NAICU - HEA 101: A President's Quick Guide to the New Law - Studies and Reports

Home

Special Initiatives

HEA 101: A President's Quick Guide to the New Law

General HEA Info

Studies and Reports - Statutory Language

Statutory Language:

Model Institution Financial Aid Offer Form (Section 484 of P.L. 110-315)

SEC. 484. MODEL INSTITUTION FINANCIAL AID OFFER FORM.

(a) Model Format- The Secretary of Education shall--

(1) not later than six months after the date of enactment of the Higher Education Opportunity Act, convene a group of students, families of students, secondary school guidance counselors, representatives of institutions of higher education (including financial aid administrators, registrars, and business officers), and nonprofit consumer groups for the purpose of offering recommendations for improvements that--

(A) can be made to financial aid offer forms; and

(B) include the information described in subsection (b);

(2) develop a model format for financial aid offer forms based on the recommendations of the group; and

(3) not later than one year after the date of enactment of the Higher Education Opportunity Act--

(A) submit recommendations to the authorizing committees (as defined in section 103 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1003); and

(B) make the recommendations and model format widely available.

(b) Contents- The recommendations developed under subsection (a) for model financial aid offer forms shall include, in a consumer-friendly manner that is simple and understandable, the following:

(1) Information on the student's cost of attendance, including the following:

(A) Tuition and fees.

(B) Room and board costs.

(D) Transportation.

(2) The amount of financial aid that the student does not have to repay, such as scholarships, grants, and work-study assistance, offered to the student for such year, and the conditions of such financial aid.

(3) The types and amounts of loans under part B, D, or E of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1071 et seq., 1087a et seq., 1087aa et seq.) for which the student is eligible for such year, and the applicable terms and conditions of such loans.

(4) The net amount that the student, or the student's family on behalf of the student, will have to pay for the student to attend the institution for such year, equal to--

(A) the cost of attendance for the student for such year; minus

(B) the amount of financial aid described in paragraphs (2) and (3) that is offered in the financial aid offer form.

(5) Where a student or the student's family can seek additional information regarding the financial aid offered.

(6) Any other information the Secretary of Education determines necessary so that students and parents can make informed student loan borrowing decisions.

TITLE XI--STUDIES AND REPORTS

Statutory Language:

SEC. 1101. STUDY ON FOREIGN GRADUATE MEDICAL SCHOOLS.

(a) In General- Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall--

(1) complete a study that examines the performance of students from the United States receiving Federal student financial aid to attend graduate medical schools located outside of the United States;

(2) provide data and make recommendations to the National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation in a timely manner so as to assist the Secretary of Education in the Department of Education's review required under section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002); and

(3) submit to the authorizing committees a report setting forth the conclusions of the study.

(b) Contents- The study conducted under this section shall include the following:

(1) The amount of Federal student financial aid dollars that are spent on graduate medical schools located outside of the United States every year, and the percentage of overall student aid such amount represents.

(2) The percentage of students of such medical schools who pass the examination sponsored by the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States, Inc., and the National Board of Medical Examiners the first time.

(3) The percentage of students of such medical schools who pass the United States medical licensing examination after taking such examinations multiple times, disaggregated by the number of times the students had to take the examinations to pass.

(4) The percentage of recent graduates of such medical schools practicing medicine in the United States, and a description of where the students are practicing and what types of medicine the students are practicing.

(5) The rate of graduates of such medical schools who lose malpractice lawsuits or have the graduates' medical licenses revoked, as compared to graduates of graduate medical schools located in the United States.

(6) Recommendations regarding the percentage passing rate of the United States medical licensing examination that the United States should require of graduate medical schools located outside of the United States for Federal student financial aid purposes.

Statutory Language:

SEC. 1102. EMPLOYMENT OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION GRADUATES.

(a) Study, Assessments, and Recommendations- The Comptroller General of the United States shall--

(1) conduct a study of--

(A) the information that States have on the employment of students who have completed postsecondary education programs;

(B) the feasibility of collecting information on students who complete all types of postsecondary education programs (including two- and four-year degree, certificate, professional, and graduate programs) at all types of institutions of higher education (including public, private nonprofit, and for-profit schools), regarding--

(i) employment, including--

(I) the type of job obtained not later than six months after the completion of the degree, certificate, or program;

(II) whether such job was related to the course of study;

(III) the starting salary for such job; and

(IV) the student's satisfaction with the student's preparation for such job and guidance provided with respect to securing the job; and

