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The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer

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The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer Alexandra Hegji Analyst in Social Policy January 16, 2015 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov R43351 The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer Summary The Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA; P.L. 89-329) authorizes numerous federal aid programs that provide support to both individuals pursuing a postsecondary education and institutions of higher education (IHEs). Title IV of the HEA authorizes the federal government’s major student aid programs, which are the primary source of direct federal support to students pursuing postsecondary education. Titles II, III, and V of the HEA provide institutional aid and support. Additionally, the HEA authorizes services and support for less-advantaged students (select Title IV programs), students pursing international education (Title VI), and students pursuing and institutions offering certain graduate and professional degrees (Title VII). Finally, the most recently added title (Title VIII) authorizes several other programs that support higher education. The HEA was last comprehensively reauthorized in 2008 by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA; P.L. 110-315), which authorized most HEA programs through FY2014. Following the enactment of the HEAO, the HEA has been amended by numerous other laws, most notably the SAFRA Act, part of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-152), which terminated the authority to make federal student loans through the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program. Authorization of appropriations for many HEA programs expired at the end of FY2014 but has been extended through FY2015 under the General Education Provisions Act. This report provides a brief overview of the major provisions of the HEA. Congressional Research Service The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer Contents Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 1 Title I: General Provisions ............................................................................................................... 2 Part A: Definitions ..................................................................................................................... 2 Part B: Additional General Provisions....................................................................................... 2 Part C: Cost of Higher Education .............................................................................................. 3 Part D: Administrative Provisions for Delivery of Student Financial Assistance ..................... 4 Part E: Lender Institution Requirements Relating to Education Loans ..................................... 4 Title II: Teacher Quality Enhancement ............................................................................................ 4 Part A: Teacher Quality Partnership Grants............................................................................... 5 Part B: Enhancing Teacher Education ....................................................................................... 5 Title III: Institutional Aid ................................................................................................................. 5 Part A: Strengthening Institutions.............................................................................................. 6 American Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities ........................................ 6 Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions ................................................... 6 Predominantly Black Institutions ........................................................................................ 6 Native American-Serving, Nontribal Institutions ................................................................ 7 Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions...................... 7 Part B: Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities ........................................ 7 Historically Black Graduate and Professional Institutions.................................................. 8 Part C: Endowment Challenge Grants ....................................................................................... 8 Part D: Historically Black College and University Capital Financing ...................................... 8 Part E: Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program ........................................... 8 Part F: Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Other Minority-Serving Institutions ................................................................................................. 9 Hispanic Serving-Institutions Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math and Articulation Program........................................................................................................ 9 Part G: General Provisions ........................................................................................................ 9 Title IV: Student Assistance ............................................................................................................. 9 Part A: Grants to Students in Attendance at Institutions of Higher Education ........................ 10 Subpart 1: Federal Pell Grants .......................................................................................... 10 Subpart 2: TRIO and GEAR UP ....................................................................................... 11 Subpart 3: Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) .................. 12 Subpart 4: LEAP and GAP ................................................................................................ 13 Subpart 5: Special Programs for Students Whose Families Are Engaged in Migrant and Seasonal Farmwork ................................................................................... 13 Subpart 6: Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program (Byrd) ...................................... 13 Subpart 7: Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) .............................. 14 Subpart 9: TEACH Grants ................................................................................................ 14 Subpart 10: Scholarships for Veteran’s Dependents.......................................................... 14 Part B: Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program....................................................... 14 Part C: Federal Work-Study Programs .................................................................................... 15 Part D: William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program .................................... 16 Direct Subsidized Loans.................................................................................................... 17 Direct Unsubsidized Loans ............................................................................................... 17 Direct PLUS Loans ........................................................................................................... 17 Consolidation Loans.......................................................................................................... 18 Congressional Research Service The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer Part E: Federal Perkins Loans ................................................................................................. 18 Part F: Need Analysis .............................................................................................................. 19 Part G: General Provisions Relating to Student Assistance Programs .................................... 19 Part H: Program Integrity ........................................................................................................ 20 Subpart 1: State Role ......................................................................................................... 20 Subpart 2: Accrediting Agency Recognition ..................................................................... 21 Subpart 3: Eligibility and Certification Procedures........................................................... 21 Part I: Competitive Loan Auction Pilot Program .................................................................... 21 Title V: Developing Institutions ..................................................................................................... 21 Part A: Hispanic-Serving Institutions ...................................................................................... 21 Part B: Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans......................... 22 Part C: General Provisions ...................................................................................................... 22 Title VI: International Education Programs ................................................................................... 22 Part A: International and Foreign Language Studies ............................................................... 22 Part B: Business and International Education Programs ......................................................... 23 Part C: Institute for International Public Policy ...................................................................... 23 Part D: General Provisions ...................................................................................................... 23 Title VII: Graduate and Postsecondary Improvement Programs ................................................... 23 Part A: Graduate Education Programs ..................................................................................... 24 Part B: Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) ............................... 24 Part D: Programs to Provide Students with Disabilities with a Quality Higher Education .............................................................................................................................. 25 Part E: College Access Challenge Grant Program (CACG) .................................................... 25 Title VIII: Additional Programs ..................................................................................................... 26 Tables Table A-1. Funding for HEA-authorized programs, FY2011-2015 ............................................... 28 Table C-1. Comprehensive Reauthorizations of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ..................... 45 Appendixes Appendix A. History of Funding for HEA Programs: FY2011-FY2015 ....................................... 27 Appendix B. General Education Provisions Act ............................................................................ 43 Appendix C. Previous HEA Reauthorizations ............................................................................... 45 Contacts Author Contact Information........................................................................................................... 46 Key Policy Staff ............................................................................................................................. 46 Congressional Research Service The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer Introduction The Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA; P.L. 89-329), as amended, authorizes a broad array of federal student aid programs that assist students and their families with financing the cost of a postsecondary education, as well as programs that provide federal support to postsecondary institutions of higher education (IHEs). Programs authorized by the HEA provide support for higher education in several ways, including providing support to students in financing a postsecondary education, with additional support and services given to less-advantaged students; providing support to students pursing international education and certain graduate and professional degrees; and providing support to IHEs in improving their capacity and ability to offer postsecondary education programs. The Department of Education (ED) administers the programs authorized by the HEA. The most prominent programs under the HEA are the Title IV programs that provide financial assistance to students and their families. In FY2014, approximately $134 billion in financial assistance was made available to 13 million students under these programs.1 In the same year, ED provided approximately $2.3 billion in federal support to institutions of higher education under the HEA.2 The HEA was first enacted in 1965 and has since been amended and extended numerous times, and it has been comprehensively reauthorized eight times. The most recent comprehensive reauthorization of the HEA occurred in 2008 under the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA; P.L. 110-315), which authorized most HEA programs through FY2014. Following the passage of the HEAO, the SAFRA Act, as part of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-152), made several notable changes to the HEA. Authorization for the appropriations for many HEA programs expired at the end of FY2014 and was automatically extended through the end of FY2015 under Section 422 of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA). The HEA is organized into eight titles: • Title I, General Provisions; • Title II, Teacher Quality Enhancement; • Title III, Strengthening Institutions; • Title IV, Student Assistance; • Title V, Developing Institutions; • Title VI, International Education Programs; • Title VII, Graduate and Postsecondary Improvement Programs; and • Title VIII, Additional Programs. 1 U.S. Department of Education, Office of Federal Student Aid, Annual Report 2014, November 14, 2014, p. iii. Office of Management and Budget, The Appendix, Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2015, 2015, p. 352. 2 Congressional Research Service 1 The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer This report provides a brief overview of the major provisions of the HEA, organized by title and part. Appendix A of this report provides detailed appropriations figures for HEA-authorized programs, from FY2011 through FY2015. Appendix B gives a brief overview of the General Education Provisions Act, which applies to the majority of federal education programs The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer February 8, 2016 (R43351) Jump to Main Text of Report

Contents

Summary

The Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA; P.L. 89-329) authorizes numerous federal aid programs that provide support to both individuals pursuing a postsecondary education and institutions of higher education (IHEs). Title IV of the HEA authorizes the federal government's major student aid programs, which are the primary source of direct federal support to students pursuing postsecondary education. Titles II, III, and V of the HEA provide institutional aid and support. Additionally, the HEA authorizes services and support for less-advantaged students (select Title IV programs), students pursing international education (Title VI), and students pursuing and institutions offering certain graduate and professional degrees (Title VII). Finally, the most recently added title (Title VIII) authorizes several other programs that support higher education.

The HEA was last comprehensively reauthorized in 2008 by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA; P.L. 110-315), which authorized most HEA programs through FY2014. Following the enactment of the HEOA, the HEA has been amended by numerous other laws, most notably the SAFRA Act, part of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (HCERA; P.L. 111-152), which terminated the authority to make federal student loans through the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program. Many HEA programs were authorized through FY2014 and were extended for an additional year, through FY2015, under the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA). Additionally, many HEA programs due to expire at the end of FY2015 were extended through FY2016 under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (P.L. 114-113).

This report provides a brief overview of the major provisions of the HEA.

The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer

Introduction

The Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA; P.L. 89-329), as amended, authorizes a broad array of federal student aid programs that assist students and their families with financing the cost of a postsecondary education, as well as programs that provide federal support to postsecondary institutions of higher education (IHEs). Programs authorized by the HEA provide support for higher education in several ways, including providing support to students in financing a postsecondary education, with additional support and services given to less-advantaged students; providing support to students pursing international education and certain graduate and professional degrees; and providing support to IHEs in improving their capacity and ability to offer postsecondary education programs.

The Department of Education (ED) administers the programs authorized by the HEA. The most prominent programs under the HEA are the Title IV programs that provide financial assistance to students and their families. In FY2015, approximately $128.7 billion in financial assistance was made available to 11.9 million students under these programs.1 In the same year, ED provided approximately $2.2 billion in federal support to institutions of higher education under the HEA.2

The HEA was first enacted in 1965 and has since been amended and extended numerous times, and it has been comprehensively reauthorized eight times. The most recent comprehensive reauthorization of the HEA occurred in 2008 under the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA; P.L. 110-315), which authorized most HEA programs through FY2014. Following the passage of the HEOA, the SAFRA Act, as part of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (HCERA; P.L. 111-152), made several notable changes to the HEA. Authorization for the appropriations for many HEA programs expired at the end of FY2014 and was automatically extended through the end of FY2015 under Section 422 of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA).3 Additionally, Congress provided further appropriations for many of these programs through FY2016 through a mixture of continuing resolutions and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (P.L. 114-113).4

The HEA is organized into eight titles:

