[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 207 (Wednesday, October 28, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 55626-55668]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-25073]
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Part II
Department of Education
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34 CFR Parts 601, 668, 674, et al.
Institutions and Lender Requirements Relating to Education Loans,
Student Assistance General Provisions, Federal Perkins Loan Program,
Federal Family Education Loan Program, and William D. Ford Federal
Direct Loan Program; Final Rule
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 207 / Wednesday, October 28, 2009 /
Rules and Regulations
[[Page 55626]]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[Docket ID ED-2009-OPE-0003]
34 CFR Parts 601, 668, 674, 682, and 685
RIN 1840-AC95
Institutions and Lender Requirements Relating to Education Loans,
Student Assistance General Provisions, Federal Perkins Loan Program,
Federal Family Education Loan Program, and William D. Ford Federal
Direct Loan Program
AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.
ACTION: Final regulations.
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SUMMARY: The Secretary establishes new regulations regarding
Institutions and Lender Requirements Relating to Education Loans, to
implement requirements relating to education loans that were added to
the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) by the Higher
Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA). The Secretary also amends the
regulations for Student Assistance General Provisions, the Federal
Perkins Loan (Perkins Loan) Program, the Federal Family Education Loan
(FFEL) Program, and the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct
Loan) Program to implement certain provisions of the HEA that involve
school-based loan issues and that were affected by the statutory
changes made to the HEA by the HEOA.
DATES: Effective Date: These regulations are effective July 1, 2010.
Implementation Date: The Secretary has determined, in accordance
with section 482(c)(2)(A) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1089(c)(2)(A)), that
institutions, lenders, guaranty agencies, or servicers may, at their
discretion, choose to implement the following new and amended
provisions(as appropriate):
Sections 601.11(a), (b), and (c), which describe the private
education loan disclosures.
Section 601.12 describing the use of institution and lender name.
Section 601.21 describing the content of the code of conduct.
Section 601.40(a), which requires certain lender disclosures to
borrowers.
Section 668.16(d)(2), which requires institutions to report on
reimbursements received for certain service on advisory boards.
Section 668.42(a)(4), which requires institutions to describe for
prospective and enrolled students the terms and conditions of the loans
students receive under the FFEL, Direct Loan, and Perkins Loan
programs.
Section 674.12(a) and (b), which increases undergraduate and
graduate student annual and aggregate loan maximums in the Perkins Loan
Program.
Section 674.33(d), which eliminates the requirement that a borrower
make a ``written'' request in order to obtain a forbearance on his or
her Perkins Loan, and that the institution confirm the terms of the
forbearance by notice to the borrower and record the terms in the
borrower's file.
Section 674.39(a)(2), which changes the number of consecutive on-
time, monthly payments a borrower must make to successfully
rehabilitate a defaulted Perkins Loan from 12 to 9.
Sections 674.42(b), 682.604(g), and 685.304(b), which modify the
exit counseling provisions.
Sections 674.53, 674.57, 674.58, and 674.59, which expand the
existing cancellation provisions for certain teachers, Head Start
employees, law enforcement employees, and military personnel.
Sections 682.604 and 685.304, which modify the entrance counseling
provisions.
For further information, see the section entitled Implementation
Date of These Regulations in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of
this preamble.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information related to Part 601--
Institution and Lender Requirements Relating to Education Loans, Gail
McLarnon or Brian Smith. Telephone: (202) 219-7048 or (202) 502-7551 or
via the Internet at: [email protected] or [email protected].
For information related to Program Participation Agreements and
Standards of Administrative Capability, Marty Guthrie. Telephone: (202)
219-7031 or via the Internet at: [email protected].
For information related to Exit and Entrance Counseling, Brian
Smith. Telephone: (202) 502-7551 or via the Internet at
[email protected].
For information related to Cohort Default Rates, John Kolotos.
Telephone: (202) 502-7762 or via the Internet at [email protected].
For information related to Perkins Loan Program Cancellation
Provisions, Vanessa Freeman. Telephone: (202) 502-7523 or via the
Internet at [email protected].
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf, call the
Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
Individuals with disabilities can obtain this document in an
accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request to one of the contact persons listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 28, the Secretary published a notice
of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for the Institutions and Lender
Requirements Relating to Education Loans, the Student Assistance
General Provisions, and for the Perkins Loan, FFEL and Direct Loan
Programs in the Federal Register (74 FR 37432).
In the preamble to the NPRM, the Secretary discussed on pages 37434
through 37457 the major regulations proposed in that document to
implement the provisions of the HEOA, including the following:
Amending Sec. Sec. 668.181, 668.184, 668.185, 668.186,
668.187, 668.188, 668.190, 668.191, 668.192, 668.193, 668.196, 668.198,
and adding new Sec. Sec. 668.200, 668.201, 668.202, 668.203, 668.204,
668.205, 668.206, 668.207, 668.209, 668.210, 668.211, 668.212, 668.213,
668.214, 668.215, 668.216, and 668.217 to reflect an increase in the
period used to calculate the cohort default rate (CDR) from 2 to 3
years effective for CDRs calculated for fiscal year 2009 and subsequent
years, the requirement that an institution whose CDR is greater than or
equal to 30 percent for any fiscal year establish a default prevention
plan, and an increase from 25 to 30 percent in the threshold default
that would render an institution ineligible to participate in the Pell,
FFEL, and Direct Loan Programs (see section 435(a) and (m) of the HEA);
Amending Sec. Sec. 674.42(b), 682.604(g), and 685.304(b)
to reflect the expansion of exit counseling requirements in the title
IV, HEA loan programs (see section 485(b)(1)(A) of the HEA);
Amending Sec. Sec. 682.604 and 685.304 to reflect the
expansion of entrance counseling requirements in the FFEL and Direct
Loan Programs (see section 485(l) of the HEA);
Amending Sec. 668.14 to add to the conditions an
institution must agree to in its program participation agreement with
the Secretary of Education (the agreement between the institution and
the Department that enables the institution to participate in the loan
programs under Title IV of the HEA). These conditions include: (1) A
requirement that an institution develop, publish, administer and
enforce a code of conduct with respect to its FFEL Program activities
(see section 487(a)(25) of the HEA); (2) a requirement that an
institution compile, maintain and make available to students
[[Page 55627]]
and their families a list of its preferred lenders if it enters into
any preferred lender arrangement (see section 487(a)(27) of the HEA);
and (3) a requirement that an institution, upon the request of an
applicant of a private education loan, provide the applicant with the
private education loan certification form developed by the Secretary
(see section 487(a)(28) of the HEA);
Adding new Sec. Sec. 601.2, 601.11, and 601.30 to reflect
the requirements for education loan borrower disclosures by
institutions of higher education, and institution affiliated
organizations, including definitions (see sections 151 through 155,
487(a) and 487(h) of the HEA);
Adding a new Sec. 601.10 to add the borrower disclosures
by covered institutions and institution-affiliated organizations that
participate in a preferred lender arrangement (see section 153(c) of
the HEA);
Adding a new Sec. 601.20 to add the reporting
requirements for covered institutions and institution-affiliated
organizations (see section 153(c)(2) of the HEA);
Adding a new Sec. 668.42 to add information dissemination
requirements for prospective and enrolled students regarding the terms
and conditions of title IV, HEA loans (see section 485(a) of the HEA);
Adding a new Sec. 668.16(d)(2) to reflect the disclosure
to the Secretary of any reimbursements made to employees of an
institution of higher education for service on advisory boards (see
section 485(m) of the HEA); and
Amending Sec. Sec. 674.51, 674.53, 674.56, 674.57,
674.58, 674.59, and 674.61 to reflect the expansion of cancellation
benefits for Perkins Loan borrowers, including cancellation benefits
for teachers in an educational service agency; staff members in a pre-
kindergarten or childcare program; attorneys employed in a Federal
Public Defender Organization or Community Defender Organization; fire
fighters, faculty members of a Tribal College or University, librarians
with a master's degree employed in an elementary or secondary school or
in a public library that serves one or more schools eligible for
funding under title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965, as amended; and speech pathologists with a master's degree who
work exclusively with title I-eligible schools (see section 465(a) of
the HEA).
In addition to these changes, we have made a number of minor
technical corrections and conforming changes. Changes that are
statutory or that involve only minor technical corrections are
generally not discussed in the Analysis of Comments and Changes
section.
Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking for Additional Conforming Changes
These final regulations incorporate certain statutory changes made
to the HEA by the HEOA that were not included on Team II's negotiating
agenda. These changes are:
Amending Sec. Sec. 674.12(a) and (b) to increase
undergraduate and graduate student annual and aggregate loan maximums
in the Perkins Loan Program.
Amending Sec. Sec. 674.33(d) to eliminate the requirement
that a borrower make a ``written'' request in order to obtain a
forbearance on his or her Perkins Loan.
Amending Sec. Sec. 674.39(a) and (b) to change the number
of consecutive on-time, monthly payments a borrower must make to
successfully rehabilitate a defaulted Perkins Loan from 12 to 9.
Because these amendments implement changes to the HEA that were not
negotiated, we do not discuss them in the Analysis of Comments and
Changes section.
Under the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553), the
Department is generally required to publish a notice of proposed
rulemaking and provide the public with an opportunity to comment on
proposed regulations prior to issuing final regulations. In addition,
all Department regulations for programs authorized under Title IV of
the HEA are subject to the negotiated rulemaking requirements of
section 492 of the HEA. However, both the APA and HEA provide for
exemptions from these rulemaking requirements. The APA provides that an
agency is not required to conduct notice-and-comment rulemaking when
the agency for good cause finds that notice and comment are
impracticable, unnecessary or contrary to the public interest.
Similarly, section 492 of the HEA provides that the Secretary is not
required to conduct negotiated rulemaking for Title IV, HEA program
regulations if the Secretary determines that applying that requirement
is impracticable, unnecessary or contrary to the public interest within
the meaning of the HEA.
Although the regulations implementing the HEOA are subject to the
APA's notice-and-comment and the HEA's negotiated rulemaking
requirements, the Secretary determined that it was unnecessary to
conduct negotiated rulemaking or notice-and-comment rulemaking on the
changes needed in Sec. Sec. 674.12, 674.33 and 674.39. These
amendments simply modify the Department's regulations to reflect
statutory changes made by the HEOA to paragraphs (a), (e), and (h) of
section 464 of the HEA and these changes are already effective. The
Secretary does not have discretion in whether or how to implement these
changes. Accordingly, negotiated rulemaking and notice-and-comment
rulemaking are unnecessary.
Implementation Date of These Regulations
Section 482(c) of the HEA requires that regulations affecting
programs under title IV of the HEA 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 also permits the Secretary to designate
any regulation as one that an entity subject to the regulation may
choose to implement earlier and the conditions under which the entity
may implement the provisions early.
Consistent with the intent of this regulatory effort to strengthen
and improve the administration of the title IV, HEA programs, the
Secretary is using the authority granted him under section 482(c) of
the HEA to designate the following new and amended provisions for early
implementation, at the discretion of each institution, lender, guaranty
agency, or servicer, as appropriate: Sec. Sec. 601.11(a), (b), and
(c), 601.12, 601.21, 601.40(a), 668.16(d)(2), 668.42(a)(4), 674.12(a)
and (b), 674.33(d), 674.39(a)(2), 674.42(b), 674.53, 674.57, 674.58,
674.59, 682.604, and 685.304.
Analysis of Comments and Changes
Except as noted earlier in this document regarding the limited
regulations implementing provisions of the HEOA, the regulations in
this document were developed through the use of negotiated rulemaking.
Section 492 of the HEA requires that, before publishing any proposed
regulations to implement programs under title IV of the HEA, the
Secretary must obtain public involvement in the development of the
proposed regulations. After obtaining advice and recommendations, the
Secretary must conduct a negotiated rulemaking process to develop the
proposed regulations. All proposed regulations must conform to
agreements resulting from the negotiated rulemaking process unless the
Secretary reopens that process or explains any departure from the
agreements to the negotiated rulemaking participants.
These regulations were published in proposed form on July 28, 2009,
in conformance with the consensus of the negotiated rulemaking
committee. Under the committee's protocols, consensus meant that no
member of the
[[Page 55628]]
committee dissented from the agreed-upon language. The Secretary
invited comments on the proposed regulations by August 27, 2009. More
than 25 parties submitted comments, a number of which were
substantially similar. An analysis of the comments and the changes in
the regulations since publication of the NPRM follows.
We group major issues according to subject, with appropriate
sections of the regulations referenced in parentheses. We discuss other
substantive issues under the sections of the regulations to which they
pertain. Generally, we do not address minor, non-substantive changes,
recommended changes that the law does not authorize the Secretary to
make, or comments pertaining to operational processes. We also do not
address comments pertaining to issues that were not within the scope of
the NPRM.
PART 601--INSTITUTION AND LENDER REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO EDUCATION
LOANS
Subpart A--General
Definitions (Sec. 601.2)
Comment: Several commenters recommended that we modify the
definition of the term preferred lender arrangement in proposed Sec.
601.2(b), based on final regulations published in the Federal Register
by the Federal Reserve Board on August 14, 2009 (74 FR 41194). The
Official Staff Interpretations included with the Federal Reserve's
final regulations state that a lender is only required to comply with
the preferred lender arrangement disclosure requirements in 12 CFR
226.48(f) if the lender is aware that it is a party to a preferred
lender arrangement (74 FR 41236). In the commenters' view, this
acknowledgement by the Federal Reserve Board that a lender may be in a
preferred lender arrangement without realizing it means that a
preferred lender arrangement does not exist unless both parties are
aware of the arrangement. These commenters recommended that we revise
our proposed definition of preferred lender arrangement to specify that
a preferred lender arrangement can only arise when both the lender and
the school are aware of the arrangement. These commenters argued that
this change in the definition would align our regulations with the
Official Staff Interpretations included with the Federal Reserve's
final regulations.
Discussion: We disagree that there is a conflict between our
definition of preferred lender arrangement and the statement in the
Official Staff Interpretations included with the Federal Reserve's
final regulations that a lender is only required to comply with the
preferred lender arrangement disclosure requirements in 12 CFR
226.48(f) if the lender is aware that it is a party to a preferred
lender arrangement.
The issue of whether a preferred lender arrangement exists if a
lender is not aware that it is a party to the arrangement came up
frequently during the negotiated rulemaking process. As we stated
during negotiated rulemaking and in the preamble to the NPRM, a
preferred lender arrangement exists if a lender provides or issues
education loans to students (or the families of students) attending a
covered institution and the covered institution or an institution-
affiliated organization recommends, promotes, or endorses the education
loan products of the lender. If both of these conditions are met, a
preferred lender arrangement exists, whether or not the covered
institution and the lender have entered into a formal agreement.
We agree with the Federal Reserve Board that it is possible for a
lender to make loans to students at a covered institution and not be
aware that the covered institution recommends, promotes, or endorses
the education loan products of the lender. We do not view the Federal
Reserve Board's position to be, however, that a preferred lender
arrangement does not exist if the lender is not aware of the preferred
lender arrangement. The Federal Reserve Board acknowledges that the
arrangement exists, but states that the lender is not required to
comply with the preferred lender arrangement disclosure requirements in
12 CFR 226.48(f) unless the lender is aware that it is a party to a
preferred lender arrangement.
Changes: None.
Comment: Paragraph (3) of the definition of preferred lender
arrangement specifies that a preferred lender arrangement does not
exist with regard to private education loans made by a covered
institution to its own students, if the private education loans meet
the requirements in paragraphs (3)(i), (3)(ii), (3)(iii) and (3)(iv) of
the preferred lender arrangement definition in proposed Sec. 601.2(b).
One commenter recommended that private education loans made by a
foundation created to support a covered institution also should be
exempted, if the loans meet the other criteria stipulated in the
definition. The commenter defined ``foundations'' to include non-profit
endowments, foundations, or other entities that are created to support
a covered institution and its students. The commenter stated that these
foundations are not lenders or lending institutions in the traditional
sense, but they often make loans to students at covered institutions,
funded by donor-directed contributions and other assets of the
foundation.
This commenter also recommended that we amend paragraph (3)(iii) of
the definition of preferred lender arrangement in proposed Sec.
601.2(b) to exempt loans made through State aid programs available to
in-state students. The commenter noted that such State aid loan
programs may have a service requirement, resulting in no monetary
payback if the borrower meets the service obligations.
Discussion: We agree with the comment relating to foundations, and
note that the lead-in language to the definition of the term preferred
lender arrangement in proposed Sec. 601.2(b) refers to both covered
institutions and institution-affiliated organizations. We believe that
the exceptions specified in paragraph (3) of the preferred lender
arrangement definition apply to private education loans provided or
issued by institution-affiliated organizations, as well as private
education loans provided or issued by covered institutions. The
definition of the term institution-affiliated organization includes
foundations and other entities of the type the commenter included under
its definition of the term ``foundations''.
We also agree with the recommendation to include loans made to
students from State-funded financial aid programs among the exceptions
for Public Health Service Loans in paragraph (3)(iii) of the preferred
lender arrangement definition in Sec. 601.2(b), if the terms and
conditions of the loans include a loan forgiveness option for public
service. However, we have not limited this exemption to State-funded
financial aid programs for in-state students, as the commenter
suggested. We believe that these types of State-funded loans should be
exempt from the preferred lender arrangement definition regardless of
whether the loans are limited to in-state students.
Changes: We have revised paragraphs (3) and (3)(i) of the
definition of the term preferred lender arrangement in Sec. 601.2(b)
to reference institution-affiliated organizations (not only covered
institutions). We also have revised paragraph (3)(iv) of the definition
to refer to State-funded financial aid programs.
Comment: One commenter requested clarification of the provision in
the definition of preferred lender
[[Page 55629]]
arrangement that states that an arrangement or agreement does not exist
if the private education loan provided or issued to a student attending
a covered institution is made by the covered institution using its own
funds. The commenter referred to language in the preamble of the NPRM
stating that an institution would not be considered to be using its own
funds if it borrowed money from a lender to make a private education
loan to a student and then sold the loan to that lender shortly after
making the loan, in effect acting as a pass-through for the lender's
funds. While sharing the Department's concern that an institution may
become a pass-through for a lender if the institution sells a private
education loan back to the lender from which the institution received
the initial funding, the commenter also worried that limitations placed
on selling private education loans made by a covered institution would
prevent schools from raising capital to make additional institutional
loans. The commenter asked if an institution would be permitted to sell
a private education loan to a different or unaffiliated lender that was
not the source of the funds used to make the loan and still be
considered to be using its own funds.
Discussion: The Department remains concerned about situations where
a covered institution obtains funds from a lender to make private
education loans to its students and then sells the loans back to that
lender, or another unaffiliated lender, shortly after making the loan.
As stated in the preamble to the NPRM, we believe that the covered
institution is merely acting as a pass-through for the lender's funds
in these situations. Exempting loans made under these conditions from
the preferred lender arrangement requirements would create a loophole
that covered institutions could use to avoid the preferred lender
requirements. The Department also continues to believe that these
arrangements may be deceptive to borrowers who believe they are
receiving a private education loan from the covered institution only to
find that, very shortly after the loan is made, the actual loan holder
is another entity entirely.
The Department recognizes, however, that borrowing money or using a
business line of credit from a lender is a common form of financing
that enables a covered institution to meet its working capital needs
and operating expenses. Rather than focus on the use of a line of
credit or borrowed funds in defining an institution's own funds, the
Department believes that it is more helpful to consider the totality of
the circumstances around the extension of private education loans by a
covered institution and what happens to these loans over a period of
time. In that vein, the Department will consider a covered institution
that makes a private education loan to be using its own funds if the
loan is made using funds that include, but are not necessarily limited
to, tuition and fee revenue, investment income, endowment funds,
borrowed money or a line of credit, and the covered institution does
not sell or collateralize the private education loan for two years from
the date the loan is fully disbursed, nor does the covered institution
engage in an arrangement tying the sale of a private education loan to
a lender after the two year period has elapsed.
Changes: None.
Comment: The definition of private education loan in proposed Sec.
601.2(b) corresponds to the definition of private education loan in
section 140 of the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) (15 U.S.C. 1631). The
definition of private education loan in 12 CFR 226.46(b)(5) of the
Federal Reserve's final regulations is also based on the definition in
section 140 of the TILA. However, through regulations, the Federal
Reserve has interpreted the statutory term private education loan to
include certain exemptions. Under 12 CFR 226.46(b)(5), an extension of
credit provided by a covered educational institution is not a private
education loan if the extension of credit is for a term of 90 days or
less, or if the term of the extension of credit is one year or less and
an interest rate will not be applied to the credit balance.
Several commenters recommended that we revise the definition of
private education loan in Sec. 601.2(b) by including these exemptions.
One commenter noted that applying the private education loan
disclosures to such short-term extensions of credit would not provide
meaningful disclosures to students. Requiring such disclosure for
short-term extensions of credit could lead schools to stop providing
such extensions of credit, making it more difficult for students to
benefit from the flexible payment options offered by these extensions
of credit.
Discussion: We agree with the commenters. We also note that the
Federal Reserve Board's interpretation of the definition of private
education loan, as reflected in 12 CFR 226.46(b)(5), renders the
proposed exception for loans made under an institutional payment plan
in paragraph (3)(iv) of the definition of preferred lender arrangement
in proposed Sec. 601.2(b) superfluous.
Changes: We have revised the definition of private education loan
in Sec. 601.2(b) to exclude extensions of credit that meet the
criteria specified by the Federal Reserve Board in 12 CFR 226.46(b)(5).
We also have removed the reference to institutional payment plans in
subparagraph (3)(iv) of the definition of preferred lender arrangement.
Subpart B--Loan Information To Be Disclosed by Covered Institutions and
Institution-Affiliated Organizations
Preferred Lender Arrangement Disclosures (Sec. 601.10)
Comment: One commenter recommended that we modify proposed Sec.
601.10(a)(1)(i), which requires a covered institution in a preferred
lender arrangement to disclose the maximum amount of title IV grant and
loan aid available to students in the informational materials that
discuss education loans that the covered institution makes available.
The commenter recommended that instead of referring to title IV grant
aid that the regulations specify Pell Grant aid. The commenter also
recommended that the regulations include a statement that the title IV
information only address title IV aid available to students attending
the school. The commenter stated that it would be misleading to
students to mandate disclosure of information about all title IV grant
and loan programs, since not all schools participate in all of the
title IV grant and loan programs.
Discussion: The information required to be disclosed to students by
covered institutions and institution-affiliated organizations is
specified in section 152(a)(1)(i)(I) of the HEA. This section
specifically refers to grant and loan aid under title IV of the HEA,
not just Pell Grant aid. Limiting the information provided to Pell
Grant aid would not be consistent with the HEA.
We agree with the commenter that the information provided in these
materials should be specific to the covered institution. However, we do
not agree that a change to Sec. 601.10(a)(1)(i) is necessary. In our
view, Sec. 601.10(a)(1)(i), taken in context with the other regulatory
provisions in Sec. 601.10, clearly refers to title IV information
specific to the covered institution.
The information specified in Sec. 601.10(a)(1)(i) must be included
in information materials that are provided to current or prospective
students of the covered institution and must describe or discuss
financial aid opportunities available to students (see Sec.
601.10(b)). This information must be provided in a manner that allows a
student to take the information into account before
[[Page 55630]]
selecting a lender or applying for an education loan (see Sec.
601.10(c)(2)).
The information provided under this section is intended to help
students make informed decisions when applying for student financial
aid. Providing a student with information on title IV financial aid
programs not available at the covered institution could be misleading
to the student. In addition, for prospective students who have not made
a final decision on which school to attend, we believe it would be more
helpful for the student to be able to easily compare the title IV
financial aid opportunities available at the different schools the
student is considering.
Changes: None.
Comment: The preamble to the NPRM makes a reference to Dear
Colleague Letter GEN-08-06 (DCL GEN-08-06), which discusses the use of
preferred lender lists in the FFEL Program. DCL GEN-08-06, which is
available at http://www.ifap.ed.gov/dpcletters/GEN0806.html, states
that a neutral, comprehensive list of lenders that have made loans to
students at a school within a set period of time, such as three to five
years, and that provides a clear statement that a borrower can choose
to use any FFEL lender, is not considered a preferred lender list. DCL
GEN-08-06 also states that the school may not provide any additional
information about the lender on the list.
Commenters asked whether the guidance in DCL GEN-08-06 applies to a
list of lenders who have made private education loans at a covered
institution, as well as to a list of FFEL lenders.
Discussion: The guidance in DCL GEN-08-06 applies to a list of
lenders who have made private education loans at a covered institution,
as well as a list of FFEL lenders. During the negotiated rulemaking
sessions, we stated that the list of lenders could also include a
comparison of terms and conditions offered by the lenders on the loans
being offered.
As noted in the NPRM, if a covered institution includes certain
lenders on the list and leaves other lenders off the list, the
Department views the covered institution as recommending, promoting, or
endorsing the lenders on the list over the lenders that it has chosen
to leave off the list regardless of whether the covered institution
includes a disclaimer on the list, asserting that the covered
institution does not recommend, promote, or endorse the lenders on its
list. Unless the list is a neutral, comprehensive list of lenders who
lent to students at the school, the list serves to recommend, promote,
or endorse the lenders on the list, despite whatever disclaimers the
school may attach to the list.
Changes: None.
Comment: One commenter noted that many institutions are no longer
providing students and their families with a preferred lender list for
private education loans. Instead, many institutions are referring
borrowers to Web sites developed by third party entities that contain
neutral lists of private education lenders and the loan products they
offer. The commenter requested that the Department clarify its position
on the use of these private education lender lists by institutions of
higher education in helping students and their families explore their
higher education financing options.
Discussion: The Department does not consider an institution that
refers its students to a third party entity that maintains a
comprehensive, neutral listing of private education lenders to be
participating in a preferred lender arrangement as long as the
institution ensures that the listing is broad in scope, does not
endorse or recommend any of the lenders on the list and the lenders on
the list do not pay the third party entity to be placed on the list or
pay the third party entity a fee based on any loan volume generated.
However, if an institution retains a third party entity to develop a
customized lender list for the institution to provide to its students
as a resource, either through a Request for Information or some other
process, the Department does consider the institution to be
participating in, and subject to the requirements of, a preferred
lender arrangement under part 601.
Changes: None.
Comment: One commenter asked us to clarify whether a covered
institution could be required to comply with the preferred lender
arrangement disclosures if the covered institution does not have a
preferred lender list. The commenter wanted to know if there are
instances in which an institution would be considered to be
recommending, promoting, or endorsing an education loan product in the
absence of a preferred lender list. The commenter expressed concern
that a covered institution might not realize that it is in a preferred
lender arrangement, and therefore fail to comply with the preferred
lender arrangement requirements.
Discussion: Any action that a covered institution takes to
recommend, promote, or endorse the education loan products of a lender
that provides or issues education loans to students attending the
covered institution triggers the preferred lender arrangement
requirements. The actions a covered institution may take to recommend,
promote, or endorse the education loan products of a lender are not
limited to including the lender on a preferred lender list.
If a covered institution is unsure whether it is in a preferred
lender arrangement with a lender, the covered institution should review
its policies and practices with regard to that lender. We do not
believe that a covered institution would have difficulty determining
whether or not the covered institution is recommending, promoting, or
endorsing a lender's loan products, or whether or not the covered
institution is complying with DCL GEN-08-06.
Moreover, the program participation agreement requirements in Sec.
668.14(b)(28) require an institution that participates in a preferred
lender arrangement to annually publish a list of lenders with which it
has preferred lender arrangements. To comply with this requirement, an
institution must routinely determine whether it is in a preferred
lender arrangement with any lender that provides education loans to the
institution's students.
Changes: None.
Private Education Loan Disclosures and Self-Certification Form (Sec.
601.11)
Comment: Several commenters stated that the requirement for a self-
certification form should be confined to direct-to-consumer private
education loans and that the self-certification form should not be
required if an institution is already certifying the borrower's cost of
attendance, estimated financial assistance, enrollment status and
academic progress directly to the private education lender. These
commenters stated that requiring an institution to provide an enrolled
or admitted student applicant of a private education loan with the
self-certification form and the information necessary to complete the
form, in addition to the school certification to the private education
lender, would delay the delivery of loan funds to students and
families, result in conflicting information if the borrower changed the
information on the form, and create a duplicative and unnecessary
administrative burden on institutions.
Another commenter asked the Department to provide relief from the
self-certification form requirements when:
The borrower is an international student (non-citizen) and
not eligible for title IV aid;
The borrower has been determined not eligible for title IV
aid; or
[[Page 55631]]
The borrower has already received all of the title IV
funds for which she is eligible.
This commenter further suggested that the Department exempt an
institution of higher education that makes private education loans to
its students from the requirement that it provide an applicant for the
institutional loan with the self-certification form or, alternatively,
to allow the institution to provide clarification to the prospective
borrower on his or her eligibility for title IV aid.
Discussion: The Department understands that requiring an
institution to provide the private self-certification form, and making
available the information needed to complete the form, represents an
increase in burden and may, in some cases, create duplicative
processes. However, the statutory language in section 128(e)(3) of the
TILA and sections 155 and 487(a)(28)(A) of the HEA is clear: The TILA
requires private education lenders to obtain the self-certification
form from all borrowers of private education loans, as that term is
defined in the TILA, without exception. The HEA requires the form, and
the information required to complete it, to be made available to the
applicant by the relevant institution of higher education, in written
or electronic form, upon request of the applicant, without exceptions,
and conditions an institution's participation in any title IV, HEA
program, on compliance with this requirement.
