U.S. Finalizes New Rules For Distance Ed And College Prep Programs

Inside Higher Ed

Jessica Blake

December 30, 2024

Colleges will have to submit to the federal government new data on their distance education programs under a batch of new rules the Biden administration finalized Monday.

The rules, which will take effect July 1, 2026, will likely be the president’s last package of new regulations for colleges and universities before Trump takes office Jan. 20.

The new regulations carry out Biden’s plan to increase federal oversight of online programs, but the final version doesn’t go as far as the president initially intended. After receiving significant pushback from online education lobbyists, the Education Department conceded, backing off a plan to  disallow asynchronous options for clock-hour courses or require colleges to take attendance in online classes.

The package does, however, still include rules that require colleges to report more data on enrollment in distance education classes, which include those offered online or via correspondence. Higher ed institutions won’t have to begin submitting the data until July 1, 2027.

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