ADMINISTRATION       

The Department of Education (ED) published a blog post, in which it provided updates on regulatory and related actions for several higher education related issues, including State authorization, cash management, accreditation, distance education, return of Title IV aid (R2T4), Federal TRIO programs, third-party servicers and guidance on bundled services.

ED released proposed rules on the issues of distance education, R2T4 and Federal TRIO Programs.

President Biden shared his intention to sign an Executive Order to create the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs).

The Biden Administration announced its approval of additional Public Service Loan Forgiveness debt relief, totaling $1.2 billion for 35,000 borrowers.

The Federal Communications Commission voted in favor of expanding the E-rate program to include funding for Wi-Fi hotspots and wireless internet access services.

ED and the Justice Department provided an update on its efforts to address cases in which individuals seek to discharge their Federal student loans in bankruptcy.

COURTS

The U.S. Appeals Court in Philadelphia ruled that college athletes who contribute significantly to their schools may be considered employees entitled to compensation under Federal wage-and-hour laws.

The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s emergency motion to temporarily block the implementation of Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan in its entirety. In a subsequent statement, ED Secretary Miguel Cardona said that the agency borrowers enrolled in the SAVE Plan will be placed in forbearance while the legal proceedings continue.

In a related yet separate court action, according to Politico Pro, ED asked the Supreme Court not to intervene in a case regarding the SAVE plan in which several Republican State Attorneys General had sought an emergency stay from the Court.

A Kansas District Court Judge denied the Administration’s request to enforce portions of ED’s recently promulgated Title IX rule. The judge had previously issued a temporary injunction for the entirety of this rule in the States of Kansas, Alaska, Utah and Wyoming, as well as schools where there are members of Young America’s Foundation, members of Female Athletes United and children of members of the group Moms for Liberty. The judge also denied a request from Moms for Liberty to expand the reach of the ruling to each county where the group has a member instead of specific schools and a request by the Administration to limit the ruling to only current members of these groups.

ELECTION

GOP Presidential Candidate Donald Trump announced that Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) will be his Vice-Presidential running mate for the 2024 election.

EVENTS

Penn Hill Group plans on providing clients a summary of the following events next week:

July 23: House Committee on Education and the Workforce Joint Subcommittee Hearing on “Investigating How the Biden Administration Ignored Cries for Help from Students at Haskell Indian Nations University.”

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

Penn Hill Group provides a list of grant opportunities and summaries for select grants programs. Please visit our website for more information.