The Department, in negotiating rules implementing this provision in
Sec. Sec. 601.11(d) and 668.14(b)(29)(i), clarified that the
institution must provide the form only to an enrolled or admitted
student. We believe this clarification will help minimize the potential
burden of this requirement.
Moreover, the Federal Reserve Board, in implementing section
128(e)(3) of the TILA provided some flexibility to private education
lenders in obtaining the form that has an impact on an institution's
responsibilities. The Federal Reserve Board, in 12 CFR 226.48, provides
three ways for a private education lender to obtain the self-
certification form: (1) The lender may receive the form directly from
the consumer; (2) the lender may receive the form from the consumer
through the institution of higher education; or (3) the lender may
provide the form, and the information the consumer will require to
complete the form, directly to the consumer.
While all three of these options require the institution to provide
the form, and the information required to complete the form, to either
the private loan applicant or the private education lender, the
Department believes that options 2 and 3 may be less burdensome on the
institution, especially if the institution has an existing relationship
with the lender.
Although the Federal Reserve has built some flexibility into the
process of obtaining the self-certification form for the lender, the
Department emphasizes that an institution is not required to provide
the form, or the information needed to complete the form, to anyone
other than the borrower in order to comply with Sec. Sec. 601.11(d)
and 668.14(b)(29)(i). An institution may provide the form to the lender
at its option.
Changes: None.
Subpart C--Responsibilities of Covered Institutions and Institution-
Affiliated Organizations
Code of Conduct (Sec. 601.21)
Comment: The code of conduct provisions in Sec. 601.21(c)(2)(i)
prohibit employees of the financial aid office of a covered institution
from soliciting or accepting gifts from a lender, guarantor, or loan
servicer. However, as specified in Sec. 601.21(c)(2)(iii)(D), entrance
and exit counseling services provided to borrowers do not qualify as a
gift, as long as the covered institution's staff are in control of the
counseling and the counseling does not promote the products or services
of a specific lender. One commenter recommended that the Department
clarify the meaning of ``in control'' with respect to the counseling,
and in a manner that minimizes the potential for conflicts of interest,
particularly with regard to opportunities for lenders to build
awareness of their brand through the counseling. This commenter also
recommended that we modify Sec. 601.21(c)(2)(iii)(D) to explicitly
prohibit lender-provided personnel from providing the counseling,
except in emergency situations as specified in Sec.
601.21(c)(6)(iii)(D).
Discussion: The code of conduct requirements in Sec. 601.21 track
very closely the code of conduct requirements in section 487(e)(1)
through 487(e)(7) of the HEA. The statutory provisions and
corresponding provision in Sec. 601.21(c)(6)(iii)(D) specifically
allow a lender to provide entrance and exit counseling ``services to
borrowers.'' We believe that it would be inconsistent with the statute
to prohibit lender-provided personnel from providing these services.
However, as the commenter points out, the covered institution's staff
must be in control of the counseling.
To remain in control of the counseling, the covered institution has
to review and approve the content of the counseling and provide
oversight over how the counseling is conducted. Ultimately, the covered
institution is responsible for the entrance and exit counseling that
its borrowers receive. We believe this oversight by the covered
institution will mitigate against lenders using the counseling to
promote their products.
Changes: None.
Comment: One commenter believed that proposed Sec. 601.21(c)(5)(i)
goes beyond Congressional intent and may reduce the availability of
private education loans to certain students. This section prohibits a
covered institution from accepting any offer from a lender for funds to
be used for private education loans, if the offer is made in exchange
for the covered institution's providing concessions or promises to
provide the lender a specified number of loans, a specified loan
volume, or a preferred lender arrangement for FFEL loans or private
education loans. The commenter noted that section 487(e)(5)(A)(i) of
the HEA limits this provision to FFEL Loans. The commenter recommended
that we remove the reference to private education loans from Sec.
601.21(c)(5)(i)(A).
Discussion: The code of conduct requirements specified in section
487(e) of the HEA are from the section of the HEA that describes
program participation agreements for institutions that participate in
the title IV programs. Section 487(a)(25)(A)(ii) of the HEA specifies
that the code of conduct shall, ``at a minimum,'' include the
provisions described in section 487(e) of the HEA. Section 153(c)(3)(A)
of the HEA requires covered institutions and institution-affiliated
organizations that participate in preferred lender arrangements to
comply with the code of conduct requirements in section 487(a)(25) of
the HEA. Because covered institutions do not necessarily participate in
the title IV programs, and preferred lender arrangements may relate to
private non-title IV education loans as well as title IV education
loans, we continue to believe that it is necessary to include private
education loans in Sec. 601.21(c)(5)(i)(A).
Changes: None.
Comment: The code of conduct provisions prohibit a covered
institution from requesting or accepting any assistance with call
center staffing or financial aid office staffing from a lender.
However, Sec. 601.21(c)(6)(ii) specifies that a covered institution
may request or accept educational
[[Page 55632]]
counseling materials, financial literacy materials, or debt management
materials from a lender, provided that the materials identify any
lender that assisted in preparing or providing the materials. One
commenter believed that the requirement to identify the lender on the
materials could result in direct or indirect promotional opportunities
for the lender. The commenter recommended that we prescribe the text
and format of the language that identifies the lender on the materials.
The commenter also recommended that we require the language identifying
the lender to clearly state that the borrower is not expected or
required to use the lender's products and has the right to obtain loans
from a lender of the borrower's choice.
Discussion: We believe that it would be overly prescriptive for the
Department to mandate the specific language and formatting used to
identify the lender or lenders who developed the materials.
Changes: None.
Comment: While the code of conduct provisions generally prohibit a
covered institution from requesting or accepting staffing assistance
from a lender, Sec. 601.21(c)(6)(iii) provides an exception for
staffing assistance provided on a short-term, non-recurring basis to
assist the covered institution with financial aid-related functions
during emergencies.
One commenter stated that this provision conflicts with the
prohibited inducement provisions in the Team I NPRM, published in the
Federal Register on July 23, 2009 (74 FR 36556). Specifically, the
commenter stated that Sec. 682.200(b)(5)(i)(A)(10) prohibits lenders
from offering to perform any function required under title IV for a
school, other than exit counseling.
Discussion: Section 682.200(b)(5)(i)(A)(10) does not prohibit a
lender from providing these services to a school in all circumstances.
The prohibition only applies if a lender provides the services ``to
secure applications for FFEL loans or to secure FFEL loan volume'' (see
Sec. 682.200(b)(5)(i)(A)). The Department assumes the necessary intent
if we take action against a lender for providing such prohibited
inducements, but the lender may demonstrate to the Department that such
intent was not present, and there was no quid pro quo between the
school and the lender. As long as there is no evidence that the lender
was providing the services to increase the number or volume of loans,
there would not be a prohibited inducement. Therefore, the provisions
in Sec. 682.200(b)(5)(i)(A)(10) and Sec. 601.21(c)(6)(iii) do not
conflict.
Changes: None.
Subpart E--Lender Responsibilities
Disclosure and Reporting Requirements for Lenders (Sec. 601.21)
Comment: One commenter noted that Sec. 601.40(c) requires FFEL
lenders to annually certify to the Secretary their compliance with the
HEA if they are in a preferred lender arrangement with any school. The
commenter noted that a lender could be in a preferred lender
arrangement without being aware of it, and suggested that the
requirement in Sec. 601.40(c) only apply to lenders that know they are
in a preferred lender arrangement.
Discussion: If a lender is providing or issuing education loans to
students attending a covered institution, it is incumbent on the lender
to determine whether or not the lender and the covered institution are
in a preferred lender arrangement. Being unaware of its obligation to
comply with the preferred lender arrangement requirements does not
exempt a lender from its obligation to comply with the requirements.
Given the extensive reporting and disclosure requirements specified
in part 601, we believe that it is extremely unlikely that a lender
will be unaware when it is in a preferred lender arrangement with a
covered institution.
Specifically, covered institutions are required to provide detailed
information on private education loans offered pursuant to a preferred
lender arrangement, as well as information on why the covered
institution participates in a preferred lender arrangement with the
lenders on its preferred lender list. The preferred lender list must
disclose the method and criteria used by the covered institution to
select lenders for inclusion on the list. Covered institutions are
likely to contact lenders to determine if the lender meets the
selection criteria established by the covered institution.
If the covered institution has not directly contacted the lender to
obtain the information needed for its various disclosures and reports,
a lender can quickly and easily determine whether it is in a preferred
lender arrangement by accessing the covered institution's Web site. A
covered institution that participates in a preferred lender arrangement
must post on its Web site information on private education loans
offered through the preferred lender arrangement, pursuant to Sec.
601.10(a)(2)(i). The covered institution must also submit an annual
report to the Department, which includes a detailed explanation of why
the covered institution participates in the preferred lender
arrangement. The covered institution must make the annual report
available to the public, pursuant to Sec. 601.20(b).
If a lender reviews all of this information and still cannot
determine whether or not it is in a preferred lender arrangement with a
covered institution, the lender can always contact the covered
institution directly.
Enforcement actions taken by the Department against a lender for
failing to comply with the preferred lender arrangement requirements
will take into account the extent of the efforts made by the lender to
determine whether it was in a preferred lender arrangement.
Changes: None.
Comment: Proposed Sec. 601.40(d) requires lenders in a preferred
lender arrangement to annually provide to the institution or
institution-affiliated organization, and to the Secretary, information
regarding the FFEL loans the lender will provide to students and
families pursuant to the preferred lender arrangement for the next
award year. One commenter recommended that a FFEL lender with a
preferred lender arrangement with a covered institution or an
institution-affiliated organization relating to FFEL loans must
annually, or upon the request of the institution, provide such
information as required.
Discussion: Proposed Sec. 601.40(d) is consistent with the
statutory requirements in section 153(b) of the HEA. Because the
commenter provided no explanation or justification for the requested
change, we have no basis for making the requested change.
Changes: None.
Code of Conduct (Sec. 668.14(b)(27))
Comment: One commenter requested that the Department clarify the
applicability of the code of conduct requirements. The commenter asked
under what circumstances Sec. 601.21(a) applies and under what
circumstances Sec. 668.14(b)(27) applies.
Discussion: The HEOA added requirements for an institutional code
of conduct in both section 153(c)(3) and section 487(a)(25) of the HEA.
These changes are reflected in Sec. Sec. 601.21(a) and 668.14(b)(27),
respectively. The code of conduct requirements in Sec. 601.21(a) apply
to covered institutions and institution-affiliated organizations that
have a preferred lender arrangement. A covered institution is any
institution that receives Federal funding, including institutions that
do not participate in the Title IV programs. The regulations in Sec.
668.14(b)(27) require all institutions
[[Page 55633]]
to develop a code of conduct as a condition of program participation in
any of the Title IV, HEA loan program.
Changes: None.
Private Education Loan Certification (Sec. 668.14(b)(29))
Comment: Several commenters noted that Congress enacted technical
amendments to the HEA that changed the data that must be included on
the private loan self-certification form. The commenters requested that
corresponding changes be made to Sec. 668.14(b)(29).
Discussion: The Higher Education Technical Corrections (Pub. L.
111-39) made technical amendments to the HEA that changed the
information on the private loan self-certification form that an
institution must provide to any enrolled student who requests it.
Public Law 111-39 added a requirement to report amounts of estimated
financial assistance used to replace the expected family contribution
and removed the requirement to report the expected family contribution.
Changes: We revised Sec. 668.14(b)(29) to reflect the changes made
by Public Law 111-39 to the information to be reported to students on
the private loan self-certification form.
Disclosures of Reimbursement for Service on Advisory Boards (Sec.
668.16(d)(2))
Comment: One commenter urged the Department to amend Sec.
668.16(d)(2) by expanding the requirement to report to the Secretary
any reasonable expenses paid or provided under section 140(d) of the
TILA to all institutional officials with authority or influence on the
selection of lenders.
Discussion: The HEOA amended section 485(m) of the HEA by adding,
as a condition of participation in any title IV, HEA program, the
requirement that the institution must annually report to the Secretary
on any reasonable reimbursements paid or provided by a private
education lender or group of lenders to any individual who is employed
in the financial aid office of the institution or who otherwise has
responsibilities with respect to education loans or other financial aid
of the institution. The institution must report the amount of
reasonable expenses paid or reimbursed, the name of the individual to
whom the expenses were paid or provided, the dates of the activity for
which the expenses were paid or provided, and must provide a brief
description of the activity for which the expenses were paid or
provided. While we believe that individuals who assist in or influence
the selection of lenders would be included in the language as proposed,
we agree that the recommended change is appropriate to highlight the
HEOA's goal of transparency and accountability.
Changes: We have amended Sec. 668.16(d)(2) to specifically
reference, as an example of individuals who have responsibilities with
respect to education loans, individuals with responsibilities for the
selection of lenders.
Cohort Default Rates
Comment: A few commenters asked the Department to clarify the
circumstances under which an institution's published cohort default
rate would be recalculated as a result of an average rates appeal.
Discussion: Regarding the provision for publicly correcting rates
as a result of average rate appeals, we note that average rate appeals
under Sec. Sec. 668.196(a)(1)(i) and 668.215(a)(1)(i) do not involve
new rates, so the provision for correction is inapplicable. Average
rate appeals under Sec. Sec. 668.196(a)(1)(ii) and 668.215(a)(1)(ii)
do not involve new rates either, but instead are a comparison of the
average rate with the draft rate, as corrected by any timely
adjustment, challenge or appeal. The regulations continue to provide
that draft rates will be kept confidential. As a result, in the case of
an average rates appeal, there is no corrected rate available for the
Department to publish.
Changes: We have removed from Sec. Sec. 668.196(c) and 668.215(c)
the language stating that we will electronically correct the rate that
is publicly released following a successful average rates appeal.
Comment: None.
Discussion: As part of our intradepartmental review of the cohort
default rate regulations affected by the NPRM, we realized that
proposed Sec. 668.202(c) and current Sec. 668.183(c), which identify
the conditions and timeframes relating to when a borrower is considered
to be in default on a loan, do not explicitly address uninsured loans
held by the Department under the Ensuring Continued Access to Student
Loans Act of 2008 (ECASLA)(Pub. L. 110-227). As explained more fully in
a notice published in the Federal Register on July 1, 2008 (73 FR
37422), under the ECASLA, the Secretary has authority to purchase, or
enter into forward commitments to purchase, FFELP loans. Loans that the
Department holds under this authority are not insured. The Department
is responsible for servicing these uninsured FFELP loans.
The Department's CDR regulations need to identify when these
uninsured FFELP loans that the Department holds are considered in
default for CDR purposes. The date of default for CDR purposes for
other FFELP loans is defined under Sec. 668.183(c)(1)(i) and new Sec.
668.202(c)(1)(i) as the date a claim for insurance is paid. Because the
uninsured FFELP loans are indistinguishable from Direct Loan Program
loans for CDR purposes, we have revised Sec. Sec. 668.183(c) and
668.202(c) to follow the approach used in Sec. 668.183(c)(1)(ii),
concerning the date of default of Direct Loan Program loans, for
defining the date of default of uninsured FFELP loans held by the
Department.
Changes: We have revised Sec. Sec. 668.183(c) and 668.202(c) to
clarify that FFELP loans held by the Department under ECASLA are
treated in the same way as Direct Loans with respect to determining
when a borrower defaults.
Special Definitions (Sec. 674.51(b))
Comment: One commenter asked if there is a list of institutions
that may be used as a reference when determining a borrower's
eligibility for cancellation based on service as a full-time faculty
member of a Tribal College or University, as that term is defined in
section 316 of the HEA.
Discussion: The HEOA amended section 465(a)(2) of the HEA by adding
a new public service cancellation category for borrowers in the Federal
Perkins Loan program who are performing qualifying service as a full-
time faculty member at a Tribal College or University, as that term is
defined in section 316 of the HEA. We amended Sec. 674.51(b) to
reflect this change.
The Department provides a list of Tribal Colleges and Universities
on its Web site at http://www.ed.gov/about/inits/list/whtc/edlite-tclist.html#MN. This list can be used as a resource when establishing a
borrower's eligibility for cancellation under this provision.
Changes: None.
Teacher Cancellation (Sec. 674.53(e))
Comment: One commenter noted that proposed Sec. 674.53(e) stated
that a borrower is eligible for cancellation of a Perkins loan if she
is a teacher in a designated public or other non-profit low-income
elementary or secondary school or an educational service agency and the
borrower is directly employed by the school system. The commenter
further noted that, in the case of a borrower who is teaching in an
educational service agency, the borrower may be working for many
[[Page 55634]]
school districts. The commenter asked the Department to clarify if a
borrower in this situation would qualify for cancellation benefits
under this provision.
Discussion: The HEOA amended section 465(a)(2)(A) of the HEA to
expand cancellation benefits to a Perkins Loan borrower who is a
teacher employed by an educational service agency, or who is a full-
time special education teacher, including a teacher of infants,
toddlers, children, or youth with disabilities, who is working in a
system administered by an educational service agency. We amended Sec.
674.53(a) to reflect this statutory change.
With regard to a borrower who is employed by an educational service
agency, we consider the borrower to be employed by the school system
and to qualify for cancellation benefits regardless of the number of
school districts in which the borrower works. A more detailed
discussion of educational service agencies is contained in the
Department's final regulations implementing the lender and guaranty
agency provisions (RIN 1840-AC98) [Docket ID ED-2009-OPE--0004].
Changes: None.
Cancellation for Law Enforcement or Corrections Officer Service (Sec.
674.57)
Comment: One commenter asked the Department to clarify how to
determine if Community Defender Organizations and Federal Public
Defender Organizations are established in accordance with section
3006A(g)(2)(B) and 3006A(g)(2)(A) of the Criminal Justice Act,
respectively, when establishing a borrower's eligibility for
cancellation based on her service as a full-time attorney employed in a
defender organization.
Discussion: The HEOA amended section 465(a)(2)(F) of the HEA to
extend cancellation benefits to borrowers who are employed full-time as
an attorney in Federal Public Defender Organizations or Community
Defender Organizations established in accordance with section
3006A(g)(2) of the Criminal Justice Act. We amended Sec. 674.57 of the
Perkins Loan Program regulations to reflect this change.
Pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act, the Office of Defender
Services of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts provides
information on its Web site that lists these Community Defender and
Federal Public Defender Organizations. The Directory can be found at
the following address: http://www.fd.org/pdf_lib/defenderdir8_17_09.pdf.
This Directory is updated daily. Although this is not a Web site
that is administered by the Department of Education, the directory
provided on this site may assist in determining a borrower's
eligibility for cancellation under this provision. Additional guidance
on this cancellation benefit will be provided in the Department's
Federal Student Aid Handbook.
Changes: None.
Cancellation for Military Service (Sec. 674.59)
Comment: One commenter asked the Department to clarify the
percentage rate of cancellation for a borrower in her third year of
qualifying military service under the newly authorized military service
cancellation rates if the borrower had previously received two years of
cancellation at the previously authorized cancellation rate of 12\1/2\
percent.
Discussion: The HEOA amended section 465(a)(3)(A) of the HEA to
allow borrowers who are serving in areas of hostility to receive a
cancellation of up to 100 percent of the loan for each full year of
qualifying active duty service effective on August 14, 2008, in the
following increments: 15 percent for the first and second years of
service; 20 percent for the third and fourth years of service; and 30
percent for the fifth year of service. Previously, the percentage of a
loan canceled for qualifying military service could not exceed a total
of 50 percent of the loan at a rate of 12\1/2\ percent per year. We
amended Sec. 674.59 to reflect these changes.
To clarify, a borrower who has received a military service
cancellation for two years under the previously authorized cancellation
rate of 12.5 percent, and who now qualifies for a third year of
military service under the new cancellation rates, would qualify at the
third-year 20 percent cancellation rate for the third year of eligible
military service.
Changes: None.
Entrance Counseling
Counseling Borrowers (Sec. Sec. 682.604 and 685.304)
Comment: One commenter recommended that the Department add
disclosures to the entrance counseling provisions alerting students to
some of the negative aspects of private student loans and the
availability of parent PLUS loans. The commenter also recommended that
the Department provide guidance to schools about the format,
presentation, and timing of the information so that it is more useful
to borrowers.
Discussion: We believe that the Truth-in-Lending Act disclosures
private education lenders are required to provide to borrowers of a
private education loan, which include a disclosure about the
availability of Federal student aid, adequately address the information
a borrower needs to know before borrowing a private education loan.
Changes: None.
Exit Counseling
Counseling Borrowers (Sec. Sec. 674.42(b), 682.604(g) and 685.304(b))
Comment: One commenter encouraged the Department to add information
about the eligibility criteria for the Income-Based Repayment and
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Programs to exit counseling provisions.
Discussion: The exit counseling provisions in Sec. Sec.
682.604(g)(2)(ii) and 685.304(b)(4)(ii) require that the features of
all the available repayment plans be reviewed for the borrower. The
exit counseling provisions in Sec. Sec. 682.604(g)(2)(viii)(A) and
685.304(b)(4)(ix)(A) require that a general description of the terms
and conditions under which a borrower may obtain full or partial
forgiveness or discharge of a loan be reviewed for the borrower. The
Department considers the eligibility criteria for an income-based
repayment plan and for public service loan forgiveness to be covered
under these requirements.
Changes: None.
Executive Order 12866
1. Regulatory Impact Analysis
Under Executive Order 12866, the Secretary must determine whether
the regulatory action is ``significant'' and therefore subject to the
requirements of the Executive Order and subject to review by the OMB.
Section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866 defines a ``significant
regulatory action'' as an action likely to result in a rule that may
(1) have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more, or
adversely affect a sector of the economy, productivity, competition,
jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, local or
Tribal governments or communities in a material way (also referred to
as an ``economically significant'' rule); (2) create serious
inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an action taken or planned by
another agency; (3) materially alter the budgetary impacts of
entitlement grants, user fees, or loan programs or the rights and
obligations of recipients thereof; or (4) raise novel legal or policy
issues arising out of legal mandates, the
[[Page 55635]]
President's priorities, or the principles set forth in the Executive
order.
Pursuant to the terms of the Executive order, it has been
determined that this regulatory action will not have an annual effect
on the economy of more than $100 million. Therefore, this action is not
``economically significant'' and subject to OMB review under section
3(f)(1) of Executive Order 12866. Notwithstanding this determination,
the Secretary has assessed the potential costs and benefits of this
regulatory action and has determined that the benefits justify the
costs.
Need for Federal Regulatory Action
As discussed in the NPRM, these regulations are needed to implement
provisions of the HEA, as amended by the HEOA, particularly related to
the new part E to the HEA, Lender and Institution Requirements Relating
to Education Loans, which establishes extensive new disclosure
requirements for lenders and institutions participating in Federal and
private student loan programs. These regulations also implement
significant changes made by the HEOA to provisions related to
institutional cohort default rates and Perkins Loan cancellations.
Regulatory Alternatives Considered
Regulatory alternatives were considered as part of the rulemaking
process. These alternatives were reviewed in detail in the preamble to
the NPRM under both the Regulatory Impact Analysis and the Reasons
sections accompanying the discussion to each proposed regulatory
provision. To the extent that they were addressed in response to
comments received on the NPRM, alternatives are also considered
elsewhere in this preamble to the final regulations under the
Discussions sections related to each provision. No comments were
received related to the Regulatory Impact Analysis discussion of these
alternatives.
As discussed in the Analysis of Comments and Changes section of
this preamble, these final regulations restate specific HEOA
requirements, in many cases using language drawn directly from the
statute, language for which consensus was reached through negotiated
rulemaking, and minor revisions in response to public comments. In most
cases, these revisions were technical in nature and intended to address
drafting issues or to provide additional clarity. None of these changes
result in revisions to cost estimates prepared for and discussed in the
Regulatory Impact Analysis of the NPRM.
Benefits
As discussed in the NPRM, benefits provided in these regulations
include greater transparency for borrowers participating in the Federal
and private student loan programs, clearer guidelines on acceptable
behavior by and relationships among institutions participating in the
student loan programs, and expanded eligibility for Perkins Loan
cancellation benefits. It is difficult to quantify benefits related to
the new institutional and lender requirements, as there is little
specific data available on either the extent of improper or
questionable relationships between institutions and lenders prior to
the enactment of the HEOA or of the harm such relationships actually
caused for borrowers, institutions, or the Federal taxpayer. In the
NPRM, the Department requested comments or data that would support a
more rigorous analysis of the impact of these provisions. No comments
or additional data were received.
Benefits under these regulations flow directly from statutory
changes included in the HEOA; they are not materially affected by
discretionary choices exercised by the Department in developing these
regulations, or by changes made in response to comments on the NPRM. As
noted in the Regulatory Impact Analysis in the NPRM, these proposed
provisions result in net costs to the Federal Government of $71.953
million over 2009-2013.
Costs
As discussed extensively in the Regulatory Impact Analysis of the
NPRM, many of the statutory provisions implemented though these
regulations will require regulated entities to develop new disclosures
and other materials, as well as accompanying dissemination processes.
In total, these changes are estimated to increase burden on entities or
individuals participating in the student loan programs by 4,636,495
hours. Of this increased burden, 292 hours are associated with lenders
and 1,195,769 hours with institutions. An additional 3,440,434 hours--
or 74.2 percent of the total burden associated with the proposed
regulations--are associated with borrowers. The monetized cost of this
additional burden, using loaded wage data developed by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics, is $78.5 million, of which $56.3 million is
associated with borrowers and $22.2 million with schools. Lender costs
are de minimus because of the small number of hours associated with
those entities.
Given the limited availability of data underlying these burden
estimates, in the NPRM the Department requested comments and supporting
information for use in developing more robust estimates. In particular,
we asked institutions to provide detailed data on actual staffing and
system costs associated with implementing these regulations. No
comments or additional data were provided.
Net Budget Impacts
HEOA provisions implemented by these regulations are estimated to
have a net budget impact of $12.408 million in 2009 and $71.953 million
over FY 2009-2013. Consistent with the requirements of the Credit
Reform Act of 1990, budget cost estimates for the student loan programs
reflect the estimated net present value of all future non-
administrative Federal costs associated with a cohort of loans. (A
cohort reflects all loans originated in a given fiscal year.)
The budgetary impact of these regulations is largely driven by
changes to Perkins loan cancellations for military service. The
Department estimates no budgetary impact for other provisions included
in these regulations. There is no data indicating that the extensive
new requirements for disclosures and codes of conduct for student loan
program participants will have any impact on the volume or composition
of Federal student loans.
Assumptions, Limitations, and Data sources
As noted in the NPRM, because these regulations largely restate
statutory requirements that would be self-implementing in the absence
of regulatory action, impact estimates provided in the preceding
section reflect a pre-statutory baseline in which the HEOA changes
implemented in these regulations do not exist. Costs have been
quantified for five years. In developing these estimates, a wide range
of data sources were used, including data from the National Student
Loan Data System; operational and financial data from Department of
Education systems, including especially the Fiscal Operations Report
and Application to Participate (FISAP); and data from a range of
surveys conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics such
as the 2004 National Postsecondary Student Aid Survey, the 1994
National Education Longitudinal Study, and the 1996 Beginning
Postsecondary Student Survey. Data from other sources, such as the U.S.
Census Bureau, were also used. Elsewhere in this SUPPLEMENTARY
[[Page 55636]]
INFORMATION section we identify and explain burdens specifically
associated with information collection requirements. See the heading
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
Accounting Statement
In Table 2 below, we have prepared an accounting statement showing
the classification of the expenditures associated with the provisions
of these regulations. This table provides our best estimate of the
changes in Federal student aid payments as a result of these
regulations. Expenditures are classified as transfers from the Federal
government to student loan borrowers (for expanded Perkins loan
cancellations).
Table 2--Accounting Statement: Classification of Estimated Expenditures
[In millions]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Category Transfers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annualized Monetized Transfers $90.731.
From Whom To Whom? Federal Government To
Student Loan Borrowers.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
The Secretary certifies that these regulations will not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
These regulations will affect institutions of higher education,
lenders, and guaranty agencies that participate in Title IV, HEA
programs and individual students and loan borrowers. The U.S. Small
Business Administration Size Standards define institutions and lenders
as ``small entities'' if they are for-profit or nonprofit institutions
with total annual revenue below $5,000,000 or if they are institutions
controlled by small governmental jurisdictions, which are comprised of
cities, counties, towns, townships, villages, school districts, or
special districts, with a population of less than 50,000.
As discussed in more detail in the Regulatory Flexibility Act
section of the NPRM, data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education
Data System (IPEDS) indicate that roughly 1,200 institutions
participating in the FFEL program meet the definition of ``small
entities.'' More than half of these institutions are short-term, for-
profit schools focusing on vocational training. Other affected small
institutions include small community colleges and Tribally controlled
schools. Burden on institutions associated with these regulations is
largely associated with the requirements to provide students with new
disclosures related to preferred lender lists, private loan TILA
requirements, and other new borrower rights and responsibilities. In
many cases, these requirements only require one-time changes to
existing entrance and exit counseling materials and should not
represent significant new burden. (The Department estimates these
changes generally require three hours or less to implement.) For other
requirements, such as those affecting schools choosing to maintain a
preferred lender list, the Department is providing model disclosure
forms, the adoption of which should minimize institutional burden. In
addition, the regulations allow schools to avoid the burdens associated
with maintaining preferred lender lists with at least three lenders by
simply providing students with a list of all lenders who have provided
loans at the schools in the past. Accordingly, the Department believes
the new requirements reflected in these regulations do not impose
significant new costs on these institutions.