  • Title I, General Provisions;
  • Title II, Teacher Quality Enhancement;
  • Title III, Strengthening Institutions;
  • Title IV, Student Assistance;
  • Title V, Developing Institutions;
  • Title VI, International Education Programs;
  • Title VII, Graduate and Postsecondary Improvement Programs; and
  • Title VIII, Additional Programs.
This report provides a brief overview of the major provisions of the HEA, organized by title and part. Appendix A of this report provides detailed appropriations figures for HEA-authorized programs, from FY2012 through FY2016. Appendix B gives a brief overview of the General Education Provisions Act, which applies to the majority of federal education programs administered by ED, including those programs authorized by the HEA. Finally, Appendix C provides information related to the eight comprehensive reauthorizations that the HEA has undergone. Other CRS reports provide more detailed discussions and analyses of the major HEA provisions. Title I: General Provisions Title I of the HEA is divided into four parts and lays out definitions and provisions that generally apply to most of the programs authorized by the HEA. Part A: Definitions Title I, Part A of the HEA includes two definitions of an institution of higher education (IHE). The definition of IHE in Section 101 applies to institutional participation in HEA programs, other than federal student aid (FSA) programs under Title IV. The definition of an IHE provided in Section 102 applies to institutional participation in Title IV FSA programs and includes all institutions that meet the Section 101 IHE definition and proprietary institutions (or for-profit institutions), postsecondary vocational institutions, and foreign institutions (i.e., those located outside of the United States). Section 102 also specifies additional conditions institutions must meet to participate in Title IV programs, including provisions related to the types of courses and educational programs offered, student enrollment, and institutional management.3 5 Section 103 contains additional definitions relevant to the HEA, such as “"distance education”" and “ "diploma mill.” " Part B: Additional General Provisions Part B of Title I lists additional general provisions pertaining to the HEA. It includes provisions related to antidiscrimination based on race, religion, sex, or national origin at IHEs receiving federal financial assistance and a Sense of Congress regarding the protection of student speech and association rights. Title I-B requires that IHEs adopt alcohol and drug abuse prevention programs to participate in Title IV programs and authorizes the Secretary of Education (Secretary) to award competitive grants to IHEs or consortia of IHEs to implement drug and alcohol prevention programs; however, these grants have not been funded in several years. 3 For additional information on institutional eligibility to participate in Title IV programs, see CRS Report R43159, Institutional Eligibility for Participation in Title IV Student Financial Aid Programs, by Alexandra Hegji. Congressional Research Service 2 The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer Title I-B also grants the Secretary the authority to waive program eligibility criteria in any case in which the criteria do not take into account any unique circumstances of the outlying areas.4 6 Other Part B provisions require that information be made available to students and their families to help them make informed college decisions, such as requiring the Secretary to develop a website with information about federal aid available from other federal departments and agencies and requiring the Secretary, working with other federal agencies, to publish information to help students, parents, and employers to identify and avoid diploma mills.5 7 Part B also establishes the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI), which is a committee tasked with assessing the process of accreditation in higher education and the institutional eligibility and certification of IHEs to participate in Title IV programs. Specific requirements for NACIQI, such as membership criteria and meeting procedures, also are delineated. Part B prohibits the development, implementation, or maintenance of a federal database containing the personally identifiable information of students. However, this prohibition does not apply to systems necessary for the operation of programs authorized under Titles II (Teacher Quality Enhancement), IV (Student Assistance), or VII (Graduate and Postsecondary Improvement Programs) and that were in use the day before the enactment of the HEOA (August 13, 2008). Finally, Part B authorizes necessary appropriations to pay obligations incurred related to previously funded programs supporting the construction of college housing and academic facilities. Part C: Cost of Higher Education Title I, Part C includes many provisions that focus on collecting data on college costs and prices and student characteristics. It directs the Secretary to collect and make available online, among other information, individual IHEs’' tuition and fees; cost of attendance; acceptance rate of undergraduate students who apply; number of first-time, full-time, and part-time students enrolled; number of students receiving financial aid; and average amount of financial assistance received by students.6 8 Other provisions require publishers that sell college textbooks and supplemental materials to “unbundle” "unbundle" materials, make textbooks and each supplement to a textbook available as separate items, and require IHEs to publish online pre-course registration and registration materials 4 The “outlying areas” are Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Freely Associated States (the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau). 5 Diploma mills are unaccredited entities that offer degrees, diplomas, or certificates to individuals for a fee and that require the individual to complete little or no educational coursework. 6 For instance, Part C directs the Secretary to maintain a website, the “College Navigator” website, which provides information such as cost of attendance and net price of various IHEs to prospective students, and the Net Price Calculator, which helps current and prospective students estimate the individual net price of attending an IHE for a student. See The College Navigator website is available at http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/; The Net Price Calculator is available online at http://collegecost.ed.gov/netpricecenter.aspx. Congressional Research Service 3 The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer items, and require IHEs to publish online pre-course registration and registration materials delineating information about all required texts that will be used in the class and the retail price of course materials. Additionally, Section 135 requires public IHEs to charge in-state tuition rates to eligible members of the Armed Forces on active duty and their spouses and dependent children. Finally, Part C includes a maintenance of effort (MOE) provision, which requires states to maintain appropriations for the general operations of public IHEs and for amounts provided for financial aid for students attending private IHEs within the state in each academic year that at least equals the average appropriation over the preceding five years. If a state fails to meet MOE requirements, the Secretary is required to withhold the state’'s allotment of funds for the College Access Challenge Grant Program (Title VII, Part E), until the state makes “"significant efforts to correct such violations.”7 "9 Part D: Administrative Provisions for Delivery of Student Financial Assistance Financial Assistance Part D of Title I authorizes the establishment in ED of a Performance-Based Organization (PBO) that manages the administration of Title IV programs. A PBO is a discrete government management unit that is responsible for managing the administrative and oversight functions that support a program, while other entities are responsible for the policy setting functions relating to the PBO. PBOs are led by chief executives who are personally accountable for meeting measurable goals within the organization. In exchange, the PBO is allowed greater flexibility to manage personnel, procurement, and other services. The PBO authorized under HEA Title D-I is known as the Office of Federal Student Aid.8 10 Part E: Lender Institution Requirements Relating to Education Loans Education Loans Part E of Title I establishes disclosure and reporting requirements applicable to lenders and IHEs with respect to Title IV federal student loans and private education loans. Many of the provisions relate to the disclosure to borrowers of the terms and conditions for both federal loans made under Title IV and private education loans, as defined under Section 140 of the Truth in Lending Act.9 11 Title II: Teacher Quality Enhancement Title II of the HEA authorizes grants for improving teacher education programs, strengthening teacher recruitment efforts, and providing training for prospective teachers. This title also 7 The Secretary may waive the MOE requirement for exceptional or uncontrollable circumstances, as appropriate. For more information on how the Office of Federal Student Aid operates as a PBO, see, for example, U.S. Department of Education, Creating the Government’s First Performance-Based Organization to Modernize Student Aid Delivery, at http://www2.ed.gov/offices/OPE/PPI/Reauthor/pbo1016.html. 9 15 U.S.C. §1650. For additional information on student loan disclosure requirements, see CRS Report R40789, Reporting and Disclosure Requirements for Institutions of Higher Education to Participate in Federal Student Aid Programs Under Title IV of the Higher Education Act, by David P. Smole. 8 Congressional Research Service 4 The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer includes reporting requirements for states and IHEs regarding the quality of teacher education programs. Part A: Teacher Quality Partnership Grants Part A of Title II authorizes competitive grants to improve teacher education programs. The PreBaccalaureatePre-Baccalaureate Preparation Program awards funds to partnerships to, among other activities, reform teacher preparation programs, provide clinical experiences and literacy training, and prepare highly qualified teachers and early childhood educators. The Teacher Residency Program awards one-year stipends to recent college graduates and mid-career professionals (who are not teaching) to obtain graduate-level teacher training in exchange for agreements to serve three years in a high-need school. Finally, the Leadership Development Program awards funds to partnerships to prepare students for careers as school administrators, as well as to support activities that promote strong leadership skills. Each eligible partnership receiving a grant under Part A must provide non-federalnonfederal matching funds equal to 100% of the amount of the grant. Part A also requires states and IHEs offering teacher preparation programs and receiving federal assistance under the HEA to report specified data annually. IHEs must report to states the pass rates of their graduates on state certification assessments and other program data. States, in turn, are required to report to ED information on state certification and licensure requirements; the number of students enrolled in teacher preparation programs disaggregated by gender, race, and ethnicity; pass rates on state assessments, disaggregated and ranked by institution; criteria for identifying low-performing schools of education; and other information.10 12 Part B: Enhancing Teacher Education Part B of Title II authorizes several competitive grants for teacher training programs that meet specific needs, such as preparing graduate teacher candidates to use technology-rich teaching methods, preparing general education teacher candidates to instruct students with disabilities, and preparing graduate students to become education professors who will prepare highly qualified teachers in high-need areas. These programs have never received funding. Title III: Institutional Aid Title III is one of the primary sources of institutional support authorized by the HEA.1113 Most of the programs authorized in Title III provide grants or other financial support to institutions that serve high concentrations of minority and/or needy students to help strengthen the institutions’ ' academic, financial, and administrative capabilities.1214 Typically, the institutions served by Title III are called minority serving institutions. 10 ED makes these reports available online at https://title2.ed.gov/View.asp. Title V, discussed later in this report, is the other major source of HEA institutional support. It provides institutional aid for Hispanic Serving Institutions. 12 For additional information on programs available to minority service institutions under the HEA, see CRS Report R43237, Programs for Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) Under the Higher Education Act (HEA), by Alexandra Hegji. 11 Congressional Research Service 5 The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer are called minority serving institutions. Part A: Strengthening Institutions The Section 311, Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) is the foundational program for all other programs established under Title III-A. It provides competitive grants to eligible IHEs that have low educational and general expenditures (E&G) as compared to similar institutions and where at least 50% of enrolled degree-seeking students are receiving need-based assistance under HEA Title IV13IV15 or where the percentage of Pell Grant recipients exceeds the median percentage of Pell Grant recipients at similar institutions. Additionally, eligible IHEs must be legally authorized by their states to award bachelor’'s degrees or be authorized to operate as a junior or community college and must be accredited or preaccredited by an ED-recognized accrediting agency. In this report, the SIP eligibility criteria are referred to collectively as the Section 312(b) criteria. Authorized uses for grant funds include facilities improvement, faculty development, curriculum development, and student services. Grantees are also allowed to establish endowments or increase endowment funds with SIP grants, but they may not use more than 20% of grant monies for such purposes and must provide matching funds from non-federal sources. nonfederal sources. American Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Section 316 establishes the Strengthening American Indian and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) program. This program provides formula grants to TCCUs that meet the Section 312(b) criteria and that qualify for funding under the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 1978 (180125 U.S.C. §1801), the Navajo Community College Act (25 U.S.C. §640a), or Section 532 of the Equity in Education Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. §301 note). Authorized uses for grant funds are similar to those of the SIP. Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Section 317 establishes the Strengthening Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNHs) program. This program provides competitive grants to ANNHs that meet the Section 312(b) criteria and that have an enrollment of undergraduate students that is at least 20% Alaska Native students or at least 10% Native Hawaiian students. Authorized uses for grant funds are similar to those of the SIP. Predominantly Black Institutions Section 318 establishes the Strengthening Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs) program. To be eligible for a PBI grant, an institution must be legally authorized within its state to award bachelor’ bachelor's or associate’'s degrees, accredited or preaccredited by an ED-recognized accrediting agency, enroll at least 1,000 undergraduates (half of which must be in degree programs), have low E&G, and have an undergraduate student enrollment that is at least 40% Black American students. PBIs may not also be designated as a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) or a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI). 13 For purposes of SIP, Title IV need-based assistance includes Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal Work Study, and Federal Perkins Loans, but not Subsidized Stafford Loans. Congressional Research Service 6 The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer Hispanic-serving institution (HSI). PBIs must have a requisite enrollment of needy students. For purposes of the Strengthening PBIs program, the needy student enrollment criterion requires that at least 50% of an institution’s 's enrolled degree-seeking undergraduate students (a) are Pell Grant recipients; (b) come from families that receive benefits under a means-tested federal benefit program; (c) attended a secondary school that was eligible to receive benefits under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA);1416 or (d) are first-generation college students and a majority of such first-generation colleges students are low-income. Grants are formula-based and divided among eligible institutions based on each institution’s 's percentage of Pell Grant recipients, percentage of graduates, and percentage of graduates who pursue the next higher degree level. Authorized uses for grant funds are similar to those of the SIP. Native American-Serving, Nontribal Institutions Section 319 establishes the Strengthening Native American-serving, Nontribal Institutions (NASNTIs) program. This program provides competitive grants to NASNTIs that meet the Section 312(b) criteria, that are not TCCUs, and that have an enrollment of undergraduate students that is at least 10% Native American students. Authorized uses for grant funds are similar to those of the SIP. Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Section 320 establishes the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs) program. This program provides competitive grants to AANAPISIs that meet the Section 312(b) criteria and that have an enrollment of undergraduate students that is at least 10% Asian American or Native American Pacific Islander students. Authorized uses for grant funds are similar to those of the SIP. Part B: Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities Part B of Title III authorizes assistance to Historically Black College and Universities (HBCUs) and Historically Black Graduate Institutions (HBGIs). Section 323 authorizes the Strengthening HBCUs program, which provides grants to IHEs that were established before 1964 with the mission of educating Black Americans, are accredited or preaccredited by an ED-recognized accrediting agency, and are authorized by their states to award bachelor’'s degrees or operate as junior or community colleges.15 17 Strengthening HBCU grants are formula-based and divided among eligible institutions based on an institution’'s percentage of Pell Grant recipients, percentage of graduates, and percentage of graduates who go on to attend a graduate or professional school in a degree program in disciplines in which Blacks are underrepresented. Authorized uses for grant funds are similar to those of the SIP under Title III-A. 14 For additional information on the ESEA, see CRS Report RL33960, The Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as Amended by the No Child Left Behind Act: A Primer, by Rebecca R. Skinner. 15 The accompanying regulations also require that an eligible HBCU be legally authorized in the state in which it is located to operate as a junior or community college or to award bachelor’s degrees. Congressional Research Service 7 The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer those of the SIP under Title III-A. Historically Black Graduate and Professional Institutions Section 326 of Title III-B establishes the HBGI program. This program provides formula grants to eligible postgraduate and professional institutions and programs to increase the number of African Americans in certain professional fields. Eligible institutions are specifically listed in Section 326. HBGI grants are formula-based. The first $56.9 million appropriated each fiscal year is available exclusively to the 18 HBGIs that were specifically listed in the HEA prior to the passage of the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA; P.L. 110-315). Appropriations greater than $56.9 million and less than $62.9 million are available to the six HBGIs that were added to Section 326 by the HEOA. Finally, appropriations greater than $62.9 million are made available to any eligible HBGI, pursuant to a formula to be developed by ED.1618 Authorized uses for grant funds are similar to those of the SIP. Part C: Endowment Challenge Grants Title III, Part C authorizes the Endowment Challenge Grants program. This program provides matching grants to IHEs eligible under Parts A and B of Title III to assist them in establishing or increasing their endowments and thus increase their self-sufficiency. The program has not been funded since FY1995. Part D: Historically Black College and University Capital Financing Title III, Part D authorizes the HBCU Capital Financing program, which provides federal insurance for bonds issued to support capital financing projects at HBCUs for the repair, renovation, and, in exceptional circumstances, construction or acquisition of facilities used for instruction, research, or housing. A designated bonding authority is charged with raising funds in the bond market; in turn, these funds are lent to HBCUs. Repayments on these loans are used to make principal and interest payments on outstanding bonds. Borrowers deposit a portion of their loans into an escrow account to cover principal and interest payments on outstanding bonds in the event borrowers are delinquent in repaying their loans. The total outstanding principal and unpaid accrued interest on these loans cannot exceed $1.1 billion. Part E: Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program Title III, Part E authorizes the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program (MSEIP), which provides grants to effect long-term improvements in science and engineering education at minority institutions. Grants are provided to IHEs with an undergraduate student enrollment that is at least 50% minority students, nonprofit science-oriented organizations, and consortia of organizations. MSEIP grants are competitively awarded, and authorized uses include participating in faculty development programs, strengthening an institution’'s science and engineering programs, and conducting research in science education. 16 Appropriations have never been greater than $62,900,000; thus, ED has not developed an allotment formula. Congressional Research Service 8 The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer Title III-E authorizes two additional programs: the Yes Partnership Grant Program and Promotion of Entry into STEM Fields. The Yes Partnership Grant Program authorizes the Secretary to make grants to support the engagement of underrepresented minority youth in STEM outreach. Promotion of Entry into STEM Fields authorizes the Secretary to contract with a firm to implement an advertising campaign to encourage youths to enter STEM fields. Neither program has been implemented. Part F: Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Other Minority-Serving Institutions Title III, Part F provides annual mandatory appropriations through FY2019 for programs that support MSIs under Title III-A and Title III-B. Programs that receive mandatory appropriations under this part are Strengthening TCCUs, Strengthening ANNHs, Strengthening PBIs, Strengthening NASNTIs, Strengthening ANNAPISIs, and Strengthening HBCUs. In general, Title III-F funds are to be used by eligible MSIs as though they were funds provided under Titles III-A and III-B; however, there are some exceptions. Title III-F provides 25 grants of $600,000 each annually to eligible PBIs for programs in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM); health education; internationalization or globalization; teacher preparation; or improving educational outcomes of African American males. Additionally, IHEs eligible for Title III-F NASNTIs funds are not required to meet the Section 312(b) needy student and low E&G eligibility criteria that NASNTIs receiving funds under Title III-A are required to meet. Hispanic Serving-Institutions Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math and Articulation Program Title III-F also authorizes the Hispanic-Serving Institutions STEM and Articulation program (HSI STEM). This program awards competitive grants to eligible HSIs to increase the number of Hispanic and low-income students attaining degrees in STEM fields and to develop model transfer and articulation agreements between two-year HSIs and four-year institutions in STEM fields. Eligible HSIs are IHEs that meet the Section 312(b) criteria and that have an undergraduate student enrollment that is at least 25% Hispanic students. Title III-F also provides annual mandatory appropriations for this program through FY2019. Part G: General Provisions Title III, Part G contains general provisions, including the Secretary’'s waiver authority for Title III programs. Title III-G also specifies the authorizations and appropriations for each Title III program program, other than programs authorized under Title III-F. Other general provisions relate to the grant application process, technical assistance for IHEs in applying for Title III grants, and the Secretary’'s ability to make continuation awards for multi-year grants. Title IV: Student Assistance Title IV of the HEA contains nine parts that authorize a broad array of programs and provisions to assist students and their families in gaining access to and financing a postsecondary education. Congressional Research Service 9 The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer The programs authorized under this title are the primary sources of federal aid to support postsecondary education. Part A: Grants to Students in Attendance at Institutions of Higher Education Higher Education Title IV, Part A authorizes numerous grant programs—financial assistance that does not need to be repaid by the recipient—for students who attend eligible institutions participating in Title IV programs. It also authorizes federal early outreach and student services programs. Subpart 1: Federal Pell Grants Subpart 1 authorizes the Federal Pell Grant program, which is the single largest source of grant aid for postsecondary education attendance funded by the federal government.1719 The Pell Grant program provides need-based grants to financially needy undergraduate students and is the foundation for all federal student aid (FSA) awarded to undergraduates (i.e., all other FSA is calculated after the amount of a Pell Grant award has been determined). To be eligible to receive a Pell Grant, a student must meet the general eligibility criteria for all FSA programs and be enrolled at an eligible IHE for the purpose of earning a degree or certificate. In general, students must be enrolled as undergraduates18undergraduates20 and are subject to a cumulative lifetime eligibility cap on Pell Grant aid of 12 full-time semesters (or the equivalent). Pell Grants are portable, which means the grant aid follows the recipient to any eligible IHE in which they enroll. The amount of grant aid available to students is primarily based on the financial resources that students and their families are expected to contribute toward the cost of financing a postsecondary education and the annual maximum award amount set forth in the last enacted applicable appropriations act, combined with the award amount of a mandatory add-on award provided annually in the HEA. Pell Grant awards are prorated for students who attend on less than a full-time basis. Academic Competitiveness and National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grants Subpart 1 authorized the Academic Competitiveness (AC) Grant and National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant programs, which provided additional support to certain Pell-eligible students. The authority to make grants under the programs expired at the end of award year (AY) 2010-2011. Subpart 2: TRIO and GEAR UP 2010-2011. 17 For additional information on the Pell Grant Program, see CRS Report R42446, Federal Pell Grant Program of the Higher Education Act: How the Program Works and Recent Legislative Changes, by Cassandria Dortch. 18 Students who are enrolled on at least a half-time basis in a post-baccalaureate program required by a state for K-12 teacher certification are also eligible, so long as the program does not lead to a graduate degree or offer a bachelor’s degree in education. Congressional Research Service 10 The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer Subpart 2: TRIO and GEAR UP Subpart 2 authorizes programs for early outreach and student services programs. Chapter 1 establishes the six TRIO programs, and Chapter 2 authorizes the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP). Federal TRIO Programs Subpart 2 of Part A authorizes six separate discretionary grant programs—collectively known as the TRIO programprograms—designed to assist qualified individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds with preparing for and completing postsecondary education.1921 While the TRIO programs primarily serve individuals who are or would be low-income, first-generation college students, they also serve students with disabilities, students at-risk of academic failure, veterans, homeless youth, foster youth, and individuals underrepresented in graduate education.2022 Typically, for each of the TRIO programs, eligible grantees may include institutions of higher education; public and private agencies and organizations with experience in serving disadvantaged youth; secondary schools; and combinations of such institutions, agencies, and organizations. Talent Search (TS). The TS program is intended to encourage students to complete their high school diplomas and enroll in postsecondary education. To accomplish this, TS grantees must provide, among other services, course selection advice and assistance, assistance in preparing for college entrance examinations, assistance in completing college admission applications, assistance in completing financial aid applications, and guidance on and assistance in methods for achieving a secondary school diploma or an equivalent postsecondary education. Generally, program participants must have completed five years of elementary education or be between the ages of 11 and 27. At least two-thirds of participants must be low-income, first-generation college students. Upward Bound (UB). The UB program is intended to prepare and encourage high school students and veterans toward success in postsecondary education. UB grantees must provide, among other services, instruction in specified courses such as foreign language and mathematics, tutoring, and assistance in preparing for college entrance examinations and in completing college admissions applications. UB grantees may also provide monthly stipends to eligible participants. Program participants must have completed eight years of elementary education or, with some exceptions, be between the ages of 13 and 19. At least two-thirds of participants must be low-income, first generation college students. Student Support Services (SSS). The SSS program is intended to provide support services to college students to improve the retention, graduation rates, financial and economic literacy, and transfer rates of students from two-year to four-year schools. SSS grantees must offer, among other services, tutoring, counseling to improve financial literacy, and assistance in applying for admission to the next higher level of degree attainment. Grantees may provide stipends to eligible participants. Program participants must be enrolled, or accepted for enrollment, at the grantee 19 Originally, in 1965, there were three programs under this part—Upward Bound, Student Support Services, and Talent Search—that provided a range of student support services, thus the name TRIO. Subsequent legislation authorized additional programs with a similar purpose, but the TRIO name remains. 20 For additional information on the TRIO programs, see CRS Report R42724, The TRIO Programs: A Primer, by Cassandria Dortch. Congressional Research Service 11 The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer IHE. At least two-thirds of participants must be either students with disabilities or low-income, first-generation college students, and the other one-third must be low-income, first generation college students or students with disabilities. At least one-third of participating students with disabilities must be low-income. Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement (McNair) Program. The McNair Program is intended to prepare disadvantaged undergraduate students for subsequent doctoral study by providing research opportunities, internships, counseling, tutoring, and other preparatory activities. Grantees may provide stipends to eligible participants. Program participants must be enrolled in a degree program at the grantee IHE. At least two-thirds of program participants must be low-income, first-generation college students, and the remaining one-third must be from a group that is underrepresented in graduate education, including Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Native American Pacific Islanders. Educational Opportunity Centers (EOCs). The EOC program is intended to support high school completion and postsecondary enrollment by providing information on financial and academic assistance available to individuals wishing to pursue a postsecondary education and assisting them in applying for college admission and financial aid. Generally, program participants must be at least 19 years old. At least two-thirds of program participants must be low-income, firstgenerationfirst-generation college students. Staff Development. The Staff Development Program is intended to improve TRIO project administration, operation, outcomes, and outreach by providing training to existing and potential TRIO program staff. Program participants must be staff and leadership personnel employed in, participating in, or preparing for employment in TRIO programs and projects. Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR  UP) Subpart 2 also authorizes GEAR UP, which provides grants to states and partnerships between local educational agencies (LEAs) and degree-granting IHEs to assist primarily low-income students in obtaining a secondary school diploma (or its recognized equivalent) and to prepare for and succeed in postsecondary education. GEAR UP partnership grantees must, and state grantees may, serve an entire cohort of students, beginning no later than the seventh grade and follow the cohort through high school or the first year of attendance at an IHE. GEAR UP projects provide services such as academic support, mentoring, career counseling, and college visits. GEAR UP state grantees must, and partnerships grantees may, also provide college scholarships to eligible participating students. Subpart 3: Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) Subpart 3 of Title IV-A authorizes the FSEOG program, which is one of three programs collectively referred to as the campus-based aid programs.21 Under the FESOG program, the 21 Some distinguishing characteristics of the campus-based programs are that awards are comprised of a mix of federal and institutional matching funds and that amounts awarded to students are determined by each institution’s financial aid administrator according to institution-specific award criteria. The two other campus-based programs are the Federal Work Study program and the Federal Perkins Loans program. For additional information on the campus-based aid (continued...) Congressional Research Service 12 The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer 23 Under the FESOG program, the Department of Education (ED) allocates funds to IHEs for the purpose of awarding need-based grant aid to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need to aid them in funding an undergraduate education. Funds are awarded to students as part of their financial aid package, with priority given to Pell Grant recipients with the lowest expected family contributions (EFCs). FSEOG aid consists of a federal share, which, in general, may not exceed 75% of FSEOG aid, and a nonfederal share of at least 25%. The federal share consists of funds that are allocated to IHEs according to a statutory formula. Federal funds are first allocated to IHEs in proportion to the amount they received in previous years, with priority going to those that participated in the program in FY1999 or earlier. This amount is referred to as their base guarantee allocation. Next, any remaining FSEOG funds are allocated to IHEs proportionately, according to the aggregate financial need of the IHE’'s undergraduate students. This is referred to as their fair share allocation. Subpart 4: LEAP and GAP Subpart 4 authorizes the Leveraging Education Assistance Partnership Program (LEAP) and Grants for Access and Persistence (GAP). These programs provide matching grants to states to establish need-based scholarship programs. GAP grants also fund early awareness and outreach activities and support services to students. GAP is only funded if the amount appropriated for LEAP exceeds $30 million. Neither program has been funded since FY2010. Subpart 5: Special Programs for Students Whose Families Are Engaged in Migrant and Seasonal Farmwork Subpart 5 authorizes the High School Equivalency Program (HEP) and the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP). These programs target individuals who themselves or whose family have recently engaged in migrant or seasonal farmwork. For each of these programs, grantees may include IHEs or private nonprofit organizations working in cooperation with an IHE. HEP assists individuals who are 16 years old or who are older or beyond the age of compulsory school attendance to obtain a secondary school diploma or its equivalent. CAMP assists students with placement, persistence, and retention in postsecondary education. Grantees may provide stipends to eligible participants. Subpart 6: Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program (Byrd) The Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program funds state-administered college scholarship programs that recognize exceptionally able high school seniors who show promise for continued excellence in postsecondary education. The program has not been funded since FY2010. (...continued) programs, see CRS Report RL31618, Campus-Based Student Financial Aid Programs Under the Higher Education Act, by Alexandra Hegji and David P. Smole. Congressional Research Service 13 The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer Subpart 7: Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) The Child Care Access Means Parents in School program supports the participation of lowincomelow-income parents in postsecondary education by providing competitive grants to IHEs to establish or support campus-based childcare programs. Subpart 9: TEACH Grants Subpart 9 authorizes the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant program, which is a service payback program.2224 The program provides scholarships of $4,000 per year to undergraduate and graduate students who are preparing for a career in teaching.2325 Recipients must commit to teaching a high-need subject24subject26 in a high-poverty elementary or secondary school for four years. If recipients do not fulfill their service requirement, TEACH grants are converted to Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, with interest accrued from the date each grant was awarded. Subpart 10: Scholarships for Veteran’'s Dependents Subpart 10 authorizes Scholarships for Veteran’'s Dependents, known as Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants, which are non-need-based grants awarded to assist each eligible veteran’'s dependent in paying their cost of attendance at an IHE.2527 Recipients of the award must be a student whose parent or guardian was a member of the U.S. Armed Forces and who died during military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001, and must have been younger than 24 years old at the time of the parent or guardian’'s death. Additionally, recipients need not qualify for a Pell Grant based on need, but must meet all the other eligibility requirements for the Pell Grant program. Grants made under this section for any award year equal the maximum Federal Pell Grant available for that award year. Part B: Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program The FFEL program offered several types of federal student loans to assist individuals in financing the costs of a postsecondary education; those loans included Subsidized Stafford Loans and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans for undergraduate and graduate and professional students, PLUS Loans for graduate and professional students and the parents of dependent undergraduate students, and Consolidation Loans.26 For many years the FFEL program was the primary source 22 The TEACH Grant program is considered a federal credit program for budget purposes. Individuals pursuing a bachelor’s degree may receive a total of $16,000 and individuals pursuing a graduate degree may receive a total of $8,000. 24 High-need subjects include mathematics, science, foreign language, bilingual education, special education, and reading. 25 This program was established in 2009 as part of the Technical Corrections to the Higher Education Act of 1965 (P.L. 111-39). 26 For additional information on the FFEL program, see CRS Report R40122, Federal Student Loans Made Under the Federal Family Education Loan Program and the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program: Terms and Conditions for Borrowers, by David P. Smole. 23 Congressional Research Service 14 The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer 28 For many years the FFEL program was the primary source of federal student loans; however, the SAFRA Act (P.L. 111-152, Title II, Part A) terminated the authority to make new FFEL program loans after June 30, 2010.27 29 The FFEL program made available essentially the same types of loans (with substantially similar terms and conditions) as are now offered under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) program and which are discussed later in this report. However, the FFEL program significantly differed from the Direct Loan program in its administration. Under the FFEL program, loans were originated by private sector and state-based lenders and were funded with nonfederal capital. The federal government guaranteed lenders against loss due to borrower default, permanent disability, or, in limited circumstances, bankruptcy, and holders of the loans were (and still are) responsible for servicing the loans (e.g., billing borrowers and collecting loan payments). Additionally, FFEL program lenders may receive a special allowance payment (SAP), a type of interest subsidy paid by the federal government to ensure a specified rate of return on their loans. Although the authority to make new FFEL program loans has been terminated, borrowers of FFEL program loans remain responsible for making payments on their loans, loan holders continue to be responsible for servicing the loans, and guaranty agencies continue to administer the federal loan insurance program. Approximately $423363 billion in outstanding FFEL program loans are due to be repaid in the coming years.28 30 Part C: Federal Work-Study Programs Part C of Title IV authorizes the Federal Work-Study programs (FWS), which are among the campus-based aid programs previously described.2931 FWS employment is the primary FWS program. Separate authorizations of appropriations are also provided for the work colleges program and for community service work-study programs. FWS programs are intended to provide part-time employment to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in need of earnings to pursue their courses of study and to encourage participation in community service activities. FWS aid may be provided to any student in an eligible program who demonstrates financial need. Awards typically are based on factors such as the amount of a student’'s financial need, the availability of FWS funds at the institution, and whether the student requests FWS employment and is willing to work. Students receive their FWS awards as compensation for the hours they have worked in specified types of jobs. In general, FWS earnings consist of a federal share of 75% and a nonfederal share of at least 25%; however, these ratios may vary depending on the nature of employment.3032 The nonfederal share of compensation is provided by the employer, which may be the IHE the student attends, a private nonprofit organization, a governmental agency, or a private for-profit entity. IHEs are required to use at least 7% of their FWS allocation 27 For additional information on the SAFRA Act, see CRS Report R41127, The SAFRA Act: Education Programs in the FY2010 Budget Reconciliation , coordinated by Cassandria Dortch 28 U.S. Department of Education, Office of Federal Student Aid, Annual Report 2013, December 11, 2013, p. 9. 29 For additional information on FWS and the other campus-based aid programs, see CRS Report RL31618, CampusBased Student Financial Aid Programs Under the Higher Education Act, by Alexandra Hegji and David P. Smole. 30 In certain instances, for example employment in tutoring or literacy projects, the federal share may be higher than 75%. Congressional Research Service 15 The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer to compensate students employed in community service jobs and are also required to operate at least one tutoring or family literacy project that serves the community. FWS funding is made available to support comprehensive work-learning-service programs at select institutions known as “"work colleges.”" Among other requirements, all resident students at work colleges must be required to participate in work-learning-service programs that are an integral part of the institution’'s educational philosophy and program. The HEA provides a separate authorization for the work colleges program. The HEOA amendments established an Off-Campus Community Service Employment program as a distinct FWS program. Under this program, the Secretary may make grants to FWSparticipatingFWS-participating IHEs to supplement their off-campus community service employment activities. Funding for this FWS program was only provided in FY2010; it has not received appropriations since then. As with the other campus-based programs, FWS funds are allocated to IHEs according to statutorily prescribed procedures, in which funds are first allocated on the basis of IHEs’' base guarantees, and then according to fair-share criteria that take into account each IHE’s 's proportionate share of aggregate financial need of students at FWS-participating institutions.31 33 Part D: William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program Part D of Title IV authorizes the Direct Loan program, which is the primary source of federal student loans. As previously discussed, the Direct Loan program provides essentially the same set of loans as the FFEL program did, but uses a different administrative structure and draws on a different source of capital.32 Under the Direct Loan program, the federal government lends directly to students using federal capital. While the government owns the loans, loan origination and servicing is performed by federal contractors. Several broad types of loans are available through the Direct Loan program: Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Direct PLUS Loans, and Direct Consolidation Loans. The terms and conditions of these loans (e.g., borrowing limits, interest rates, fees, available repayment plans, deferment and forbearance benefits, loan forgiveness benefits, etc.) are determined according to statutorily specified provisions. Loans made available through the Direct Loan program are an entitlement to qualified borrowers. Many of the terms, conditions, and benefits applicable to Direct Loans, such as student eligibility requirements, deferment criteria, and certain repayment plans, are specified in other parts of the HEA, including Title IV, Part B (the FFEL program).33 31 The calculation of financial need is calculated separately for undergraduate students and graduate and professional students. 32 For additional information on loans made under the Direct Loan program, see CRS Report R40122, Federal Student Loans Made Under the Federal Family Education Loan Program and the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program: Terms and Conditions for Borrowers, by David P. Smole. 33 For additional information on DL program loans, see CRS Report R40122, Federal Student Loans Made Under the Federal Family Education Loan Program and the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program: Terms and Conditions for Borrowers, by David P. Smole. Congressional Research Service 16 The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer (the FFEL program).34 The Direct Loan program is classified as a federal credit program for budgeting purposes. As a credit program, most of the costs to the government associated with the program are accounted for on an accrual basis according to criteria specified under the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (FCRA; P.L. 101-508).35).34 Indefinite mandatory appropriations are provided to fund the loans made through the program. The costs of administering the Direct Loan program are accounted for separately on a cash basis; and funding for administrative expenses is provided through discretionary appropriations. Direct Subsidized Loans Direct Subsidized Loans are available only to undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need.3536 The federal government “subsidizes”"subsidizes" these loans by paying the interest that accrues on the loans while the borrower is enrolled in an eligible program on at least a half-time basis, during grace periods,3637 and during periods of authorized deferment.3738 Interest rates are set by statute, and loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2013, are made with market-indexed fixed interest rates.38 39 Direct Unsubsidized Loans Direct Unsubsidized Loans are available to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Borrowers do not need to demonstrate financial need to obtain these loans. The federal government does not pay the interest on these loans while the borrower is in school or during grace periods and deferment periods. Interest rates are set by statute, and loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2013, are made with market-indexed fixed interest rates.39 40 Direct PLUS Loans Direct PLUS Loans are available to parents of dependent undergraduate students and to graduate and professional students. Borrowers do not need to demonstrate financial need to obtain these loans. However, borrowers with an adverse credit history are ineligible to borrow PLUS Loans unless another individual agrees to serve as an endorser. The federal government does not pay the interest on these while the student is in school, nor during grace periods and deferment periods. 34 For additional information on the FCRA, see CRS Report R42632, Budgetary Treatment of Federal Credit (Direct Loans and Loan Guarantees): Concepts, History, and Issues for Congress, by Mindy R. Levit. 35 Subsidized Loans were previously available to graduate and professional students for periods of instruction beginning before July 1, 2012. 36 A grace period is a six-month period beginning immediately after a student first ceases to be enrolled in a school on at least a half-time basis. During this time, borrowers are not required to begin repaying their loans. According to amendments made by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-74), no interest subsidy will be paid during the grace period on Subsidized Stafford Loans disbursed between July 1, 2012, and June 30, 2014. 37 Deferment periods are periods during which borrowers are able to suspend loan repayment (e.g., if they are pursuing additional postsecondary education, are performing qualifying military service, or are experiencing economic hardship). 38 The interest rate on Subsidized Loans to undergraduate students is the 10-year Treasury note rate plus 2.05 percentage points, with a cap of 8.25%. 39 The interest rate on Unsubsidized Loans to undergraduate students is the 10-year Treasury note rate plus 2.05 percentage points, with a cap of 8.25%. The interest rate on Unsubsidized Loans to graduate and professional students is the 10-year Treasury note rate plus 3.6 percentage points, with a cap of 9.5%. Congressional Research Service 17 The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer interest on these while the student is in school, nor during grace periods and deferment periods. Interest rates are set by statute, and loans first disbursed after on or July 1, 2013, are made with market-indexed fixed interest rates.40 Consolidation Loans 41 Consolidation Loans Consolidation Loans allow borrowers to combine multiple federal loans into a single loan. Consolidation allows borrowers to simplify the repayment of their federal student loans and, in some cases, extend their repayment period, which reduces the monthly payment amount. Interest rates on Consolidation Loans are determined by taking the weighted average of the interest rates on the loans being consolidated and rounding the result up to the nearest higher one-eighth of 1%. Part E: Federal Perkins Loans Part E of Title IV authorizes the Federal Perkins Loan program, another of the campus-based programs.41 The program authorizes42 Prior to December 18, 2015, the program authorized the allocation of federal funds to IHEs to assist them in capitalizing revolving loan funds for the purpose of making low-interest loans to students with exceptional financial need. Institutions capitalize revolving loan funds created under the program with a combination of federal and institutional capital contributions. Each institution’s capital contribution must be equal to one-third of the federal capital contribution received. Institutions apply to ED for federal capital contributions, which are allocated according to procedures exceptional financial need. Historically, IHEs capitalized their revolving Perkins Loan funds with a combination of federal capital contributions (FCCs) and institutional capital contributions (ICCs). FCCs were allocated according to statutorily prescribed procedures somewhat similar to those used for the FSEOG and FWS programs; however, in the Perkins Loan program, IHEs with cohort default rates of 25% or more are ineligible to be allotted funds. . Perkins Loans arewere available to undergraduate and graduate and professional students. Perkins Loans must be made reasonably available to all eligible students, with priority given to students with exceptional financial need. Interest on Perkins Loans is fixed at 5% per year, and interest does not accrue prior to a borrower’s beginning repayment nor during periods of authorized deferment. Borrowers who are engaged in certain types of public service may have a portion of their Perkins Loans cancelled for each complete year of service. The HEA requires that upon ceasing to participate in the Federal Perkins Loan program, institutions must repay the Secretary a portion of the balance of their revolving loan funds that is proportional to the amount of federal capital contributions received. The HEA also specifies that participating institutions were to begin a distribution of assets from their revolving loan funds after October 1, 2012. However, ED has determined that other provisions in the HEA, which authorized the appropriation of funds for the Perkins Loan program through FY2014, and in GEPA, which extend the program through FY2015, supersede the October 1, 2012, distribution requirement. Although the IHEs continue to disburse new Perkins Loans, discretionary funds for FCCs have not been appropriated since FY2004.42 Additionally, funding for the cancellation of Perkins Loans was last provided to participating IHEs in FY2009. 40 The interest rate on PLUS loan is the 10-year Treasury note rate plus 4.6 percentage points, with a cap of 10.5%. For additional information on the Federal Perkins Loans program and the other campus-based aid programs, see CRS Report RL31618, Campus-Based Student Financial Aid Programs Under the Higher Education Act, by Alexandra Hegji and David P. Smole. 42 Although the Perkins Loan program is generally funded through discretionary appropriations, in FY2006, the (continued...) 41 Congressional Research Service 18 The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer Part F: Need Analysis Title IV, Part F establishes the federal need analysis methodology, which is used in the process of awarding student financial aid made available under Title IV. The need analysis process involves gathering a student’s financial data, which the student provides on their free application for federal student aid (FAFSA); calculating the expected family contribution (EFC), the amount of financial resources that students and their families are expected to use to meet postsecondary education expenses; and packaging the applicant’s financial aid award by the IHE’s financial aid administrator. Calculation of the EFC is the cornerstone of the need analysis process. In calculating the EFC, consideration is given to available income (a combination of taxable and untaxed income and benefits) and any available assets. Living expenses, retirement needs, and federal and state income tax liability are also considered in the calculation. The income contribution is determined by subtracting from available income a series of allowances; a percentage of that available income is considered an income contribution toward postsecondary education. A contribution from assets is similarly calculated. The combination of the available income and asset contribution is then divided by the number of individuals in the family enrolled in postsecondary institutions. This final number is the student’s EFC. The EFC calculation varies depending on the student’s dependency status (i.e., dependent student, independent student with dependents, or independent student without dependents). Parental financial information is not used in the EFC calculation for independent students. Next, a student’s need for financial assistance (financial need) is determined, which is the amount of total cost of attendance (COA) at an institution (including tuition, room, board, books, supplies, and living expenses) that is not covered by the student’s EFC. After a student’s financial need is determined, need based and non-need based Title IV aid is awarded accordingly by the IHE’s financial aid administrator. Part G: General Provisions Relating to Student Assistance Programs Part G of Title IV establishes many institutional requirements for Title IV participation43 and related provisions. It includes definitions of “academic year” and “eligible program” and requires IHEs participating in Title IV to enter into program participation agreements (PPAs) with the Secretary.44 It also establishes a master calendar requirement for the Secretary to ensure adequate notification and timely delivery of Title IV student aid. Part G contains provisions related to forms and regulations used in administering Title IV programs, including requirements related to the contents and distribution of the FAFSA. Student (...continued) program received approximately $4.7 million in funding as part of a mandatory reappropriation in expired FY2005 funds pursuant to the National Disaster Student Fairness Act (P.L. 109-86). 43 Generally, most other institutional requirements for participation in Title IV programs are found in Title I, Part A. 44 For additional information on institutional eligibility requirements, see CRS Report R43159, Institutional Eligibility for Participation in Title IV Student Financial Aid Programs, by Alexandra Hegji.. Congressional Research Service 19 The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer eligibility criteria to receive Title IV financial assistance are found in Part G, which includes citizenship requirements for Title IV aid recipients and satisfactory academic progress requirements for students to maintain Title IV eligibility. Provisions are also included that describe the manner in which Title IV funds are to be returned to the federal government in the event that a student withdraws from an institution. Additionally, Part G contains numerous requirements related to the types of information institutions must disseminate to prospective and enrolled students, including graduation or completion rates, financial aid entrance and exit counseling to borrowers, campus crime statistics and security policies, and transfer of credit policies.45 Part G establishes the National Student Loan Data System and the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance. It also contains wage garnishment requirements for borrowers who are not currently making required payments on their Title IV loans and criminal penalties in cases of fraud, abuse, and other crimes related to Title IV funds. Part G contains several provisions related to members of the Armed Forces and veterans, such as procedures for loan cancellations or deferments for eligible disabled veterans and deferment of loan repayment following periods of active duty. Finally, Part G also authorizes the income-based repayment plan for Title IV loans.46 Part H: Program Integrity Part H of Title IV contains what is known as the program integrity triad. The triad comprises three requirements to ensure program integrity in postsecondary education. The three requirements are state authorization, accreditation by an accrediting agency recognized by ED, and eligibility and certification by ED.47 Section 102 requires that IHEs fulfill all three program integrity requirements to be eligible to participate in Title IV FSA programs, and Part H describes each component of the triad. Subpart 1: State Role Subpart 1 describes that state’s responsibility in authorizing IHEs to operate postsecondary educational programs within their bounds. States must provide information to ED about the processes it uses to authorize institutions, notify ED if it has any evidence that an IHE has committed fraud in the administration of Title IV FSA programs, and notify ED if it revokes an IHE’s authorization. 45 For additional information on institutional reporting requirements, see CRS Report R40789, Reporting and Disclosure Requirements for Institutions of Higher Education to Participate in Federal Student Aid Programs Under Title IV of the Higher Education Act, by David P. Smole. 46 For additional information on the Income-Based Repayment Plan, see CRS Report R41127, The SAFRA Act: Education Programs in the FY2010 Budget Reconciliation , coordinated by Cassandria Dortch 47 For additional information on the program integrity triad, see CRS Report R43159, Institutional Eligibility for Participation in Title IV Student Financial Aid Programs, by Alexandra Hegji. Congressional Research Service 20 The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer Subpart 2: Accrediting Agency Recognition Subpart 2 describes the criteria the Secretary must use when determining whether to recognize an accrediting agency as a reliable authority for determining the quality of education or training offered at an IHE for the purposes of participating in Title IV FSA programs. Such requirements relate to an accrediting agency’s structure, operating procedures (e.g., its institutional review process), and due process requirements.48 Subpart 3: Eligibility and Certification Procedures Subpart 3 includes the eligibility and certification procedures administered by ED. Here, ED is responsible for verifying an institution’s legal authority to operate within a state and its accreditation status. Additionally, ED must evaluate an institution’s financial responsibility and administrative capacity to administer Title IV FSA programs. Part I: Competitive Loan Auction Pilot Program Part I authorized the Secretary to implement a pilot student loan auction program for lenders to obtain rights to disburse FFEL program parent PLUS loans. Loans are no longer being made through the FFEL program, and this program is currently inapplicable. Title V: Developing Institutions Title V is one of the primary sources of institutional support to Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs) under the HEA. In general, Title V programs are similar in scope to the Title III-A and Title III-B programs authorized to support other types of minority-serving institutions.49 Part A: Hispanic-Serving Institutions Title V, Part A authorizes the HSI program. This program provides competitive grants to HSIs that meet the HEA Section 312(b) criteria and that have an enrollment of undergraduate students that is at least 25% Hispanic students. Authorized uses for grant funds are similar to those of the Title III-A programs, including facilities improvement, faculty development, curriculum development, and student services. 48 For additional information on the accreditation process and its role in the program integrity triad, see CRS Report R43826, An Overview of Accreditation of Higher Education in the United States, by Alexandra Hegji. 49 For additional information on Title IV programs, see CRS Report R43237, Programs for Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) Under the Higher Education Act (HEA), by Alexandra Hegji. Congressional Research Service 21 The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer Part B: Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans Part B of Title V establishes the Promoting Postbaccalaurate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans (PPOHA) program. This program provides competitive grants to eligible HSIs to expand postbaccalaureate educational opportunities for Hispanic and low-income students. PPOHA grants are available to IHEs that meet the eligibility criteria for the Title V-A HSI program and that offer a postbaccalaureate certificate or degree program. Authorized uses for grant funds are similar to those under the HSI program, but also include providing direct financial assistance (e.g., scholarships, fellowships) to Hispanic and low-income postbaccalaurate students. Part C: General Provisions Part C contains general provisions related to the HSI and PPOHA programs, including waiver authorities that apply to the administration of these programs and the authorized funding levels for these programs. Title VI: International Education Programs Title VI authorizes a variety of grants to IHEs and related entities to enhance instruction in foreign language and area and international studies. Part A: International and Foreign Language Studies Part A of Title VI authorizes a series of programs, centers, and fellowships related to international and foreign language studies. Terms and conditions of the Perkins Loan included a fixed 5% interest rate, no accrual of interest prior to a borrower beginning repayment or during periods of authorized deferment, and loan cancellation for borrowers engaged in certain types of public service.

