Maintained for Historical Purposes

This resource is being maintained for historical purposes only and is not currently applicable.

Summary: 2007-2008 Negoiated Rulemaking

Publication Date: January 8, 2008
FRPart:

Page Numbers: 1300-1301

Summary: 2007-2008 Negoiated Rulemaking

Posted on 01-08-2008


[Federal Register: January 8, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 5)]
[Proposed Rules]              
[Page 1300-1301]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08ja08-17]                        

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

34 CFR Parts 674, 682, 685, and 686


Office of Postsecondary Education; Notice of Intent To Establish
Negotiated Rulemaking Committees Under Title IV of the Higher Education
Act of 1965, as Amended

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of negotiated rulemaking.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Secretary of Education (Secretary) announces the
establishment of two negotiated rulemaking committees to develop
proposed regulations related to the Federal student aid programs
authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended
(HEA). The first committee will develop proposed regulations for the
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH)
Grant program. The second committee will develop proposed regulations
for other Federal student aid programs authorized by Title IV of the HEA.

DATES: The dates for the negotiated rulemaking sessions are listed in
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Kolotos, U.S. Department of
Education, 1990 K Street, NW., room 8018, Washington, DC 20006.
Telephone: (202) 502-7762. E-mail: John.Kolotos@ed.gov.
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
    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 this section.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 22, 2007, we published a notice
in the Federal Register (72 FR 59494) announcing our intent to
establish one or two negotiated rulemaking committees to prepare
proposed regulations under Title IV of the HEA. In the notice, we also
announced three hearings where interested parties could suggest issues
for consideration by the negotiating committees. We also invited
parties to submit issues for consideration in writing. Finally, we
requested nominations for individual negotiators, who represent key
stakeholder constituencies that are involved in the Federal student aid
programs, to serve on these committees.
    After considering the information we received at the hearings and
in writing, we have decided to establish two negotiating committees
that will begin meeting in January 2008. The first committee will
develop proposed regulations for the TEACH Grant program. The TEACH
Grant regulations will be in a new Part 686 in Title 34 of the Code of
Federal Regulations. The second committee will develop proposed
regulations for the Federal student loan programs.
    In selecting individuals from the submitted nominations, the
Department has tried to assemble a balanced and complementary
representation of the interests affected by the subject matter,
consistent with section 492 of the HEA. We believe the individuals
selected will bring valuable knowledge and expertise to the table, and
will work as a cohesive unit to assist us in developing proposed
regulations that are both reasonable and effective. Individuals that
were not selected as members of the committees will be able to attend
the meetings and have access to the negotiators. The committee meetings
will be open to the public.
    Participation in the rulemaking process is not limited to members
of the committees or those who work with the committees. Following the
negotiated rulemaking process, we will publish for public comment
proposed regulations in the Federal Register. We anticipate that
proposed regulations developed by the TEACH Grant committee will be
published in April 2008. We anticipate that proposed regulations
developed by the Student Loan committee will be published in June 2008.

TEACH Grant Committee Topics, Members, and Meeting Schedule

    The topics the TEACH Grant Committee are likely to address all
relate to the new TEACH Grant program and include:
    Institutional Eligibility.
    Program Eligibility.
    Student Eligibility.
    Conversion of Grant to Loan.
    Repayment.
    Conforming Changes.
    This list of topics is tentative. Topics may be added as the
process continues.
    The members of the TEACH Grant Committee and the interests they are
representing are:
    Elementary and Secondary Education and Alternative Routes to
Teacher Certification: Dr. Nell Ingram, Dallas Independent School
District.
    Four-year Public Institutions: William Graves, Dean, Darden College
of Education, Old Dominion University.
    Sandra Robinson, Dean, College of Education, University of Central
Florida.
    Joseph Pettibon, Assistant Provost, Student Financial Aid, Texas
A&M University.
    Herbert Brunkhorst, Professor of Science, Education and Biology,
and Chair, Science, Math and Technology Education, California State
University San Bernardino.
    Alternates: J. Robert Hendricks, Associate Dean, College of
Education, University of Arizona.
    Beth Stack, Director of Operations, Student Financial Services,
University of Pittsburgh.
    Jan Lariviere, Associate Director for Teacher Development, Center
for Science Education, University of Kansas.

