Higher Ed Policy Roundup: Vol. 4 - Issue 21

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) released an interim final rule requiring colleges to restrict certain students from receiving emergency grants authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The interim final rule, which will take effect without going through the process of public comments as soon as it is published in the Federal Register, will require colleges to exclude students who don’t qualify for federal student aid from the emergency grant program. Recall that, in recent guidance, ED stipulated that only students who qualify for federal aid under Title IV of the Higher Education Act may receive funding. Those excluded include international students, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students, students who have defaulted on student loans, students with less than a C average, and students with minor drug convictions.

Experts warn that student borrowers will suffer if Congress fails to extend loan payment freeze into 2021.

Defrauded students sue ED over borrower defense “Partial Relief Rule,” alleging wrongful denial of loan relief.

A look at some of the problems with the CARES Act borrower relief provisions.

No relevant student aid bills were introduced this week for consideration by the 116th Congress (2019-2020).