(ii) for recipients of Federal student aid, the type of assistance received, so that the information can be used to evaluate various education programs;

(C) the evaluation systems used by other industries to identify successful programs and challenges, set priorities, monitor performance, and make improvements;

(D) the best means of collecting information from or regarding recent postsecondary graduates, including--

(i) whether a national website would be the most effective way to collect information;

(ii) whether postsecondary education graduates could be encouraged to voluntarily submit information by allowing a graduate to access aggregated information about other graduates (such as graduates from the graduate's school, with the graduate's degree, or in the graduate's area) if the graduate completes an online questionnaire;

(iii) whether employers could be encouraged to submit information by allowing an employer to access aggregated information about graduates (such as institutions of higher education attended, degrees, or starting pay) if the employer completes an online questionnaire to evaluate the employer's satisfaction with the graduates the employer hires; and

(iv) whether postsecondary institutions that receive Federal funds or whose students have received Federal student financial aid could be required to submit aggregated information about the graduates of the institutions; and

(E) the best means of displaying employment information; and

(2) provide assessments and recommendations regarding--

(A) whether successful State cooperative relationships between higher education system offices and State agencies responsible for employment statistics can be encouraged and replicated in other States;

(B) whether there is value in collecting additional information from, or about, the employment experience of individuals who have recently completed a postsecondary educational program;

(D) if a website is used for such information, whether the website should be run by a governmental agency or contracted out to an independent education or employment organization;

(E) whether a voluntary information system would work, both from the graduates' and employers' perspectives;

(F) the value of such information to future students, institutions, accrediting agencies or associations, policymakers, and employers, including how the information would be used and the practical applications of the information;

(G) whether the request for such information is duplicative of information that is already being collected; and

(H) whether the National Postsecondary Student Aid Survey conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics could be amended to collect such information.

(b) Reports-

(1) PRELIMINARY REPORT- Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the authorizing committees a preliminary report regarding the study, assessments, and recommendations described in subsection (a).

(2) FINAL REPORT- Not later than two years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the authorizing committees a final report regarding such study, assessments, and recommendations.

Statutory Language:

SEC. 1103. STUDY ON IPEDS.

The Comptroller General of the United States shall—

(1) conduct a study on the time and cost burdens to institutions of higher education associated with completing the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (referred to in this section as the “IPEDS”) survey, which shall--

(A) report on the time and cost burden of completing the IPEDS survey for four-year, two-year, and less than two-year institutions of higher education;

(B) present recommendations for reducing such burden; and

(C) report on the feasibility of collecting additional data from institutions for use in IPEDS, including information on the percentage of enrolled undergraduate students who graduate within two years (in the case of two-year institutions), and four, five, and six years (in the case of two- and four-year institutions), disaggregated by race and ethnic background and by income categories;

(2) not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, submit to the authorizing committees a preliminary report regarding the findings of the study described in paragraph (1); and

(3) not later than two years after the date of enactment of this Act, submit to the authorizing committees a final report regarding such findings.

Statutory Language:

SEC. 1104. REPORT AND STUDY ON ARTICULATION AGREEMENTS.

(a) Study Required- The Secretary of Education shall conduct a study to review the articulation agreements at State-supported college and university systems, including junior or community colleges, as well as those at other institutions of higher education. Such study shall consider--

(1) the extent to which States and institutions have developed and implemented articulation agreements;

(2) with respect to the articulation agreements developed--

(A) the number and types of institutions participating in articulation agreements;

(B) the cost-savings to the participating institutions and to the students;

(C) what strategies are being employed, including common course numbering, general education core curriculum, and management systems;

(D) the effective use of technologies to contain costs, maintain quality of instruction, and inform students; and

(E) a description of the students to whom the articulation agreements are offered and, to the extent practicable, a description of the students who take advantage of the articulation agreements;

(3) best practices and innovative strategies employed to implement effective articulation agreements; and

(4) barriers to the implementation of articulation agreements, including technological and informational barriers.

(b) Report- The Secretary of Education shall submit to the authorizing committees an interim report on the study required by subsection (a) not later than two years after the date of enactment of this Act and a final report on such study not later than January 1, 2013.

Statutory Language:

SEC. 1105. REPORT ON PROPRIETARY INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

(a) In General- Not later than two years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct an analysis of proprietary institutions of higher education subject to section 487(a)(24) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094(a)(24)) and shall submit to the authorizing committees a report that provides the results of the analysis.