The Department believes few if any lenders participating in the
FFEL program have revenues of less than $5 million. FFEL program
activity is highly concentrated among the largest lenders; should an
extremely small number of lenders that meet the threshold participate
in the program, they likely are making loans as a service to current
clients rather than soliciting new business. This type of lender, with
a tangential relationship to Federal and private student loans, is
highly unlikely to incur significant new compliance costs as a result
of these regulations. Accordingly, the Department has determined that
these regulations do not represent a significant burden on small
lenders.
Guaranty agencies are State and private nonprofit entities that act
as agents of the Federal government, and as such are not considered
``small entities'' under the Regulatory Flexibility Act. The impact of
the regulations on individuals is not subject to the Regulatory
Flexibility Act.
In the NPRM, the Secretary invited comments from small institutions
and lenders as to whether they believe the proposed changes would have
a significant economic impact on them and requested evidence to support
that belief. No comments were received.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
Final Sec. Sec. 601.10, 601.11, 601.20, 601.21, 601.30, 601.40,
668.16, 668.181, 668.186, 668.190, 668.191, 668.200, 668.202, 668.209,
668.210, 668.211, 668.212, 668.213, 668.214, 668.217, 674.42, 674.53,
674.57, 674.58, 674.56, 674.59, 682.604, and 685.304 contain
information collection requirements. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507(d)), the Department of Education has submitted
a copy of these sections to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
for its review.
Section 601.10--Preferred Lender Arrangement Disclosures
Final Sec. 601.10(a) requires that a covered institution, or an
institution-affiliated organization of a covered institution, that
participates in a preferred lender arrangement disclose the maximum
amount of Federal grant and loan aid under Title IV of the HEA
available to students; the information identified on the model
disclosure form developed by the Secretary for each type of education
loan that is offered pursuant to a preferred lender arrangement; and a
statement that the institution is required to process the documents
required to obtain a loan under the FFEL Program from any eligible
lender the student selects.
Final Sec. 601.10(a)(2) requires a covered institution, or an
institution-affiliated organization of a covered institution, to
provide the disclosures required under section 128(e)(11) of the Truth
in Lending Act (TILA) for each type of private education loan offered
pursuant to a preferred lender arrangement.
Final Sec. 601.10(c) requires a covered institution and
institution-affiliated organization that participate in a preferred
lender arrangement to provide the disclosure of the maximum amount of
Federal grant and loan aid available to students, the information
identified on a model disclosure form developed by the Department, as
well as a statement indicating to students and parents that the
institution is required to process the documents required to obtain a
FFEL loan from any eligible lender the student selects. This
information needs to be provided to students attending the covered
institution, or the families of such students, as applicable. The
information needs to be provided annually and in a manner that allows
for the students or their families to take the information into account
before selecting a lender or applying for an education loan.
Final Sec. 601.10(d) requires that if a covered institution
compiles, maintains, and makes available a preferred lender list, the
institution must clearly and fully disclose on the preferred lender
list why the institution participates in a preferred lender arrangement
with each lender on the preferred lender list, particularly with
respect to terms and
[[Page 55637]]
conditions or provisions favorable to the borrower; and that the
students attending the institution, or the families of such students,
do not have to borrow from a lender on the preferred lender list.
Final Sec. 601.10(d)(1)(ii) requires that the preferred lender
list must specifically indicate, for each listed lender, whether the
lender is or is not an affiliate of another lender on the preferred
lender list; and if a lender is an affiliate of another lender on the
preferred lender list, must describe the details of such affiliation.
Final Sec. 601.10(d)(2) requires the covered institution to
ensure, through the use of the list of lender affiliates provided by
the Secretary, that there are not less than three FFEL lenders that are
not affiliates of each other included on the preferred lender list and,
if the institution recommends, promotes, or endorses private education
loans, that there are not less than two lenders of private education
loans that are not affiliates of each other included on the preferred
lender list.
Final Sec. 601.10(d)(3) requires that the preferred lender list
prominently disclose the method and criteria used by the institution in
selecting lenders with which to participate in preferred lender
arrangements to ensure that such lenders are selected on the basis of
the best interests of the borrowers. These criteria include payment of
origination or other fees on behalf of the borrower; highly competitive
interest rates, or other terms and conditions or provisions of Title
IV, HEA program loans or private education loans; high-quality
servicing; or additional benefits beyond the standard terms and
conditions or provisions for such loans.
Final Sec. 601.10(d)(4)(ii) requires that the covered institution
exercise a duty of care and a duty of loyalty to compile the preferred
lender list without prejudice and for the sole benefit of the students
attending the institution, or the families of such students.
Final Sec. 601.10(d)(5) requires a covered institution to not deny
or otherwise impede the borrower's choice of a lender or cause
unnecessary delay in certification of a Title IV loan for those
borrowers who choose a lender that is not included on the preferred
lender list.
These final regulations represent an increase in burden. The
affected entities under the final regulations are borrowers, and
institutions and their institutionally-affiliated organizations. We
estimate that the burden for borrowers will increase by 323,103 hours
and the burden for institutions and institutionally-affiliated
organizations will increase by 12,078 hours, respectively, and we will
include the total burden of 335,181 hours in OMB Control Number 1845-
XXXA.
Section 601.11--Private Education Loan Disclosures and Self-
Certification Form
Final Sec. 601.11(a) requires a covered institution, or an
institution-affiliated organization of a covered institution, to
provide to a prospective borrower private education loan disclosures.
The private education loan disclosures need to provide the prospective
borrower with the information required under section 128(e)(1) of the
TILA; and need to inform the prospective borrower that he or she may
qualify for loans or other assistance under Title IV of the HEA; and
that the terms and conditions of Title IV, HEA program loans may be
more favorable than the provisions of private education loans.
Final Sec. 601.11(c) requires the covered institution or
institution-affiliated organization to ensure that information
regarding private education loans is presented in such a manner as to
be distinct from information regarding Title IV, HEA program loans.
Final Sec. 601.11(d) requires that, upon an enrolled or admitted
student applicant's request for a private education loan self-
certification form, an institution must provide to the applicant, in
written or electronic form, the self-certification form for private
education loans developed by the Secretary to satisfy the requirements
of section 128(e)(3) of the TILA. The institution also needs to provide
the information required to complete the form, if the institution
possesses that information.
These final regulations represent an increase in burden. The
entities affected under these regulations are borrowers, and
institutions and institutionally-affiliated organizations. We estimate
that burden to borrowers will increase by 833,400 hours and the burden
to institutions and institutionally-affiliated organizations
respectively will increase by 1,107,115 hours and we will include the
total burden of 1,940,515 hours in OMB Control Number 1845-XXXA.
Section 601.20--Annual Report Due From Covered Institutions and
Institution-Affiliated Organizations
Final Sec. 601.20(a) requires a covered institution, and an
institution-affiliated organization, that participates in a preferred
lender arrangement to prepare and submit to the Secretary an annual
report, by a date determined by the Secretary. The annual report
includes, for each lender that participates in a preferred lender
arrangement with the covered institution or organization, the
information about preferred lenders arrangements that must also be
described for students and parents; and a detailed explanation of why
the covered institution or institution-affiliated organization
participates in a preferred lender arrangement with the lender. The
explanation needs to include an explanation of why the terms,
conditions, and provisions of each type of education loan provided
pursuant to the preferred lender arrangement are beneficial for
students attending the institution, or the families of such students,
as applicable.
Final Sec. 601.20(b) requires a covered institution or institution
affiliated organization to ensure that the annual report is made
available to the public and provided to students attending or planning
to attend the covered institution and the families of such students.
These final regulations represent an increase in burden. The
affected entities under the final regulations are institutions and
institutionally-affiliated organizations. We estimate that burden for
institutions and institutionally-affiliated organizations will increase
by 336 hours in OMB Control Number 1845-XXXA.
Section 601.21--Code of Conduct
Final Sec. 601.21 requires a covered institution that participates
in a preferred lender arrangement to develop a code of conduct with
respect to FFEL Program loans and private education loans with which
the institution's agents must comply to prohibit a conflict of interest
with the responsibilities of an agent of an institution with respect to
FFEL Program loans and private education loans.
Final Sec. 601.21(a)(2)(ii) and (iii) requires the institution to
publish the code of conduct prominently on the institution's Web site;
and administer and enforce the code by, at a minimum, requiring that
all of the institution's agents with responsibilities with respect to
FFEL Program loans or private education loans be annually informed of
the provisions of the code of conduct.
Final Sec. 601.21(b)(1) and (b)(2) requires any institution-
affiliated organization of a covered institution that participates in a
preferred lender arrangement to comply with the code of conduct
developed and published by the covered institution and, if the
institution-affiliated organization has a Web site, publish the code of
conduct prominently on the Web site.
Under final Sec. 601.21(b)(3), the institution-affiliated
organization is
[[Page 55638]]
required to administer and enforce the code of conduct by, at a
minimum, requiring that all of the institution-affiliated
organization's agents with responsibilities with respect to FFEL
Program loans or private education loans be annually informed of the
provisions of the code of conduct.
The code of conduct applies to agents of an institution who are
employees of the financial aid office of the institution or who have
responsibilities with respect to FFEL Program loans or private
education loans.
Final Sec. 601.21(c) prescribes the minimum requirements of a
covered institution's code of conduct. An institution's code of conduct
must prohibit: revenue-sharing arrangements with any lender; soliciting
or accepting gifts from a lender, guarantor, or servicer; accepting any
fee, payment, or other financial benefit as compensation for any type
of consulting or any contractual relationship with a lender; assigning
a first-time borrower's loan to a particular lender or refusing to
certify, or delaying certification of, any loan based on a borrower's
selection of a particular lender; requesting offers of funds for
private education loans, including opportunity pool loans, from a
lender in exchange for providing the lender with a specified number or
loan volume of FFEL Program loans or private education loans or a
preferred lender arrangement; requesting or accepting staffing
assistance from a lender; and receipt of compensation for serving on an
advisory board, commission, or group established by a lender,
guarantor, or group of lenders or guarantors.
Final Sec. 601.21(c)(6) provides exceptions to the ban on staffing
assistance, such as staffing assistance related to professional
development or training; providing educational counseling materials; or
providing short-term, nonrecurring staffing assistance during disasters
or emergencies.
These final regulations represent an increase in burden. The
affected entities under these regulations are institutions and
institutionally-affiliated organizations. We estimate that burden for
institutions and institutionally-affiliated organizations,
respectively, will increase to 4,697 in OMB Control Number 1845-XXXA.
Section 601.30--Duties of Institutions Participating in the William D.
Ford Direct Loan Program
Final Sec. 601.30 requires a covered institution participating in
the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program to make the information
identified in a model disclosure form developed by the Secretary
available to students attending or planning to attend the institution,
or the families of such students. If the institution provides
information regarding a private education loan to a prospective
borrower, the institution must concurrently provide the borrower with
the information identified on the model disclosure form.
Final Sec. 601.30(b) allows a covered institution to use a
comparable form designed by the institution to provide this
information, instead of the model disclosure form.
These final regulations represent an increase in burden. The
affected entities under the regulations are borrowers, and institutions
and their institutionally-affiliated organizations. We estimate that
burden to borrowers will increase by 56,671 hours and 1,353 hours for
institutions and institutionally-affiliated organizations,
respectively, and we will include the total burden of 58,024 hours in
OMB Control Number 1845-XXXB.
Section 601.40--Lender Responsibilities
Final Sec. 601.40(a) requires FFEL lenders to provide FFEL
borrowers the disclosures required under current Sec. 682.205(a) and
(b). A lender offering private education loans is required to comply
with the disclosures required under section 128(e) of the TILA for each
type of private loan.
Final Sec. 601.40(b) sets forth the information the lenders will
have to provide to the Secretary on an annual basis regarding any
reasonable expenses paid or provided to any agent of a covered
institution who is employed in the financial aid office or has
responsibilities with respect to education loans or other financial aid
of the institution for service by the employee on an advisory board,
commission or group established by a lender or a group of lenders. This
information also needs to be reported for expenses paid or provided to
any agent of an institution-affiliated organization involved in
recommending, promoting or endorsing education loans. Lenders are
required to report the amount of the expenses paid and the specific
instances for which it was paid; the names of the agents to whom
expenses were paid; and the date and description of each activity for
which expenses were paid. This section of the regulations also requires
the lender to submit a certification of compliance to the Secretary.
Final Sec. 601.40(c) requires any FFEL lender participating in one
or more preferred lender arrangements to annually certify to the
Secretary its compliance with the HEA. Lenders required to file an
audit under Sec. 682.305(c) will be required to include the
certification as part of the audit. A lender that is not required to
submit an audit will need to provide the certification separately.
Final Sec. 601.40(d) requires FFEL lenders with a preferred lender
arrangement with a covered institution or an institution-affiliated
organization to annually provide to the institution, institution-
affiliated organization and the Secretary information regarding the
FFEL loans the lender will provide to students and families pursuant to
the preferred lender arrangement for the next award year. The
information will be prescribed by the Secretary, after consultation
with the Federal Reserve.
These final regulations represent an increase in burden. The
affected entities under the regulations are borrowers and lenders. The
estimated burden hours in the NPRM were inaccurate, and the correct
estimates follow. We estimate that burden to borrowers will increase by
293,357 hours and that burden for lenders will increase by 623,675
hours and we will include the total burden of 917,032 in OMB Control
Number 1845-XXXA.
Sections 668.181, 668.200, and 668.202--Three Year Cohort Default Rates
The final regulations reflected in new subpart N of part 668
incorporate the three-year cohort default method under final Sec.
668.202. With regard to the transition period for use of the current
cohort default rate method, final Sec. Sec. 668.181 and 668.200(b)
specify that the Department will issue annually two sets of draft and
official cohort default rates for fiscal years 2009, 2010, and 2011.
These final regulations describe the purpose of the 3-year rate and
explain the calculation and application of the 3-year cohort default
rate. As a result, the statement of purpose of this subpart and the
description of how the Department will calculate and apply the 3-year
cohort default rate will not impact the burden in OMB 1845-0022.
Section 668.16--Administrative Capabilities and Cohort Default Rate
Appeals
Final Sec. 668.16(m)(1)(ii) applies the current rules for
administrative capability based on two-year cohort default rates during
the transition period. Thereafter, a school will be administratively
capable if two of its three most recent three-year rates are less than
30 percent. Under final Sec. 668.16(m)(2), the current rules for
provisional certification based on two
[[Page 55639]]
year cohort default rates of 25 percent or more but less than 40
percent continues to apply during the transition period. Thereafter, an
institution whose three year default rates are 30 percent or more, but
less than 40 percent, for two years would not be provisionally
certified based solely on its default rates under the following
circumstances:
(1) The institution files timely a request for adjustment or appeal
from the second such rate under final Sec. Sec. 668.209 (Uncorrected
data adjustments), 668.210 (New data adjustments), or 668.212 (Loan
servicing appeals) and the request or appeal is pending or succeeds in
reducing the institution's three-year rate below 30 percent.
(2) The institution files timely an appeal under final Sec.
668.213 (Economically disadvantaged appeals) from the second such rate
and the appeal is pending or successful. Final Sec. 668.213 provides
that the two rates of 30 percent or more must be successive to permit
the appeal.
(3) The institution files a timely participation rate index appeal
under final Sec. 668.214 and the appeal is pending or successful.
(4) The institution had 30 or fewer borrowers in the three most
recent cohorts of borrowers used to calculate the institution's rates.
(5) A three year rate that would otherwise potentially subject the
institution to provisional certification was calculated as an average
rate.
To avoid provisional certification by invoking exceptions (1), (2)
or (3), the institution is required to file a request for adjustment or
appeal in response to a notice from the Department that the
institution's second three-year cohort default rate, or second
successive three-year default rate for an economically disadvantaged
appeal, is 30 percent or more, but less than 40 percent.
Under final Sec. 668.214, a participation rate index appeal is
taken from a loss of eligibility, or potential placement on provisional
certification, based on three-year cohort default rates if the
participation rate index for any of the excessive rates was .0625 or
less. The appeal is taken within 30 days of receiving the notice of
loss of eligibility with the most recent excessive official rate.
In addition, under final Sec. 668.204(c)(1)(iii), an institution
is allowed to challenge a potential placement on provisional
certification because its three-year cohort default rates for two of
the most recent three years would be 30 percent or more, but less than
40 percent, even though the second such rate was available only as a
draft rate, if its participation rate index was equal to or less than
0.0625 for either its draft rate, or its most recent official rate
equaling or exceeding 30 percent but less than 40 percent. The
challenge is taken following notice to the school of its draft rate.
The final changes in Sec. 668.16 apply the current rules on
administrative capability during the transition period. We estimate
that these regulations will not impact burden in OMB 1845-0022.
Sections 668.186, 668.190, 668.191, 668.209, 668.210, 668.211, and
668.212--Electronic Processes
Final Sec. 668.186 eliminates the need to request a loan record
detail report by providing that the report will be sent electronically
to the institution as part of a package notifying the institution of
its official cohort default rate. The institution will have five
business days, from the transmission date of the package as posted on
the Department's Web site, to report any problem with receiving that
transmission. If the institution reports a problem within the five-day
period, and the Department agrees that the institution did not cause
the problem, we will extend the adjustment, challenge, and appeal
deadlines and timeframes to account for retransmitting the package
after the problem is resolved. If no problems are reported by the
institution, the timeframe associated with filing or requesting the
adjustment, challenge, or appeal begins on the sixth day following the
transmission date of the package that is posted on the Department's Web
site. The timeframes for the adjustments, challenges, and appeals are
reflected in final Sec. Sec. 668.190(b) and 668.191(b).
The subpart M, part 668 provisions reflected in Sec. 668.186, and
the provisions for adjustments, challenges, and appeals in the related
sections in subpart M of part 668 are also reflected in the following
parallel provisions in subpart N, part 668: Sec. Sec. 668.209,
668.210, 668.211, and 668.212.
These final regulations represent a decrease in burden. The
affected entities under these regulations are institutions. We estimate
that burden will decrease by 725 hours for institutions and this
decrease in burden will be reflected in OMB Control Number 1845-0022.
Sections 682.604 and 685.304--Entrance Counseling
Final Sec. 682.604(f)(3) requires that institutions provide
initial counseling for Stafford and graduate or professional student
PLUS Loan borrowers. Comprehensive information on the terms and
conditions of the loan and on the responsibilities of the borrower with
respect to the loan needs to be provided. Under the final regulations,
this information may be provided to the borrower during an entrance
counseling session conducted in person; on a separate written form
provided to the borrower that the borrower signs and returns to the
school; or online or by interactive electronic means, with the borrower
acknowledging receipt of the information.
Final Sec. 682.604(f)(4) requires a school that conducts initial
counseling online or through interactive electronic means to take
reasonable steps to ensure that each student borrower receives the
counseling materials and participates in and completes the initial
counseling, which may include completion of any interactive program
that tests the borrower's understanding of the terms and conditions of
the borrower's loans.
Final Sec. 682.604(f)(6) requires that initial counseling for
Stafford Loan borrowers: explain the use of a Master Promissory Note;
emphasize to the student borrower the seriousness and importance of the
repayment obligation the student borrower is assuming; describe the
likely consequences of default, including adverse credit reports,
delinquent debt collection procedures under Federal law, and
litigation; in the case of a student borrower (other than a loan made
or originated by the school), emphasize that the student borrower is
obligated to repay the full amount of the loan even if the student
borrower does not complete the program, does not complete the program
within the regular time for program completion, is unable to obtain
employment upon completion, or is otherwise dissatisfied with or does
not receive the educational or other services that the student borrower
purchased from the school; inform the student borrower of sample
monthly repayment amounts based on a range of student levels of
indebtedness of Stafford loan borrowers, or student borrowers with
Stafford and PLUS loans, depending on the types of loans the borrower
has obtained--or the average indebtedness of other borrowers in the
same program at the same school as the borrower; to the extent
practicable, explain the effect of accepting the loan to be disbursed
on the eligibility of the borrower for other forms of student financial
assistance; provide information on how interest accrues and is
capitalized during periods when the interest is not paid by either the
borrower or the Secretary; inform the borrower of the option to pay the
interest on an unsubsidized Stafford Loan while the borrower is in
school;
[[Page 55640]]
explain the definition of half-time enrollment at the school, during
regular terms and summer school, if applicable, and the consequences of
not maintaining half-time enrollment; explain the importance of
contacting the appropriate offices at the school if the borrower
withdraws prior to completing the borrower's program of study so that
the school can provide exit counseling, including information regarding
the borrower's repayment options and loan consolidation; provide
information on NSLDS and how the borrower can access the borrower's
records; and provide the name of and contact information for the
individual the borrower may contact if the borrower has any questions
about the borrower's rights and responsibilities or the terms and
conditions of the loan.
Final Sec. 682.604(f)(7) requires that initial counseling for
graduate or professional student PLUS Loan borrowers must: Inform the
student borrower of sample monthly repayment amounts based on a range
of student levels of indebtedness of graduate or professional student
PLUS loan borrowers, or student borrowers with Stafford and PLUS loans,
depending on the types of loans the borrower has obtained or the
average indebtedness of other borrowers in the same program at the same
school as the borrower; inform the borrower of the option to pay
interest on a PLUS Loan while the borrower is in school; for a graduate
or professional student PLUS Loan borrower who has received a prior
FFEL Stafford, or Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized loan, provide the
information, specified in Sec. 682.603(d)(1)(i) through (d)(1)(iii),
that compares Stafford and PLUS Loan interest rates, interest accrual
periods, and repayment period begin dates; and for a graduate or
professional student PLUS Loan borrower who has not received a prior
FFEL Stafford, or Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized loan, provide the
Stafford Loan initial counseling information specified in proposed
Sec. 682.604(f)(6)(i) through (f)(6)(xii).
Corresponding initial counseling requirements for Direct
Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, and Direct PLUS loan borrowers are
included in Sec. 685.304(a)(1) through (a)(9) of the Direct Loan
regulations.
These final regulations represent an increase in burden. The
affected entities under the final regulations are borrowers and
institutions. We estimate that burden in OMB 1845-0020 will increase by
475,152 hours for borrowers and 12,582 hours for institutions; and we
estimate that burden in OMB 1845-0021 will increase by 217,900 hours
for borrowers and 12,582 hours for institutions for a total of 487,734
hours which will be reflected in OMB Control Number 1845-0020 and a
total of 230,482 hours in OMB Control Number 1845-0021.
Sections 674.42, 682.604 and 685.304--Exit Counseling
Final Sec. Sec. 674.42(b), 682.604(g) and 685.304(b) continue to
require a school to ensure that exit counseling is conducted with each
Perkins, FFEL Stafford, and Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loan
borrower. In addition, schools are required to provide exit counseling
to graduate or professional student FFEL PLUS Loan borrowers and
graduate or professional student Direct PLUS Loan borrowers.
Under final Sec. Sec. 674.42(b)(1), 682.604(g)(1) and
685.304(b)(2) and (b)(3), schools continue to be required to conduct
exit counseling either in person, by audiovisual presentation, or by
interactive electronic means. In each case, the school is required to
ensure that the exit counseling is conducted shortly before the student
borrower ceases at least half-time study at the school, and that an
individual with expertise in the Title IV programs is reasonably
available shortly after the counseling to answer the student borrower's
questions. The alternative approach for student borrowers enrolled in a
correspondence program or a study-abroad program that the home
institution approves for credit is maintained in the new regulations.
The current regulatory procedures for student borrowers who withdraw
from school without the school's prior knowledge or fail to complete an
exit counseling session as required also are maintained in these
regulations.
Final Sec. Sec. 674.42(b)(3), 682.604(g)(3) and 685.304(b)(6)
continue to require that if exit counseling is conducted by electronic
interactive means, the school must take reasonable steps to ensure that
each student borrower receives the counseling materials, participates
in and completes the counseling. Final Sec. Sec. 674.42(b)(4),
682.604(g)(4) and 685.304(b)(7) retain the requirement that schools
maintain documentation substantiating the school's compliance with this
section for each student borrower.
Final Sec. Sec. 674.42(b)(2), 682.604(g)(2) and 685.304(b)(4) also
require exit counseling for Perkins, FFEL, and Direct Loan student
borrowers to: Review for the student borrower information on the
availability of the Student Loan Ombudsman's office; inform the student
borrower of the availability of Title IV loan information in the
National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) and how NSLDS can be used to
obtain Title IV loan status information; and provide a general
description of the types of tax benefits that may be available to
borrowers.
Additionally, final Sec. Sec. 682.604(g)(2)(ii) and
685.304(b)(4)(ii) require exit counseling for FFEL and Direct Loan
student borrowers to review the available FFEL and Direct Loan
repayment plan options, including standard, graduated, extended, income
sensitive and income-based repayment plans, including a description of
the different features of each plan and sample information showing the
average anticipated monthly payments, and the difference in interest
paid and total payments under each plan. The exit counseling also needs
to inform FFEL and Direct Loan borrowers of their option to change
repayment plans.
For Direct Loan borrowers, final Sec. 685.304(b)(4)(vi) retains
the requirement that schools explain to the student borrower how to
contact the party servicing the Direct Loan.
These final regulations represent an increase in burden. The
affected entities under the final regulations are borrowers and
institutions. We estimate that burden will increase by 432,388 hours
for borrowers and 12,582 hours for institutions for a total of 444,970
hours which will be reflected in OMB Control Number 1845-0020. We
estimate that burden will increase by 213,542 hours for borrowers and
12,582 hours for institutions for a total of 226,124 hours which will
be reflected in OMB Control Number 1845-0021. We estimate that burden
will increase by 214,022 hours for borrowers and 5,940 hours for
institutions for a total of 219,962 hours which will be reflected in
OMB Control Number 1845-0023.
Sections 674.53, 674.57, and 674.58--Expansion of Teacher, Head Start,
and Law Enforcement Cancellation Categories
These final regulations extend the new cancellation categories to
current Federal Perkins Loan borrowers with outstanding balances on
loans already in repayment and all new borrowers who perform eligible
service that includes August 14, 2008, or begins on or after that date,
regardless of whether information on the expanded cancellation
categories appears on the borrower's promissory note.
Final Sec. 674.53 provides that a teacher who is employed by an
educational service agency, or a full-time special education teacher,
including teachers of infants, toddlers, children, or youth
[[Page 55641]]
with disabilities, who is working in a system administered by an
educational service agency, is eligible for cancellation benefits.
Final Sec. 674.57 is amended so that the cancellation provisions
for law enforcement or correction officers include borrowers who are
employed full-time as an attorney in Federal Public Defender
Organizations or Community Defender Organizations.
Final Sec. 674.58 of the Head Start cancellation provisions is
amended by expanding cancellation benefits to include borrowers who are
performing qualifying service as full-time staff members in a pre-
kindergarten or childcare program that is licensed or regulated by the
State.
For purposes of determining a borrower's eligibility for
cancellation benefits, final Sec. 674.58(c)(1) and (2) define the
terms ``pre-kindergarten program'' and ``childcare program.'' A pre-
kindergarten program is defined as a State-funded program that serves
children from birth through age six and addresses the children's
cognitive (including language, early literacy, and early mathematics),
social, emotional, and physical development. A childcare program is
defined as a program that is licensed and regulated by the State and
provides child care services for fewer than 24 hours per day per child,
unless care in excess of 24 consecutive hours is needed due to the
nature of the parents' work.
Final Sec. 674.58 also amends the Head Start cancellation
provisions by renaming the regulatory section ``Cancellation for
service in an early childhood education program'' to reflect the fact
that the expansion of cancellation benefits available to borrowers
under this provision are no longer limited to service in early
childhood education programs authorized by the Head Start Act.
These final regulations represent an increase in burden. The
affected entities under the final regulations are borrowers and
institutions. We estimate that burden as a result of the final changes
in Sec. 674.53 will increase by 2,290 hours for borrowers and 1,145
hours for institutions for a total of 3,435 hours which will be
reflected in OMB Control Numbers 1845-XXXC. We estimate that burden as
a result of the final changes in Sec. 674.57 will increase by 385
hours for borrowers and 193 hours for institutions for a total of 578
hours which will be reflected in OMB Control Number 1845-XXXC. We
estimate that burden as a result of the final changes in Sec. 674.58
will increase by 2,648 hours for borrowers and 1,325 hours for
institutions for a total of 3,973 hours which will be reflected in OMB
Control Number 1845-XXXC.
Section 674.56--Addition of New Public Service Cancellation Categories
Final Sec. 674.56 adds new public service cancellation categories
for borrowers in the Federal Perkins Loan program who are performing
qualifying service as: full-time faculty members at a Tribal College or
University; full-time fire fighters who serve a local, State, or
Federal fire department or fire district; librarians with a master's
degree in library science who are employed in an elementary or
secondary school that qualifies for Title I funding, or in a public
library that serves a geographic area that includes one or more Title
I-eligible schools; or full-time speech-language pathologists with a
master's degree who are working exclusively with Title I-eligible
schools.
These final regulations extend the new cancellation categories to
current Federal Perkins Loan borrowers with outstanding balances on
loans already in repayment and all new borrowers who perform eligible
service that includes August 14, 2008, or begins on or after that date,
regardless of whether information on the expanded cancellation
categories appears on the borrower's promissory note.
These final regulations represent an increase in burden. The
affected entities under the final regulations are borrowers and
institutions. We estimate that burden will increase by 3,436 hours for
borrowers and 1,718 hours for institutions for a total of 5,154 hours
which will be reflected in OMB Control Number 1845-XXXC.