The authorization of appropriations to enable the Secretary to make new FCCs to institutional revolving loan funds expired on September 30, 2014, and was extended through September 30, 2015, under GEPA.43 For approximately two and one-half months thereafter, the operation of the Perkins Loan program was curtailed and loans could only be made to continuing students. Then, on December 18, 2015, Congress enacted the Federal Perkins Loan Program Extension Act of 2015 (the Extension Act; P.L. 114-105),44 which extended the authorization of IHEs to make new Perkins Loans to eligible students for a limited amount of time.

Under the amendments made by the Extension Act, Perkins Loan terms and conditions remain the same as prior to the Extension Act (e.g., 5% fixed interest rate and loan cancellation benefits for public service). However, Perkins Loans are available only to eligible undergraduate students through September 30, 2017, and to eligible continuing graduate and professional students through September 30, 2016. The Extension Act explicitly prohibits IHEs from making new Perkins Loans to any students after September 30, 2017. Additionally, IHEs are required to make new disclosures in addition to those currently required to borrowers prior to disbursing a Perkins Loan; these disclosures relate to the future availability of Perkins Loans and the terms and conditions of Perkins Loans as compared to Direct Loan program loans. Moreover, the Extension Act explicitly prohibits the appropriation of additional funds beyond FY2015 for the purpose of making new Perkins Loans and makes inapplicable the automatic one-year extension of the duration of the Perkins Loan program provided under GEPA. Finally, the Extension Act amends numerous provisions related to the timing and distribution of assets of IHEs' Perkins Loan funds following the expiration of the program.

Part F: Need Analysis

Part F of Title IV establishes the federal "need analysis" methodology by which a student's financial need is determined for purposes of calculating the amount of Title IV aid for which a student is eligible. A student's financial need is the amount that the total cost of attendance (COA) at an institution (e.g., tuition and fees, books and supplies) exceeds the student's family's expected family contribution (EFC)—the amount of financial resources that students and their families are expected to use to meet the COA.45 The COA is determined by each IHE participating in the Title IV federal student aid programs. The EFC for each student is determined on the basis of financial information provided through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

In cases where a student meets the statutory definition of an independent student, the student completes the FAFSA with information on his or her self and, if applicable, his or her spouse. In cases where the student does not meet the definition of an independent student, the student is considered dependent and must provide information on his or her self as well as his or her parents.

The formula used to calculate EFC considers the income (including taxable and certain untaxed income) and assets (e.g., bank accounts, stocks) of the student and relevant family members. There are several "protections" that exempt some (or even all) of an applicant's income or assets from being considered when calculating the EFC. The protections aim to exempt nondiscretionary resources from contributing to the EFC. For example, one protection exempts a very basic living allowance ("income protection allowance"), while another exempts the portion of income paid to federal income taxes. Only income and assets in excess of the statutory protections are considered available for educational expenses and contribute to the EFC.46

If a student and/or relevant family members meet certain criteria regarding income and other factors, the family may be eligible for a "simplified needs test" (SNT). The SNT considers fewer financial factors and requires the student's family to provide correspondingly less information on the FAFSA. Applicants who qualify for the SNT and meet additional income criteria may be eligible for an "automatic zero." Students eligible for the automatic zero are not subject to the EFC formula and instead automatically receive a zero EFC.