(b) Contents of Report- The report shall provide--

(1) the number of institutions subject to section 487(a)(24) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094(a)(24));

(2) the number and percentage of such institutions each year that do not comply with such section;

(3) the number of such institutions that are in compliance with such section at the time of submission of the report; and

(4) in the case of institutions that are in compliance with such section at the time of submission of the report, information on the extent to which such institutions' revenue is derived from funds provided under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.), including information on the number of such institutions that derive not less than 85 percent of their revenues from funds provided under such title.

Statutory Language:

SEC. 1106. ANALYSIS OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS ON INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

The Secretary of Education shall enter into an agreement with the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences for the conduct of a study to ascertain the amount and scope of all Federal regulations and reporting requirements with which institutions of higher education must comply. The study shall be completed not later than two years after the date of enactment of this Act, and shall include information describing--

(1) by agency, the number of Federal regulations and reporting requirements affecting institutions of higher education;

(2) by agency, the estimated time required and costs to institutions of higher education (disaggregated by types of institutions) to comply with the regulations and reporting requirements described in paragraph (1); and

(3) by agency, recommendations for consolidating, streamlining, and eliminating redundant and burdensome Federal regulations and reporting requirements affecting institutions of higher education.

Statutory Language:

SEC. 1107. INDEPENDENT EVALUATION OF DISTANCE EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

(a) Independent Evaluation- The Secretary of Education shall enter into an agreement with the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a statistically valid evaluation of the quality of distance education programs, as compared to campus-based education programs, at institutions of higher education. Such evaluation shall include--

(1) identification of the elements by which the quality of distance education can be assessed, which may include elements such as subject matter, interactivity, and student outcomes;

(2) identification of distance education program success, with respect to student achievement, in relation to the mission of the institution of higher education;

(3) identification of the benefits and limitations of distance education programs and campus-based programs for different students (including classification of types of students by age category) by assessing access, job placement rates, graduation rates, and other factors related to persistence, completion, and cost; and

(4) identification and analysis of factors that may make direct comparisons of distance education programs and campus-based education programs difficult.

(b) Scope- The National Research Council shall select for participation in the evaluation under subsection (a) a diverse group of institutions of higher education with respect to size, mission, and geographic distribution.

(c) Interim and Final Reports- The contract under subsection (a) shall require that the National Research Council submit to the authorizing committees--

(1) an interim report regarding the evaluation under subsection (a) not later than June 30, 2009; and

(2) a final report regarding such evaluation not later than June 30, 2010.

Statutory Language:

SEC. 1108. REVIEW OF COSTS AND BENEFITS OF ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH, AND SAFETY STANDARDS.

(a) Review of Standards- The Secretary of Education shall enter into an agreement with the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a national study that--

(1) reviews, analyzes, and compares existing standards in environmental, health, and safety areas, for the regulation of--

(A) industrial research and development facilities; and

(B) research and teaching laboratories and facilities at institutions of higher education; and

(2) based upon the review in paragraph (1), develops recommended frameworks for alternative regulatory standards, if any, for research and teaching laboratories and facilities at institutions of higher education that--

(A) maintain the overall level of protection of the environment, and of the health and safety of those using such laboratories and facilities;

(B) reflect the need to ensure consistent application of Federal laws; and

(b) Report- The National Research Council shall report to Congress regarding the recommended frameworks for alternative regulatory standards developed under subsection (a). Such report shall contain recommendations for statutory or regulatory changes needed to implement the different standards described in subsection (a), and the projected costs and benefits resulting from the adoption of such standards.

Statutory Language:

SEC. 1109. STUDY OF MINORITY MALE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.

(a) Study Required- The Secretary of Education shall carry out the following:

(1) Commission and ensure the conduct of a national study of underrepresented minority males (particularly African American, Hispanic American, Native American, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native males) completing high school, and entering and graduating from colleges and universities in accordance with the following:

(A) The data comprising the study shall focus primarily on African American, Hispanic American, Native American, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native males and shall utilize existing data sources.

(B) The study shall focus on high school completion and preparation for college, success on the SAT and ACT, and minority male access to college, including the financing of college, and college persistence and graduation.

(C) The implementation of the study shall be in four stages based on the recommendations of the Commissioner for Education Statistics.

(2) Make specific recommendations to the authorizing committees and States on new approaches to increase--

(A) the number of minority males successfully preparing themselves for college study;

(B) the number of minority males graduating from high school and entering college; and

(b) Submission of the Report- Not later than four years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall submit a report on the study required by subsection (a)(1), together with the recommendations required by subsection (a)(2), to the authorizing committees.

