Online Learning Update

New regulations and reporting requirements to help battle federal financial aid fraud for institutions that offer distance education are coming.  No doubt, additional protections are needed tools to combat financial aid fraud.  The distance education community needs to be part of the solution.  However, the remedies need to be tempered so that they do not harm innocent students or cause excessive burdens for institutions to comply.  On Tuesday February 25, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) released the Final Audit Report: “Title IV of the Higher Education Act Programs: Additional Safeguards Are Needed to Help Mitigate the Risks That Are Unique to the Distance Education Environment.”  This is an extensive report that is the culmination of much research and analysis by the OIG.