The Secretary of Education (Secretary) will conduct three regional meetings in the District of Columbia, San Francisco, and Denver to provide advice and technical assistance to potential applicants of the Distance Education Demonstration Program and to o

[Federal Register: February 8, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 25)]

[Notices]               

[Page 6062-6063]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr08fe99-64]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION



Federal Student Financial Assistance Programs--Distance Education 

Demonstration Program


AGENCY: Department of Education.


ACTION: Notice of regional meetings to provide advice and technical 

assistance to institutions of higher education (institutions), systems 

of institutions, and consortia of institutions that are (1) interested 

in applying to participate in the Distance Education Demonstration 

Program authorized under section 486 of title IV of the Higher 

Education Act of 1965, as amended, or (2) interested in providing 

Federal financial aid to students enrolled in distance education 

programs.


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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Education (Secretary) will conduct three 

regional meetings in the District of Columbia, San Francisco, and 

Denver to provide advice and technical assistance to potential 

applicants of the Distance Education Demonstration Program and to other 

institutions interested in providing Federal financial aid to students 

enrolled in distance education programs.


DATES: The regional meetings will be held on February 11, 1999 in the 

District of Columbia, February 17, 1999 in San Francisco, California, 

and February 19, 1999 in Denver, Colorado.


ADDRESSES: Marianne R. Phelps, U.S. Department of Education, 400 

Maryland Avenue, SW (ROB-3, Room 4082), Washington, DC 20202-5257. 

Telephone: (202) 708-5547.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marianne R. Phelps at (202) 708-5547 

or E-Mail to DistanceDemo@ed.gov. Information regarding the program can 

also be found on the Web site of the Department of Education (http://

www.ed.gov). If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) 

you may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-

8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday.


Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an 

alternative format (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer 

diskette) on request to the contact person listed in the preceding 

paragraph.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:


Background


On October 7, 1998, President Clinton signed into law Pub. L. 105-

244, the Higher Education Amendments of 1998, amending the Higher 

Education Act of 1965 (HEA). This legislation established the Distance 

Education Demonstration Program. Under this program, up to a total of 

15 institutions, systems of institutions, or consortia of institutions 

may offer Title IV, HEA financial assistance to students enrolled in 

distance education programs without being subject to certain statutory 

and regulatory provisions, which the Secretary may waive, upon their 

request. As described in section 486(a) of the HEA, the purpose of the 

program is to--


(1) Allow demonstration programs that are strictly monitored by the 

Department of Education to test the quality and viability of expanded 

distance education programs currently restricted under this Act;

(2) Provide for increased student access to higher education 

through distance education programs; and

(3) Help determine the--

  (A) Most effective means of delivering quality education via 

distance education course offerings;


[[Page 6063]]


  (B) Specific statutory and regulatory requirements which should be 

altered to provide greater access to high quality distance education 

programs; and

  (C) Appropriate level of federal assistance for students enrolled 

in distance education programs.


The Secretary anticipates publishing a notice inviting applications 

for participation in the Distance Education Demonstration Program in 

the Federal Register during the first week of February, 1999. This 

notice will specify the eligibility requirements for participation in 

the Distance Education Demonstration Program, the statutory and 

regulatory provisions that may be waived, the application requirements, 

and the criteria that will be used to select participants.


Regional Hearings


Interested parties are invited to attend three regional meetings 

that will provide advice and technical assistance about applying to 

participate in the Distance Education Demonstration Program and 

providing Federal financial aid to students enrolled in distance 

education programs. The regional meetings will begin with a brief 

description of eligibility requirements for the Distance Education 

Demonstration Program and the application and selection processes for 

this program. Then, individuals will be provided an opportunity to ask 

questions regarding the application process and other matters relating 

to the Distance Education Demonstration Program. Department of 

Education staff with expertise on various issues relating to the 

Distance Education Demonstration Program will be available to answer 

these questions.


Questions regarding eligibility and administration of Title IV, HEA 

student financial assistance programs may be relevant to institutions' 

interest in applying for the Distance Education Demonstration Program. 

Accordingly, during the course of the meeting, Department staff will 

also address questions that relate generally to the administration of 

aid in distance education programs.


The Department of Education has reserved a limited number of hotel 

rooms at each of the following hotels at a special government per diem 

room rate. To reserve these rates, be certain to inform the hotel that 

you are attending the regional hearings with the Department of 

Education.


The hearing sites are accessible to individuals with disabilities. 

The Department will provide a sign language interpreter at each of the 

scheduled hearings. An individual with a disability who will need an 

auxiliary aid or service other than an interpreter to participate in 

the meeting (e.g., assistive listening device, or materials in an 

alternative format) should notify the contact person listed in this 

notice at least two weeks before the scheduled meeting date. Although 

the Department will attempt to meet a request received after that date, 

the requested auxiliary aid or service may not be available because of 

insufficient time to arrange it. Dates, Times, and Locations of 

Regional Hearings.

    1. February 11, 1999, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Washington Plaza Hotel, 10 

Thomas Circle, NW, Washington, DC 20005. Call (202) 842-1300 for hotel 

reservations. Sleeping room rate: $115 plus taxes. Reservations must be 

made by January 28th.

    2. February 17, 1999, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., The Holiday Inn Golden 

Gateway, 1500 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, California 94109. Call 1-

800-Holiday or (415) 441-4000 for hotel reservations. Sleeping room 

rates: $129 plus taxes. Reservations must be made by February 3rd.

    3. February 19, 1999, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., The Adams Marc Hotel, 1550 

Court Place, Denver, Colorado 80202. Call 1-303-893-3333 for hotel 

reservations. Sleeping room rate: $80 plus taxes. Reservations must be 

made by February 5th.


Electronic Access to This Document


Anyone may view this document, as well as all other Department of 

Education documents published in the Federal Register, in Text or 

portable document format (pdf) on the World Wide Web at either of the 

following sites:


http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg/htm

http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg/html


    To use the pdf, you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader Program with 

Search, which is available free at either of the previous sites. If you 

have questions about using the pdf, call the U.S. Government Printing 

Office toll free at 1-888-293-6498.


    Authority: Sec. 488 of Pub. L. 105-244, enacted October 7, 1998.


Dated: February 2, 1999.

David A. Longanecker,

Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.

[FR Doc. 99-2917 Filed 2-5-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000-01-M