Section 674.59--Military Service Cancellation
Final Sec. 674.59 amends the cancellation rate for each year of
qualifying service for the military service cancellation. Borrowers who
are serving in areas of hostility are now eligible to receive a
cancellation of up to 100 percent of the loan for each full year of
active duty service that includes August 14, 2008, or begins on or
after that date in the following increments: 15 percent for the first
and second years of service; 20 percent for the third and fourth years
of service; and, 30 percent for the fifth year of service.
These final regulations represent an increase in burden. The
affected entities under the final regulations are borrowers and
institutions. We estimate that burden will increase by 20,532 hours for
borrowers and 10,266 hours for institutions for a total of 30,798 hours
which will be reflected in OMB Control Number 1845-XXXC.
Consistent with the discussion in the preceding paragraphs, the
following chart describes the sections of the final regulations
involving information collections, the information collected, and the
collections that the Department submitted to the Office of Management
and Budget for approval and public comment under the Paperwork and
Reduction Act.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory section Information section Collection
------------------------------------------------------------------------
601.10...................... Final Sec. OMB 1845-XXXA. This
601.10(a) requires is a new
that a covered collection. A
institution, or an separate 60-day
institution- Federal Register
affiliated notice will be
organization of a published to
covered solicit comments on
institution, that the form. There
participates in a will be an increase
preferred lender in burden of
arrangement 335,181 hours.
disclose the
information
identified on the
model disclosure
form developed by
the Secretary and
its preferred
lender list.
[[Page 55642]]
601.11...................... Final Sec. OMB 1845-XXXA. This
601.11(a) requires is a new
a covered collection. A
institution, or an separate 60-day
institution- Federal Register
affiliated notice will be
organization of a published to
covered solicit comments on
institution, to the form. There
provide to a will be an increase
prospective in burden of
borrower private 1,940,515 hours.
education loan
disclosures
consistent with
section 128(e)(1)
of the TILA; to
provide a student
who requests a
private education
loan a self-
certification form;
to inform the
prospective
borrower that he or
she may qualify for
loans or other
assistance under
Title IV of the
HEA; and to inform
the prospective
borrower that the
terms and
conditions of Title
IV, HEA program
loans may be more
favorable than the
provisions of
private education
loans.
601.20...................... Final Sec. OMB 1845-XXXA. This
601.20(a) requires is a new
a covered collection. A
institution, and an separate 60-day
institution- Federal Register
affiliated notice will be
organization that published to
participates in a solicit comments.
preferred lender There will be an
arrangement to increase in burden
prepare and submit of 336 hours.
to the Secretary an
annual report.
601.21...................... Final Sec. 601.21 OMB 1845-XXXA. This
requires a covered is a new
institution that collection. A
participates in a separate 60-day
preferred lender Federal Register
arrangement to notice will be
develop a code of published to
conduct with solicit comments.
respect to FFEL There will be an
Program loans and increase in burden
private education of 4,697 hours.
loans with which
the institution's
agents must comply
to prohibit a
conflict of
interest with the
responsibilities of
an agent of an
institution with
respect to FFEL
Program loans and
private education
loans.
601.30...................... Final Sec. 601.30 OMB 1845-XXXB. This
requires a covered is a new
institution collection. A
participating in separate 60-day
the William D. Ford Federal Register
Direct Loan Program notice will be
to make the published to
information solicit comments.
identified in a There will be an
model disclosure increase in burden
form developed by of 58,024 hours.
the Secretary
available to
students attending
or planning to
attend the
institution, or the
families of such
students. If the
institution
provides
information
regarding a private
education loan to a
prospective
borrower, the
institution must
concurrently
provide the
borrower with the
information
identified on the
model disclosure
form.
601.40...................... Final Sec. 601.40 OMB 1845-XXXA. This
sets forth the is a new
information the collection. A
lenders must separate 60-day
provide to the Federal Register
Secretary on an notice will be
annual basis published to
regarding any solicit comments.
reasonable expenses There will be an
paid or provided to increase in burden
any agent of a of 917,032 hours.
covered institution
who is employed in
the financial aid
office or has
responsibilities
with respect to
education loans or
other financial aid
of the institution
for service by the
employee on an
advisory board,
commission or group
established by a
lender or a group
of lenders.
668.181, 668.200, & 668.202. Final Sec. Sec. OMB 1845-0022. No
668.181, 668.200, change in burden.
and 668.202
provides a new
proposed subpart N,
part 668 to
incorporate the
three-year method
under Sec.
668.202. With
regard to the
transition period,
final Sec. Sec.
668.181 and
668.200(b)
specifies that the
Department will
issue annually two
sets of draft and
official cohort
default rates for
fiscal years 2009,
2010, and 2011. As
a result, the
statement of
purpose of this
subpart and the
description of how
the Department will
calculate and apply
the 3-year cohort
default rate will
not impact the
burden in OMB 1845-
0022.
668.16...................... Final Sec. OMB 1845-0022. No
668.16(m) requires change in burden.
institutions to
have the new three-
year cohort default
rate, and
incorporates the
transition rules
and the basis for
appeals for that
cohort default
rate. The final
changes in Sec.
668.16 apply the
current rules on
administrative
capability during
the transition
period. We estimate
that these
regulations will
not impact burden
in OMB 1845-0022.
668.186, 668.190, 668.191, These final OMB 1845-0022. There
668.209, 668.210, 668.211, regulations will be a decrease
and 668.212. eliminate the need in burden of 725
to request a loan hours.
record detail
report from the
Department; instead
an electronic loan
report will be sent
to each institution.
682.604 & 685.304........... Final Sec. Sec. OMB 1845-0020. There
682.604 and 685.304 will be an increase
requires that in burden of
institutions 487,734 hours. OMB
provide initial 1845-0021. There
counseling for will be an increase
Stafford and in burden of
graduate or 230,482 hours.
professional
student PLUS Loan
borrowers.
674.42, 682.604, and 685.304 Final Sec. Sec. OMB 1845-0020. There
674.42, 682.604 and will be an increase
685.304 continues in burden of
to require a school 457,552 hours. OMB
to ensure that exit 1845-0021. There
counseling is will be an increase
conducted with each in burden of
Perkins, FFEL 226,124 hours. OMB
Stafford, and 1845-0023. There
Direct Subsidized will be an increase
and Unsubsidized in burden of
Loan borrower. In 219,962 hours.
addition, schools
are required to
provide exit
counseling to
graduate or
professional
student FFEL PLUS
Loan borrowers and
graduate or
professional
student Direct PLUS
Loan borrowers.
[[Page 55643]]
674.53, 674.57, and 674.58.. Final Sec. Sec. OMB 1845-XXXC. This
674.53, 674.57, and is a new
674.58 extends the collection. A
new cancellation separate 60-day
categories to Federal Register
current Federal notice will be
Perkins Loan published to
borrowers with solicit comments.
outstanding There will be an
balances on loans increase in burden
already in of 7,986 hours.
repayment and all
new borrowers who
perform eligible
service that
includes August 14,
2008, or begins on
or after that date,
regardless of
whether information
on the expanded the
cancellation
categories appears
on the borrower's
promissory note.
674.56...................... Final Sec. 674.56 OMB 1845-XXXC. This
adds new public is a new
service collection. A
cancellation separate 60-day
categories for Federal Register
borrowers in the notice will be
Federal Perkins published to
Loan program who solicit comments.
are performing There will be an
qualifying service increase in burden
as: full-time of 5,154 hours.
faculty members at
a Tribal College or
University; full-
time fire fighters
who serve a local,
State, or Federal
fire department or
fire district;
librarians with a
master's degree in
library science who
are employed in an
elementary or
secondary school
that qualifies for
Title I funding, or
in a public library
that serves a
geographic area
that includes one
or more Title I-
eligible schools;
or full-time speech-
language
pathologists with a
master's degree who
are working
exclusively with
Title I-eligible
schools.
674.59...................... Final Sec. 674.59 OMB 1845-XXXC. This
amends the is a new
cancellation rate collection. A
for each year of separate 60-day
qualifying service Federal Register
for the military notice will be
service published to
cancellation. solicit comments.
Borrowers who are There will be an
serving in areas of increase in burden
hostility are now of 30,798 hours.
eligible to receive
a cancellation of
up to 100 percent
of the loan for
each full year of
active duty service
that includes
August 14, 2008, or
begins on or after
that date in the
following
increments: 15
percent for the
first and second
years; 20 percent
for the third and
fourth years of
service; and, 30
percent for the
fifth year of
service.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assessment of Educational Impact
In accordance with section 411 of the General Education Provisions
Act, 20 U.S.C. 1221e-4, and based on our own review, we have determined
that these final regulations do not require transmission of information
that any other agency or authority of the United States gathers or
makes available.
Electronic Access to this Document
You may view this document, as well as all other Department of
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe
Portable Document Format (PDF) on the Internet at the following site:
http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister.
To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available
free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S.
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Note: 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 on GPO Access at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Numbers: 84.032 Federal
Family Education Loan Program; 84.038 Federal Perkins Loan Program;
84.268 William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program.)
List of Subjects
34 CFR Part 601
Administrative practice and procedure, Colleges and universities,
Consumer protection, Education, Loan programs--education, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Student aid.
34 CFR Part 668
Administrative practice and procedure, Colleges and universities,
Consumer protection, Education, Grant programs--education, Loan
programs--education, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Student
aid, Vocational education.
34 CFR Parts 674, 682 and 685
Administrative practice and procedure, Colleges and universities,
Education, Loan programs--education, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Student aid, Vocational education.
Dated: October 14, 2009.
Arne Duncan,
Secretary of Education.
0
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Secretary amends chapter
VI of title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows:
0
1. Add part 601 to read as follows:
PART 601--INSTITUTION AND LENDER REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO EDUCATION
LOANS
Subpart A--General
Sec.
601.1 Scope.
601.2 Definitions.
Subpart B--Loan Information To Be Disclosed by Covered Institutions and
Institution-Affiliated Organizations
Sec.
601.10 Preferred lender arrangement disclosures.
601.11 Private education loan disclosures and self-certification
form.
601.12 Use of institution and lender name.
Subpart C--Responsibilities of Covered Institutions and Institution-
Affiliated Organizations
Sec.
601.20 Annual report.
601.21 Code of conduct.
Subpart D--Loan Information To Be Disclosed by Institutions
Participating in the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program
Sec.
601.30 Duties of institutions.
Subpart E--Lender Responsibilities
Sec.
601.40 Disclosure and reporting requirements for lenders.
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1019-1019d, 1021, 1094(a) and (h).
[[Page 55644]]
Subpart A--General
Sec. 601.1 Scope.
This part establishes disclosure and reporting requirements for
covered institutions, institution-affiliated organizations, and lenders
that provide, issue, recommend, promote, endorse, or provide
information relating to education loans. Education loans include loans
authorized by the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) and
private education loans.
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1019-1019d, 1021, 1094(a)(25) and (e).
Sec. 601.2 Definitions.
(a) The definitions of the following terms used in this part are
set forth in the regulations for Institutional Eligibility under the
Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, 34 CFR part 600:
Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program
Secretary
Title IV, HEA program
(b) The following definitions also apply to this part:
Agent: An officer or employee of a covered institution or an
institution-affiliated organization.
Covered institution: Any institution of higher education,
proprietary institution of higher education, postsecondary vocational
institution, or institution outside the United States, as these terms
are defined in 34 CFR part 600, that receives any Federal funding or
assistance.
Education loan: Except when used as part of the term ``private
education loan'',
(1) Any loan made, insured, or guaranteed under the Federal Family
Education Loan (FFEL) Program;
(2) Any loan made under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan
Program; or
(3) A private education loan.
Institution-affiliated organization: (1) Any organization that--
(i) Is directly or indirectly related to a covered institution; and
(ii) Is engaged in the practice of recommending, promoting, or
endorsing education loans for students attending such covered
institution or the families of such students.
(2) An institution-affiliated organization--
(i) May include an alumni organization, athletic organization,
foundation, or social, academic, or professional organization, of a
covered institution; and
(ii) Does not include any lender with respect to any education loan
secured, made, or extended by such lender.
Lender: (1) An eligible lender in the Federal Family Education Loan
(FFEL) Program, as defined in 34 CFR 682.200(b);
(2) The Department in the Direct Loan program;
(3) In the case of a private educational loan, a private education
lender as defined in section 140 of the Truth in Lending Act; and
(4) Any other person engaged in the business of securing, making,
or extending education loans on behalf of the lender.
Officer: A director or trustee of a covered institution or
institution-affiliated organization, if such individual is treated as
an employee of such covered institution or institution-affiliated
organization, respectively.
Preferred lender arrangement: (1) An arrangement or agreement
between a lender and a covered institution or an institution-affiliated
organization of such covered institution--
(i) Under which a lender provides or otherwise issues education
loans to the students attending such covered institution or the
families of such students; and
(ii) That relates to such covered institution or such institution-
affiliated organization recommending, promoting, or endorsing the
education loan products of the lender.
(2) A preferred lender arrangement does not include--
(i) Arrangements or agreements with respect to loans made under the
William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program; or
(ii) Arrangements or agreements with respect to loans that
originate through the PLUS Loan auction pilot program under section
499(b) of the HEA.
(3) For purpose of this definition, an arrangement or agreement
does not exist if the private education loan provided or issued to a
student attending a covered institution is made by the covered
institution or by an institution-affiliated organization of the covered
institution, and the private education loan is--
(i) Funded by the covered institution's or institution-affiliated
organization's own funds;
(ii) Funded by donor-directed contributions;
(iii) Made under title VII or title VIII of the Public Service
Health Act; or
(iv) Made under a State-funded financial aid program, if the terms
and conditions of the loan include a loan forgiveness option for public
service.
Private education loan: As the term is defined in 12 CFR
226.46(b)(5), a loan provided by a private educational lender that is
not a title IV loan and that is issued expressly for postsecondary
education expenses to a borrower, regardless of whether the loan is
provided through the educational institution that the student attends
or directly to the borrower from the private educational lender. A
private education loan does not include--
(1) An extension of credit under an open end consumer credit plan,
a reverse mortgage transaction, a residential mortgage transaction, or
any other loan that is secured by real property or a dwelling; or
(2) An extension of credit in which the educational institution is
the lender if--
(i) The term of the extension of credit is 90 days or less; or
(ii) An interest rate will not be applied to the credit balance and
the term of the extension of credit is one year or less, even if the
credit is payable in more than four installments.
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1019.
Subpart B--Loan Information To Be Disclosed by Covered Institutions
and Institution-Affiliated Organizations
Sec. 601.10 Preferred lender arrangement disclosures.
(a) A covered institution, or an institution-affiliated
organization of such covered institution, that participates in a
preferred lender arrangement must disclose--
(1) On such covered institution's or institution-affiliated
organization's Web site and in all informational materials described in
paragraph (b) of this section that describe or discuss education
loans--
(i) The maximum amount of Federal grant and loan aid under title IV
of the HEA available to students, in an easy to understand format;
(ii) The information identified on a model disclosure form
developed by the Secretary pursuant to section 153(a)(2)(B) of the HEA,
for each type of education loan that is offered pursuant to a preferred
lender arrangement of the institution or institution-affiliated
organization to students of the institution or the families of such
students; and
(iii) A statement that such institution is required to process the
documents required to obtain a loan under the Federal Family Education
Loan (FFEL) Program from any eligible lender the student selects; and
(2) On such covered institution's or institution-affiliated
organization's Web site and in all informational materials described in
paragraph (b) of this section that describe or discuss private
education loans--
(i) In the case of a covered institution, the information that the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System requires to be
disclosed under
[[Page 55645]]
section 128(e)(11) of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1638(e)(11)),
for each type of private education loan offered pursuant to a preferred
lender arrangement of the institution to students of the institution or
the families of such students; and
(ii) In the case of an institution-affiliated organization of a
covered institution, the information the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System requires to be disclosed under section 128(e)(1)
of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1638(e)(1)), for each type of
private education loan offered pursuant to a preferred lender
arrangement of the organization to students of such institution or the
families of such students.
(b) The informational materials described in paragraphs (a)(1) and
(a)(2) of this section are publications, mailings, or electronic
messages or materials that--
(1) Are distributed to prospective or current students of a covered
institution and families of such students; and
(2) Describe or discuss the financial aid opportunities available
to students at an institution of higher education.
(c)(1) Each covered institution and each institution-affiliated
organization that participates in a preferred lender arrangement must
provide the information described in paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of this
section, and the information described in paragraphs (a)(2)(i) and
(a)(2)(ii) of this section, respectively, for each type of education
loan offered pursuant to the preferred lender arrangement.
(2) The information identified in paragraph (c)(1) of this section
must be provided to students attending the covered institution, or the
families of such students, as applicable, annually and must be provided
in a manner that allows for the students or their families to take such
information into account before selecting a lender or applying for an
education loan.
(d) If a covered institution compiles, maintains, and makes
available a preferred lender list as required under Sec.
668.14(b)(28), the institution must--
(1) Clearly and fully disclose on such preferred lender list--
(i) Not less than the information required to be disclosed under
section 153(a)(2)(A) of the HEA;
(ii) Why the institution participates in a preferred lender
arrangement with each lender on the preferred lender list, particularly
with respect to terms and conditions or provisions favorable to the
borrower; and
(iii) That the students attending the institution, or the families
of such students, do not have to borrow from a lender on the preferred
lender list;
(2) Ensure, through the use of the list of lender affiliates
provided by the Secretary under section 487(h)(2) of the HEA, that--
(i) There are not less than three FFEL lenders that are not
affiliates of each other included on the preferred lender list and, if
the institution recommends, promotes, or endorses private education
loans, there are not less than two lenders of private education loans
that are not affiliates of each other included on the preferred lender
list; and
(ii) The preferred lender list under paragraph (d) of this
section--
(A) Specifically indicates, for each listed lender, whether the
lender is or is not an affiliate of each other lender on the preferred
lender list; and
(B) If a lender is an affiliate of another lender on the preferred
lender list, describes the details of such affiliation;
(3) Prominently disclose the method and criteria used by the
institution in selecting lenders with which to participate in preferred
lender arrangements to ensure that such lenders are selected on the
basis of the best interests of the borrowers, including--
(i) Payment of origination or other fees on behalf of the borrower;
(ii) Highly competitive interest rates, or other terms and
conditions or provisions of Title IV, HEA program loans or private
education loans;
(iii) High-quality servicing for such loans; or
(iv) Additional benefits beyond the standard terms and conditions
or provisions for such loans;
(4) Exercise a duty of care and a duty of loyalty to compile the
preferred lender list under paragraph (d) of this section without
prejudice and for the sole benefit of the students attending the
institution, or the families of such students; and
(5) Not deny or otherwise impede the borrower's choice of a lender
or cause unnecessary delay in loan certification under title IV of the
HEA for those borrowers who choose a lender that is not included on the
preferred lender list.
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control
number 1845-XXXA)
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1019a(a)(1)(A) and 1019b(c).
Sec. 601.11 Private education loan disclosures and self-certification
form.
(a) A covered institution, or an institution-affiliated
organization of such covered institution, that provides information
regarding a private education loan from a lender to a prospective
borrower must provide private education loan disclosures to the
prospective borrower, regardless of whether the covered institution or
institution-affiliated organization participates in a preferred lender
arrangement.
(b) The private education loan disclosures must--
(1) Provide the prospective borrower with the information the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System requires to be disclosed
under section 128(e)(1) of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C.
1638(e)(1)) for such loan;
(2) Inform the prospective borrower that--
(i) The prospective borrower may qualify for loans or other
assistance under title IV of the HEA; and
(ii) The terms and conditions of Title IV, HEA program loans may be
more favorable than the provisions of private education loans.
(c) The covered institution or institution-affiliated organization
must ensure that information regarding private education loans is
presented in such a manner as to be distinct from information regarding
Title IV, HEA program loans.
(d) Upon an enrolled or admitted student applicant's request for a
private education loan self-certification form, an institution must
provide to the applicant, in written or electronic form--
(1) The self-certification form for private education loans
developed by the Secretary in consultation with the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System, to satisfy the requirements of section
128(e)(3) of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1638(e)(3)); and
(2) The information required to complete the form, to the extent
the institution possesses such information as specified in 34 CFR
668.14(b)(29).
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control
number 1845-XXXA)
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1019a(a)(1)(B) and 1019d.
Sec. 601.12 Use of institution and lender name.
A covered institution, or an institution-affiliated organization of
such covered institution, that participates in a preferred lender
arrangement with a lender regarding private education loans must--
(a) Not agree to the lender's use of the name, emblem, mascot, or
logo of such institution or organization, or other words, pictures, or
symbols readily identified with such institution or organization, in
the marketing of private education loans to students attending
[[Page 55646]]
such institution in any way that implies that the loan is offered or
made by such institution or organization instead of the lender; and
(b) Ensure that the name of the lender is displayed in all
information and documentation related to the private education loans
described in this section.
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1019a(a)(2)-(a)(3).
Subpart C--Responsibilities of Covered Institutions and
Institution-Affiliated Organizations
Sec. 601.20 Annual report.
Each covered institution, and each institution-affiliated
organization of such covered institution, that participates in a
preferred lender arrangement, must--
(a) Prepare and submit to the Secretary an annual report, by a date
determined by the Secretary, that includes, for each lender that
participates in a preferred lender arrangement with such covered
institution or organization--
(1) The information described in Sec. 601.10(c); and
(2) A detailed explanation of why such covered institution or
institution-affiliated organization participates in a preferred lender
arrangement with the lender, including why the terms, conditions, and
provisions of each type of education loan provided pursuant to the
preferred lender arrangement are beneficial for students attending such
institution, or the families of such students, as applicable; and
(b) Ensure that the report required under this section is made
available to the public and provided to students attending or planning
to attend such covered institution and the families of such students.
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control
number 1845-XXXA)
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1019b(c)(2).
Sec. 601.21 Code of conduct.
(a)(1) A covered institution that participates in a preferred
lender arrangement must comply with the code of conduct requirements
described in this section.
(2) The covered institution must--
(i) Develop a code of conduct with respect to FFEL Program loans
and private education loans with which the institution's agents must
comply. The code of conduct must--
(A) Prohibit a conflict of interest with the responsibilities of an
agent of an institution with respect to FFEL Program loans and private
education loans; and
(B) At a minimum, include the provisions specified in paragraph (c)
of this section;
(ii) Publish such code of conduct prominently on the institution's
Web site; and
(iii) Administer and enforce such code by, at a minimum, requiring
that all of the institution's agents with responsibilities with respect
to FFEL Program loans or private education loans be annually informed
of the provisions of the code of conduct.
(b) Any institution-affiliated organization of a covered
institution that participates in a preferred lender arrangement must--
(1) Comply with the code of conduct developed and published by such
covered institution under paragraph (a)(1) of this section;
(2) If such institution-affiliated organization has a Web site,
publish such code of conduct prominently on the Web site; and
(3) Administer and enforce such code of conduct by, at a minimum,
requiring that all of such institution-affiliated organization's agents
with responsibilities with respect to FFEL Program loans or private
education loans be annually informed of the provisions of such code of
conduct.
(c) A covered institution's code of conduct must prohibit--
(1) Revenue-sharing arrangements with any lender. The institution
must not enter into any revenue-sharing arrangement with any lender.
For purposes of this paragraph, the term revenue-sharing arrangement
means an arrangement between a covered institution and a lender under
which--
(i) A lender provides or issues a FFEL Program loan or private
education loan to students attending the institution or to the families
of such students; and
(ii) The institution recommends the lender or the loan products of
the lender and in exchange, the lender pays a fee or provides other
material benefits, including revenue or profit sharing, to the
institution, an agent;
(2)(i) Employees of the financial aid office receiving gifts from a
lender, a guarantor, or a loan servicer. Agents who are employed in the
financial aid office of the institution or who otherwise have
responsibilities with respect to FFEL Program loans or private
education loans, must not solicit or accept any gift from a lender,
guarantor, or servicer of FFEL Program loans or private education
loans;
(ii) For purposes of paragraph (c) of this section, the term gift
means any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan,
or other item having a monetary value of more than a de minimus amount.
The term includes a gift of services, transportation, lodging, or
meals, whether provided in kind, by purchase of a ticket, payment in
advance, or reimbursement after the expense has been incurred;
(iii) The term gift does not include any of the following:
(A) Standard material, activities, or programs on issues related to
a loan, default aversion, default prevention, or financial literacy,
such as a brochure, a workshop, or training.
(B) Food, refreshments, training, or informational material
furnished to an agent as an integral part of a training session that is
designed to improve the service of a lender, guarantor, or servicer of
FFEL Program loans or private education loans to the institution, if
such training contributes to the professional development of the agent.
(C) Favorable terms, conditions, and borrower benefits on a FFEL
Program loan or private education loan provided to a student employed
by the institution if such terms, conditions, or benefits are
comparable to those provided to all students of the institution.
(D) Entrance and exit counseling services provided to borrowers to
meet the institution's responsibilities for entrance and exit
counseling as required by Sec. Sec. 682.604(f) and 682.604(g), as long
as the institution's staff are in control of the counseling (whether in
person or via electronic capabilities) and such counseling does not
promote the products or services of any specific lender.
(E) Philanthropic contributions to an institution from a lender,
servicer, or guarantor of FFEL Program loans or private education loans
that are unrelated to FFEL Program loans or private education loans or
any contribution from any lender, servicer, or guarantor, that is not
made in exchange for any advantage related to FFEL Program loans or
private education loans.
(F) State education grants, scholarships, or financial aid funds
administered by or on behalf of a State; and
(iv) For purposes of paragraph (c) of this section, a gift to a
family member of an agent, or to any other individual based on that
individual's relationship with the agent, is considered a gift to the
agent if--
(A) The gift is given with the knowledge and acquiescence of the
agent; and
(B) The agent has reason to believe the gift was given because of
the official position of the agent;
[[Page 55647]]
(3) Consulting or other contracting arrangements. An agent who is
employed in the financial aid office of the institution or who
otherwise has responsibilities with respect to FFEL Program loans or
private education loans must not accept from any lender or affiliate of
any lender any fee, payment, or other financial benefit (including the
opportunity to purchase stock) as compensation for any type of
consulting arrangement or other contract to provide services to a
lender or on behalf of a lender relating to FFEL Program loans or
private education loans. Nothing in paragraph (c)(3) of this section
will be construed as prohibiting--
(i) An agent who is not employed in the institution's financial aid
office and who does not otherwise have responsibilities with respect to
FFEL Program loans or private education loans from performing paid or
unpaid service on a board of directors of a lender, guarantor, or
servicer of education loans;
(ii) An agent who is not employed in the institution's financial
aid office but who has responsibility with respect to FFEL Program
loans or private education loans from performing paid or unpaid service
on a board of directors of a lender, guarantor, or servicer of FFEL
Program loans or private education loans, if the institution has a
written conflict of interest policy that clearly sets forth that agents
must recuse themselves from participating in any decision of the board
regarding FFEL Program loans or private education loans at the
institution; or
(iii) An officer, employee, or contractor of a lender, guarantor,
or servicer of FFEL Program loans or private education loans from
serving on a board of directors, or serving as a trustee, of an
institution, if the institution has a written conflict of interest
policy that the board member or trustee must recuse themselves from any
decision regarding FFEL Program loans or private education loans at the
institution;
(4) Directing borrowers to particular lenders or delaying loan
certifications. The institution must not--
(i) For any first-time borrower, assign, through award packaging or
other methods, the borrower's loan to a particular lender; or
(ii) Refuse to certify, or delay certification of, any loan based
on the borrower's selection of a particular lender or guaranty agency;
(5)(i) Offers of funds for private loans. The institution must not
request or accept from any lender any offer of funds to be used for
private education loans, including funds for an opportunity pool loan,
to students in exchange for the institution providing concessions or
promises regarding providing the lender with--
(A) A specified number of FFEL Program loans or private education
loans;
(B) A specified loan volume of such loans; or
(C) A preferred lender arrangement for such loans.
(ii) For purposes of paragraph (c) of this section, the term
opportunity pool loan means a private education loan made by a lender
to a student attending the institution or the family member of such a
student that involves a payment, directly or indirectly, by such
institution of points, premiums, additional interest, or financial
support to such lender for the purpose of such lender extending credit
to the student or the family;
(6) Staffing assistance. The institution must not request or accept
from any lender any assistance with call center staffing or financial
aid office staffing, except that nothing in this paragraph will be
construed to prohibit the institution from requesting or accepting
assistance from a lender related to--
(i) Professional development training for financial aid
administrators;
(ii) Providing educational counseling materials, financial literacy
materials, or debt management materials to borrowers, provided that
such materials disclose to borrowers the identification of any lender
that assisted in preparing or providing such materials; or
(iii) Staffing services on a short-term, nonrecurring basis to
assist the institution with financial aid-related functions during
emergencies, including State-declared or Federally declared natural
disasters, Federally declared national disasters, and other localized
disasters and emergencies identified by the Secretary; and
(7) Advisory board compensation. Any employee who is employed in
the financial aid office of the institution, or who otherwise has
responsibilities with respect to FFEL Program loans or private
education loans or other student financial aid of the institution, and
who serves on an advisory board, commission, or group established by a
lender, guarantor, or group of lenders or guarantors, must not receive
anything of value from the lender, guarantor, or group of lenders or
guarantors, except that the employee may be reimbursed for reasonable
expenses, as that term is defined in Sec. 668.16(d)(2)(ii), incurred
in serving on such advisory board, commission, or group.
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control
number 1845-XXXA)
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1019b(c)(2)), 1094(a)(25) and (e).