Part G: General Provisions Relating to Student Assistance Programs

Part G of Title IV establishes many institutional requirements for Title IV participation47 and related provisions. It includes definitions of "academic year" and "eligible program" and requires IHEs participating in Title IV to enter into program participation agreements (PPAs) with the Secretary.48 It also establishes a master calendar requirement for the Secretary to ensure adequate notification and timely delivery of Title IV student aid.

Part G contains provisions related to forms and regulations used in administering Title IV programs, including requirements related to the contents and distribution of the FAFSA. Student eligibility criteria to receive Title IV financial assistance are found in Part G, which includes citizenship requirements for Title IV aid recipients and satisfactory academic progress requirements for students to maintain Title IV eligibility. Provisions are also included that describe the manner in which Title IV funds are to be returned to the federal government in the event that a student withdraws from an institution.

Additionally, Part G contains numerous requirements related to the types of information institutions must disseminate to prospective and enrolled students, including graduation or completion rates, financial aid entrance and exit counseling to borrowers, campus crime statistics and security policies, and transfer of credit policies.49

Part G establishes the National Student Loan Data System It also contains wage garnishment requirements for borrowers who are not currently making required payments on their Title IV loans and criminal penalties in cases of fraud, abuse, and other crimes related to Title IV funds.

Part G contains several provisions related to members of the Armed Forces and veterans, such as procedures for loan cancellations or deferments for eligible disabled veterans and deferment of loan repayment following periods of active duty. Finally, Part G also authorizes the income-based repayment plan for Title IV loans.50

The Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance had been authorized under Part G until the end of FY2015.51

Part H: Program Integrity

Part H of Title IV contains what is known as the program integrity triad. The triad comprises three requirements to ensure program integrity in postsecondary education. The three requirements are state authorization, accreditation by an accrediting agency recognized by ED, and eligibility and certification by ED.52 Section 102 requires that IHEs fulfill all three program integrity requirements to be eligible to participate in Title IV FSA programs, and Part H describes each component of the triad.

Subpart 1: State Role

Subpart 1 describes that state's responsibility in authorizing IHEs to operate postsecondary educational programs within their bounds. States must provide information to ED about the processes it uses to authorize institutions, notify ED if it has any evidence that an IHE has committed fraud in the administration of Title IV FSA programs, and notify ED if it revokes an IHE's authorization.

Subpart 2: Accrediting Agency Recognition

Subpart 2 describes the criteria the Secretary must use when determining whether to recognize an accrediting agency as a reliable authority for determining the quality of education or training offered at an IHE for the purposes of participating in Title IV FSA programs. Such requirements relate to an accrediting agency's structure, operating procedures (e.g., its institutional review process), and due process requirements.53

Subpart 3: Eligibility and Certification Procedures

Subpart 3 includes the eligibility and certification procedures administered by ED. Here, ED is responsible for verifying an institution's legal authority to operate within a state and its accreditation status. Additionally, ED must evaluate an institution's financial responsibility and administrative capacity to administer Title IV FSA programs.

Part I: Competitive Loan Auction Pilot Program

Part I authorized the Secretary to implement a pilot student loan auction program for lenders to obtain rights to disburse FFEL program parent PLUS loans. Loans are no longer being made through the FFEL program, and this program is currently inapplicable.

Title V: Developing Institutions

Title V is one of the primary sources of institutional support to Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs) under the HEA. In general, Title V programs are similar in scope to the Title III-A and Title III-B programs authorized to support other types of minority-serving institutions.54

Part A: Hispanic-Serving Institutions

Title V, Part A authorizes the HSI program. This program provides competitive grants to HSIs that meet the HEA Section 312(b) criteria and that have an enrollment of undergraduate students that is at least 25% Hispanic students.

Authorized uses for grant funds are similar to those of the Title III-A programs, including facilities improvement, faculty development, curriculum development, and student services.

Part B: Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans

Part B of Title V establishes the Promoting Postbaccalaurate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans (PPOHA) program. This program provides competitive grants to eligible HSIs to expand postbaccalaureate educational opportunities for Hispanic and low-income students. PPOHA grants are available to IHEs that meet the eligibility criteria for the Title V-A HSI program and that offer a postbaccalaureate certificate or degree program.

Authorized uses for grant funds are similar to those under the HSI program, but also include providing direct financial assistance (e.g., scholarships, fellowships) to Hispanic and low-income postbaccalaurate students.

Part C: General Provisions

Part C contains general provisions related to the HSI and PPOHA programs, including waiver authorities that apply to the administration of these programs and the authorized funding levels for these programs.

Title VI: International Education Programs

Title VI authorizes a variety of grants to IHEs and related entities to enhance instruction in foreign language and area and international studies.

Part A: International and Foreign Language Studies

Part A of Title VI authorizes a series of programs, centers, and fellowships related to international and foreign language studies.