[[Page 1301]]

    Four-year Private Institutions: Janet Dodson, Director of Financial
Aid, Doane College.
    Scott Fleming, Government Relations, Georgetown University.
    Ellis Salim, Director of Financial Aid, Baker College.
    Alternates: Bernard Pekala, Director of Financial Strategies,
Boston College.
    Thomas O'Neill, Jr., President, Association of Independent Colleges
and Universities of Nebraska.
    Two-year Public Institutions: Patrick Moore, Director of Financial
Aid, Delaware Technical and Community College.
    For-Profit Institutions: Marry Dorrell, Corporate Vice President of
Student Finance, Career Education Corporation.
    Students: Carmen Berkeley, United States Students Association.
    Alternate: Cedric Lawson, United Council of University of Wisconsin
Students.
    Associations: Terry Hartle, Senior Vice President, American Council
of Education.
    Alternate: Cyndy Littlefield, Association of Jesuit Colleges and
Universities.
    Department of Education: Gail McLarnon.
    We have scheduled a total of three negotiated rulemaking sessions,
all of which will be held at our offices on 1990 K Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20006. The following schedule is subject to change. We
will announce any changes to this schedule on the Department's Web site
at http://www.ed.gov/policy/highered/reg/hearulemaking/2008/index2008.html.

    Session 1: January 8-January 10.
    Session 2: January 22-January 24.
    Session 3: February 6-February 8.
    For the first negotiating session, the TEACH Grant committee is
scheduled to meet from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
    For Session 2, the committee is scheduled to meet from 9 a.m. to 5
p.m. each day.
    For Session 3, the committee is scheduled to meet from 1 p.m. to 5
p.m. on February 6 and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on February 7 and 8.

Student Loan Committee Topics, Members, and Meeting Schedule

    The topics the Student Loan Committee is likely to address are:
    Income-based Repayment Plan (IBR).
    Conforming the Economic Hardship Deferment with IBR.
    Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
    Definition of Not-for-Profit Holder.
    Harmonizing HEROES Waivers with Other Benefits Provided to
Returning and Active Duty Military.
    Federal Preemption of State Laws Related to improper inducements
and arrangements between schools, lenders and other entities in the
student loan programs.
    This list of topics is tentative. Topics may be added as the
process continues.
    The members of the Student Loan Committee and the interests they
are representing are:
    Students: Luke Swarthout, United States PIRG.
    Alternate: Rebecca Thompson, United States Student Association.
    Graduate and Professional Students: Carrie Steere-Salazar, American
Association of Medical Colleges.
    Alternate: Radhika Miller, National Lawyers Guild Partnership for
Civil Justice.
    Legal Aid: Deanne Loonin, National Consumer Law Center.
    Alternate: Lauren Saunders, National Consumer Law Center.
    Four-year Public Institutions: Allison Jones, California State
University.
    Alternate: Anna Griswold, Pennsylvania State University.
    Four-year Private Institutions: Eileen O'Leary, Stonehill College.
    Alternate: Kathleen Koch, Seattle University School of Law.
    Two and Four-year Public Institutions: George Chin, City University
of New York.
    For-profit Institutions: Mark Pelesh, Corinthian Colleges.
    Alternate: Tammy Halligan, Career College Association.
    Lenders--For-Profit: Tom Levandowski, Wachovia Corporation.
    Alternate: Walter Balmas, MyRichUncle.
    Lenders--Non-Profit: Scott Giles, Vermont Student Assistance
Corporation.
    Alternate: Phil Van Horn, Wyoming Student Loan Corporation.
    Guaranty Agencies: Gene Hutchins, New Jersey Higher Education
Student Assistance Authority.
    Alternate: Dick George, Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty
Cooperation.
    Servicers: Wanda Hall, EDFinancial Services.
    Alternate: Rob Sommers, Sallie Mae.
    Collection Agencies: Martin Darnian, Windham Professionals.
    Alternate: Carl Perry, Progressive Financial Services.
    Associations: Anne Gross, NACUBO.
    Department of Education: Dan Madzelan.
    We have scheduled a total of three negotiated rulemaking sessions,
all of which will be held at our offices on 1990 K Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20006. The following schedule is subject to change. We
will announce any changes to this schedule on the Department's Web site
at http://www.ed.gov/policy/highered/reg/hearulemaking/2008/index2008.html.

    Session 1: January 14-January 16.
    Session 2: February 4-February 6.
    Session 3: March 4-March 6.
    For the first negotiating session, the Student Loan Committee is
scheduled to meet from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
    For Session 2, the committee is scheduled to meet from 9 a.m. to 5
p.m. on February 4th and 5th; and from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on February 6th.
    For Session 3, the committee is scheduled to meet from 9 a.m. to 5
p.m. each day.

Electronic Access to This Document

    You may view this document 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.
Government Printing Office toll free at 1-888-293-6498; or in the
Washington, DC area at (202) 512-1530.

    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.


    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1098a.

    Dated: January 3, 2008.
Diane Auer Jones, Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
 [FR Doc. E8-121 Filed 1-7-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000-01-P