Subpart D--Loan Information to be Disclosed by Institutions
Participating in the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program
Sec. 601.30 Duties of institutions.
(a) Each covered institution participating in the William D. Ford
Direct Loan Program under part D of title IV of the HEA must--
(1) Make the information identified in a model disclosure form
developed by the Secretary pursuant to section 154(a) of the HEA
available to students attending or planning to attend the institution,
or the families of such students, as applicable; and
(2) If the institution provides information regarding a private
education loan to a prospective borrower, concurrently provide such
borrower with the information identified on the model disclosure form
that the Secretary provides to the institution under section 154(a) of
the HEA.
(b) In providing the information required under paragraph (a) of
this section, a covered institution may use a comparable form designed
by the institution instead of the model disclosure form.
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control
number 1845-XXXB)
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1019c(b).
Subpart E--Lender Responsibilities
Sec. 601.40 Disclosure and reporting requirements for lenders.
(a) Disclosures to borrowers. (1) A lender must, at or prior to
disbursement of a FFEL loan, provide the borrower, in writing
(including through electronic means), in clear and understandable
terms, the disclosures required in Sec. 682.205(a) and (b).
(2) A lender must, for each of its private education loans, comply
with the disclosure requirements under section 128(e) of the Truth in
Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1638(e)).
(b) Reports to the Secretary. Each FFEL lender must report annually
to the Secretary--
(1) Any reasonable expenses paid or provided to any agent of a
covered institution who is employed in the financial aid office or has
other responsibilities with respect to education loans or other student
financial aid of the institution for service on a lender advisory
board, commission or group established by a lender or group of lenders;
or
[[Page 55648]]
(2) Any similar expenses paid or provided to any agent of an
institution-affiliated organization who is involved in recommending,
promoting, or endorsing education loans.
(3) The report required by this paragraph must include--
(i) The amount of expenses paid or provided for each specific
instance in which the lender provided expenses;
(ii) The name of any agent described in paragraph (b)(1) of this
section to whom the expenses were paid or provided;
(iii) The dates of the activity for which the expenses were paid or
provided; and
(iv) A brief description of the activity for which the expenses
were paid or provided.
(c) Lender certification of compliance. (1) Any FFEL lender
participating in one or more preferred lender arrangements must
annually certify to the Secretary its compliance with the Higher
Education Act of 1965, as amended; and
(2) If the lender is required to submit an audit under 34 CFR
682.305(c), the lender's compliance with the requirements under this
section must be reported on and attested to annually by the lender's
auditor.
(3) A lender may comply with the certification requirements of this
section if the certifications are provided as part of the annual audit
required by 34 CFR 682.305(c).
(4) A lender who is not required to submit an audit must submit the
required certification at such time and in such manner as directed by
the Secretary.
(d) Annual lender report to covered institutions. A FFEL lender
with a preferred lender arrangement with a covered institution or an
institution-affiliated organization relating to FFEL loans must
annually, on a date prescribed by the Secretary, provide to the covered
institution or the institution-affiliated organization and to the
Secretary, such information required by the Secretary in relation to
the FFEL loans the lender plans to offer pursuant to that preferred
lender arrangement for the next award year.
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control
number 1845-XXXA)
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1019a(b) and 1019b(b).
PART 668--STUDENT ASSISTANCE GENERAL PROVISIONS
0
2. The authority citation for part 668 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1001, 1002, 1003, 1070g, 1085, 1088, 1091,
1092, 1094, 1099c, and 1099c-1, unless otherwise noted.
0
3. Section 668.14 is amended by adding new paragraphs (b)(27), (b)(28)
and (b)(29) as follows:
Sec. 668.14 Program participation agreement.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(27) In the case of an institution participating in a Title IV, HEA
loan program, the institution--
(i) Will develop, publish, administer, and enforce a code of
conduct with respect to loans made, insured or guaranteed under the
Title IV, HEA loan programs in accordance with 34 CFR 601.21; and
(ii) Must inform its officers, employees, and agents with
responsibilities with respect to loans made, insured or guaranteed
under the Title IV, HEA loan programs annually of the provisions of the
code required under paragraph (b)(27) of this section;
(28) For any year in which the institution has a preferred lender
arrangement (as defined in 34 CFR 601.2(b)), it will at least annually
compile, maintain, and make available for students attending the
institution, and the families of such students, a list in print or
other medium, of the specific lenders for loans made, insured, or
guaranteed under title IV of the HEA or private education loans that
the institution recommends, promotes, or endorses in accordance with
such preferred lender arrangement. In making such a list, the
institution must comply with the requirements in 34 CFR 682.212(h) and
34 CFR 601.10;
(29)(i) It will, upon the request of an enrolled or admitted
student who is an applicant for a private education loan (as defined in
34 CFR 601.2(b)), provide to the applicant the self-certification form
required under 34 CFR 601.11(d) and the information required to
complete the form, to the extent the institution possesses such
information, including--
(A) The applicant's cost of attendance at the institution, as
determined by the institution under part F of title IV of the HEA;
(B) The applicant's estimated financial assistance, including
amounts of financial assistance used to replace the expected family
contribution as determined by the institution in accordance with title
IV, for students who have completed the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid; and
(C) The difference between the amounts under paragraphs
(b)(29)(i)(A) and (29)(i)(B) of this section, as applicable.
(ii) It will, upon the request of the applicant, discuss with the
applicant the availability of Federal, State, and institutional student
financial aid;
* * * * *
0
4. Section 668.16 is amended by:
0
A. Revising paragraph (d).
0
B. Revising paragraph (m).
0
C. Revising the authority citation that appears at the end of the
section.
The revisions read as follows:
Sec. 668.16 Standards of administrative capability.
* * * * *
(d)(1) Establishes and maintains records required under this part
and the individual Title IV, HEA program regulations; and
(2)(i) Reports annually to the Secretary on any reasonable
reimbursements paid or provided by a private education lender or group
of lenders as described under section 140(d) of the Truth in Lending
Act (15 U.S.C. 1631(d)) to any employee who is employed in the
financial aid office of the institution or who otherwise has
responsibilities with respect to education loans, including
responsibilities involving the selection of lenders, or other financial
aid of the institution, including--
(A) The amount for each specific instance of reasonable expenses
paid or provided;
(B) The name of the financial aid official, other employee, or
agent to whom the expenses were paid or provided;
(C) The dates of the activity for which the expenses were paid or
provided; and
(D) A brief description of the activity for which the expenses were
paid or provided.
(ii) Expenses are considered to be reasonable if the expenses--
(A) Meet the standards of and are paid in accordance with a State
government reimbursement policy applicable to the entity; or
(B) Meet the standards of and are paid in accordance with the
applicable Federal cost principles for reimbursement, if no State
policy that is applicable to the entity exists.
(iii) The policy must be consistently applied to an institution's
employees reimbursed under this paragraph;
* * * * *
(m)(1) Has a cohort default rate--
(i) That is less than 25 percent for each of the three most recent
fiscal years during which rates have been issued, to the extent those
rates are calculated under subpart M of this part;
[[Page 55649]]
(ii) On or after 2014, that is less than 30 percent for at least
two of the three most recent fiscal years during which the Secretary
has issued rates for the institution under subpart N of this part; and
(iii) As defined in 34 CFR 674.5, on loans made under the Federal
Perkins Loan Program to students for attendance at that institution
that does not exceed 15 percent.
(2)(i) However, if the Secretary determines that an institution's
administrative capability is impaired solely because the institution
fails to comply with paragraph (m)(1) of this section, and the
institution is not subject to a loss of eligibility under Sec. Sec.
668.187(a) or 668.206(a), the Secretary allows the institution to
continue to participate in the Title IV, HEA programs. In such a case,
the Secretary may provisionally certify the institution in accordance
with Sec. 668.13(c) except as provided in paragraphs (m)(2)(ii),
(m)(2)(iii), (m)(2)(iv), and (m)(2)(v) of this section.
(ii) An institution that fails to meet the standard of
administrative capability under paragraph (m)(1)(ii) based on two
cohort default rates that are greater than or equal to 30 percent but
less than or equal to 40 percent is not placed on provisional
certification under paragraph (m)(2)(i) of this section--
(A) If it has timely filed a request for adjustment or appeal under
Sec. Sec. 668.209, 668.210, or 668.212 with respect to the second such
rate, and the request for adjustment or appeal is either pending or
succeeds in reducing the rate below 30 percent; or
(B) If it has timely filed an appeal under Sec. Sec. 668.213 or
668.214 after receiving the second such rate, and the appeal is either
pending or successful.
(iii) The institution may appeal the loss of full participation in
a Title IV, HEA program under paragraph (m)(2)(i) of this section by
submitting an erroneous data appeal in writing to the Secretary in
accordance with and on the grounds specified in Sec. Sec. 668.192 or
668.211 as applicable;
(iv) If you have 30 or fewer borrowers in the three most recent
cohorts of borrowers used to calculate your cohort default rate under
subpart N of this part, we not provisionally certify you solely based
on cohort default rates;
(v) If a rate that would otherwise potentially subject you to
provisional certification under paragraph (m)(1)(ii) and (m)(2)(i) of
this section is calculated as an average rate, we will not
provisionally certify you solely based on cohort default rates;
* * * * *
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1082, 1085, 1092, 1094, and 1099c.
0
5. Section 668.42 is amended by:
0
A. In paragraph (a)(1), removing the word ``student's'' and adding, in
its place, the word ``students''.
0
B. In paragraph (a), adding a new paragraph (4).
0
C. In paragraph (c) introductory text, removing the word ``shall'' and
adding, in its place, the word ``must''.
0
D. In paragraph (c)(5), adding the word ``and'' after the punctuation
``;''.
0
E. In paragraph (c)(6), removing the words ``The institution shall
provide and collect exit counseling information'' and adding, in their
place, the words ``The exit counseling information the institution
provides and collects''.
0
F. In paragraph (c)(6), removing the punctuation and word ``; and'' and
adding, in their place, the punctuation ``.''.
0
G. In paragraph (c), removing paragraph (7).
The addition reads as follows:
Sec. 668.42 Financial assistance information.
(a) * * *
(4) The institution must describe the terms and conditions of the
loans students receive under the Federal Family Education Loan Program,
the William D. Ford Federal Direct Student Loan Program, and the
Federal Perkins Loan Program.
* * * * *
0
6. Revise the subpart heading of subpart M to read as follows:
Subpart M--Two Year Cohort Default Rates
0
7. Section 668.181 is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 668.181 Purpose of this subpart.
(a) General. Your cohort default rate is a measure we use to
determine your eligibility to participate in various Title IV, HEA
programs. We may also use it for determining your eligibility for
exemptions, such as those for certain disbursement requirements under
the FFEL and Direct Loan Programs. This subpart applies solely to
cohorts, as defined in Sec. Sec. 668.182(a) and 668.183(b), for fiscal
years through 2011. For these cohorts, this subpart describes how
cohort default rates are calculated, some of the consequences of cohort
default rates, and how you may request changes to your cohort default
rates or appeal their consequences. Under this subpart, you submit a
``challenge'' after you receive your draft cohort default rate, and you
request an ``adjustment'' or ``appeal'' after your official cohort
default rate is published.
(b) Cohort Default Rates. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
in this subpart, we will issue annually two sets of draft and official
cohort default rates for fiscal years 2009, 2010, and 2011. For each of
these years, you will receive one set of draft and official cohort
default rates under this subpart and another set of draft and official
cohort default rates under subpart N of this part.
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control
number 1845-0022)
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1082, 1085, 1094, 1099c.
Sec. 668.183 [Amended]
0
8. Section 668.183(c)(1) is amended by:
0
(A) Removing the word ``or'' at the end of paragraph (c)(1)(ii);
0
(B) Removing the period at the end of paragraph (c)(1)(iii) and adding
a colon followed by the word ``or'';
0
(C) Adding a new paragraph (iv).
The addition reads as follows:
Sec. 668.183 Calculating and applying cohort default rates.
* * * * *
(c) * * *
(iv) Before the end of the following fiscal year, the borrower
fails to make an installment payment, when due, on a Federal Stafford
Loan that is held by the Secretary or a Federal Consolidation Loan that
is held by the Secretary and was used to repay a Federal Stafford Loan,
if such Federal Stafford Loan or Federal Consolidation Loan was used to
include the borrower in the cohort, and the borrower's failure persists
for 360 days.
* * * * *
Sec. 668.184 [Amended]
0
9. Section 668.184(a)(1) is amended by removing the word ``If'' and
adding, in its place, the words ``Except as provided under 34 CFR
600.32(d), if''.
0
10. Section 668.185(a)(3) is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 668.185 Draft cohort default rates and your ability to challenge
before official cohort default rates are issued.
(a) * * *
(3) Your draft cohort default rate and the loan record detail
report are not considered public information and may not be otherwise
voluntarily released to the public by a data manager.
* * * * *
0
11. Section 668.186 is revised to read as follows:
[[Page 55650]]
Sec. 668.186 Notice of your official cohort default rate.
(a) We electronically notify you of your cohort default rate after
we calculate it, by sending you an eCDR notification package to the
destination point you designate. After we send our notice to you, we
publish a list of cohort default rates calculated under this subpart
for all institutions.
(b) If you have one or more borrowers entering repayment or are
subject to sanctions, or if the Department believes you will have an
official cohort default rate calculated as an average rate, you will
receive a loan record detail report as part of your eCDR notification
package.
(c) You have five business days, from the transmission date for
eCDR notification packages as posted on the Department's Web site, to
report any problem with receipt of the electronic transmission of your
eCDR notification package.
(d) Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, timelines
for submitting challenges, adjustments, and appeals begin on the sixth
business day following the transmission date for eCDR notification
packages that is posted on the Department's Web site.
(e) If you timely report a problem with the receipt of the
electronic transmission of your eCDR notification package under
paragraph (c) of this section and the Department agrees that the
problem with transmission was not caused by you, the Department will
extend the challenge, appeal and adjustment deadlines and timeframes to
account for a retransmission of your eCDR notification package after
the technical problem is resolved.
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control
number 1845-0022)
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1082, 1085, 1094, 1099c.
0
12. Section 668.187 is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 668.187 Consequences of cohort default rates on your ability to
participate in Title IV, HEA programs.
(a) End of participation. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (e)
of this section, you lose your eligibility to participate in the FFEL
and Direct Loan programs 30 days after you receive our notice that your
most recent cohort default rate is greater than 40 percent.
(2) Except as provided in paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section,
you lose your eligibility to participate in the FFEL, Direct Loan, and
Federal Pell Grant programs 30 days after you receive our notice that
your three most recent cohort default rates are each 25 percent or
greater.
(b) Length of period of ineligibility. Your loss of eligibility
under this section continues--
(1) For the remainder of the fiscal year in which we notify you
that you are subject to a loss of eligibility; and
(2) For the next 2 fiscal years.
(c) Using a cohort default rate more than once. The use of a cohort
default rate as a basis for a loss of eligibility under this section
does not preclude its use as a basis for--
(1) Any concurrent or subsequent loss of eligibility under this
section; or
(2) Any other action by us.
(d) Continuing participation in Pell. If you are subject to a loss
of eligibility under paragraph (a)(2) of this section, based on three
cohort default rates of 25 percent or greater, you may continue to
participate in the Federal Pell Grant Program if we determine that
you--
(1) Were ineligible to participate in the FFEL and Direct Loan
programs before October 7, 1998, and your eligibility was not
reinstated;
(2) Requested in writing, before October 7, 1998, to withdraw your
participation in the FFEL and Direct Loan programs, and you were not
later reinstated; or
(3) Have not certified an FFELP loan or originated a Direct Loan
Program loan on or after July 7, 1998.
(e) Requests for adjustments and appeals. (1) A loss of eligibility
under this section does not take effect while your request for
adjustment or appeal, as listed in Sec. 668.189(a), is pending,
provided your request for adjustment or appeal is complete, timely,
accurate, and in the required format.
(2) Eligibility continued under paragraph (e)(1) of this section
ends if we determine that none of the requests for adjustments and
appeals you have submitted qualify you for continued eligibility under
Sec. 668.189. Loss of eligibility takes effect on the date that you
receive notice of our determination on your last pending request for
adjustment or appeal.
(3) You do not lose eligibility under this section if we determine
that your request for adjustment or appeal meets all requirements of
this subpart and qualifies you for continued eligibility under Sec.
668.189.
(4) To avoid liabilities you might otherwise incur under paragraph
(f) of this section, you may choose to suspend your participation in
the FFEL and Direct Loan programs during the adjustment or appeal
process.
(f) Liabilities during the adjustment or appeal process. If you
continued to participate in the FFEL or Direct Loan Program under
paragraph (e)(1) of this section, and we determine that none of your
requests for adjustments or appeals qualify you for continued
eligibility--
(1) For any FFEL or Direct Loan Program loan that you certified and
delivered or originated and disbursed more than 30 days after you
received the notice of your cohort default rate, we estimate the amount
of interest, special allowance, reinsurance, and any related or similar
payments we make or are obligated to make on those loans;
(2) We exclude from this estimate any amount attributable to funds
that you delivered or disbursed more than 45 days after you submitted
your completed appeal to us;
(3) We notify you of the estimated amount; and
(4) Within 45 days after you receive our notice of the estimated
amount, you must pay us that amount, unless--
(i) You file an appeal under the procedures established in subpart
H of this part (for the purposes of subpart H of this part, our notice
of the estimate is considered to be a final program review
determination); or
(ii) We permit a longer repayment period.
(g) Regaining eligibility. If you lose your eligibility to
participate in a program under this section, you may not participate in
that program until--
(1) The period described in paragraph (b) of this section has
ended;
(2) You pay any amount owed to us under this section or are meeting
that obligation under an agreement acceptable to us;
(3) You submit a new application for participation in the program;
(4) We determine that you meet all of the participation
requirements in effect at the time of your application; and
(5) You and we enter into a new program participation agreement.
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control
number 1845-0022)
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1082, 1085, 1094, 1099c.
0
13. In Sec. 668.188, the introductory text in paragraph (a) is revised
to read as follows:
Sec. 668.188 Preventing evasion of the consequences of cohort default
rates.
(a) General. You are subject to a loss of eligibility that has
already been imposed against another institution as a result of cohort
default rates if--
* * * * *
0
14. Section 668.190 is revised to read as follows:
[[Page 55651]]
Sec. 668.190 Uncorrected data adjustments.
(a) Eligibility. You may request an uncorrected data adjustment for
your most recent cohort of borrowers, used to calculate your most
recent official cohort default rate, if in response to your challenge
under Sec. 668.185(b), a data manager agreed correctly to change the
data, but the changes are not reflected in your official cohort default
rate.
(b) Deadlines for requesting an uncorrected data adjustment. You
must send us a request for an uncorrected data adjustment, including
all supporting documentation, within 30 days after you receive your
loan record detail report from us.
(c) Determination. We recalculate your cohort default rate, based
on the corrected data, and electronically correct the rate that is
publicly released, if we determine that--
(1) In response to your challenge under Sec. 668.185(b), a data
manager agreed to change the data;
(2) The changes described in paragraph (c)(1) of this section are
not reflected in your official cohort default rate; and
(3) We agree that the data are incorrect.
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control
number 1845-0022)
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1082, 1085, 1094, 1099c.
0
15. Section 668.191 is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 668.191 New data adjustments.
(a) Eligibility. You may request a new data adjustment for your
most recent cohort of borrowers, used to calculate your most recent
official cohort default rate, if--
(1) A comparison of the loan record detail reports that we provide
to you for the draft and official cohort default rates shows that the
data have been newly included, excluded, or otherwise changed; and
(2) You identify errors in the data described in paragraph (a)(1)
of this section that are confirmed by the data manager.
(b) Deadlines for requesting a new data adjustment. (1) You must
send to the relevant data manager, or data managers, and us a request
for a new data adjustment, including all supporting documentation,
within 15 days after you receive your loan record detail report from
us.
(2) Within 20 days after receiving your request for a new data
adjustment, the data manager must send you and us a response that--
(i) Addresses each of your allegations of error; and
(ii) Includes the documentation used to support the data manager's
position.
(3) Within 15 days after receiving a guaranty agency's notice that
we hold an FFELP loan about which you are inquiring, you must send us
your request for a new data adjustment for that loan. We respond to
your request as set forth under paragraph (b)(2) of this section.
(4) Within 15 days after receiving incomplete or illegible records
or data from a data manager, you must send a request for replacement
records or clarification of data to the data manager and us.
(5) Within 20 days after receiving your request for replacement
records or clarification of data, the data manager must--
(i) Replace the missing or illegible records;
(ii) Provide clarifying information; or
(iii) Notify you and us that no clarifying information or
additional or improved records are available.
(6) You must send us your completed request for a new data
adjustment, including all supporting documentation--
(i) Within 30 days after you receive the final data manager's
response to your request or requests; or
(ii) If you are also filing an erroneous data appeal or a loan
servicing appeal, by the latest of the filing dates required in
paragraph (b)(6)(i) of this section or in Sec. 668.192(b)(6)(i) or
Sec. 668.193(c)(10)(i).
(c) Determination. If we determine that incorrect data were used to
calculate your cohort default rate, we recalculate your cohort default
rate based on the correct data and electronically correct the rate that
is publicly released.
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control
number 1845-0022)
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1082, 1085, 1094, 1099c.
0
16. Section 668.192 is amended by:
0
(A) In paragraph (b)(6)(ii), removing the reference Sec.
668.191(b)(7)(i) and adding, in its place, Sec. 668.191(b)(6)(i).
0
(B) Revising paragraph (c).
The revision reads as follows:
Sec. 668.192 Erroneous data appeals.
* * * * *
(c) Determination. If we determine that incorrect data were used to
calculate your cohort default rate, we recalculate your cohort default
rate based on the correct data and electronically correct the rate that
is publicly released.
* * * * *
0
17. Section 668.193 is amended by:
0
(A) In paragraph (c)(10)(ii), removing the reference Sec.
668.191(b)(7)(i) and adding, in its place, Sec. 668.191(b)(6)(i).
0
(B) Revising paragraph (f)(2).
The revision reads as follows:
Sec. 668.193 Loan servicing appeals.
* * * * *
(f) * * *
(2) Based on our determination, we use a statistically valid
methodology to exclude the corresponding percentage of borrowers from
both the numerator and denominator of the calculation of your cohort
default rate, and electronically correct the rate that is publicly
released.
* * * * *
0
18. Section 668.196(c) is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 668.196 Average rates appeals.
* * * * *
(c) Determination. You do not lose eligibility under Sec. 668.187
if we determine that you meet the requirements for an average rates
appeal.
* * * * *
Sec. 668.198 [Removed]
0
19. Section 668.198 is removed.
Subpart M--[Amended]
0
20. Subpart M of Part 668 is amended by removing appendices A and B.
0
21. Add a new subpart N to Part 668 to read as follows:
Subpart N--Cohort Default Rates
Sec.
668.200 Purpose of this subpart.
668.201 Definitions of terms used in this subpart.
668.202 Calculating and applying cohort default rates.
668.203 Determining cohort default rates for institutions that have
undergone a change in status.
668.204 Draft cohort default rates and your ability to challenge
before official cohort default rates are issued.
668.205 Notice of your official cohort default rate.
668.206 Consequences of cohort default rates on your ability to
participate in Title IV, HEA programs.
668.207 Preventing evasion of the consequences of cohort default
rates.
668.208 General requirements for adjusting official cohort default
rates and for appealing their consequences.
668.209 Uncorrected data adjustments.
668.210 New data adjustments.
668.211 Erroneous data appeals.
668.212 Loan servicing appeals.
668.213 Economically disadvantaged appeals.
668.214 Participation rate index appeals.
668.215 Average rates appeals.
668.216 Thirty-or-fewer borrowers appeals.
[[Page 55652]]
668.217 Default prevention plans.
Appendix A to Subpart N of Part 668--Sample Default Prevention Plan
Subpart N--Cohort Default Rates
Sec. 668.200 Purpose of this subpart.
(a) General. Your cohort default rate is a measure we use to
determine your eligibility to participate in various Title IV, HEA
programs. We may also use it for determining your eligibility for
exemptions, such as those for certain disbursement requirements under
the FFEL and Direct Loan Programs. This subpart applies solely to
cohorts, as defined in Sec. Sec. 668.201(a) and 668.202(b), for fiscal
years 2009 and later. For these cohorts, this subpart describes how
cohort default rates are calculated, some of the consequences of cohort
default rates, and how you may request changes to your cohort default
rates or appeal their consequences. Under this subpart, you submit a
``challenge'' after you receive your draft cohort default rate, and you
request an ``adjustment'' or ``appeal'' after your official cohort
default rate is published.
(b) Cohort Default Rates. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
in this subpart, we will issue annually two sets of draft and official
cohort default rates for fiscal years 2009, 2010, and 2011. For each of
these years, you will receive one set of draft and official cohort
default rates under this subpart and another set of draft and official
cohort default rates under subpart M of this part.
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1082, 1085, 1094, 1099c.
Sec. 668.201 Definitions of terms used in this subpart.
We use the following definitions in this subpart:
(a) Cohort. Your cohort is a group of borrowers used to determine
your cohort default rate. The method for identifying the borrowers in a
cohort is provided in Sec. 668.202(b).
(b) Data manager. (1) For FFELP loans held by a guaranty agency or
lender, the guaranty agency is the data manager.
(2) For FFELP loans that we hold, we are the data manager.
(3) For Direct Loan Program loans, the Direct Loan Servicer, as
defined in 34 CFR 685.102, is the data manager.
(c) Days. In this subpart, ``days'' means calendar days.
(d) Default. A borrower is considered to be in default for cohort
default rate purposes under the rules in Sec. 668.202(c).
(e) Draft cohort default rate. Your draft cohort default rate is a
rate we issue, for your review, before we issue your official cohort
default rate. A draft cohort default rate is used only for the purposes
described in Sec. 668.204.
(f) Entering repayment. (1) Except as provided in paragraphs (f)(2)
and (f)(3) of this section, loans are considered to enter repayment on
the dates described in 34 CFR 682.200 (under the definition of
``repayment period'') and in 34 CFR 685.207.
(2) A Federal SLS loan is considered to enter repayment--
(i) At the same time the borrower's Federal Stafford loan enters
repayment, if the borrower received the Federal SLS loan and the
Federal Stafford loan during the same period of continuous enrollment;
or
(ii) In all other cases, on the day after the student ceases to be
enrolled at an institution on at least a half-time basis in an
educational program leading to a degree, certificate, or other
recognized educational credential.
(3) For the purposes of this subpart, a loan is considered to enter
repayment on the date that a borrower repays it in full, if the loan is
paid in full before the loan enters repayment under paragraphs (f)(1)
or (f)(2) of this section.
(g) Fiscal year. A fiscal year begins on October 1 and ends on the
following September 30. A fiscal year is identified by the calendar
year in which it ends.
(h) Loan record detail report. The loan record detail report is a
report that we produce. It contains the data used to calculate your
draft or official cohort default rate.
(i) Official cohort default rate. Your official cohort default rate
is the cohort default rate that we publish for you under Sec. 668.205.
Cohort default rates calculated under this subpart are not related in
any way to cohort default rates that are calculated for the Federal
Perkins Loan Program.
(j) We. We are the Department, the Secretary, or the Secretary's
designee.
(k) You. You are an institution.
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1082, 1085, 1094, 1099c.
Sec. 668.202 Calculating and applying cohort default rates.
(a) General. This section describes the four steps that we follow
to calculate and apply your cohort default rate for a fiscal year:
(1) First, under paragraph (b) of this section, we identify the
borrowers in your cohort for the fiscal year. If the total number of
borrowers in that cohort is fewer than 30, we also identify the
borrowers in your cohorts for the 2 most recent prior fiscal years.
(2) Second, under paragraph (c) of this section, we identify the
borrowers in the cohort (or cohorts) who are considered to be in
default by the end of the second fiscal year following the fiscal year
those borrowers entered repayment. If more than one cohort will be used
to calculate your cohort default rate, we identify defaulted borrowers
separately for each cohort.
(3) Third, under paragraph (d) of this section, we calculate your
cohort default rate.
(4) Fourth, we apply your cohort default rate to all of your
locations--
(i) As you exist on the date you receive the notice of your
official cohort default rate; and
(ii) From the date on which you receive the notice of your official
cohort default rate until you receive our notice that the cohort
default rate no longer applies.
(b) Identify the borrowers in a cohort. (1) Except as provided in
paragraph (b)(3) of this section, your cohort for a fiscal year
consists of all of your current and former students who, during that
fiscal year, entered repayment on any Federal Stafford loan, Federal
SLS loan, Direct Subsidized loan, or Direct Unsubsidized loan that they
received to attend your institution, or on the portion of a loan made
under the Federal Consolidation Loan Program or the Federal Direct
Consolidation Loan Program (as defined in 34 CFR 685.102) that is used
to repay those loans.
(2) A borrower may be included in more than one of your cohorts and
may be included in the cohorts of more than one institution in the same
fiscal year.
(3) A TEACH Grant that has been converted to a Federal Direct
Unsubsidized Loan is not considered for the purpose of calculating and
applying cohort default rates.
