence Education –Instructional materials delivered, mail or email –Student initiated interaction as needed Middle States Commission on Higher Education6

7. 7 Student Identity Verification HEOA 2008: Institutions must document how student identity is verified –Secure username and password –Proctored exams –New technologies –Protection of student privacy –Notification of student fees at registration Peer reviewers evaluate compliance Middle States Commission on Higher Education7

8. 8 Transfer of Credit Generally addressed under Standards 8 and 11 HEOA 2008: Institutions must publicly document –Criteria for Transfer Decisions –List of Articulation Agreements Peer reviewers evaluate compliance Middle States Commission on Higher Education8

9. 9 Credit Hours Unit of measurement of academic work Federal definition consistent with Carnegie Unit HEOA 2008: Institutions must document that any reasonable equivalencies to federal definition can be verified through student learning outcomes Peer reviewers evaluate compliance Middle States Commission on Higher Education9

10. 10 Title IV Cohort Default Rate The percentage of students in a given fiscal year who cannot repay federal loans Each year, the US Department of Education calculates and publishes the average rate Institutions must document where they stand in relation to averages Typically the responsibility of the financial aid office or CFO Peer reviewers evaluate compliance Middle States Commission on Higher Education10

11. Resources US Dept of Education http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/policy.html http://www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/leg/hea08/index.html Official Cohort Default Rates for Schools http://www2.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/defaultmanagement/cdr.html Middle States Commission on Higher Education http://www.msche.org/ Middle States Commission on Higher Education11

12. Questions? Middle States Commission on Higher Education12