Applications Being Accepted for Distance Education Demonstration Program

The Department of Education is accepting applications from institutions wishing to participate in the Distance Education Demonstration Program, as allowed by the Higher Education Act (HEA). Institutions participating in the program are granted waivers from certain statutory and regulatory requirements governing student financial assistance provisions such as the 50% rule. The 50% rule limits the number of students participating in and the number of programs offered through distance education means.

The Distance Education Demonstration Program is designed to allow the Department of Education to test the quality and viability of expanded distance education programs under the HEA; provide for increased student access to higher education programs through distance education; help determine effective means of delivering quality education via distance education; statutory and regulatory requirements which should be altered to provide greater access to high quality distance education programs; and appropriate levels of Federal assistance for students enrolled in distance education programs.

To help achieve these goals, the Secretary of Education is especially seeking applications from institutions that would increase the diversity of types of participants in the Distance Education Demonstration Program, particularly those offing instruction exclusively online. New institutions accepted into the program will participate until June 30, 2005.

If accepted for participation, institutions must agree to provide the Secretary with information and data that will help evaluate for the Department and Congress how well the program is meeting its outlined goals. Examples of the information collected, as well as detailed information about the Demonstration Program, is available on its website at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/PPI/DistEd/.

Institutions are eligible to apply for participation in the program if they are located in the United States and already participate in Title IV HEA programs; or if they are located in the United State, provide two-year associates degree programs or four-year baccalaureate degree programs, and would be eligible to participate in Title IV HEA programs except the 50% rule prevents them from doing so. In the latter case, institutions must apply for participation in Title IV HEA programs when they submit their application for participation in the Distance Education Demonstration Program.

While applications may be submitted in paper form, the Department prefers that they be submitted via e-mail to DistanceDemo@ed.gov no later than 5:00 pm Eastern Time on October 6, 2003. Applications should be submitted in Microsoft Word version 7 or lower or WordPerfect version 7, 8, or 9.

In the application, the institution must request a waiver, and must provide reasons from the waiver. The applicant is encouraged to suggest alternatives that will help it to meet the objectives as those required by the waived regulation or statute, such as satisfactory academic progress requirements. The section(s) of the HEA institutions may request waivers from are: 102(a)(3)(A); 102 (a)(3)(B); and 484(l) (1). Regulatory waivers may be requested for any of the provisions implementing part G of the HEA, which includes sections 481 through 493B. The exception to this is the 50% rule; institutions do not have to request waiver from either of the 50% provisions.

Applications should include:
1. The name, address, and Web site address, if any, of the institution, system, or members of the consortium seeking to participate, and the name, title, mailing and e-mail addresses, and telephone number of a contact person for the institution, system, or consortium;
2. A description of the distance education programs offered or to be offered for which the institution is seeking a waiver or waivers. An institution may request a waiver or waivers for one, several, or all of its distance education courses or programs. The description should include the types of programs, degrees or certificates offered, program
goals, and the methods used or proposed to be used to deliver distance education;
3. A description of the applicant's consultation with a recognized accrediting agency or agencies with respect to quality assurances for the distance education programs to be offered;
4. A description of the types of students that the distance education programs are intended to serve, (e.g., adult learners, rural populations, individuals with disabilities);
5. The Title IV, HEA programs under which distance education students will receive funds;
6. The specific statutory and regulatory provisions to be waived, the scope of each waiver, and the reason for each waiver. The applicant should propose an alternative to the provision or explain why no alternative is necessary;
7. An assurance that the institution, system, or a consortium will fully cooperate with the Department on ongoing evaluations of the program; and
8. A statement of the goals of the institution, system, or consortium for participation along with the method the institution will use to evaluate achievement of the goals.

The complete notice detailing how to submit applications for participation in the Distance Education Demonstration Program, what to include in the application, and how participants will be selected was published in the September 4, 2003 Federal Register, which can be accessed at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/frcont03.html.

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