(c) Identify the borrowers in a cohort who are in default. (1)
Except as provided in paragraph (c)(2) of this section, a borrower in a
cohort for a fiscal year is considered to be in default if, before the
end of the second fiscal year following the fiscal year the borrower
entered repayment--
(i) The borrower defaults on any FFELP loan that was used to
include the borrower in the cohort or on any Federal Consolidation Loan
Program loan that repaid a loan that was used to include the borrower
in the cohort (however, a borrower is not considered to be in default
unless a claim for insurance has been paid on the loan by a guaranty
agency or by us);
(ii) The borrower fails to make an installment payment, when due,
on any Direct Loan Program loan that was used to include the borrower
in the cohort or on any Federal Direct Consolidation Loan Program loan
that repaid a loan that was used to include the borrower
[[Page 55653]]
in the cohort, and the borrower's failure persists for 360 days (or for
270 days, if the borrower's first day of delinquency was before October
7, 1998);
(iii) You or your owner, agent, contractor, employee, or any other
affiliated entity or individual make a payment to prevent a borrower's
default on a loan that is used to include the borrower in that cohort;
or
(iv) The borrower fails to make an installment payment, when due,
on a Federal Stafford Loan that is held by the Secretary or a Federal
Consolidation Loan that is held by the Secretary and that was used to
repay a Federal Stafford Loan, if such Federal Stafford Loan or Federal
Consolidation was used to include the borrower in the cohort, and the
borrower's failure persists for 360 days.
(2) A borrower is not considered to be in default based on a loan
that is, before the end of the second fiscal year following the fiscal
year in which it entered repayment--
(i) Rehabilitated under 34 CFR 682.405 or 34 CFR 685.211(e); or
(ii) Repurchased by a lender because the claim for insurance was
submitted or paid in error.
(d) Calculate the cohort default rate. Except as provided in Sec.
668.203, if there are--
(1)(i) Thirty or more borrowers in your cohort for a fiscal year,
your cohort default rate is the percentage that is calculated by--
(ii) Dividing the number of borrowers in the cohort who are in
default, as determined under paragraph (c) of this section by the
number of borrowers in the cohort, as determined under paragraph (b) of
this section.
(2)(i) Fewer than 30 borrowers in your cohort for a fiscal year,
your cohort default rate is the percentage that is calculated by--
(ii) Dividing the total number of borrowers in that cohort and in
the two most recent prior cohorts who are in default, as determined for
each cohort under paragraph (c) of this section by the total number of
borrowers in that cohort and the two most recent prior cohorts, as
determined for each cohort under paragraph (b) of this section.
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070g, 1082, 1085, 1094, 1099c.
Sec. 668.203 Determining cohort default rates for institutions that
have undergone a change in status.
(a) General. (1) Except as provided under 34 CFR 600.32(d), if you
undergo a change in status identified in this section, your cohort
default rate is determined under this section.
(2) In determining cohort default rates under this section, the
date of a merger, acquisition, or other change in status is the date
the change occurs.
(3) A change in status may affect your eligibility to participate
in Title IV, HEA programs under Sec. 668.206 or Sec. 668.207.
(4) If another institution's cohort default rate is applicable to
you under this section, you may challenge, request an adjustment, or
submit an appeal for the cohort default rate under the same
requirements that would be applicable to the other institution under
Sec. Sec. 668.204 and 668.208.
(b) Acquisition or merger of institutions. If your institution
acquires, or was created by the merger of, one or more institutions
that participated independently in the Title IV, HEA programs
immediately before the acquisition or merger--
(1) For the cohort default rates published before the date of the
acquisition or merger, your cohort default rates are the same as those
of your predecessor that had the highest total number of borrowers
entering repayment in the two most recent cohorts used to calculate
those cohort default rates; and
(2) Beginning with the first cohort default rate published after
the date of the acquisition or merger, your cohort default rates are
determined by including the applicable borrowers from each institution
involved in the acquisition or merger in the calculation under Sec.
668.202.
(c) Acquisition of branches or locations. If you acquire a branch
or a location from another institution participating in the Title IV,
HEA programs--
(1) The cohort default rates published for you before the date of
the change apply to you and to the newly acquired branch or location;
(2) Beginning with the first cohort default rate published after
the date of the change, your cohort default rates for the next 3 fiscal
years are determined by including the applicable borrowers from your
institution and the other institution (including all of its locations)
in the calculation under Sec. 668.202;
(3) After the period described in paragraph (c)(2) of this section,
your cohort default rates do not include borrowers from the other
institution in the calculation under Sec. 668.202; and
(4) At all times, the cohort default rate for the institution from
which you acquired the branch or location is not affected by this
change in status.
(d) Branches or locations becoming institutions. If you are a
branch or location of an institution that is participating in the Title
IV, HEA programs, and you become a separate, new institution for the
purposes of participating in those programs--
(1) The cohort default rates published before the date of the
change for your former parent institution are also applicable to you;
(2) Beginning with the first cohort default rate published after
the date of the change, your cohort default rates for the next 3 fiscal
years are determined by including the applicable borrowers from your
institution and your former parent institution (including all of its
locations) in the calculation under Sec. 668.202; and
(3) After the period described in paragraph (d)(2) of this section,
your cohort default rates do not include borrowers from your former
parent institution in the calculation under Sec. 668.202.
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1082, 1085, 1094, 1099c.
Sec. 668.204 Draft cohort default rates and your ability to challenge
before official cohort default rates are issued.
(a) General. (1) We notify you of your draft cohort default rate
before your official cohort default rate is calculated. Our notice
includes the loan record detail report for the draft cohort default
rate.
(2) Regardless of the number of borrowers included in your cohort,
your draft cohort default rate is always calculated using data for that
fiscal year alone, using the method described in Sec. 668.202(d)(1).
(3) Your draft cohort default rate and the loan record detail
report are not considered public information and may not be otherwise
voluntarily released to the public by a data manager.
(4) Any challenge you submit under this section and any response
provided by a data manager must be in a format acceptable to us. This
acceptable format is described in the ``Cohort Default Rate Guide''
that we provide to you. If your challenge does not comply with the
requirements in the ``Cohort Default Rate Guide,'' we may deny your
challenge.
(b) Incorrect data challenges. (1) You may challenge the accuracy
of the data included on the loan record detail report by sending a
challenge to the relevant data manager, or data managers, within 45
days after you receive the data. Your challenge must include--
(i) A description of the information in the loan record detail
report that you believe is incorrect; and
(ii) Documentation that supports your contention that the data are
incorrect.
(2) Within 30 days after receiving your challenge, the data manager
must send you and us a response that--
[[Page 55654]]
(i) Addresses each of your allegations of error; and
(ii) Includes the documentation that supports the data manager's
position.
(3) If your data manager concludes that draft data in the loan
record detail report are incorrect, and we agree, we use the corrected
data to calculate your cohort default rate.
(4) If you fail to challenge the accuracy of data under this
section, you cannot contest the accuracy of those data in an
uncorrected data adjustment, under Sec. 668.209, or in an erroneous
data appeal, under Sec. 668.211.
(c) Participation rate index challenges. (1)(i) You may challenge
an anticipated loss of eligibility under Sec. 668.206(a)(1), based on
one cohort default rate over 40 percent, if your participation rate
index for that cohort's fiscal year is equal to or less than 0.06015.
(ii) You may challenge an anticipated loss of eligibility under
Sec. 668.206(a)(2), based on three cohort default rates of 30 percent
or greater, if your participation rate index is equal to or less than
0.0625 for any of those three cohorts' fiscal years.
(iii) You may challenge a potential placement on provisional
certification under Sec. 668.16(m)(2)(i), based on two cohort default
rates that fail to satisfy the standard of administrative capability in
Sec. 668.16(m)(1)(ii), if your participation rate index is equal to or
less than 0.0625 for either of the two cohorts' fiscal years.
(2) For a participation rate index challenge, your participation
rate index is calculated as described in Sec. 668.214(b), except
that--
(i) The draft cohort default rate is considered to be your most
recent cohort default rate; and
(ii) If the cohort used to calculate your draft cohort default rate
included fewer than 30 borrowers, you may calculate your participation
rate index for that fiscal year using either your most recent draft
cohort default rate or the average rate that would be calculated for
that fiscal year, using the method described in Sec. 668.202(d)(2).
(3) You must send your participation rate index challenge,
including all supporting documentation, to us within 45 days after you
receive your draft cohort default rate.
(4) We notify you of our determination on your participation rate
index challenge before your official cohort default rate is published.
(5) If we determine that you qualify for continued eligibility or
full certification based on your participation rate index challenge,
you will not lose eligibility under Sec. 668.206 or be placed on
provisional certification under Sec. 668.16(m)(2)(i) when your next
official cohort default rate is published. A successful challenge that
is based on your draft cohort default rate does not excuse you from any
other loss of eligibility or placement on provisional certification.
However, if your successful challenge under paragraph (c)(1)(ii) or
(c)(1)(iii) of this section is based on a prior, official cohort
default rate, and not on your draft cohort default rate, we also excuse
you from any subsequent loss of eligibility, under Sec. 668.206(a)(2)
or placement on provisional certification, under Sec. 668.16(m)(2)(i),
that would be based on that official cohort default rate.
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1082, 1085, 1094, 1099c.
Sec. 668.205 Notice of your official cohort default rate.
(a) We electronically notify you of your cohort default rate after
we calculate it, by sending you an eCDR notification package to the
destination point you designate. After we send our notice to you, we
publish a list of cohort default rates for all institutions.
(b) If you had one or more borrowers entering repayment in the
fiscal year for which the rate is calculated, or are subject to
sanctions, or if the Department believes you will have an official
cohort default rate calculated as an average rate, you will receive a
loan record detail report as part of your eCDR notification package.
(c) You have five business days, from the transmission date for
eCDR notification packages as posted on the Department's Web site, to
report any problem with receipt of the electronic transmission of your
eCDR notification package.
(d) Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, timelines
for submitting challenges, adjustments, and appeals begin on the sixth
business day following the transmission date for eCDR notification
packages that is posted on the Department's Web site.
(e) If you timely report a problem with transmission of your eCDR
notification package under paragraph (c) of this section and the
Department agrees that the problem with transmission was not caused by
you, the Department will extend the challenge, appeal and adjustment
deadlines and timeframes to account for a retransmission of your eCDR
notification package after the technical problem is resolved.
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1082, 1085, 1094, 1099c.
Sec. 668.206 Consequences of cohort default rates on your ability to
participate in Title IV, HEA programs.
(a) End of participation. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (e)
of this section, you lose your eligibility to participate in the FFEL
and Direct Loan programs 30 days after you receive our notice that your
most recent cohort default rate for fiscal year 2011 or later is
greater than 40 percent.
(2) Except as provided in paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section,
you lose your eligibility to participate in the FFEL, Direct Loan, and
Federal Pell Grant programs 30 days after you receive our notice that
your three most recent cohort default rates are each 30 percent or
greater.
(b) Length of period of ineligibility. Your loss of eligibility
under this section continues--
(1) For the remainder of the fiscal year in which we notify you
that you are subject to a loss of eligibility; and
(2) For the next 2 fiscal years.
(c) Using a cohort default rate more than once. The use of a cohort
default rate as a basis for a loss of eligibility under this section
does not preclude its use as a basis for--
(1) Any concurrent or subsequent loss of eligibility under this
section; or
(2) Any other action by us.
(d) Continuing participation in Pell. If you are subject to a loss
of eligibility under paragraph (a)(2) of this section, based on three
cohort default rates of 30 percent or greater, you may continue to
participate in the Federal Pell Grant Program if we determine that
you--
(1) Were ineligible to participate in the FFEL and Direct Loan
programs before October 7, 1998, and your eligibility was not
reinstated;
(2) Requested in writing, before October 7, 1998, to withdraw your
participation in the FFEL and Direct Loan programs, and you were not
later reinstated; or
(3) Have not certified an FFELP loan or originated a Direct Loan
Program loan on or after July 7, 1998.
(e) Requests for adjustments and appeals. (1) A loss of eligibility
under this section does not take effect while your request for
adjustment or appeal, as listed in Sec. 668.208(a), is pending,
provided your request for adjustment or appeal is complete, timely,
accurate, and in the required format.
(2) Eligibility continued under paragraph (e)(1) of this section
ends if we determine that none of the requests for adjustments and
appeals you have submitted qualify you for continued eligibility under
Sec. 668.208. Loss of eligibility takes effect on the date that you
receive notice of our determination
[[Page 55655]]
on your last pending request for adjustment or appeal.
(3) You do not lose eligibility under this section if we determine
that your request for adjustment or appeal meets all requirements of
this subpart and qualifies you for continued eligibility under Sec.
668.208.
(4) To avoid liabilities you might otherwise incur under paragraph
(f) of this section, you may choose to suspend your participation in
the FFEL and Direct Loan programs during the adjustment or appeal
process.
(f) Liabilities during the adjustment or appeal process. If you
continued to participate in the FFEL or Direct Loan Program under
paragraph (e)(1) of this section, and we determine that none of your
requests for adjustments or appeals qualify you for continued
eligibility--
(1) For any FFEL or Direct Loan Program loan that you certified and
delivered or originated and disbursed more than 30 days after you
received the notice of your cohort default rate, we estimate the amount
of interest, special allowance, reinsurance, and any related or similar
payments we make or are obligated to make on those loans;
(2) We exclude from this estimate any amount attributable to funds
that you delivered or disbursed more than 45 days after you submitted
your completed appeal to us;
(3) We notify you of the estimated amount; and
(4) Within 45 days after you receive our notice of the estimated
amount, you must pay us that amount, unless--
(i) You file an appeal under the procedures established in subpart
H of this part (for the purposes of subpart H of this part, our notice
of the estimate is considered to be a final program review
determination); or
(ii) We permit a longer repayment period.
(g) Regaining eligibility. If you lose your eligibility to
participate in a program under this section, you may not participate in
that program until--
(1) The period described in paragraph (b) of this section has
ended;
(2) You pay any amount owed to us under this section or are meeting
that obligation under an agreement acceptable to us;
(3) You submit a new application for participation in the program;
(4) We determine that you meet all of the participation
requirements in effect at the time of your application; and
(5) You and we enter into a new program participation agreement.
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1082, 1085, 1094, 1099c.
Sec. 668.207 Preventing evasion of the consequences of cohort default
rates.
(a) General. You are subject to a loss of eligibility that has
already been imposed against another institution as a result of cohort
default rates if--
(1) You and the ineligible institution are both parties to a
transaction that results in a change of ownership, a change in control,
a merger, a consolidation, an acquisition, a change of name, a change
of address, any change that results in a location becoming a
freestanding institution, a purchase or sale, a transfer of assets, an
assignment, a change of identification number, a contract for services,
an addition or closure of one or more locations or branches or
educational programs, or any other change in whole or in part in
institutional structure or identity;
(2) Following the change described in paragraph (a)(1) of this
section, you offer an educational program at substantially the same
address at which the ineligible institution had offered an educational
program before the change; and
(3) There is a commonality of ownership or management between you
and the ineligible institution, as the ineligible institution existed
before the change.
(b) Commonality of ownership or management. For the purposes of
this section, a commonality of ownership or management exists if, at
each institution, the same person (as defined in 34 CFR 600.31) or
members of that person's family, directly or indirectly--
(1) Holds or held a managerial role; or
(2) Has or had the ability to affect substantially the
institution's actions, within the meaning of 34 CFR 600.21.
(c) Teach-outs. Notwithstanding paragraph (b)(1) of this section, a
commonality of management does not exist if you are conducting a teach-
out under a teach-out agreement as defined in 34 CFR 602.3 and
administered in accordance with 34 CFR 602.24(c), and--
(1)(i) Within 60 days after the change described in this section,
you send us the names of the managers for each facility undergoing the
teach-out as it existed before the change and for each facility as it
exists after you believe that the commonality of management has ended;
and
(ii) We determine that the commonality of management, as described
in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, has ended; or
(2)(i) Within 30 days after you receive our notice that we have
denied your submission under paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section, you
make the management changes we request and send us a list of the names
of the managers for each facility undergoing the teach-out as it exists
after you make those changes; and
(ii) We determine that the commonality of management, as described
in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, has ended.
(d) Initial determination. We encourage you to contact us before
undergoing a change described in this section. If you write to us,
providing the information we request, we will provide a written initial
determination of the anticipated change's effect on your eligibility.
(e) Notice of accountability. (1) We notify you in writing if, in
response to your notice or application filed under 34 CFR 600.20 or
600.21, we determine that you are subject to a loss of eligibility,
under paragraph (a) of this section, that has been imposed against
another institution.
(2) Our notice also advises you of the scope and duration of your
loss of eligibility. The loss of eligibility applies to all of your
locations from the date you receive our notice until the expiration of
the period of ineligibility applicable to the other institution.
(3) If you are subject to a loss of eligibility under this section
that has already been imposed against another institution, you may only
request an adjustment or submit an appeal for the loss of eligibility
under the same requirements that would be applicable to the other
institution under Sec. 668.208.
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1082, 1085, 1094, 1099c.
Sec. 668.208 General requirements for adjusting official cohort
default rates and for appealing their consequences.
(a) Remaining eligible. You do not lose eligibility under Sec.
668.206 if--
(1) We recalculate your cohort default rate, and it is below the
percentage threshold for the loss of eligibility as the result of--
(i) An uncorrected data adjustment submitted under this section and
Sec. 668.209;
(ii) A new data adjustment submitted under this section and Sec.
668.210;
(iii) An erroneous data appeal submitted under this section and
Sec. 668.211; or
(iv) A loan servicing appeal submitted under this section and Sec.
668.212; or
(2) You meet the requirements for--
(i) An economically disadvantaged appeal submitted under this
section and Sec. 668.213;
(ii) A participation rate index appeal submitted under this section
and Sec. 668.214;
(iii) An average rates appeal submitted under this section and
Sec. 668.215; or
[[Page 55656]]
(iv) A thirty-or-fewer borrowers appeal submitted under this
section and Sec. 668.216.
(b) Limitations on your ability to dispute your cohort default
rate. (1) You may not dispute the calculation of a cohort default rate
except as described in this subpart or in Sec. 668.16(m)(2).
(2) You may not request an adjustment or appeal a cohort default
rate, under Sec. 668.209, Sec. 668.210, Sec. 668.211, or Sec.
668.212, more than once.
(3) You may not request an adjustment or appeal a cohort default
rate, under Sec. 668.209, Sec. 668.210, Sec. 668.211, or Sec.
668.212, if you previously lost your eligibility to participate in a
Title IV, HEA program, under Sec. 668.206, or were placed on
provisional certification under Sec. 668.16(m)(2)(i), based entirely
or partially on that cohort default rate.
(c) Content and format of requests for adjustments and appeals. We
may deny your request for adjustment or appeal if it does not meet the
following requirements:
(1) All appeals, notices, requests, independent auditor's opinions,
management's written assertions, and other correspondence that you are
required to send under this subpart must be complete, timely, accurate,
and in a format acceptable to us. This acceptable format is described
in the ``Cohort Default Rate Guide'' that we provide to you.
(2) Your completed request for adjustment or appeal must include--
(i) All of the information necessary to substantiate your request
for adjustment or appeal; and
(ii) A certification by your chief executive officer, under penalty
of perjury, that all the information you provide is true and correct.
(d) Our copies of your correspondence. Whenever you are required by
this subpart to correspond with a party other than us, you must send us
a copy of your correspondence within the same time deadlines. However,
you are not required to send us copies of documents that you received
from us originally.
(e) Requirements for data managers' responses. (1) Except as
otherwise provided in this subpart, if this subpart requires a data
manager to correspond with any party other than us, the data manager
must send us a copy of the correspondence within the same time
deadlines.
(2) If a data manager sends us correspondence under this subpart
that is not in a format acceptable to us, we may require the data
manager to revise that correspondence's format, and we may prescribe a
format for that data manager's subsequent correspondence with us.
(f) Our decision on your request for adjustment or appeal. (1) We
determine whether your request for an adjustment or appeal is in
compliance with this subpart.
(2) In making our decision for an adjustment, under Sec. 668.209
or Sec. 668.210, or an appeal, under Sec. 668.211 or Sec. 668.212--
(i) We presume that the information provided to you by a data
manager is correct unless you provide substantial evidence that shows
the information is not correct; and
(ii) If we determine that a data manager did not provide the
necessary clarifying information or legible records in meeting the
requirements of this subpart, we presume that the evidence that you
provide to us is correct unless it is contradicted or otherwise proven
to be incorrect by information we maintain.
(3) Our decision is based on the materials you submit under this
subpart. We do not provide an oral hearing.
(4) We notify you of our decision--
(i) If you request an adjustment or appeal because you are subject
to a loss of eligibility under Sec. 668.206 or potential placement on
provisional certification under Sec. 668.16(m)(2)(i) or file an
economically disadvantaged appeal under Sec. 668.213(a)(2), within 45
days after we receive your completed request for an adjustment or
appeal; or
(ii) In all other cases, except for appeals submitted under Sec.
668.211(a) following placement on provisional certification, before we
notify you of your next official cohort default rate.
(5) You may not seek judicial review of our determination of a
cohort default rate until we issue our decision on all pending requests
for adjustments or appeals for that cohort default rate.
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1082, 1085, 1094, 1099c.
Sec. 668.209 Uncorrected data adjustments.
(a) Eligibility. You may request an uncorrected data adjustment for
your most recent cohort of borrowers, used to calculate your most
recent official cohort default rate, if in response to your challenge
under Sec. 668.204(b), a data manager agreed correctly to change the
data, but the changes are not reflected in your official cohort default
rate.
(b) Deadlines for requesting an uncorrected data adjustment. You
must send us a request for an uncorrected data adjustment, including
all supporting documentation, within 30 days after you receive your
loan record detail report from us.
(c) Determination. We recalculate your cohort default rate, based
on the corrected data, and electronically correct the rate that is
publicly released if we determine that--
(1) In response to your challenge under Sec. 668.204(b), a data
manager agreed to change the data;
(2) The changes described in paragraph (c)(1) of this section are
not reflected in your official cohort default rate; and
(3) We agree that the data are incorrect.
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control
number 1845-0022)
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1082, 1085, 1094, 1099c.
Sec. 668.210 New data adjustments.
(a) Eligibility. You may request a new data adjustment for your
most recent cohort of borrowers, used to calculate your most recent
official cohort default rate, if--
(1) A comparison of the loan record detail reports that we provide
to you for the draft and official cohort default rates shows that the
data have been newly included, excluded, or otherwise changed; and
(2) You identify errors in the data described in paragraph (a)(1)
of this section that are confirmed by the data manager.
(b) Deadlines for requesting a new data adjustment. (1) You must
send to the relevant data manager, or data managers, and us a request
for a new data adjustment, including all supporting documentation,
within 15 days after you receive your loan record detail report from
us.
(2) Within 20 days after receiving your request for a new data
adjustment, the data manager must send you and us a response that--
(i) Addresses each of your allegations of error; and
(ii) Includes the documentation used to support the data manager's
position.
(3) Within 15 days after receiving a guaranty agency's notice that
we hold an FFELP loan about which you are inquiring, you must send us
your request for a new data adjustment for that loan. We respond to
your request as set forth under paragraph (b)(2) of this section.
(4) Within 15 days after receiving incomplete or illegible records
or data from a data manager, you must send a request for replacement
records or clarification of data to the data manager and us.
(5) Within 20 days after receiving your request for replacement
records or clarification of data, the data manager must--
[[Page 55657]]
(i) Replace the missing or illegible records;
(ii) Provide clarifying information; or
(iii) Notify you and us that no clarifying information or
additional or improved records are available.
(6) You must send us your completed request for a new data
adjustment, including all supporting documentation--
(i) Within 30 days after you receive the final data manager's
response to your request or requests; or
(ii) If you are also filing an erroneous data appeal or a loan
servicing appeal, by the latest of the filing dates required in
paragraph (b)(6)(i) of this section or in Sec. 668.211(b)(6)(i) or
Sec. 668.212(c)(10)(i).
(c) Determination. If we determine that incorrect data were used to
calculate your cohort default rate, we recalculate your cohort default
rate based on the correct data and make electronic corrections to the
rate that is publicly released.
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control
number 1845-0022)
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1082, 1085, 1094, 1099c.
Sec. 668.211 Erroneous data appeals.
(a) Eligibility. Except as provided in Sec. 668.208(b), you may
appeal the calculation of a cohort default rate upon which a loss of
eligibility, under Sec. 668.206, or provisional certification, under
Sec. 668.16(m), is based if--
(1) You dispute the accuracy of data that you previously challenged
on the basis of incorrect data, under Sec. 668.204(b); or
(2) A comparison of the loan record detail reports that we provide
to you for the draft and official cohort default rates shows that the
data have been newly included, excluded, or otherwise changed, and you
dispute the accuracy of that data.
(b) Deadlines for submitting an appeal. (1) You must send a request
for verification of data errors to the relevant data manager, or data
managers, and to us within 15 days after you receive the notice of your
loss of eligibility or provisional certification. Your request must
include a description of the information in the cohort default rate
data that you believe is incorrect and all supporting documentation
that demonstrates the error.
(2) Within 20 days after receiving your request for verification of
data errors, the data manager must send you and us a response that--
(i) Addresses each of your allegations of error; and
(ii) Includes the documentation used to support the data manager's
position.
(3) Within 15 days after receiving a guaranty agency's notice that
we hold an FFELP loan about which you are inquiring, you must send us
your request for verification of that loan's data errors. Your request
must include a description of the information in the cohort default
rate data that you believe is incorrect and all supporting
documentation that demonstrates the error. We respond to your request
as set forth under paragraph (b)(2) of this section.
(4) Within 15 days after receiving incomplete or illegible records
or data, you must send a request for replacement records or
clarification of data to the data manager and us.
(5) Within 20 days after receiving your request for replacement
records or clarification of data, the data manager must--
(i) Replace the missing or illegible records;
(ii) Provide clarifying information; or
(iii) Notify you and us that no clarifying information or
additional or improved records are available.
(6) You must send your completed appeal to us, including all
supporting documentation--
(i) Within 30 days after you receive the final data manager's
response to your request; or
(ii) If you are also requesting a new data adjustment or filing a
loan servicing appeal, by the latest of the filing dates required in
paragraph (b)(6)(i) of this section or in Sec. 668.210(b)(6)(i) or
Sec. 668.212(c)(10)(i).
(c) Determination. If we determine that incorrect data were used to
calculate your cohort default rate, we recalculate your cohort default
rate based on the correct data and electronically correct the rate that
is publicly released.
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control
number 1845-0022)
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1082, 1085, 1094, 1099c.
Sec. 668.212 Loan servicing appeals.
(a) Eligibility. Except as provided in Sec. 668.208(b), you may
appeal, on the basis of improper loan servicing or collection, the
calculation of--
(1) Your most recent cohort default rate; or
(2) Any cohort default rate upon which a loss of eligibility under
Sec. 668.206 is based.
(b) Improper loan servicing. For the purposes of this section, a
default is considered to have been due to improper loan servicing or
collection only if the borrower did not make a payment on the loan and
you prove that the FFEL Program lender or the Direct Loan Servicer, as
defined in 34 CFR 685.102, failed to perform one or more of the
following activities, if that activity applies to the loan:
(1) Send at least one letter (other than the final demand letter)
urging the borrower to make payments on the loan.
(2) Attempt at least one phone call to the borrower.
(3) Send a final demand letter to the borrower.
(4) For a Direct Loan Program loan only, document that skip tracing
was performed if the Direct Loan Servicer determined that it did not
have the borrower's current address.
(5) For an FFELP loan only--
(i) Submit a request for preclaims or default aversion assistance
to the guaranty agency; and
(ii) Submit a certification or other documentation that skip
tracing was performed to the guaranty agency.
(c) Deadlines for submitting an appeal. (1) If the loan record
detail report was not included with your official cohort default rate
notice, you must request it within 15 days after you receive the notice
of your official cohort default rate.
(2) You must send a request for loan servicing records to the
relevant data manager, or data managers, and to us within 15 days after
you receive your loan record detail report from us. If the data manager
is a guaranty agency, your request must include a copy of the loan
record detail report.
(3) Within 20 days after receiving your request for loan servicing
records, the data manager must--
(i) Send you and us a list of the borrowers in your representative
sample, as described in paragraph (d) of this section (the list must be
in social security number order, and it must include the number of
defaulted loans included in the cohort for each listed borrower);
(ii) Send you and us a description of how your representative
sample was chosen; and
(iii) Either send you copies of the loan servicing records for the
borrowers in your representative sample and send us a copy of its cover
letter indicating that the records were sent, or send you and us a
notice of the amount of its fee for providing copies of the loan
servicing records.
(4) The data manager may charge you a reasonable fee for providing
copies of loan servicing records, but it may not charge more than $10
per borrower file. If a data manager charges a fee, it is not required
to send the documents to you until it receives your payment of the fee.
(5) If the data manager charges a fee for providing copies of loan
servicing
[[Page 55658]]
records, you must send payment in full to the data manager within 15
days after you receive the notice of the fee.
(6) If the data manager charges a fee for providing copies of loan
servicing records, and--
(i) You pay the fee in full and on time, the data manager must send
you, within 20 days after it receives your payment, a copy of all loan
servicing records for each loan in your representative sample (the
copies are provided to you in hard copy format unless the data manager
and you agree that another format may be used), and it must send us a
copy of its cover letter indicating that the records were sent; or
(ii) You do not pay the fee in full and on time, the data manager
must notify you and us of your failure to pay the fee and that you have
waived your right to challenge the calculation of your cohort default
rate based on the data manager's records. We accept that determination
unless you prove that it is incorrect.
(7) Within 15 days after receiving a guaranty agency's notice that
we hold an FFELP loan about which you are inquiring, you must send us
your request for the loan servicing records for that loan. We respond
to your request under paragraph (c)(3) of this section.
(8) Within 15 days after receiving incomplete or illegible records,
you must send a request for replacement records to the data manager and
us.