Graduate and Undergraduate Language and Area Centers and Programs. This program provides grants to IHEs to establish and operate (1) National Resource Centers, which are comprehensive foreign language and area or international studies centers and programs, and (2) a network of undergraduate foreign language and area or international studies centers and programs. Fellowships for Foreign Language and Area or International Studies. This program provides grants to IHEs to enable them to pay stipends to individuals participating in advanced training at National Resource Centers and Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language Program centers and programs. Language Resource Centers. This program provides grants to IHEs for the purposes of establishing, strengthening, and operating national language resource and training centers, which serve as resources to improve the capacity to teach and learn foreign languages. Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language Programs. This program provides grants to IHEs and related entities to plan, develop, and carry out programs to improve undergraduate instruction in international studies and foreign languages and to strengthen existing programs in undergraduate international studies and foreign language programs. Congressional Research Service 22 The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer Technological Innovation and Cooperation for Foreign Information Access. This program provides grants to IHEs and related entities to develop innovative techniques or programs using electronic technologies to collect and disseminate information from foreign sources on world regions and foreign countries that address U.S. teaching and research needs in international education and foreign languages. American Overseas Research Centers. This program provides grants to consortia of IHEs to establish or operate overseas research centers that promote postgraduate research, exchanges, and area studies. Part B: Business and International Education Programs Part B authorizes two programs to promote and enhance international business skills and education. The Centers for International Business Education program authorizes the Secretary to make grants to enable IHEs to establish and operate centers for international business education that serve as national resources for the teaching of international business, foreign languages, and international studies and provide research and training in the international aspects of trade and commerce. The Education and Training Program authorizes grants to IHEs to operate programs designed to promote linkages between IHEs and the American business community engaged in international economic activity. Part C: Institute for International Public Policy Part C establishes the Institute for International Public Policy, which provides a grant to a consortium of minority-serving institutions eligible under Title III, Parts A and B, and Title V to support the preparation of underrepresented minority students for international and foreign service careers. Allowable activities include the development of a study abroad program and fellowships for graduate study. Funds for the Institute have not been appropriated since FY2011. Part D: General Provisions Part D contains definitions relevant to Title VI and grants the Secretary waiver authority to reduce any nonfederal shares required by Title VI programs. Part D also authorizes the Science and Technology Advanced Foreign Language Education Grant Program, which makes grants to IHEs to develop programs that teach foreign languages and emphasize the understanding of science and technology, foster international scientific collaboration, and provide professional development to K-12 teachers. This program has never received funding. Title VII: Graduate and Postsecondary Improvement Programs Programs Title VII authorizes several programs related to supporting graduate education programs. Other programs authorized under Title VII encourage innovation in postsecondary education, enable Congressional Research Service 23 The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer IHEs to better serve disabled students, and support state-level postsecondary education improvements. Part A: Graduate Education Programs Part A authorizes programs to support graduate education. Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program. Subpart 1 establishes the Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program, which awards fellowships for graduate study in the arts, humanities, and social sciences to students who intend to pursue a doctoral degree or the terminal highest degree awarded in the area of study. This program has not received funding since FY2011. Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need. Subpart 2 establishes the Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need program, which awards fellowships to postbaccalaureate students who pursue the highest possible degree at their institutions and in areas of national need, as designated by the Secretary. Thurgood Marshall Legal Educational Opportunity Program. Subpart 3 authorizes the Thurgood Marshall Legal Educational Opportunity Program, which provides a grant to the Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO) to support low-income, minority, or disadvantaged secondary school and college students by providing such students with information, preparation, and financial assistance to gain access to and complete law school study and admission to law practice. This program has not received funding since FY2011. Masters Degree Programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Predominantly Black Institutions. This program provides grants to specified HBCUs and PBIs to improve graduate education opportunities for Black Americans at the master’'s level in mathematics, sciences, nursing, and other scientific disciplines. This program last received appropriations in FY2014. Part B: Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) Part B of Title VII authorizes FIPSE, which authorizes the Secretary to award grants to and enter into contracts with IHEs and other nonprofit institutions and agencies to encourage the reform, innovation, and improvement of postsecondary education. Allowable uses of FIPSE grants and contracts include, but are not limited to, the design and introduction of cost-effective methods of instruction, reforms in graduate and remedial education, partnerships between high schools and colleges to establish programs to increase secondary school graduation rates of limited English proficient students, scholarships for the dependents of military service members, and special projects in areas of national need. Part B also establishes the Board of the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, which advises the Secretary on priorities for the improvement of postsecondary education and for the evaluation, dissemination, and adaptation or demonstrated improvements in postsecondary educational practice. Congressional Research Service 24 The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer Part B did not receive appropriations in FY2015. Part D: Programs to Provide Students with Disabilities with a Quality Higher Education Title VII, Part D50D55 authorizes several programs related to postsecondary education for students with disabilities. Demonstration Projects to Support Postsecondary Faculty, Staff, and Administrators in Educating Students with Disabilities. Subpart 1 authorizes a competitive grant or contract program for model demonstration projects, technical assistance, and professional development relating to teaching methods, secondary to postsecondary transitions, research, distance learning, career pathways transitions, professional development, and accessibility in postsecondary education. This program has not received funding since FY2010. Transition Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities into Higher Education. Subpart 2 authorizes a competitive grant program for IHEs to create model transition and postsecondary education programs for students with intellectual disabilities. Programs to Support Improved Access to Materials. Subpart 3 authorizes a competitive grant or contract program to eligible partnerships of IHEs and expert organizations for model demonstration programs to support improved access to postsecondary materials for students with print disabilities. This program has never been funded. National Teaching Assistance Center: Coordinating Center. Subpart 4 authorizes the Secretary to award a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement to an IHE or other nonprofit organization to support the National Center for Information and Technical Support for Postsecondary Students with Disabilities, which would offer a database of information on disabilities services in higher education and other support services. Subpart 4 also authorizes the Secretary to award a cooperative agreement to create a Coordinating Center for IHEs offering inclusive, comprehensive transition programs for students with intellectual disabilities. These programs have never received funding. Part E: College Access Challenge Grant Program (CACG) Part E of Title VII authorizes the College Access Challenge Grant Program, which fosters partnerships between federal, state, and local governments and philanthropic organizations through matching formula grants; the partnerships are intended to increase the number of lowincomelow-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. Authorized activities for grant recipients include disseminating information about the benefits of a postsecondary education, outreach activities, need-based grant aid, and professional development for guidance counselors. 50 In 2008, the Higher Education Opportunity Act repealed Title VII, Part C, Urban Community Service; however, the act did not replace Part C. Congressional Research Service 25 The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer for guidance counselors. CACG last received appropriations in FY2014.56 Title VIII: Additional Programs Title VIII of the HEA includes 27 parts, each of which establishes one or more new programs focusing on an array of subjects. All of the programs in Title VIII were newly added to the HEA by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008. Most of these programs have not yet been funded.51 57 Several programs authorized under Title VIII support the goals of improving access to postsecondary education and improving enrollment, persistence, and completion rates. Generally, these programs seek to address the postsecondary education needs of specific groups of prospective or current postsecondary students. For instance, Part T, Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success, authorizes competitive grants to IHEs to support the academic, financial, physical, and social needs of students who are veterans of the Armed Forces. Many other programs in Title VIII are directed at enhancing programs in certain areas of study to meet workforce needs. For instance, Part S, Training for Realtime Writers, authorizes the Secretary to award grants to postsecondary court reporting programs to promote training and placement of realtime writers. Finally, Title VIII, Part AA provides annual mandatory appropriations through FY2014 to Masters Degree Programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Predominantly Black Institutions and the PPOHA program, which are found under HEA Title VII-A-4 and Title V-B, respectively. 51 Those Title VIII programs that have been funded at some point in time are Part S, Training for Realtime Writers (funded under FIPSE); Part T, Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success; and Part Z, Henry Kuualoha Giugni Kupuna Memorial Archives (funded under the Native Hawaiian Education program authorized by Part B of Title VII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA); and Part AA, Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans (initially funded under FIPSE). Congressional Research Service 26 The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer Appendix A. History of Funding for HEA Programs: FY2011-FY2015 Table A-1 respectively. The mandatory budget authority for these programs expired at the end of FY2014 and was not reauthorized. Thus, these programs did not receive funds in FY2015 and FY2016.58 History of Funding for HEA Programs: FY2012-FY2016 Table A-1 of this appendix lists the sections of the HEA that authorize appropriations for HEA provide discretionary authorization of appropriations or mandatory budget authority for HEA programs and presents the funding amounts provided for these programs for FY2011FY2012 through FY2015 FY2016. The programs are presented in the order in which they appear in the HEA. For each program, the section authorizingauthoring the appropriation of funds or providing mandatory budget authority is identified, as is the indicator of whether funding is considered discretionary appropriations (D) or mandatory budget authority (M). (D) or mandatory (M) appropriations. In instances in which a program is classified as a federal credit program, the amount shown is the reestimated subsidy cost for the applicable fiscal year cohort. Congressional Research Service 27 Table A-1. Funding for HEA-authorized programs, FY2011-2015 FY2012-2016 ($ in thousands) Program, by Title and Part Auth. Sec. Disc./ Mand. (D/M) Appropriationsa ($ in thousands) FY2011 FY2012 FY2013b FY2014 FY2015 Title I: General Provisions Title I, Part B: Additional General Provisions Alcohol & Drug Abuse Prevention Grants §120 D 0 0 0 0 0 Prior Obligations (Repealed facilities loan programs) §121 D 460 459 435 435 435 M 1,286 167 0 47 0 State Higher Education Information System Pilot Program §136 D 0 0 0 0 0 [combined with §458 below] [combined with §458 below] [combined with §458 below] [combined with §458 below] Title I, Part D: Administrative Provisions for Delivery of Student Financial Assistance Performance Based Organization for Delivery of Student Financial Aid CRS-28 §141 D [combined with §458 below] Program, by Title and Part Auth. Sec. Disc./ Mand. (D/M) Appropriationsa ($ in thousands) FY2011 FY2012 FY2013b FY2014 FY2015 Title II: Teacher Quality Enhancement Title II, Part A: Teacher Quality Partnership Grants Teacher Quality Partnerships Grants §209 Dc 42,914 42,833 40,592 40,592 40,592 0 0 0 0 0 Pre-Baccalaureate Preparation Program Teacher Residency Program Leadership Development Program Title II, Part B: Enhancing Teacher Education Enhancing Teacher Education Grants Preparing Teachers for Digital Age Learners Hawkins Center of Excellence Teach to Reach Grants Adjunct Teachers Corps Graduate fellowships to Prepare Faculty in High-Need Areas CRS-29 §230 D Program, by Title and Part Auth. Sec. Disc./ Mand. (D/M) Appropriationsa ($ in thousands) FY2011 FY2012 FY2013b FY2014 FY2015 Title III: Institutional Aid Title III, Part A: Strengthening Institutions Strengthening Institutions §399 D 83,832 80,623 76,406 79,139 79,139 Tribally Controlled Colleges & Universities §399 D 26,820 25,713 24,368 25,239 25,662 §371 Md 30,000 30,000 28,470 27,840 27,810 Alaska Native and Native HawaiianServing Institutions §399 D 13,412 12,859 12,186 12,622 12,833 §371 Md 15,000 15,000 14,235 13,920 13,905 Predominantly Black Institutions §399 D 9,602 9,262 8,778 9,092 9,244 §371 Md 15,000 15,000 14,235 13,920 13,905 Native AmericanServing, Nontribal Institutions §399 D 3,199 3,199 2,956 3,062 3,113 §371 Md 5,000 5,000 4,745 4,640 4,635 Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions §399 D 3,199 3,119 2,956 3,062 3,113 §371 Md 5,000 5,000 4,745 4,640 4,635 Title III, Part B: Historically Black Colleges and Universities Historically Black Colleges and Universities §399 D 236,991 227,980 216,056 223,783 227,524 §371 Md 85,000 85,000 80,665 78,880 78,795 Historically Black Graduate Institutions §399 D 31,302 58,958 55,874 57,872 58,840 0 0 Title III, Part C: Endowment Challenge Grants for Institutions Eligible for Assistance Under Part A or Part B Endowment Challenge Grants CRS-30 §399 D 0 0 0 Program, by Title and Part Auth. Sec. Disc./ Mand. (D/M) Appropriationsa ($ in thousands) FY2011 FY2012 FY2013b FY2014 FY2015 Title III, Part D: Historically Black College and University Capital Financing Historically Black Colleges and University Capital Financing §399 D 20,541 20,502 19,430 19,096 19,096 §343 M 2,748 11,658 797 35,754 0 Capital Improvement Technical Assistance §399 D 0 0 0 0 0 Title III, Part E: Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program Minority Science & Engineering Improvement Program §399 D 9,484 9,466 8,971 8,971 8,971 Programs in STEM Fields §399 D 0 0 0 0 0 YES Partnerships Grants Promotion of Entry into STEM Fields Title IV: Student Assistance Title IV, Part A: Grants to Students in Attendance at Institutions of Higher Education Federal Pell Grants Programs §401 D 22,956,000 22,824,000 22,778,000 22,778,000 22,475,352 Mandatory Appropriations Provided to Augment Discretionary Funding §401 Me 13,500,000 13,795,000 7,587,000 588,000 0 Mandatory Add-On Award §401 M 5,560,000 4,953,000 4,854,000 5,579,000 SSANf CRS-31 Program, by Title and Part Academic Competitiveness Grants and national Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grants Auth. Sec. §401A Deferral to next fiscal year Disc./ Mand. (D/M) FY2011 FY2012 FY2013b FY2014 FY2015 Mg 1,000h — — — — M 561,000 — — — — Rescission TRIO Programs Appropriationsa ($ in thousands) -560,000 §402A Dc 826,522 839,932 795,998 838,252 839,752 §402C Mc 57,000 — — — — §404H D 302,816 302,244 286,435 301,639 301,639 Talent Search Upward Bound Student Support Services McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program Education Opportunity Centers Mandatory Funds for Upward Boundi Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) CRS-32 Program, by Title and Part Auth. Sec. Disc./ Mand. (D/M) Appropriationsa ($ in thousands) FY2011 FY2012 FY2013b FY2014 FY2015 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) §413A D 735,990 734,599 696,175 733,130 733,130 Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) Grants §415A D 0 0 0 0 0 Grants for Access and Persistence (GAP) §415A D 0 0 0 0 0 Special Programs for Migrant Students §418A D 36,595 36,526 34,623 34,623 37,474 Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship §419K D 0 0 0 0 0 Child Care Access Means Parents in School §419N D 16,002 15,970 15,134 15,134 15,134 Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grants §420O M 9,381 -545 15,405 N/A N/A Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants §420R M 183 180 190 283 340 Title IV, Part B: Federal Family Education Loan Program Federal Family Education Loan program subsidy costj §421 M 0 0 0 0 0 Loan Forgiveness for Service in Areas of National Need §428K D 0 0 0 0 0 CRS-33 Program, by Title and Part Loan Repayment for Civil Legal Assistance Attorneys Auth. Sec. §428L Disc./ Mand. (D/M) Appropriationsa ($ in thousands) FY2011 D FY2012 FY2013b FY2014 FY2015 0 0 0 0 0 Title IV, Part C: Federal Work-Study Programs Federal Work Study §441 D 978,531 976,682 925,595 974,728 989,728 Off-Campus Community Service §447 D 0 0 0 0 0 Work Colleges §448 D [included with §441 amount] [included with §441 amount] [included with §441 amount] [included with §441 amount] [included with §441 amount] Title IV, Part D: William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program Direct Loan program subsidy costsj §451 M -21,814,941 -32,151,004 -15.584,925 N/A N/A Temporary Authority to Purchase Student Loanj §451 M — — — — — Participation Agreementj M — — — — — Standard Putj M — — — — — Student Aid Administration §458 D 992,012 1,043,387 978,924 1,166,000 1,396,924 Not-for-Profit Servicing Contractorsk §458 Md 145,333 276,731 367,593 226,891 0 Technical Assistance §458 Dg — — — — — Loan Servicer Job Retention §458 M 0 — — — — CRS-34 Program, by Title and Part Auth. Sec. Disc./ Mand. (D/M) Appropriationsa ($ in thousands) FY2011 FY2012 FY2013b FY2014 FY2015 Title IV, Part E: Federal Perkins Loans Federal Perkins Loans §461 D 0 0 0 0 0 Federal Perkins Loans Cancellations §465 D 0 0 0 0 0 [funded from ED program admin., but not less than 800] [funded from ED program admin., but not less than 800] [funded from ED program admin., but not less than 800] [funded from ED program admin., but not less than 800] 0 0 0 0 0 Title IV, Part G: General Provisions Relating to Student Assistance Programs Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance §491 D [funded from ED program admin., but not less than 800] Title IV , Part I: Competitive Loan Auction Program Parent PLUS Loan Pilot Auction program §499 M Title V: Developing Institutions Title V, Part A: Hispanic-Serving Institutions Hispanic-Serving Institutions §528 D 104,395 100,432 95,179 98,583 100,231 §371 Md 100,000 100,000 94,900 92,800 92,700 Title V, Part B: Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans §528 D 9,336 9,011 8,540 8,845 8,992 §898 M 11,500 11,500 10,914 10,672 0l 66,712 66,586 63,103 65,103 65,103 [Includes Title VI, Part B] [Includes Title VI, Part B] [Includes Title VI, Part B] [Includes Title VI, Part B] [Includes Title VI, Part B] Title VI: International Education Programs Title VI, Part A: International and Foreign Language Programs International & Foreign Language Programs CRS-35 §610 D Program, by Title and Part Auth. Sec. Disc./ Mand. (D/M) Appropriationsa ($ in thousands) FY2011 FY2012 FY2013b FY2014 FY2015 Title VI, Part B: Business and International Education Programs Centers for International Business Education §614 D [Included with Title VI, Part A] [Included with Title VI, Part A] [Included with Title VI, Part A] [Included with Title VI, Part A] [Included with Title VI, Part A] Business & International Education Training Programs §614 D [Included with Title VI, Part A] [Included with Title VI, Part A] [Included with Title VI, Part A] [Included with Title VI, Part A] [Included with Title VI, Part A] 1,552 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Title VI, Part C: Institute for International Public Policy Institute for International Public Policy §629 D Title VI, Part D: General Provisions Science & Technology Advanced Foreign Language Education Grant Program §637 D Title VII: Graduate and Postsecondary Improvement Programs Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program §705 D 8,084 0 0 0 0 Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need §716 D 30,968 30,909 29,293 29,293 29,293 Thurgood Marshall Legal Educational Opportunity Program §721 D 16,002 0 0 0 0 CRS-36 Program, by Title and Part Masters Degree Programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Predominantly Black Institutions Auth. Sec. Disc./ Mand. (D/M) Appropriationsa ($ in thousands) FY2011 FY2012 FY2013b FY2014 FY2015 §725 D 0 0 0 0 0 §897 M 11,500 11,500 10,914 10,672 0l 2,366 2,242 3,274 64,501 Title VII, Part B: Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education §745 D 18,609 Title VII, Part D: Programs to Provide Students with Disabilities with a Quality Higher Education Demonstration Projects §765 D 0 0 0 0 0 Model Transition Programs §769 D 10,978 10,957 10,384 10,384 11,800 Access to Materials §775 D 0 0 0 0 0 National Centers §778 D 0 0 0 0 0 National Technical Assistance Centers Coordinating Center Title VIII, Part E: College Access Challenge Grant Program College Access Challenge Grant §781 M 150,000 150,000 142,350 139,200 0 §781 D 0 0 0 0 0 D 0 0 0 0 0 Title VIII: Additional Programs Part A-Project GRAD CRS-37 §801 Program, by Title and Part Auth. Sec. Disc./ Mand. (D/M) Appropriationsa ($ in thousands) FY2011 FY2012 FY2013b FY2014 FY2015 Part B-Mathematics and Science Scholars §802 D 0 0 0 0 0 Part C-Business Workforce Partnerships for Job Skill Training §803 D 0 0 0 0 0 Part D-Capacity for Nursing Students and Faculty §804 D 0 0 0 0 0 Part E-American History for Freedom §805 D 0 0 0 0 0 Part F-Teach for America §806 D 0 0 0 0 0 Part G-Patsy T. Mink Fellowship §807 D 0 0 0 0 0 Part H-Improving College Enrollment by Postsecondary Schools §808 D 0 0 0 0 0 Part I-Early Childhood Education Professional Development §818 D 0 0 0 0 0 Part J-Improving STEM Education with a Focus on Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Students §819 D 0 0 0 0 0 Part K-Pilot Programs to Increase College Persistence and Success §820 D 0 0 0 0 0 CRS-38 Program, by Title and Part Auth. Sec. Disc./ Mand. (D/M) Appropriationsa ($ in thousands) FY2011 FY2012 FY2013b FY2014 FY2015 Part L-Student Safety and Campus Emergency Management §821 D 0 0 0 0 0 Part L-Education Disaster and Emergency Relief Loan Program §824 D 0 0 0 0 0 Part M-Incentives and Rewards for Low Tuition §830 D 0 0 0 0 0 Part N: Cooperative Education §835 D 0 0 0 0 0 Part O-College Partnership Grants §841 D 0 0 0 0 0 Part P-Jobs to Careers §851 D 0 0 0 0 0 Part Q-Rural Development Grants §861 D 0 0 0 0 0 Part R-Campus-Based Digital Theft Prevention §871 D 0 0 0 0 0 Grants for Cooperative Education Demonstration and Innovation Projects; Training and Resources Centers; and Research CRS-39 Program, by Title and Part Auth. Sec. Disc./ Mand. (D/M) Appropriationsa ($ in thousands) FY2011 FY2012 FY2013b FY2014 FY2015 Part S-Training for Realtime Writers §872 D 998 1,128 1,069 1,126 0 Part T-Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success §873 D 0 0 0 0 0 Part U-University Sustainability §881 D 0 0 0 0 0 Part V-Modeling and Simulation Programs §891 D 0 0 0 0 0 Part W-Path to Success Reentry Education Grants §892 D 0 0 0 0 0 Part X-School of Veterinary Medicine Competitive Grant Program §893 D 0 0 0 0 0 Part Y-Early Federal Pell Grant Commitment Demonstration Program §894 D 0 0 0 0 0 Modeling and Simulation Task Force Modeling and Simulation Enhancement Grants Modeling and Simulation Establishment Grants CRS-40 Program, by Title and Part Part Z-Kupuna Memorial Archives Auth. Sec. §895 Disc./ Mand. (D/M) D Appropriationsa ($ in thousands) FY2011 FY2012 0 FY2013b FY2014 FY2015 0 0 0 0 Programs Authorized in Acts to Reauthorize and Amend the Higher Education Act Higher Education Opportunity Act National Center for Research in Advanced Information and Digital Technologies §802 D 0 0 0 0 0 Pilot Grant Program for Course Material Rental §803 D 0 0 0 0 0 Higher Education Amendments of 1998 Workplace and Community Transition Training for Incarcerated Individuals §821 D 0 0 0 0 0 Underground Railroad Educational and Cultural Program §841 D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Higher Education Amendments of 1992 Olympic Scholarships §1543 D Source: Compiled by CRS from U.S. Department of Education, Budget Tables for various years, http://www2.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/tables.html?src=ct; and from unpublished data provided by the USDE Budget Service. a. Unless otherwise noted, all provisions were authorized through FY2014 under the HEA and were automatically extended through FY2015 under Section 422 of the General Education Provisions Act. An entry of zero indicates that a program was authorized in a fiscal year but that no funds were appropriated for the program in that fiscal year, while a dash (—) indicates that a program was not authorized for a fiscal year. b.

Auth. Sec.