(9) Within 20 days after receiving your request for replacement
records, the data manager must either--
(i) Replace the missing or illegible records; or
(ii) Notify you and us that no additional or improved copies are
available.
(10) You must send your appeal to us, including all supporting
documentation--
(i) Within 30 days after you receive the final data manager's
response to your request for loan servicing records; or
(ii) If you are also requesting a new data adjustment or filing an
erroneous data appeal, by the latest of the filing dates required in
paragraph (c)(10)(i) of this section or in Sec. 668.210(b)(6)(i) or
Sec. 668.211(b)(6)(i).
(d) Representative sample of records. (1) To select a
representative sample of records, the data manager first identifies all
of the borrowers for whom it is responsible and who had loans that were
considered to be in default in the calculation of the cohort default
rate you are appealing.
(2) From the group of borrowers identified under paragraph (d)(1)
of this section, the data manager identifies a sample that is large
enough to derive an estimate, acceptable at a 95 percent confidence
level with a plus or minus 5 percent confidence interval, for use in
determining the number of borrowers who should be excluded from the
calculation of the cohort default rate due to improper loan servicing
or collection.
(e) Loan servicing records. Loan servicing records are the
collection and payment history records--
(1) Provided to the guaranty agency by the lender and used by the
guaranty agency in determining whether to pay a claim on a defaulted
loan; or
(2) Maintained by our Direct Loan Servicer that are used in
determining your cohort default rate.
(f) Determination. (1) We determine the number of loans, included
in your representative sample of loan servicing records, that defaulted
due to improper loan servicing or collection, as described in paragraph
(b) of this section.
(2) Based on our determination, we use a statistically valid
methodology to exclude the corresponding percentage of borrowers from
both the numerator and denominator of the calculation of your cohort
default rate, and electronically correct the rate that is publicly
released.
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control
number 1845-0022)
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1082, 1085, 1094, 1099c.
Sec. 668.213 Economically disadvantaged appeals.
(a) General. As provided in this section you may appeal--
(1) A notice of a loss of eligibility under Sec. 668.206; or
(2) A notice of a second successive official cohort default rate
calculated under this subpart that is equal to or greater than 30
percent but less than or equal to 40 percent, potentially subjecting
you to provisional certification under Sec. 668.16(m)(2)(i).
(b) Eligibility. You may appeal under this section if an
independent auditor's opinion certifies that your low income rate is
two-thirds or more and--
(1) You offer an associate, baccalaureate, graduate, or
professional degree, and your completion rate is 70 percent or more; or
(2) You do not offer an associate, baccalaureate, graduate, or
professional degree, and your placement rate is 44 percent or more.
(c) Low income rate. (1) Your low income rate is the percentage of
your students, as described in paragraph (c)(2) of this section, who--
(i) For an award year that overlaps the 12-month period selected
under paragraph (c)(2) of this section, have an expected family
contribution, as defined in 34 CFR 690.2, that is equal to or less than
the largest expected family contribution that would allow a student to
receive one-half of the maximum Federal Pell Grant award, regardless of
the student's enrollment status or cost of attendance; or
(ii) For a calendar year that overlaps the 12-month period selected
under paragraph (c)(2) of this section, have an adjusted gross income
that, when added to the adjusted gross income of the student's parents
(if the student is a dependent student) or spouse (if the student is a
married independent student), is less than the amount listed in the
Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines for the size
of the student's family unit.
(2) The students who are used to determine your low income rate
include only students who were enrolled on at least a half-time basis
in an eligible program at your institution during any part of a 12-
month period that ended during the 6 months immediately preceding the
cohort's fiscal year.
(d) Completion rate. (1) Your completion rate is the percentage of
your students, as described in paragraph (d)(2) of this section, who--
(i) Completed the educational programs in which they were enrolled;
(ii) Transferred from your institution to a higher level
educational program;
(iii) Remained enrolled and are making satisfactory progress toward
completion of their educational programs at the end of the same 12-
month period used to calculate the low income rate; or
(iv) Entered active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States
within 1 year after their last date of attendance at your institution.
(2) The students who are used to determine your completion rate
include only regular students who were--
(i) Initially enrolled on a full-time basis in an eligible program;
and
(ii) Originally scheduled to complete their programs during the
same 12-month period used to calculate the low income rate.
(e) Placement rate. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (e)(2) of
this section, your placement rate is the percentage of your students,
as described in paragraphs (e)(3) and (e)(4) of this section, who--
(i) Are employed, in an occupation for which you provided training,
on the date following 1 year after their last date of attendance at
your institution;
(ii) Were employed for at least 13 weeks, in an occupation for
which you provided training, between the date they enrolled at your
institution and the first
[[Page 55659]]
date that is more than a year after their last date of attendance at
your institution; or
(iii) Entered active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States
within 1 year after their last date of attendance at your institution.
(2) For the purposes of this section, a former student is not
considered to have been employed based on any employment by your
institution.
(3) The students who are used to determine your placement rate
include only former students who--
(i) Were initially enrolled in an eligible program on at least a
half-time basis;
(ii) Were originally scheduled, at the time of enrollment, to
complete their educational programs during the same 12-month period
used to calculate the low income rate; and
(iii) Remained in the program beyond the point at which a student
would have received a 100 percent tuition refund from you.
(4) A student is not included in the calculation of your placement
rate if that student, on the date that is 1 year after the student's
originally scheduled completion date, remains enrolled in the same
program and is making satisfactory progress.
(f) Scheduled to complete. In calculating a completion or placement
rate under this section, the date on which a student is originally
scheduled to complete a program is based on--
(1) For a student who is initially enrolled full-time, the amount
of time specified in your enrollment contract, catalog, or other
materials for completion of the program by a full-time student; or
(2) For a student who is initially enrolled less than full-time,
the amount of time that it would take the student to complete the
program if the student remained at that level of enrollment throughout
the program.
(g) Deadline for submitting an appeal. (1) Within 30 days after you
receive the notice of your loss of eligibility, you must send us your
management's written assertion, as described in the Cohort Default Rate
Guide.
(2) Within 60 days after you receive the notice of your loss of
eligibility, you must send us the independent auditor's opinion
described in paragraph (h) of this section.
(h) Independent auditor's opinion. (1) The independent auditor's
opinion must state whether your management's written assertion, as you
provided it to the auditor and to us, meets the requirements for an
economically disadvantaged appeal and is fairly stated in all material
respects.
(2) The engagement that forms the basis of the independent
auditor's opinion must be an examination-level compliance attestation
engagement performed in accordance with--
(i) The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants' (AICPA)
Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagements, Compliance
Attestation (AICPA, Professional Standards, vol. 1, AT sec. 500), as
amended (these standards may be obtained by calling the AICPA's order
department, at 1-888-777-7077); and
(ii) Government Auditing Standards issued by the Comptroller
General of the United States.
(i) Determination. You do not lose eligibility under Sec. 668.206,
and we do not provisionally certify you under Sec. 668.16(m)(2)(i),
if--
(1) Your independent auditor's opinion agrees that you meet the
requirements for an economically disadvantaged appeal; and
(2) We determine that the independent auditor's opinion and your
management's written assertion--
(i) Meet the requirements for an economically disadvantaged appeal;
and
(ii) Are not contradicted or otherwise proven to be incorrect by
information we maintain, to an extent that would render the independent
auditor's opinion unacceptable.
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1082, 1085, 1094, 1099c.
Sec. 668.214 Participation rate index appeals.
(a) Eligibility. (1) You may appeal a notice of a loss of
eligibility under Sec. 668.206(a)(1), based on one cohort default rate
over 40 percent, if your participation rate index for that cohort's
fiscal year is equal to or less than 0.06015.
(2) You may appeal a notice of a loss of eligibility under Sec.
668.206(a)(2), based on three cohort default rates of 30 percent or
greater, if your participation rate index is equal to or less than
0.0625 for any of those three cohorts' fiscal years.
(3) You may appeal potential placement on provisional certification
under Sec. 668.16(m)(2)(i) based on two cohort default rates that fail
to satisfy the standard of administrative capability in Sec.
668.16(m)(1)(ii) if your participation rate index is equal to or less
than 0.0625 for either of the two cohorts' fiscal years.
(b) Calculating your participation rate index. (1) Except as
provided in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, your participation rate
index for a fiscal year is determined by multiplying your cohort
default rate for that fiscal year by the percentage that is derived by
dividing--
(i) The number of students who received an FFELP or a Direct Loan
Program loan to attend your institution during a period of enrollment,
as defined in 34 CFR 682.200 or 685.102, that overlaps any part of a
12-month period that ended during the 6 months immediately preceding
the cohort's fiscal year, by
(ii) The number of regular students who were enrolled at your
institution on at least a half-time basis during any part of the same
12-month period.
(2) If your cohort default rate for a fiscal year is calculated as
an average rate under Sec. 668.202(d)(2), you may calculate your
participation rate index for that fiscal year using either that average
rate or the cohort default rate that would be calculated for the fiscal
year alone using the method described in Sec. 668.202(d)(1).
(c) Deadline for submitting an appeal. You must send us your appeal
under this section, including all supporting documentation, within 30
days after you receive--
(1) Notice of your loss of eligibility; or
(2) Notice of a second cohort default rate that equals or exceeds
30 percent but is less than or equal to 40 percent and that, in
combination with an earlier rate, potentially subjects you to
provisional certification under Sec. 668.16(m)(2)(i).
(d) Determination. (1) You do not lose eligibility under Sec.
668.206 and we do not place you on provisional certification, if we
determine that you meet the requirements for a participation rate index
appeal.
(2) If we determine that your participation rate index for a fiscal
year is equal to or less than 0.06015 or 0.0625, under paragraph (d)(1)
of this section, we also excuse you from any subsequent loss of
eligibility under Sec. 668.206(a)(2) or placement on provisional
certification under Sec. 668.16(m)(2)(i) that would be based on the
official cohort default rate for that fiscal year.
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1082, 1085, 1094, 1099c.
Sec. 668.215 Average rates appeals.
(a) Eligibility. (1) You may appeal a notice of a loss of
eligibility under Sec. 668.206(a)(1), based on one cohort default rate
over 40 percent, if that cohort default rate is calculated as an
average rate under Sec. 668.202(d)(2).
(2) You may appeal a notice of a loss of eligibility under Sec.
668.206(a)(2), based on three cohort default rates of 30 percent or
greater, if at least two of those cohort default rates--
[[Page 55660]]
(i) Are calculated as average rates under Sec. 668.202(d)(2); and
(ii) Would be less than 30 percent if calculated for the fiscal
year alone using the method described in Sec. 668.202(d)(1).
(b) Deadline for submitting an appeal. (1) Before notifying you of
your official cohort default rate, we make an initial determination
about whether you qualify for an average rates appeal. If we determine
that you qualify, we notify you of that determination at the same time
that we notify you of your official cohort default rate.
(2) If you disagree with our initial determination, you must send
us your average rates appeal, including all supporting documentation,
within 30 days after you receive the notice of your loss of
eligibility.
(c) Determination. You do not lose eligibility under Sec. 668.206
if we determine that you meet the requirements for an average rates
appeal.
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1082, 1085, 1094, 1099c.
Sec. 668.216 Thirty-or-fewer borrowers appeals.
(a) Eligibility. You may appeal a notice of a loss of eligibility
under Sec. 668.206 if 30 or fewer borrowers, in total, are included in
the 3 most recent cohorts of borrowers used to calculate your cohort
default rates.
(b) Deadline for submitting an appeal. (1) Before notifying you of
your official cohort default rate, we make an initial determination
about whether you qualify for a thirty-or-fewer borrowers appeal. If we
determine that you qualify, we notify you of that determination at the
same time that we notify you of your official cohort default rate.
(2) If you disagree with our initial determination, you must send
us your thirty-or-fewer borrowers appeal, including all supporting
documentation, within 30 days after you receive the notice of your loss
of eligibility.
(c) Determination. You do not lose eligibility under Sec. 668.206
if we determine that you meet the requirements for a thirty-or-fewer
borrowers appeal.
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1082, 1085, 1094, 1099c.
Sec. 668.217 Default prevention plans.
(a) First year. (1) If your cohort default rate is equal to or
greater than 30 percent you must establish a default prevention task
force that prepares a plan to--
(i) Identify the factors causing your cohort default rate to exceed
the threshold;
(ii) Establish measurable objectives and the steps you will take to
improve your cohort default rate;
(iii) Specify the actions you will take to improve student loan
repayment, including counseling students on repayment options; and
(iv) Submit your default prevention plan to us.
(2) We will review your default prevention plan and offer technical
assistance intended to improve student loan repayment.
(b) Second year. (1) If your cohort default rate is equal to or
greater than 30 percent for two consecutive fiscal years, you must
revise your default prevention plan and submit it to us for review.
(2) We may require you to revise your default prevention plan or
specify actions you need to take to improve student loan repayment.
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1082, 1085, 1094, 1099c.
Appendix A to Subpart N of Part 668--Sample Default Prevention Plan
This appendix is provided as a sample plan for those
institutions developing a default prevention plan in accordance with
Sec. 668.217(a). It describes some measures you may find helpful in
reducing the number of students that default on Federally funded
loans. These are not the only measures you could implement when
developing a default prevention plan.
I. Core Default Reduction Strategies
1. Establish your default prevention team by engaging your chief
executive officer and relevant senior executive officials and
enlisting the support of representatives from offices other than the
financial aid office. Consider including individuals and
organizations independent of your institution that have experience
in preventing title IV loan defaults.
2. Consider your history, resources, dollars in default, and
targets for default reduction to determine which activities will
result in the most benefit to you and your students.
3. Define evaluation methods and establish a data collection
system for measuring and verifying relevant default prevention
statistics, including a statistical analysis of the borrowers who
default on their loans.
4. Identify and allocate the personnel, administrative, and
financial resources appropriate to implement the default prevention
plan.
5. Establish annual targets for reductions in your rate.
6. Establish a process to ensure the accuracy of your rate.
II. Additional Default Reduction Strategies
1. Enhance the borrower's understanding of his or her loan
repayment responsibilities through counseling and debt management
activities.
2. Enhance the enrollment retention and academic persistence of
borrowers through counseling and academic assistance.
3. Maintain contact with the borrower after he or she leaves
your institution by using activities such as skip tracing to locate
the borrower.
4. Track the borrower's delinquency status by obtaining reports
from data managers and FFEL Program lenders.
5. Enhance student loan repayments through counseling the
borrower on loan repayment options and facilitating contact between
the borrower and the data manager or FFEL Program lender.
6. Assist a borrower who is experiencing difficulty in finding
employment through career counseling, job placement assistance, and
facilitating unemployment deferments.
7. Identify and implement alternative financial aid award
policies and develop alternative financial resources that will
reduce the need for student borrowing in the first 2 years of
academic study.
III. Statistics for Measuring Progress
1. The number of students enrolled at your institution during
each fiscal year.
2. The average amount borrowed by a student each fiscal year.
3. The number of borrowers scheduled to enter repayment each
fiscal year.
4. The number of enrolled borrowers who received default
prevention counseling services each fiscal year.
5. The average number of contacts that you or your agent had
with a borrower who was in deferment or forbearance or in repayment
status during each fiscal year.
6. The number of borrowers at least 60 days delinquent each
fiscal year.
7. The number of borrowers who defaulted in each fiscal year.
8. The type, frequency, and results of activities performed in
accordance with the default prevention plan.
PART 674--FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN PROGRAM
0
22. The authority citation for part 674 is revised to read as follows:
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070g, 1087aa-1087hh, unless otherwise
noted.
Sec. 674.12 [Amended]
0
23. Section 674.12 is amended by:
0
(A) In paragraph (a)(1), removing the amount ``$4,000'' and adding, it
its place, the amount ``$5,500''.
0
(B) In paragraph (a)(2), removing the amount ``$6,000'' and adding, in
its place, the amount ``$8,000''.
0
(C) In paragraph (b)(1), removing the amount ``$20,000'' and adding, in
its place, the amount ``$27,500''.
0
(D) In paragraph (b)(2), removing the amount ``$40,000'' and adding, in
its place, the amount ``$60,000''.
0
(E) In paragraph (b)(3), removing the amount ``$8,000'' and adding, in
its place, the amount ``$11,000''.
0
24. Section 674.33 is amended by:
0
(A) In paragraph (d)(2), removing the word ``written''.
0
(B) In paragraph (d)(3), adding the words ``The school confirms this
[[Page 55661]]
agreement by notice to the borrower, and by recording the terms in the
borrower's file.'' after the word ``institution.''.
0
(C) Revising the authority citation that appears at the end of the
section.
The revision reads as follows:
Sec. 674.33 Repayment.
* * * * *
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1087dd.
0
25. Section 674.39 is amended by:
0
(A) In paragraph (a)(2), removing the word ``twelve'' and adding, in
its place, the word ``nine''.
0
(B) In paragraph (b)(2), removing the number ``12'' and adding, in its
place, the word ``nine''.
0
(C) Revising the authority citation that appears at the end of the
section.
The revision reads as follows:
Sec. 674.39 Loan rehabilitation.
* * * * *
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1087dd.
0
26. Section 674.42 is amended by revising paragraph (b) to read as
follows:
Sec. 674.42 Contact with the borrower.
* * * * *
(b) Exit counseling. (1) An institution must ensure that exit
counseling is conducted with each borrower either in person, by
audiovisual presentation, or by interactive electronic means. The
institution must ensure that exit counseling is conducted shortly
before the borrower ceases at least half-time study at the institution.
As an alternative, in the case of a student enrolled in a
correspondence program or a study-abroad program that the institution
approves for credit, the borrower may be provided with written
counseling material by mail within 30 days after the borrower completes
the program. If a borrower withdraws from the institution without the
institution's prior knowledge or fails to complete an exit counseling
session as required, the institution must ensure that exit counseling
is provided through either interactive electronic means or by mailing
counseling materials to the borrower at the borrower's last known
address within 30 days after learning that the borrower has withdrawn
from the institution or failed to complete exit counseling as required.
(2) The exit counseling must--
(i) Inform the student as to the average anticipated monthly
repayment amount based on the student's indebtedness or on the average
indebtedness of students who have obtained Perkins loans for attendance
at the institution or in the borrower's program of study;
(ii) Explain to the borrower the options to prepay each loan and
pay each loan on a shorter schedule;
(iii) Review for the borrower the option to consolidate a Federal
Perkins Loan, including the consequences of consolidating a Perkins
Loan. Information on the consequences of loan consolidation must
include, at a minimum--
(A) The effects of consolidation on total interest to be paid, fees
to be paid, and length of repayment;
(B) The effects of consolidation on a borrower's underlying loan
benefits, including grace periods, loan forgiveness, cancellation, and
deferment opportunities;
(C) The options of the borrower to prepay the loan or to change
repayment plans; and
(D) That borrower benefit programs may vary among different
lenders;
(iv) Include debt-management strategies that are designed to
facilitate repayment;
(v) Explain the use of a Master Promissory Note;
(vi) Emphasize to the borrower the seriousness and importance of
the repayment obligation the borrower is assuming;
(vii) Describe the likely consequences of default, including
adverse credit reports, delinquent debt collection procedures under
Federal law, and litigation;
(viii) Emphasize that the borrower is obligated to repay the full
amount of the loan even if the borrower has not completed the program,
has not completed the program within the regular time for program
completion, is unable to obtain employment upon completion, or is
otherwise dissatisfied with or did not receive educational or other
services that the borrower purchased from the institution;
(ix) Provide--
(A) A general description of the terms and conditions under which a
borrower may obtain full or partial forgiveness or cancellation of
principal and interest, defer repayment of principal or interest, or be
granted an extension of the repayment period or a forbearance on a
title IV loan; and
(B) A copy, either in print or by electronic means, of the
information the Secretary makes available pursuant to section 485(d) of
the HEA;
(x) Require the borrower to provide current information concerning
name, address, social security number, references, and driver's license
number, the borrower's expected permanent address, the address of the
borrower's next of kin, as well as the name and address of the
borrower's expected employer;
(xi) Review for the borrower information on the availability of the
Student Loan Ombudsman's office;
(xii) Inform the borrower of the availability of title IV loan
information in the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) and how
NSLDS can be used to obtain title IV loan status information; and
(xiii) A general description of the types of tax benefits that may
be available to borrowers.
(3) If exit counseling is conducted through interactive electronic
means, the institution must take reasonable steps to ensure that each
student borrower receives the counseling materials, and participates in
and completes the exit counseling.
(4) The institution must maintain documentation substantiating the
institution's compliance with this section for each borrower.
* * * * *
0
27. Section 674.51 is amended by:
0
A. Revising paragraph (d).
0
B. Redesignating paragraphs (e) through (s) as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Old paragraph New paragraph
------------------------------------------------------------------------
674.51(e)................................. 674.51(f).
674.51(f)................................. 674.51(h).
674.51(g)................................. 674.51(l).
674.51(h)................................. 674.51(m).
674.51(i)................................. 674.51(n).
674.51(j)................................. 674.51(p).
674.51(k)................................. 674.51(q).
674.51(l)................................. 674.51(r).
674.51(m)................................. 674.51(s).
674.51(n)................................. 674.51(t).
674.51(o)................................. 674.51(u).
674.51(p)................................. 674.51(w).
674.51(q)................................. 674.51(y).
674.51(r)................................. 674.51(z).
674.51(s)................................. 674.51(aa).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0
C. Adding new paragraphs (e), (g), (i), (j), (k), (o), (v), (x), and
(bb).
0
D. In newly redesignated paragraph (f), removing the number ``672(2)'',
and adding, in its place, the number ``632(4)''.
0
E. Revising newly redesignated paragraph (n).
0
F. In newly redesignated paragraph (t), by removing the number
``672(2)'', and adding, in its place, the number ``632''.
0
G. Revising newly designated paragraph (aa).
0
H. Revising the authority citation that appears at the end of the
section.
The revisions and additions read as follows:
Sec. 674.51 Special Definitions.
* * * * *
[[Page 55662]]
(d) Child with a disability: A child or youth from ages 3 through
21, inclusive, who requires special education and related services
because he or she has one or more disabilities as defined in section
602(3) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
(e) Community defender organizations: A defender organization
established in accordance with section 3006A(g)(2)(B) of title 18,
United States Code.
* * * * *
(g) Educational service agency: A regional public multi-service
agency authorized by State law to develop, manage, and provide services
or programs to local educational agencies as defined in section 9101 of
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended.
* * * * *
(i) Faculty member at a Tribal College or University: An educator
or tenured individual who is employed by a Tribal College or
University, as that term is defined in section 316 of the HEA, to
teach, research, or perform administrative functions. For purposes of
this definition an educator may be an instructor, lecturer, lab
faculty, assistant professor, associate professor, full professor,
dean, or academic department head.
(j) Federal public defender organization: A defender organization
established in accordance with section 3006A(g)(2)(A) of title 18,
United States Code.
(k) Firefighter: A firefighter is an individual who is employed by
a Federal, State, or local firefighting agency to extinguish
destructive fires; or provide firefighting related services such as--
(1) Providing community disaster support and, as a first responder,
providing emergency medical services;
(2) Conducting search and rescue; or
(3) Providing hazardous materials mitigation (HAZMAT).
* * * * *
(n) Infant or toddler with a disability: An infant or toddler from
birth to age 2, inclusive, who needs early intervention services for
specified reasons, as defined in section 632(5)(A) of the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act.
(o) Librarian with a master's degree: A librarian with a master's
degree is an information professional trained in library or information
science who has obtained a postgraduate academic degree in library
science awarded after the completion of an academic program of up to
six years in duration, excluding a doctorate or professional degree.
* * * * *
(v) Speech language pathologist with a master's degree: An
individual who evaluates or treats disorders that affect a person's
speech, language, cognition, voice, swallowing and the rehabilitative
or corrective treatment of physical or cognitive deficits/disorders
resulting in difficulty with communication, swallowing, or both and has
obtained a postgraduate academic degree awarded after the completion of
an academic program of up to six years in duration, excluding a
doctorate or professional degree.
* * * * *
(x) Substantial gainful activity: A level of work performed for pay
or profit that involves doing significant physical or mental
activities, or a combination of both.
* * * * *
(aa) Total and permanent disability: The condition of an individual
who--
(1) Is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by
reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment
that--
(i) Can be expected to result in death;
(ii) Has lasted for a continuous period of not less than 60 months;
or
(iii) Can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less
than 60 months; or
(2) Has been determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to be
unemployable due to a service-connected disability.
(bb) Tribal College or University: An institution that--
(1) Qualifies for funding under the Tribally Controlled Colleges
and Universities Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) or the
Navajo Community College Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 640a note);
or
(2) Is cited in section 532 of the Equity in Education Land Grant
Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note).
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1087ee(a).
0
28. Section 674.53 is amended by:
0
A. Adding new paragraph (a)(1)(iii).
0
B. Revising paragraphs (a)(2)(i) and (a)(2)(ii).
0
C. Revising paragraph (a)(3).
0
D. Revising paragraphs (a)(4)(i) and (a)(4)(ii).
0
E. Removing paragraph (a)(4)(iii).
0
F. Revising paragraph (a)(6).
0
G. Adding new paragraph (b)(3).
0
H. In paragraph (d)(1), removing the word ``shall'' and adding, in its
place, the word ``must''.
0
I. Revising paragraph (e).
The revisions and additions read as follows:
Sec. 674.53 Teacher cancellation--Federal Perkins, NDSL and Defense
loans.
(a) * * *
(1) * * *
(iii) An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the
outstanding balance of a Federal Perkins, NDSL, or Defense loan for
teaching service that includes August 14, 2008, or begins on or after
that date, at an educational service agency.
(2) * * *
(i) Is in a school district that qualified for funds, in that year,
under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
of 1965, as amended; and
(ii) Has been selected by the Secretary based on a determination
that more than 30 percent of the school's or educational service
agency's total enrollment is made up of title I children.
(3) For each academic year, the Secretary notifies participating
institutions of the schools and educational service agencies selected
under paragraph (a) of this section.
(4)(i) The Secretary selects schools and educational service
agencies under paragraph (a)(1) of this section based on a ranking by
the State education agency.
(ii) The State education agency must base its ranking of the
schools and educational service agencies on objective standards and
methods. These standards must take into account the numbers and
percentages of title I children attending those schools and educational
service agencies.
* * * * *
(6) A teacher, who performs service in a school or educational
service agency that meets the requirement of paragraph (a)(1) of this
section in any year and in a subsequent year fails to meet these
requirements, may continue to teach in that school or educational
service agency and will be eligible for loan cancellation pursuant to
paragraph (a) of this section in subsequent years.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(3) An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding
balance on a borrower's Federal Perkins, NDSL, or Defense loan for a
borrower's service that includes August 14, 2008, or begins on or after
that date, as a full-time special education teacher of infants,
toddlers, children, or youth with disabilities, in an educational
service agency.
* * * * *
(e) Teaching in a school system. The Secretary considers a borrower
to be teaching in a public or other nonprofit elementary or secondary
school system or an educational service agency only if the borrower is
directly employed by the school system.
* * * * *
0
29. Section 674.56 is amended by:
[[Page 55663]]
0
A. Revising paragraph (c)(1).
0
B. Redesignating paragraph (d) as paragraph (h).
0
C. Adding paragraphs (d), (e), (f), and (g), respectively.
0
C. Revising newly redesignated paragraph (h).
The revisions and additions read as follows:
Sec. 674.56 Employment cancellation--Federal Perkins, NDSL, and
Defense loans
* * * * *
(c) * * *
(1) An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding
balance on a borrower's Federal Perkins or NDSL made on or after July
23, 1992, for the borrower's service as a full-time qualified
professional provider of early intervention services in a public or
other nonprofit program under public supervision by the lead agency as
authorized in section 632 of the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act.
* * * * *
(d) Cancellation for full-time employment as a firefighter to a
local, State, or Federal fire department or fire district. An
institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding balance on
a borrower's Federal Perkins, NDSL, or Defense loan for service that
includes August 14, 2008, or begins on or after that date, as a full-
time firefighter.
(e) Cancellation for full-time employment as a faculty member at a
Tribal College or University. An institution must cancel up to 100
percent of the outstanding balance on a borrower's Federal Perkins,
NDSL, or Defense loan for service that includes August 14, 2008, or
begins on or after that date, as a full-time faculty member at a Tribal
College or University.
(f) Cancellation for full-time employment as a librarian with a
master's degree. (1) An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of
the outstanding balance on a borrower's Federal Perkins Loan, NDSL, or
Defense loan for service that includes August 14, 2008, or begins on or
after that date, as a full-time librarian, provided that the
individual--
(i) Is a librarian with a master's degree; and
(ii) Is employed in an elementary school or secondary school that
is eligible for assistance under part A of title I of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended; or
(iii) Is employed by a public library that serves a geographic area
that contains one or more schools eligible for assistance under part A
of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as
amended.
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (f) of this section, the term
geographic area is defined as the area served by the local school
district.
(g) Cancellation for full-time employment as a speech pathologist
with a master's degree. An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of
the outstanding balance on a borrower's Federal Perkins Loan, NDSL, or
Defense loan for full-time employment that includes August 14, 2008, or
begins on or after that date, as a speech pathologist with a master's
degree who is working exclusively with schools eligible for funds under
part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965, as amended.
(h) Cancellation rates. (1) To qualify for cancellation under
paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g) of this section, a
borrower must work full-time for 12 consecutive months.
* * * * *
0
30. Section 674.57 is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 674.57 Cancellation for law enforcement or corrections officer
service--Federal Perkins, NDSL, and Defense loans.