Disc./Mand. (D/M)

Appropriationsa ($ in thousands)      

FY2012

FY2013b

FY2014

FY2015

FY2016

Title I: General Provisions

Title I, Part B: Additional General Provisions

Alcohol & Drug Abuse Prevention Grants

§120

D

0

0

0

0

0

Prior Obligations (Repealed facilities loan programs)

§121

D

459

435

435

435

435

   

M

167

0

47

0

0

State Higher Education Information System Pilot Program

§136

D

0

0

0

0

0

Title I, Part D: Administrative Provisions for Delivery of Student Financial Assistance

Performance Based Organization for Delivery of Student Financial Aid

§141

D

[combined with §458 below] [combined with §458 below] [combined with §458 below] [combined with §458 below] [combined with §458 below]

Title II: Teacher Quality Enhancement

Title II, Part A: Teacher Quality Partnership Grants

Teacher Quality Partnerships Grants

§209

Dc

42,833

40,592

40,592

40,592

43,092

Pre-Baccalaureate Preparation Program

             

Teacher Residency Program

             

Leadership Development Program

             

Title II, Part B: Enhancing Teacher Education

Enhancing Teacher Education Grants

§230

D

0

0

0

0

0

Preparing Teachers for Digital Age Learners

             

Hawkins Center of Excellence

             

Teach to Reach Grants

             

Adjunct Teachers Corps

             

Graduate fellowships to Prepare Faculty in High-Need Areas

             

Title III: Institutional Aid

Title III, Part A: Strengthening Institutions

Strengthening Institutions

§399

D

80,623

76,406

79,139

80,462

86,534

Tribally Controlled Colleges & Universities

§399

D

25,713

24,368

25,239

25,662

27,599

 

§371

Md

30,000

28,470

27,840

27,810

27,960

Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions

§399

D

12,859

12,186

12,622

12,833

13,802

 

§371

Md

15,000

14,235

13,920

13,905

13,980

Predominantly Black Institutions

§399

D

9,262

8,778

9,092

9,244

9,942

 

§371

Md

15,000

14,235

13,920

13,905

13,980

Native American-Serving, Nontribal Institutions

§399

D

3,199

2,956

3,062

3,113

3,348

 

§371

Md

5,000

4,745

4,640

4,635

4,660

Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions

§399

D

3,119

2,956

3,062

3,113

3,348

 

§371

Md

5,000

4,745

4,640

4,635

4,600

Title III, Part B: Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Historically Black Colleges and Universities

§399

D

227,980

216,056

223,783

227,524

244,694

 

§371

Md

85,000

80,665

78,880

78,795

79,220

Historically Black Graduate Institutions

§399

D

58,958

55,874

57,872

58,840

63,281

Title III, Part C: Endowment Challenge Grants for Institutions Eligible for Assistance Under Part A or Part B

Endowment Challenge Grants

§399

D

0

0

0

0

0

Title III, Part D: Historically Black College and University Capital Financing

Historically Black Colleges and University Capital Financinge

§399

D

20,502

19,430

19,096

19,096

20,150

 

§343

M

11,658

797

35,754

18,240

n/a

Capital Improvement Technical Assistance

§399

D

0

0

0

0

0

Title III, Part E: Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program

Minority Science & Engineering Improvement Program

§399

D

9,466

8,971

8,971

8,971

9,648

Programs in STEM Fields

§399

D

0

0

0

0

0

YES Partnerships Grants

             

Promotion of Entry into STEM Fields

             

Title IV: Student Assistance

Title IV, Part A: Grants to Students in Attendance at Institutions of Higher Education

Federal Pell Grants Programs

§401

D

22,824,000

22,778,000

22,778,000

22,475,352

22,475,352

Mandatory Appropriations Provided to Augment Discretionary Funding

§401

Mf

13,795,000

7,587,000

588,000

0

0

Mandatory Add-On Award

§401

M

4,950,000

4,854,000

4,835,000

5,153,000

SSANg

Academic Competitiveness Grants and national Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grants

§401A

Mh

—

—

—

—

—

Deferral to next fiscal year

 

M

—

—

—

—

—

TRIO Programs

§402A

Dc

839,932

795,998

838,252

839,752

900,000

Talent Search

             

Upward Bound

             

Student Support Services

             

McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program

             

Education Opportunity Centers

              Mandatory Funds for Upward Boundi

§402C

Mc

—

—

—

—

—

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP)

§404H

D

302,244

286,435

301,639

301,639

322,754

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)

§413A

D

734,599

696,175

733,130

733,130

733,130

Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) Grants

§415A

D

0

0

0

0

0

Grants for Access and Persistence (GAP)

§415A

D

0

0

0

0

0

Special Programs for Migrant Students

§418A

D

36,526

34,623

34,623

37,474

44,623

Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship

§419K

D

0

0

0

0

0

Child Care Access Means Parents in School

§419N

D

15,970

15,134

15,134

15,134

15,134

Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grants:

Net new Loan Subsidies

§420O

M

14,163

13,100

14,576

15,884

10,928

TEACH Grants:

Net reestimates of existing loans

§420O

M

20,314

-15,731

-9,531

-31,178

0

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants

§420R

M

180

190

283

340

458

Title IV, Part B: Federal Family Education Loan Program

Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program:

Net new subsidy cost

§421

M

0

0

0

0

0

FFEL program:

Net reestimates and modifications of existing loans

§421

M

-15,011,166

-6.843.642

-5,676,042

-3,293.567

151,588

Loan Forgiveness for Service in Areas of National Need

§428K

D

0

0

0

0

0

Loan Repayment for Civil Legal Assistance Attorneys

§428L

D

0

0

0

0

0

Title IV, Part C: Federal Work-Study Programs

Federal Work Study

§441

D

976,682

925,595

974,728

989,728

989,728

Off-Campus Community Service

§447

D

0

0

0

0

0

Work Colleges

§448

D

[included with §441 amount] [included with §441 amount] [included with §441 amount] [included with §441 amount] [included with §441 amount]

Title IV, Part D: William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program

Direct Loan program:

Net new loan subsidies

§451

M

-27,100,852

-30,032,763

-22,295,189

-3,745,140

-10,636,808

Direct Loan program:

Net reestimates and modifications of existing loans

§451

M

5,566,331

-8,151,717

6.793.632

21,636,177

0

Student Aid Administration

§458

D

1,043,387

978,924

1,166,000

1,396,924

1,551,854

Not-for-Profit Servicing Contractorsj

§458

Md

276,731

367,593

226,891

0

0

Technical Assistance

§458

Dh

—

—

—

—

—

Loan Servicer Job Retention

§458

M

—

—

—

—

—

Title IV, Part E: Federal Perkins Loans

Federal Perkins Loansk

§461

D

0

0

0

0

0

Federal Perkins Loans Cancellations

§465

D

0

0

0

0

0

Title IV, Part G: General Provisions Relating to Student Assistance Programs

Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance

§491

D

[funded from ED program admin., but not less than 800]

[funded from ED program admin., but not less than 800]

[funded from ED program admin., but not less than 800]

[funded from ED program admin., but not less than 800]

—l

Title IV , Part I: Competitive Loan Auction Program

Parent PLUS Loan Pilot Auction program

§499

M

0

0

0

0

0

Title V: Developing Institutions

Title V, Part A: Hispanic-Serving Institutions

Hispanic-Serving Institutions

§528

D

100,432

95,179

98,583

100,231

107,795

 

§371

Md

100,000

94,900

92,800

92,700

93,200

Title V, Part B: Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans

Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans

§528

D

9,011

8,540

8,845

8,992

9,671

 

§898

M

11,500

10,914

10,672

0m

0

Title VI: International Education Programs

Title VI, Part A: International and Foreign Language Programs

International & Foreign Language Programs

§610

D

66,586

[Includes Title VI, Part B]

63,103

[Includes Title VI, Part B]

65,103

[Includes Title VI, Part B]

65,103

[Includes Title VI, Part B]

65,103

[includes Title VI, Part B]

Title VI, Part B: Business and International Education Programs

Centers for International Business Education

§614

D

[Included with Title VI, Part A] [Included with Title VI, Part A] [Included with Title VI, Part A] [Included with Title VI, Part A] [included with Title IV, Part A]

Business & International Education Training Programs

§614

D

[Included with Title VI, Part A] [Included with Title VI, Part A] [Included with Title VI, Part A] [Included with Title VI, Part A] [included with Title IV, Part A]

Title VI, Part C: Institute for International Public Policy

Institute for International Public Policy

§629

D

0

0

0

0

0

Title VI, Part D: General Provisions

Science & Technology Advanced Foreign Language Education Grant Program

§637

D

0

0

0

0

0

Title VII: Graduate and Postsecondary Improvement Programs

Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program

§705

D

0

0

0

0

0

Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need

§716

D

30,909

29,293

29,293

29,293

29,293

Thurgood Marshall Legal Educational Opportunity Program

§721

D

0

0

0

0

0

Masters Degree Programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Predominantly Black Institutions

§725

D

0

0

0

0

0

 

§897

M

11,500

10,914

10,672

0m

0

Title VII, Part B: Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education

Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education

§745

D

2,366

2,242

3,274

67,775

0

Title VII, Part D: Programs to Provide Students with Disabilities with a Quality Higher Education

Demonstration Projects

§765

D

0

0

0

0

0

Model Transition Programs

§769

D

10,957

10,384

10,384

11,800

11,800

Access to Materials

§775

D

0

0

0

0

0

National Centers

§778

D

0

0

0

0

0

National Technical Assistance Centers

             

Coordinating Center

             

Title VIII, Part E: College Access Challenge Grant Program

College Access Challenge Grant

§781

M

150,000

142,350

139,200

0

0

 

§781

D

0

0

0

0

0

Title VIII: Additional Programs

Part A-Project GRAD

§801

D

0

0

0

0

0

Part B-Mathematics and Science Scholars

§802

D

0

0

0

0

0

Part C-Business Workforce Partnerships for Job Skill Training

§803

D

0

0

0

0

0

Part D-Capacity for Nursing Students and Faculty

§804

D

0

0

0

0

0

Part E-American History for Freedom

§805

D

0

0

0

0

0

Part F-Teach for America

§806

D

0

0

0

0

0

Part G-Patsy T. Mink Fellowship

§807

D

0

0

0

0

0

Part H-Improving College Enrollment by Postsecondary Schools

§808

D

0

0

0

0

0

Part I-Early Childhood Education Professional Development

§818

D

0

0

0

0

0

Part J-Improving STEM Education with a Focus on Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Students

§819

D

0

0

0

0

0

Part K-Pilot Programs to Increase College Persistence and Success

§820

D

0

0

0

0

0

Part L-Student Safety and Campus Emergency Management

§821

D

0

0

0

0

0

Part L-Education Disaster and Emergency Relief Loan Program

§824

D

0

0

0

0

0

Part M-Incentives and Rewards for Low Tuition

§830

D

0

0

0

0

0

Part N: Cooperative Education

§835

D

0

0

0

0

0

Grants for Cooperative Education

             

Demonstration and Innovation Projects; Training and Resources Centers; and Research

             

Part O-College Partnership Grants

§841

D

0

0

0

0

0

Part P-Jobs to Careers

§851

D

0

0

0

0

0

Part Q-Rural Development Grants

§861

D

0

0

0

0

0

Part R-Campus-Based Digital Theft Prevention

§871

D

0

0

0

0

0

Part S-Training for Realtime Writers

§872

D

1,128

1,069

1,126

0

0

Part T-Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success

§873

D

0

0

0

0

0

Part U-University Sustainability

§881

D

0

0

0

0

0

Part V-Modeling and Simulation Programs

§891

D

0

0

0

0

0

Modeling and Simulation Task Force

             

Modeling and Simulation Enhancement Grants

             

Modeling and Simulation Establishment Grants

             

Part W-Path to Success Reentry Education Grants

§892

D

0

0

0

0

0

Part X-School of Veterinary Medicine Competitive Grant Program

§893

D

0

0

0

0

0

Part Y-Early Federal Pell Grant Commitment Demonstration Program

§894

D

0

0

0

0

0

Part Z-Kupuna Memorial Archives

§895

D

0

0

0

0

0

Programs Authorized in Acts to Reauthorize and Amend the Higher Education Act

Higher Education Opportunity Act

National Center for Research in Advanced Information and Digital Technologies

§802

D

0

0

0

0

0

Pilot Grant Program for Course Material Rental

§803

D

0

0

0

0

0

Higher Education Amendments of 1998

Workplace and Community Transition Training for Incarcerated Individuals

§821

D

0

0

0

0

0

Underground Railroad Educational and Cultural Program

§841

D

0

0

0

0

0

Higher Education Amendments of 1992

Olympic Scholarships

§1543

D

0

0

0

0

0

Sources: Compiled by CRS from U.S. Department of Education, Budget Tables for various years; and from unpublished data provided by the USDE Budget Service.

a. Unless otherwise noted, all provisions were authorized through FY2014 under the HEA, were automatically extended through FY2015 under Section 422 of the General Education Provisions Act, and received additional appropriations through FY2016 under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (P.L. 114-113), thus remaining operational through FY2016. An entry of zero indicates that a program was authorized in a fiscal year but that no funds were appropriated for the program in that fiscal year, while a dash (—) indicates that a program was not authorized for a fiscal year. b. FY2013 appropriations reflect the final amount appropriated, including any spending reductions authorized by the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA; P.L. 112-25), ), commonly referred to as “"sequestration.” CRS-41 c. " c. Authorization expired at the end of FY2011. d. Authorized through FY2019. e. Authorized through FY2017. f. SSAN means “Such sums as necessary.” d. Authorized through FY2019. e. Section 505(e) of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 authorizes appropriations for administrative costs for federal agencies that are authorized to make direct loan obligations or loan guarantee commitments. In accordance with this provision, discretionary appropriations to administer this program are made annually. In FY2016, $334,000 was appropriated. f. Authorized through FY2017. g. SSAN means "Such sums as necessary." In effect, this means the amount of mandatory appropriations that will be necessary to fully fund the add-on award amount specified in the HEA for a given year. In other words, mandatory funding has been available to support the add-on amount beginning in FY2010 indefinitely, but the specific amount required in each year cannot be reported until the add-on amount is determined and all funds are disbursed to eligible students. g. Authorization expired at the end of FY2010. h. Although authorization of appropriations expired at the end of FY2010, appropriations under the program were allowed to be deferred to future years. In FY2010, a deferral of $561 million was enacted and $560 million was rescinded. Thus, $1 million remained available for use in FY2011. i. h. Authorization expired at the end of FY2010. i. Mandatory appropriations for the Upward Bound program were authorized for FY2008-FY2011. Since FY2012, Upward Bound has only received an allocation of the discretionary appropriations provided to all of the TRIO programs as a whole. j. Amounts shown include the sum of original execution subsidy outlays, loan modification costs, modification adjustment transfers, and net lifetime subsidy reestimates, including interest. k. j. Authority for mandatory funding for not-for-profit servicing contracts was repealed by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 (H.J.Res. 59). k. The Perkins Loans program Extension Act of 2015 (P.L. 114-105) extends IHEs' abilities to award new Perkins Loans to eligible students through FY2017. It specifically prohibits new appropriations to be made beyond FY2015 for the purpose of awarding new Perkins Loans and makes the GEPA §422 automatic one-year extension inapplicable to the program. l. Authorization for the committee expired on October 1, 2015. Congress neither reauthorized the program nor provided additional appropriations to continue the program's operations beyond FY2015. m. Authorization of mandatory appropriations for these programs, and an appropriation of mandatory funds through FY2014, was provided through HEOA (P.L. 110-315). Mandatory funds have not been provided for these programs since the end of FY2014. General Education Provisions Act ). l. Authorization for appropriations expired at the end of FY2014. Section 422 of the General Education Provisions Act extended authorization of appropriations through FY2015, but Congress did not appropriate funds for this program for FY2015. CRS-42 The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer Appendix B. General Education Provisions Act The General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) contains a broad array of statutory provisions that are applicable to the majority of federal education programs administered by the Department of Education (ED),5259 as well as provisions related to the powers and responsibilities of ED. These provisions cover topics as varied as appropriations, evaluations, privacy, and enforcement. This appendix briefly discusses several of the GEPA provisions that apply to programs authorized by the Higher Education Act (HEA).53 60 Part A: Functions of the Department of Education GEPA, Part A includes provisions related to the authority and responsibility of ED to administer education programs. It confers regulatory authority on the Secretary of Education and specifies that any regulation affecting an institution of higher education shall only become effective if the regulation is published in the Federal Register with an educational impact assessment statement. Part B: Appropriations and Evaluations GEPA, Part B includes provisions that address, among other issues, authorizing forward funding for programs (e.g., appropriated funds that are to be obligated in FY2011 may be appropriated in the FY2010 appropriations act). Section 422 of GEPA provides that if Congress, in the regular session that ends prior to the beginning of the terminal fiscal year of authorization of appropriations of an applicable program, does not pass legislation extending the program, the program is automatically extended for one additional fiscal year.5461 This provision does not apply to the authorization of appropriations for commissions, councils, or committees that have statutorily specified termination dates. Part C: General Requirements and Conditions Concerning the Operation and Administration of Education Programs GEPA, Part C addresses the general authority of the Secretary, administrative requirements and limitations, the administration of education programs and projects by states, and records and limitations on withholding federal funds. Part C also contains the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which provides privacy protections for student records.5562 Part C clarifies that no provision of any applicable programs is intended to authorize federal control over educational curriculum, administration, or personnel of any educational institutions. 52 20 U.S.C.§1221 et seq. For additional information on GEPA, see CRS Report R41119, General Education Provisions Act (GEPA): Overview and Issues, by Rebecca R. Skinner and Jody Feder. 54 If Congress does not act to reauthorize a program within the one-year extension period, the program is technically no longer authorized; however, so long as a program continues to receive appropriations, it is considered to be implicitly authorized. 55 For additional information on the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, see CRS Report RS22341, The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA): A Legal Overview, by Jody Feder. 53 Congressional Research Service 43 The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer Part D: Enforcement curriculum, administration, or personnel of any educational institutions.

Part D: Enforcement

GEPA, Part D addresses the enforcement of laws and regulations administered by ED, including the establishment of ED’'s Office of Administrative Law Judges, procedures for recovering federal funds from recipients, and remedies for violations of ED laws and programs. Congressional Research Service 44 The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer Appendix C. Previous HEA Reauthorizations Although Congress may amend the HEA at any point in time, in general, reauthorizations are comprehensive and amend, extend, delete, and establish new programs. The HEA was first enacted in 1965 and has been comprehensively reauthorized eight times, in 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1986, 1992, 1998, and 2008. Authorization for most HEA programs expires at the end of FY2014, although GEPA authorizes the appropriation of funds for one additional year. Table C-1 lists the previous reauthorization, their public law numbers, and additional resources about each reauthorization, when available. Table C-1. Comprehensive Reauthorizations of the Higher Education Act of 1965 Reauthorization Public Law Number Additional Resources Higher Education Amendments of 1968 P.L. 90-575

Reauthorization

Public Law Number

Additional Resources

Higher Education Amendments of 1968

P.L. 90-575

CRS Report ED 340, The Higher Education Amendments of 1968, by by Colleen Campbell; archived, available on request. Higher Education Amendments of 1972 P.L. 92-318 on request.

Higher Education Amendments of 1972

P.L. 92-318

CRS Report 72-146, Major Provisions of the Education Amendments on 1972—P.L. 92-318, by Colleen Campbell; archived, available on request. Higher Education Amendments of 1976 P.L. 94-482 request.

Higher Education Amendments of 1976

P.L. 94-482

CRS Report 77-9, Summary of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, including the Education Amendments of 1976, by William Sanda; archived, available on request. Higher Education Amendments of 1980 P.L. 96-374 — Higher Education Amendments of 1986 P.L. 99-498

Higher Education Amendments of 1980

P.L. 96-374

—

Higher Education Amendments of 1986

P.L. 99-498

CRS Report 87-187, The Higher Education Amendments of 1986 (P.L. 99-498)), by Education and Public Welfare Division; archived, available on request. Higher Education Amendments of 1992 P.L. 102-325 on request.

Higher Education Amendments of 1992

P.L. 102-325

CRS Report 92-690, Summary of Amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965 (P.L. 102-325)), by Margot A. Schenet; archived, available on request. Higher Education Act Amendments of 1998 P.L. 105-244

P.L. 105-244

CRS Report RL30063, The Higher Education Act: reauthorization by the 105th 105th Congress, by James B. Stedman; archived, available on request. Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 P.L. 110-315

P.L. 110-315

CRS Report RL34654, The Higher Education Opportunity Act: Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, by [author name scrubbed] et al.

Author Contact Information

[author name scrubbed], Analyst in Social Policy ([email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed])

Key Policy Staff

, by David P. Smole et al. Congressional Research Service 45 The Higher Education Act (HEA): A Primer Author Contact Information Alexandra Hegji Analyst in Social Policy adhegji@crs.loc.gov , 7-8384 Key Policy Staff This report provides a general overview of the major HEA provisions. For information on a specific program or policy issue, see the following “"Key Policy Staff” table. Area of Expertise Name Phone Email FAFSA, Need Analysis Benjamin Collins 7-7382 bcollins@crs.loc.gov Pell Grants, TRIO Programs, GEARUP, Veterans’ Education Benefits, Graduate Programs Cassandria Dortch 7-0376 cdortch@crs.loc.gov Institutional Eligibility, Campus-Based Programs, Institutional Aid, Minority Serving Institutions Alexandra Hegji 7-8384 adhegji@crs.loc.gov Teacher Quality Programs, TEACH Grants, International Education Programs, STEM Education Jeff Kuenzi 7-8645 jkuenzi@crs.loc.gov FFEL program, Direct Loan program David P. Smole 7-0624 dsmole@crs.loc.gov Congressional Research Service 46 " table.

Area of Expertise

Name

Phone

Email

FAFSA, Need Analysis

[author name scrubbed]

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Pell Grants, TRIO Programs, GEARUP, Veterans' Education Benefits, Graduate Programs

[author name scrubbed]

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Institutional Eligibility, Campus-Based Programs, Institutional Aid, Minority Serving Institutions

[author name scrubbed]

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Teacher Quality Programs, TEACH Grants, International Education Programs, STEM Education

Jeff Kuenzi

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

FFEL program, Direct Loan program

[author name scrubbed]

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Footnotes

1.

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Federal Student Aid, Annual Report 2015, November 13, 2015, p. iii.

2.

Office of Management and Budget, The Appendix, Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2016, p. 365.

3.

GEPA contains a broad array of statutory provisions that are applicable to the majority of federal education programs administered by the Department of Education. 20 U.S.C. §1221 et seq. For additional information on GEPA, seeCRS Report R41119, General Education Provisions Act (GEPA): Overview and Issues, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed].

4.

P.L. 114-53 provided continued appropriations through December 11, 2015; P.L. 114-96 provided continued appropriations through December 16, 2015; P.L. 114-100 provided for continued appropriations through December 22, 2015; and P.L. 114-113, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 provided additional appropriations through FY2016. For additional information on the extension of HEA programs under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, see CRS Report R44206, FY2016 Extension of the Higher Education Act: An Overview, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed].

5.

For additional information on institutional eligibility to participate in Title IV programs, see CRS Report R43159, Institutional Eligibility for Participation in Title IV Student Financial Aid Programs, by [author name scrubbed].

6.

The "outlying areas" are Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Freely Associated States (the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau).

7.

Diploma mills are unaccredited entities that offer degrees, diplomas, or certificates to individuals for a fee and that require the individual to complete little or no educational coursework.

8. For instance, Part C directs the Secretary to maintain a website, the "College Navigator" website, which provides information such as cost of attendance and net price of various IHEs to prospective students, and the Net Price Calculator, which helps current and prospective students estimate the individual net price of attending an IHE for a student. See The College Navigator website is available at http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/; The Net Price Calculator is available online at http://collegecost.ed.gov/netpricecenter.aspx. 9.

The Secretary may waive the MOE requirement for exceptional or uncontrollable circumstances, as appropriate.

10.

For more information on how the Office of Federal Student Aid operates as a PBO, see, for example, U.S. Department of Education, Creating the Government's First Performance-Based Organization to Modernize Student Aid Delivery, at http://www2.ed.gov/offices/OPE/PPI/Reauthor/pbo1016.html.

11.

15 U.S.C. §1650. For additional information on student loan disclosure requirements, see CRS Report R40789, Reporting and Disclosure Requirements for Institutions of Higher Education to Participate in Federal Student Aid Programs Under Title IV of the Higher Education Act, by [author name scrubbed].

12.

ED makes these reports available online at https://title2.ed.gov/View.asp.

13.

Title V, discussed later in this report, is the other major source of HEA institutional support. It provides institutional aid for Hispanic Serving Institutions.

14.

For additional information on programs available to minority service institutions under the HEA, see CRS Report R43237, Programs for Minority-Serving Institutions Under the Higher Education Act, by [author name scrubbed].

15.

For purposes of SIP, Title IV need-based assistance includes Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal Work Study, and Federal Perkins Loans, but not Subsidized Stafford Loans.

16.

For additional information on the ESEA, see CRS Report R44297, Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act: Highlights of the Every Student Succeeds Act, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed].

17.

The accompanying regulations also require that an eligible HBCU be legally authorized in the state in which it is located to operate as a junior or community college or to award bachelor's degrees.

18.

Prior to FY2016, appropriations have never been greater than $62,900,000; thus, ED has not yet developed an allotment formula.

19.

For additional information on the Pell Grant Program, see CRS Report R42446, Federal Pell Grant Program of the Higher Education Act: How the Program Works and Recent Legislative Changes, by [author name scrubbed].

20.

Students who are enrolled on at least a half-time basis in a post-baccalaureate program required by a state for K-12 teacher certification or licensure are also eligible, so long as the program does not lead to a graduate degree and so long as the institution does not offer a bachelor's degree in education.

21.

Originally, in 1965, there were three programs under this part—Upward Bound, Student Support Services, and Talent Search—that provided a range of student support services, thus the name TRIO. Subsequent legislation authorized additional programs with a similar purpose, but the TRIO name remains.

22.

For additional information on the TRIO programs, see CRS Report R42724, The TRIO Programs: A Primer, by [author name scrubbed].

23.

Some distinguishing characteristics of the campus-based programs are that awards are comprised of a mix of federal and institutional matching funds and that amounts awarded to students are determined by each institution's financial aid administrator according to institution-specific award criteria. The two other campus-based programs are the Federal Work Study program and the Federal Perkins Loans program. For additional information on the campus-based aid programs, see CRS Report RL31618, Campus-Based Student Financial Aid Programs Under the Higher Education Act, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed].

24.

The TEACH Grant program is considered a federal credit program for budget purposes.

25.

Individuals pursuing a bachelor's degree may receive a total of $16,000 and individuals pursuing a graduate degree may receive a total of $8,000.

26.

High-need subjects include mathematics, science, foreign language, bilingual education, special education, and reading.

27.

This program was established in 2009 as part of the Technical Corrections to the Higher Education Act of 1965 (P.L. 111-39).

28.

For additional information on the FFEL program, see CRS Report R40122, Federal Student Loans Made Under the Federal Family Education Loan Program and the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program: Terms and Conditions for Borrowers, by [author name scrubbed].

29.

For additional information on the SAFRA Act, see CRS Report R41127, The SAFRA Act: Education Programs in the FY2010 Budget Reconciliation, coordinated by [author name scrubbed].

30.

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Federal Student Aid, Annual Report 2015, November 13, 2015, p. 8.

31.

For additional information on FWS and the other campus-based aid programs, see CRS Report RL31618, Campus-Based Student Financial Aid Programs Under the Higher Education Act, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed].

32.

In certain instances, for example employment in tutoring or literacy projects, the federal share may be higher than 75%.

33.

The calculation of financial need is calculated separately for undergraduate students and graduate and professional students.

34.

For additional information on DL program loans, see CRS Report R40122, Federal Student Loans Made Under the Federal Family Education Loan Program and the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program: Terms and Conditions for Borrowers, by [author name scrubbed].

35.

For additional information on the FCRA, see CRS Report R42632, Budgetary Treatment of Federal Credit (Direct Loans and Loan Guarantees): Concepts, History, and Issues for Congress, by [author name scrubbed].

36.

Subsidized Loans were previously available to graduate and professional students for periods of instruction beginning before July 1, 2012.

37.

A grace period is a six-month period beginning immediately after a student first ceases to be enrolled in a school on at least a half-time basis. During this time, borrowers are not required to begin repaying their loans. According to amendments made by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-74), no interest subsidy will be paid during the grace period on Subsidized Stafford Loans disbursed between July 1, 2012, and June 30, 2014.

38.

Deferment periods are periods during which borrowers are able to suspend loan repayment (e.g., if they are pursuing additional postsecondary education, are performing qualifying military service, or are experiencing economic hardship).

39.

The interest rate on Subsidized Loans to undergraduate students is the 10-year Treasury note rate plus 2.05 percentage points, with a cap of 8.25%.

40.

The interest rate on Unsubsidized Loans to undergraduate students is the 10-year Treasury note rate plus 2.05 percentage points, with a cap of 8.25%. The interest rate on Unsubsidized Loans to graduate and professional students is the 10-year Treasury note rate plus 3.6 percentage points, with a cap of 9.5%.

41.

The interest rate on PLUS loan is the 10-year Treasury note rate plus 4.6 percentage points, with a cap of 10.5%.

42.

For additional information on the Federal Perkins Loans program and the other campus-based aid programs, see CRS Report RL31618, Campus-Based Student Financial Aid Programs Under the Higher Education Act, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed].

43.

Discretionary funds for FCCs had not been appropriated since FY2004. In FY2006, the program received approximately $4.7 million in funding as part of a mandatory reappropriation in expired FY2005 funds pursuant to the National Disaster Student Fairness Act (P.L. 109-86). Additionally, funding for the cancellation of Perkins Loans was last provided to participating IHEs in FY2009

44.

For additional information on the Extension Act, see CRS Report R44343, The Federal Perkins Loan Program Extension Act of 2015: In Brief, by [author name scrubbed].

45.

Once a student's financial need is determined, an IHE's financial aid administrator determines the combination of resources (e.g., Direct Loan Program loans, Pell Grants, institutional aid, and scholarships) for which a student is eligible and that best meets the student's needs. This is known as "packaging."

46.

In cases where a family has more than one student in college, the EFC is divided by the number of students.

47.

Generally, most other institutional requirements for participation in Title IV programs are found in Title I, Part A.

48.

For additional information on institutional eligibility requirements, see CRS Report R43159, Institutional Eligibility for Participation in Title IV Student Financial Aid Programs, by [author name scrubbed].

49.

For additional information on institutional reporting requirements, see CRS Report R40789, Reporting and Disclosure Requirements for Institutions of Higher Education to Participate in Federal Student Aid Programs Under Title IV of the Higher Education Act, by [author name scrubbed].

50.

For additional information on the Income-Based Repayment Plan, see CRS Report R41127, The SAFRA Act: Education Programs in the FY2010 Budget Reconciliation, coordinated by [author name scrubbed].

51.

The Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance (ACSFA) was authorized through FY2015. However, the automatic one-year GEPA extension does not apply to the authorization of appropriations for commissions, councils, or committees that are required by statute to terminate on a specific date. ACSFA was first authorized through FY2014 and then reauthorized for an additional year, through FY2015 under P.L. 113-174. Congress did not extend the authorization for ACSFA beyond FY2015. In the absence of an authorization of appropriations, ACSFA disbanded and ceased operations. For additional information, see CRS Report R44206, FY2016 Extension of the Higher Education Act: An Overview, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed].

52.

For additional information on the program integrity triad, see CRS Report R43159, Institutional Eligibility for Participation in Title IV Student Financial Aid Programs, by [author name scrubbed].

53.

For additional information on the accreditation process and its role in the program integrity triad, see CRS Report R43826, An Overview of Accreditation of Higher Education in the United States, by [author name scrubbed].

54.

For additional information on Title IV programs, see CRS Report R43237, Programs for Minority-Serving Institutions Under the Higher Education Act, by [author name scrubbed].

55.

In 2008, the Higher Education Opportunity Act repealed Title VII, Part C, Urban Community Service; however, the act did not replace Part C.

56.

Additionally, authorization to award grants under this program expired at the end of FY2014.

57.

Those Title VIII programs that have been funded at some point in time are Part S, Training for Realtime Writers (funded under FIPSE); Part T, Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success; and Part Z, Henry Kuualoha Giugni Kupuna Memorial Archives (funded under the Native Hawaiian Education program authorized by Part B of Title VII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA); and Part AA, Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans (initially funded under FIPSE).

58.

For additional information, see CRS Report R44206, FY2016 Extension of the Higher Education Act: An Overview, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed].

59.

20 U.S.C.§1221 et seq.

60.

For additional information on GEPA, see CRS Report R41119, General Education Provisions Act (GEPA): Overview and Issues, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed].

61.

If Congress does not act to reauthorize a program within the one-year extension period, the program is technically no longer authorized; however, so long as a program continues to receive appropriations, it is considered to be implicitly authorized.

62.

For additional information on the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, see CRS Report RS22341, The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA): A Legal Overview, by [author name scrubbed].