(a)(1) An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the
outstanding balance on a borrower's Federal Perkins or NDSL made on or
after November 29, 1990, for full-time service as a law enforcement or
corrections officer for an eligible employing agency.
(2) An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding
loan balance on a Federal Perkins, NDSL, or Defense loan made prior to
November 29, 1990, for law enforcement or correction officer service
performed on or after October 7, 1998, if the cancellation benefits
provided under this section are not included in the terms of the
borrower's promissory note.
(3) An eligible employing agency is an agency--
(i) That is a local, State, or Federal law enforcement or
corrections agency;
(ii) That is publicly-funded; and
(iii) The principal activities of which pertain to crime
prevention, control, or reduction or the enforcement of the criminal
law.
(4) Agencies that are primarily responsible for enforcement of
civil, regulatory, or administrative laws are ineligible employing
agencies.
(5) A borrower qualifies for cancellation under this section only
if the borrower is--
(i) A sworn law enforcement or corrections officer; or
(ii) A person whose principal responsibilities are unique to the
criminal justice system.
(6) To qualify for a cancellation under this section, the
borrower's service must be essential in the performance of the eligible
employing agency's primary mission.
(7) The agency must be able to document the employee's functions.
(8) A borrower whose principal official responsibilities are
administrative or supportive does not qualify for cancellation under
this section.
(b) An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding
balance of a borrower's Federal Perkins, NDSL, or Defense loan for
service that includes August 14, 2008, or begins on or after that date,
as a full-time attorney employed in Federal public defender
organizations or community defender organizations, established in
accordance with section 3006A(g)(2) of title 18, U.S.C.
(c)(1) To qualify for cancellation under paragraph (a) of this
section, a borrower must work full-time for 12 consecutive months.
(2) Cancellation rates are--
(i) 15 percent of the original principal loan amount plus the
interest on the unpaid balance accruing during the year of qualifying
service, for each of the first and second years of full-time
employment;
(ii) 20 percent of the original principal loan amount plus the
interest on the unpaid balance accruing during the year of qualifying
service, for each of the third and fourth years of full-time
employment; and
(iii) 30 percent of the original principal loan amount plus the
interest on the unpaid balance accruing during the year of qualifying
service, for the fifth year of full-time employment.
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1087ee.
0
31. Section 674.58 is amended by:
0
A. Revising the section heading.
0
B. Redesignating paragraphs (a)(3) and (a)(4) as paragraphs (a)(4) and
(a)(5), respectively.
0
C. Adding new paragraph (a)(3).
0
D. Revising newly redesignated paragraph (a)(4).
0
E. Revising newly redesignated paragraph (a)(5).
0
F. Redesignating paragraph (c)(2) as paragraph (c)(4).
0
G. Adding new paragraphs (c)(2) and (c)(3).
0
H. Revising newly redesignated paragraph (c)(4).
The revisions and additions read as follows:
[[Page 55664]]
Sec. 674.58 Cancellation for service in an early childhood education
program.
(a) * * *
(3) An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the outstanding
balance of a borrower's NDSL, Defense, or Federal Perkins loan for
service that includes August 14, 2008, or begins on or after that date,
as a full-time staff member of a pre-kindergarten or childcare program
that is licensed or regulated by the State.
(4) The Head Start, pre-kindergarten or child care program in which
the borrower serves must operate for a complete academic year, or its
equivalent.
(5) In order to qualify for cancellation, the borrower's salary may
not exceed the salary of a comparable employee working in the local
educational agency of the area served by the local Head Start, pre-
kindergarten or child care program.
* * * * *
(c) * * *
(2) A pre-kindergarten program is a State-funded program that
serves children from birth through age six and addresses the children's
cognitive (including language, early literacy, and early mathematics),
social, emotional, and physical development.
(3) A child care program is a program that is licensed or regulated
by the State and provides child care services for fewer than 24 hours
per day per child, unless care in excess of 24 consecutive hours is
needed due to the nature of the parents' work.
(4) ``Full-time staff member'' is a person regularly employed in a
full-time professional capacity to carry out the educational part of a
Head Start, pre-kindergarten or child care program.
* * * * *
0
32. Section 674.59 is amended by:
0
A. In paragraph (a)(1), removing the word ``shall'' and adding, in its
place, the word ``must''.
0
B. Revising paragraph (b)(1).
0
C. Adding new paragraph (c).
0
D. Redesignating paragraph (b)(3) as paragraph (d).
0
E. Revising the authority citation that appears at the end of the
section.
The addition and revisions read as follows:
Sec. 674.59 Cancellation for military service.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(1) An institution must cancel up to 50 percent of the outstanding
balance on an NDSL or Perkins loan for active duty service that ended
before August 14, 2008, as a member of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force,
Marine Corps, or Coast Guard in an area of hostilities that qualifies
for special pay under section 310 of title 37 of the United States
Code.
* * * * *
(c)(1) An institution must cancel up to 100 percent of the
outstanding balance on a borrower's Federal Perkins or NDSL loan for a
borrower's full year of active duty service that includes August 14,
2008, or begins on or after that date, as a member of the U.S. Army,
Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard in an area of hostilities
that qualifies for special pay under section 310 of title 37 of the
United States Code.
(2) The cancellation rate is 15 percent for the first and second
year of qualifying service, 20 percent for the third and fourth year of
qualifying service, and 30 percent for the fifth year of qualifying
service.
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1087ee.
Sec. 674.61 [Amended]
0
33. Section 674.61 is amended by removing the citation ``Sec.
674.51(s)'' each time it appears and adding, in its place, the citation
``Sec. 674.51(aa)''.
PART 682--FEDERAL FAMILY EDUCATION LOAN (FFEL) PROGRAM
0
34. The authority citation for part 682 is revised to read as follows:
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070g, 1071 to 1087-2, unless otherwise
noted.
0
35. In Sec. 682.212, revise paragraph (h) to read as follows:
Sec. 682.212 Prohibited transactions.
* * * * *
(h) A school may, at its option, make available a list of
recommended or suggested lenders, in print or any other medium or form,
for use by the school's students or their parents provided that such
list complies with the requirements in 34 CFR 601.10 and 668.14(a)(28).
* * * * *
0
36. Section 682.604 is amended by revising paragraphs (c)(5), (c)(8),
(f), and (g) to read as follows:
Sec. 682.604 Processing the borrower's loan proceeds and counseling
borrowers.
* * * * *
(c) * * *
(5) A school may not release the first installment of a Stafford
loan for endorsement to a student who is enrolled in the first year of
an undergraduate program of study and who has not previously received a
Stafford, SLS, Direct Subsidized, or Direct Unsubsidized loan until 30
days after the first day of the student's program of study unless--
(i) Except as provided in paragraph (c)(5)(ii) of this section, the
school in which the student is enrolled has a cohort default rate,
calculated under subpart M of 34 CFR part 668, of less than 10 percent
for each of the three most recent fiscal years for which data are
available; or
(ii) For loans first disbursed on or after October 1, 2011, the
school in which the student is enrolled has a cohort default rate,
calculated under either subpart M or subpart N of 34 CFR part 668 of
less than 15 percent for each of the three most recent fiscal years for
which data are available; or
(iii) The school is an eligible home institution certifying a loan
to cover the student's cost of attendance in a study abroad program and
has a cohort default rate, calculated under either subpart M or subpart
N of 34 CFR part 668, of less than 5 percent for the single most recent
fiscal year for which data are available.
* * * * *
(8) Notwithstanding the requirements of paragraphs (c)(6) through
(c)(9) of this section, a school is not required to deliver loan
proceeds in more than one installment if--
(i)(A) The student's loan period is not more than one semester, one
trimester, one quarter, or, for non term-based schools or schools with
non-standard terms, 4 months; and
(B)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (c)(8)(i)(B)(2) of this
section, the school in which the student is enrolled has a cohort
default rate, calculated under subpart M of 34 CFR part 668, of less
than 10 percent for each of the three most recent fiscal years for
which data are available; or
(2) For loan disbursements made on or after October 1, 2011, the
school in which the student is enrolled has a cohort default rate,
calculated under either subpart M or subpart N of 34 CFR part 668 of
less than 15 percent for each of the three most recent fiscal years for
which data are available; or
(ii) The school is an eligible home institution certifying a loan
to cover the student's cost of attendance in a study abroad program and
has a cohort default rate, calculated under subpart M or subpart N of
34 CFR part 668, of less than 5 percent for the single most recent
fiscal year for which data are available.
* * * * *
(f) Entrance counseling. (1) A school must ensure that entrance
counseling is conducted with each Stafford loan borrower prior to its
release of the first disbursement, unless the student borrower has
received a prior Federal Stafford, Federal SLS, or Direct subsidized or
unsubsidized loan.
[[Page 55665]]
(2) A school must ensure that entrance counseling is conducted with
each graduate or professional student PLUS loan borrower prior to its
release of the first disbursement, unless the student has received a
prior Federal PLUS loan or Direct PLUS loan.
(3) Entrance counseling for Stafford and graduate or professional
student PLUS Loan borrowers must provide comprehensive information on
the terms and conditions of the loan and on the responsibilities of the
borrower with respect to the loan. This information may be provided to
the borrower--
(i) During an entrance counseling session conducted in person;
(ii) On a separate written form provided to the borrower that the
borrower signs and returns to the school; or
(iii) Online or by interactive electronic means, with the borrower
acknowledging receipt of the information.
(4) If entrance counseling is conducted online or through
interactive electronic means, the school must take reasonable steps to
ensure that each student borrower receives the counseling materials,
and participates in and completes the entrance counseling, which may
include completion of any interactive program that tests the borrower's
understanding of the terms and conditions of the borrower's loans.
(5) A school must ensure that an individual with expertise in the
title IV programs is reasonably available shortly after the counseling
to answer the student borrower's questions regarding those programs. As
an alternative, prior to releasing the proceeds of a loan, in the case
of a student borrower enrolled in a correspondence program or a student
borrower enrolled in a study-abroad program that the home institution
approves for credit, the counseling may be provided through written
materials.
(6) Entrance counseling for Stafford Loan borrowers must--
(i) Explain the use of a Master Promissory Note;
(ii) Emphasize to the student borrower the seriousness and
importance of the repayment obligation the student borrower is
assuming;
(iii) Describe the likely consequences of default, including
adverse credit reports, delinquent debt collection procedures under
Federal law, and litigation;
(iv) In the case of a student borrower (other than a loan made or
originated by the school), emphasize that the student borrower is
obligated to repay the full amount of the loan even if the student
borrower does not complete the program, does not complete the program
within the regular time for program completion, is unable to obtain
employment upon completion, or is otherwise dissatisfied with or does
not receive the educational or other services that the student borrower
purchased from the school;
(v) Inform the student borrower of sample monthly repayment amounts
based on--
(A) A range of student levels of indebtedness of Stafford loan
borrowers, or student borrowers with Stafford and PLUS loans, depending
on the types of loans the borrower has obtained; or
(B) The average indebtedness of other borrowers in the same program
at the same school as the borrower;
(vi) To the extent practicable, explain the effect of accepting the
loan to be disbursed on the eligibility of the borrower for other forms
of student financial assistance;
(vii) Provide information on how interest accrues and is
capitalized during periods when the interest is not paid by either the
borrower or the Secretary;
(viii) Inform the borrower of the option to pay the interest on an
unsubsidized Stafford Loan while the borrower is in school;
(ix) Explain the definition of half-time enrollment at the school,
during regular terms and summer school, if applicable, and the
consequences of not maintaining half-time enrollment;
(x) Explain the importance of contacting the appropriate offices at
the school if the borrower withdraws prior to completing the borrower's
program of study so that the school can provide exit counseling,
including information regarding the borrower's repayment options and
loan consolidation;
(xi) Provide information on the National Student Loan Data System
and how the borrower can access the borrower's records; and
(xii) Provide the name of and contact information for the
individual the borrower may contact if the borrower has any questions
about the borrower's rights and responsibilities or the terms and
conditions of the loan.
(7) Entrance counseling for graduate or professional student PLUS
Loan borrowers must--
(i) Inform the student borrower of sample monthly repayment amounts
based on--
(A) A range of student levels of indebtedness of graduate or
professional student PLUS loan borrowers, or student borrowers with
Stafford and PLUS loans, depending on the types of loans the borrower
has obtained; or
(B) The average indebtedness of other borrowers in the same program
at the same school as the borrower;
(ii) Inform the borrower of the option to pay interest on a PLUS
Loan while the borrower is in school;
(iii) For a graduate or professional student PLUS Loan borrower who
has received a prior FFEL Stafford, or Direct subsidized or
unsubsidized loan, provide the information specified in Sec.
682.603(d)(1)(i) through Sec. 682.603(d)(1)(iii); and
(iv) For a graduate or professional student PLUS Loan borrower who
has not received a prior FFEL Stafford, or Direct subsidized or
unsubsidized loan, provide the information specified in paragraph
(f)(6)(i) through (f)(6)(xii) of this section.
(8) A school must maintain documentation substantiating the
school's compliance with this section for each student borrower.
(g) Exit counseling. (1) A school must ensure that exit counseling
is conducted with each Stafford loan borrower and graduate or
professional student PLUS Loan borrower either in person, by
audiovisual presentation, or by interactive electronic means. In each
case, the school must ensure that this counseling is conducted shortly
before the student borrower ceases at least half-time study at the
school, and that an individual with expertise in the title IV programs
is reasonably available shortly after the counseling to answer the
student borrower's questions. As an alternative, in the case of a
student borrower enrolled in a correspondence program or a study-abroad
program that the home institution approves for credit, written
counseling materials may be provided by mail within 30 days after the
student borrower completes the program. If a student borrower withdraws
from school without the school's prior knowledge or fails to complete
an exit counseling session as required, the school must ensure that
exit counseling is provided through either interactive electronic means
or by mailing written counseling materials to the student borrower at
the student borrower's last known address within 30 days after learning
that the student borrower has withdrawn from school or failed to
complete the exit counseling as required.
(2) The exit counseling must--
(i) Inform the student borrower of the average anticipated monthly
repayment amount based on the student borrower's indebtedness or on the
average indebtedness of student borrowers who have obtained Stafford
loans, PLUS Loans, or student borrowers who have obtained both Stafford
and PLUS loans,
[[Page 55666]]
depending on the types of loans the student borrower has obtained, for
attendance at the same school or in the same program of study at the
same school;
(ii) Review for the student borrower available repayment plan
options, including standard, graduated, extended, income sensitive and
income-based repayment plans, including a description of the different
features of each plan and sample information showing the average
anticipated monthly payments, and the difference in interest paid and
total payments under each plan;
(iii) Explain to the borrower the options to prepay each loan, to
pay each loan on a shorter schedule, and to change repayment plans;
(iv) Provide information on the effects of loan consolidation
including, at a minimum--
(A) The effects of consolidation on total interest to be paid, fees
to be paid, and length of repayment;
(B) The effects of consolidation on a borrower's underlying loan
benefits, including grace periods, loan forgiveness, cancellation, and
deferment opportunities;
(C) The options of the borrower to prepay the loan and to change
repayment plans; and
(D) That borrower benefit programs may vary among different
lenders;
(v) Include debt-management strategies that are designed to
facilitate repayment;
(vi) Include the matters described in paragraph (f)(6)(i),
(f)(6)(ii), and (f)(6)(iv) of this section;
(vii) Describe the likely consequences of default, including
adverse credit reports, delinquent debt collection procedures under
Federal law, and litigation;
(viii) Provide--
(A) A general description of the terms and conditions under which a
borrower may obtain full or partial forgiveness or discharge of
principal and interest, defer repayment of principal or interest, or be
granted forbearance on a title IV loan, including forgiveness benefits
or discharge benefits available to a FFEL borrower who consolidates his
or her loan into the Direct Loan program; and
(B) A copy, either in print or by electronic means, of the
information the Secretary makes available pursuant to section 485(d) of
the HEA;
(ix) Require the student borrower to provide current information
concerning name, address, social security number, references, and
driver's license number and State of issuance, as well as the student
borrower's expected permanent address, the address of the student
borrower's next of kin, and the name and address of the student
borrower's expected employer (if known). The school must ensure that
this information is provided to the guaranty agency or agencies listed
in the student borrower's records within 60 days after the student
borrower provides the information;
(x) Review for the student borrower information on the availability
of the Student Loan Ombudsman's office;
(xi) Inform the student borrower of the availability of title IV
loan information in the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) and
how NSLDS can be used to obtain title IV loan status information; and
(xii) A general description of the types of tax benefits that may
be available to borrowers.
(3) If exit counseling is conducted by electronic interactive
means, the school must take reasonable steps to ensure that each
student borrower receives the counseling materials, and participates in
and completes the counseling.
(4) The school must maintain documentation substantiating the
school's compliance with this section for each student borrower.
* * * * *
PART 685--WILLIAM D. FORD FEDERAL DIRECT LOAN PROGRAM
0
37. The authority citation for part 685 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070g, 1087a, et seq., unless otherwise
noted.
0
38. Section 685.301(b)(6) is amended by:
0
A. Revising paragraph (b)(6)(i).
0
B. In paragraph (b)(6)(ii), removing the reference to ``Paragraphs
(b)(8)(i)(A) and (B) of this section'' and adding, in its place, a
reference to ``Paragraphs (b)(6)(i)(A) and (B) of this section''.
0
C. In paragraph (b)(6)(ii), adding the words ``or subpart N'' after the
words ``under subpart M''.
0
D. In paragraph (b)(6)(iii), removing the reference to ``Paragraph
(b)(8)(i)(B) of this section'' and adding, in its place, a reference to
``Paragraph (b)(6)(i)(B) of this section''.
0
E. In paragraph (b)(6)(iii), adding the words ``or subpart N'' after
the words ``under subpart M''.
The revision reads as follows:
Sec. 685.301 Origination of a loan by a Direct Loan Program school.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(6)(i) A school is not required to make more than one disbursement
if--
(A)(1) The loan period is not more than one semester, one
trimester, one quarter, or, for non term-based schools or schools with
non-standard terms, 4 months; and
(2)(i) Except as provided in paragraph (b)(6)(i)(A)(2)(ii) of this
section, the school has a cohort default rate, calculated under subpart
M of 34 CFR part 668 of less than 10 percent for each of the three most
recent fiscal years for which data are available;
(ii) For loan disbursements made on or after October 1, 2011, the
school in which the student is enrolled has a cohort default rate,
calculated under either subpart M or subpart N of 34 CFR part 668 of
less than 15 percent for each of the three most recent fiscal years,
for which data are available.
(B) The school is an eligible home institution originating a loan
to cover the cost of attendance in a study abroad program and has a
cohort default rate, calculated under subpart M or subpart N of 34 part
668, of less than 5 percent for the single most recent fiscal year for
which data are available; or
(C) The school is not in a State.
* * * * *
0
39. Section 685.303(b)(4) is amended by:
0
A. Revising paragraph (b)(4)(i)(A).
0
B. In paragraph (b)(4)(ii), adding the words ``or subpart N'' after the
words ``under subpart M''.
0
C. In paragraph (b)(4)(iii), removing the words ``Subpart M'' and
adding in their place the words ``subpart M or subpart N''.
The revision reads as follows:
Sec. 685.303 Processing loan proceeds.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(4) * * *
(i) * * *
(A)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (b)(4)(i)(A)(2) of this
section, the school has a cohort default rate, calculated under subpart
M of 34 CFR part 668, or weighted average cohort rate of less than 10
percent for each of the three most recent fiscal years for which data
are available; or
(2) For loans first disbursed on or after October 1, 2011, the
school in which the student is enrolled has a cohort default rate,
calculated under either subpart M or N of 34 CFR part 668 of less than
15 percent for each of the three most recent fiscal years for which
data are available;
* * * * *
0
40. Section 685.304 is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 685.304 Counseling borrowers.
(a) Entrance counseling. (1) Except as provided in paragraph
(a)(8)of this section, a school must ensure that entrance counseling is
conducted with
[[Page 55667]]
each Direct Subsidized Loan or Direct Unsubsidized Loan student
borrower prior to making the first disbursement of the proceeds of a
loan to a student borrower unless the student borrower has received a
prior Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, Federal Stafford, or
Federal SLS Loan.
(2) Except as provided in paragraph (a)(8) of this section, a
school must ensure that entrance counseling is conducted with each
graduate or professional student Direct PLUS Loan borrower prior to
making the first disbursement of the loan unless the student borrower
has received a prior Direct PLUS Loan or Federal PLUS Loan.
(3) Entrance counseling for Direct Subsidized Loan, Direct
Unsubsidized Loan, and graduate or professional student Direct PLUS
Loan borrowers must provide the borrower with comprehensive information
on the terms and conditions of the loan and on the responsibilities of
the borrower with respect to the loan. This information may be provided
to the borrower--
(i) During an entrance counseling session, conducted in person;
(ii) On a separate written form provided to the borrower that the
borrower signs and returns to the school; or
(iii) Online or by interactive electronic means, with the borrower
acknowledging receipt of the information.
(4) If entrance counseling is conducted online or through
interactive electronic means, the school must take reasonable steps to
ensure that each student borrower receives the counseling materials,
and participates in and completes the entrance counseling, which may
include completion of any interactive program that tests the borrower's
understanding of the terms and conditions of the borrower's loans.
(5) A school must ensure that an individual with expertise in the
title IV programs is reasonably available shortly after the counseling
to answer the student borrower's questions. As an alternative, in the
case of a student borrower enrolled in a correspondence program or a
study-abroad program approved for credit at the home institution, the
student borrower may be provided with written counseling materials
before the loan proceeds are disbursed.
(6) Entrance counseling for Direct Subsidized Loan and Direct
Unsubsidized Loan borrowers must--
(i) Explain the use of a Master Promissory Note (MPN);
(ii) Emphasize to the borrower the seriousness and importance of
the repayment obligation the student borrower is assuming;
(iii) Describe the likely consequences of default, including
adverse credit reports, delinquent debt collection procedures under
Federal law, and litigation;
(iv) Emphasize that the student borrower is obligated to repay the
full amount of the loan even if the student borrower does not complete
the program, does not complete the program within the regular time for
program completion, is unable to obtain employment upon completion, or
is otherwise dissatisfied with or does not receive the educational or
other services that the student borrower purchased from the school;
(v) Inform the student borrower of sample monthly repayment amounts
based on--
(A) A range of student levels of indebtedness of Direct Subsidized
Loan and Direct Unsubsidized Loan borrowers, or student borrowers with
Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, and Direct PLUS Loans depending
on the types of loans the borrower has obtained; or
(B) The average indebtedness of other borrowers in the same program
at the same school as the borrower;
(vi) To the extent practicable, explain the effect of accepting the
loan to be disbursed on the eligibility of the borrower for other forms
of student financial assistance;
(vii) Provide information on how interest accrues and is
capitalized during periods when the interest is not paid by either the
borrower or the Secretary;
(viii) Inform the borrower of the option to pay the interest on a
Direct Unsubsidized Loan while the borrower is in school;
(ix) Explain the definition of half-time enrollment at the school,
during regular terms and summer school, if applicable, and the
consequences of not maintaining half-time enrollment;
(x) Explain the importance of contacting the appropriate offices at
the school if the borrower withdraws prior to completing the borrower's
program of study so that the school can provide exit counseling,
including information regarding the borrower's repayment options and
loan consolidation;
(xi) Provide information on the National Student Loan Data System
and how the borrower can access the borrower's records; and
(xii) Provide the name of and contact information for the
individual the borrower may contact if the borrower has any questions
about the borrower's rights and responsibilities or the terms and
conditions of the loan.
(7) Entrance counseling for graduate or professional student Direct
PLUS Loan borrowers must--
(i) Inform the student borrower of sample monthly repayment amounts
based on--
(A) A range of student levels or indebtedness of graduate or
professional student PLUS loan borrowers, or student borrowers with
Direct PLUS Loans and Direct Subsidized Loans or Direct Unsubsidized
Loans, depending on the types of loans the borrower has obtained; or
(B) The average indebtedness of other borrowers in the same program
at the same school;
(ii) Inform the borrower of the option to pay interest on a PLUS
Loan while the borrower is in school;
(iii) For a graduate or professional student PLUS Loan borrower who
has received a prior FFEL Stafford, or Direct Subsidized or
Unsubsidized Loan, provide the information specified in Sec.
685.301(a)(3)(i)(A) through Sec. 685.301(a)(3)(i)(C); and
(iv) For a graduate or professional student PLUS Loan borrower who
has not received a prior FFEL Stafford, or Direct Subsidized or Direct
Unsubsidized Loan, provide the information specified in paragraph
(a)(6)(i) through paragraph (a)(6)(xii) of this section.
(8) A school may adopt an alternative approach for entrance
counseling as part of the school's quality assurance plan described in
Sec. 685.300(b)(9). If a school adopts an alternative approach, it is
not required to meet the requirements of paragraphs (a)(1) through
(a)(7) of this section unless the Secretary determines that the
alternative approach is not adequate for the school. The alternative
approach must--
(i) Ensure that each student borrower subject to entrance
counseling under paragraph (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this section is provided
written counseling materials that contain the information described in
paragraphs (a)(6)(i) through (a)(6)(v) of this section;
(ii) Be designed to target those student borrowers who are most
likely to default on their repayment obligations and provide them more
intensive counseling and support services; and
(iii) Include performance measures that demonstrate the
effectiveness of the school's alternative approach. These performance
measures must include objective outcomes, such as levels of borrowing,
default rates, and withdrawal rates.
(9) The school must maintain documentation substantiating the
[[Page 55668]]
school's compliance with this section for each student borrower.
(b) Exit counseling. (1) A school must ensure that exit counseling
is conducted with each Direct Subsidized Loan or Direct Unsubsidized
Loan borrower and graduate or professional student Direct PLUS Loan
borrower shortly before the student borrower ceases at least half-time
study at the school.
(2) The exit counseling must be in person, by audiovisual
presentation, or by interactive electronic means. In each case, the
school must ensure that an individual with expertise in the title IV
programs is reasonably available shortly after the counseling to answer
the student borrower's questions. As an alternative, in the case of a
student borrower enrolled in a correspondence program or a study-abroad
program approved for credit at the home institution, the student
borrower may be provided with written counseling materials within 30
days after the student borrower completes the program.
(3) If a student borrower withdraws from school without the
school's prior knowledge or fails to complete the exit counseling as
required, exit counseling must be provided either through interactive
electronic means or by mailing written counseling materials to the
student borrower at the student borrower's last known address within 30
days after the school learns that the student borrower has withdrawn
from school or failed to complete the exit counseling as required.
(4) The exit counseling must--
(i) Inform the student borrower of the average anticipated monthly
repayment amount based on the student borrower's indebtedness or on the
average indebtedness of student borrowers who have obtained Direct
Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans, student borrowers who
have obtained only Direct PLUS Loans, or student borrowers who have
obtained Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, and Direct PLUS Loans,
depending on the types of loans the student borrower has obtained, for
attendance at the same school or in the same program of study at the
same school;
(ii) Review for the student borrower available repayment plan
options including the standard repayment, extended repayment, graduated
repayment, income contingent repayment plans, and income-based
repayment plans, including a description of the different features of
each plan and sample information showing the average anticipated
monthly payments, and the difference in interest paid and total
payments under each plan;
(iii) Explain to the borrower the options to prepay each loan, to
pay each loan on a shorter schedule, and to change repayment plans;
(iv) Provide information on the effects of loan consolidation
including, at a minimum--
(A) The effects of consolidation on total interest to be paid, fees
to be paid, and length of repayment;
(B) The effects of consolidation on a borrower's underlying loan
benefits, including grace periods, loan forgiveness, cancellation, and
deferment opportunities;
(C) The options of the borrower to prepay the loan and to change
repayment plans; and
(D) That borrower benefit programs may vary among different
lenders;
(v) Include debt-management strategies that are designed to
facilitate repayment;
(vi) Explain to the student borrower how to contact the party
servicing the student borrower's Direct Loans;
(vii) Meet the requirements described in paragraphs (a)(6)(i),
(a)(6)(ii), and (a)(6)(iv) of this section;
(viii) Describe the likely consequences of default, including
adverse credit reports, delinquent debt collection procedures under
Federal law, and litigation;
(ix) Provide--
(A) A general description of the terms and conditions under which a
borrower may obtain full or partial forgiveness or discharge of
principal and interest, defer repayment of principal or interest, or be
granted forbearance on a title IV loan; and
(B) A copy, either in print or by electronic means, of the
information the Secretary makes available pursuant to section 485(d) of
the HEA;
(x) Review for the student borrower information on the availability
of the Department's Student Loan Ombudsman's office;
(xi) Inform the student borrower of the availability of title IV
loan information in the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) and
how NSLDS can be used to obtain title IV loan status information;
(xii) A general description of the types of tax benefits that may
be available to borrowers; and
(xiii) Require the student borrower to provide current information
concerning name, address, social security number, references, and
driver's license number and State of issuance, as well as the student
borrower's expected permanent address, the address of the student
borrower's next of kin, and the name and address of the student
borrower's expected employer (if known).
(5) The school must ensure that the information required in
paragraph (b)(4)(xiii) of this section is provided to the Secretary
within 60 days after the student borrower provides the information.
(6) If exit counseling is conducted through interactive electronic
means, a school must take reasonable steps to ensure that each student
borrower receives the counseling materials, and participates in and
completes the exit counseling.
(7) The school must maintain documentation substantiating the
school's compliance with this section for each student borrower.
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control
number 1845-0021)
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1087a et seq.).
[FR Doc. E9-25073 Filed 10-27-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P