Statutory Language:

SEC. 1110. STUDY ON BIAS IN STANDARDIZED TESTS.

(a) Study- The Secretary of Education shall enter into an agreement with the Board on Testing and Assessment of the National Academy of Sciences for the conduct of a study to identify any race, ethnicity, or gender bias in the content and construction of standardized tests that are used for admission to institutions of higher education.

(b) Report- Not later than two years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall issue an interim report to the authorizing committees related to the progress of the study under subsection (a).

Statutory Language:

SEC. 1111. ENDOWMENT REPORT.

(a) Analysis of Endowments- The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on the amounts, uses, and public purposes of the endowments of institutions of higher education. The study shall include information (disaggregated by types of institutions) describing--

(1) the average and range of--

(A) the outstanding balance of such endowments; and

(B) the growth of such endowments over the last 20 years;

(2) the amount and percentage of endowment assets distributed on an annual basis for spending on education;

(3) the amount and percentage of endowment assets distributed on an annual basis for financial aid or for the purpose of reducing the costs of tuition, fees, textbooks, and room and board; and

(4) the extent to which the funds in such endowments are restricted, and the restrictions placed upon such funds.

(b) Submission of Report- The Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a report on the study required by subsection (a) to the authorizing committees not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act.

Statutory Language:

SEC. 1112. STUDY OF CORRECTIONAL POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION.

(a) Study Required- The Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor and the Attorney General, shall--

(1) conduct a longitudinal study to assess the effects of correctional postsecondary education that--

(A) employs rigorous empirical methods that control for self-selection bias;

(B) measures a range of outcomes, including those related to employment and earnings, recidivism, engaged citizenship, impact on families of the incarcerated, and impact on the culture of the correctional institution;

(D) includes a projected cost-benefit analysis of the Federal investment in terms of reduction of future offending, reduction of future prison costs (construction and operational), increased tax payments by formerly incarcerated individuals, a reduction of welfare and other social service costs for successful formerly incarcerated individuals, and increased costs from the employment of formerly incarcerated individuals; and

(2) make specific recommendations to the authorizing committees and the relevant State agencies responsible for correctional education, such as the State superintendents of education and State secretaries of corrections, on best approaches to increase correctional education and its effectiveness.

(b) Submission of Reports- Not later than three years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall submit an interim report on the progress of the study required by subsection (a)(1) to the authorizing committees. Not later than seven years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall submit a final report, together with the recommendations required by subsection (a)(2), to the authorizing committees.

Statutory Language:

SEC. 1113. STUDY OF AID TO LESS-THAN-HALF-TIME STUDENTS.

(a) Study Required- The Secretary shall conduct a study on making and expanding the student aid available under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.) to less-than-half-time students. The Secretary shall submit a report on the results of such study, including the Secretary's recommendations, to the authorizing committees not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act.

(b) Subjects for Study- The study required by this section shall, at a minimum, examine the following:

(1) The existing sources of Federal aid for less-than-half-time students seeking a college degree or certificate.

(2) The demand for Federal aid for less-than-half-time students and whether the demand is satisfied by existing sources of Federal aid, taking into consideration not only the number of less-than-half-time students currently seeking a college degree or certificate, but also any increase in the number of less-than-half-time students that may result from an expansion of Federal aid for less-than-half-time students seeking a college degree or certificate.

(3) The potential costs to the Federal Government and the potential benefits that could be received by students resulting from expanding Federal aid for less-than-half-time students seeking a college degree or certificate.

(4) The barriers to expanding Federal aid for less-than-half-time students, including identifying--

(A) statutory and regulatory barriers, such as student eligibility, institutional eligibility, needs analysis, program integrity, and award amounts; and

(B) other factors that may limit participation in an expanded Federal aid program for less-than-half-time students.

(c) Recommendations To Be Provided- The Secretary's recommendations under this section shall include recommendations for designing a demonstration student loan program tailored to less-than-half-time students. The recommendations shall include any required statutory or regulatory modifications, as well as proposed accountability mechanisms to protect students, institutions, and the Federal investment in higher education.

(d) Definitions- In this section--

(1) the term `Secretary' means the Secretary of Education; and

(2) the term `less-than-half-time student' means a student who is carrying less than one-half the normal full-time work load for the course of study that the student is pursuing, as determined by the institution such student is attending.

Statutory Language:

SEC. 1114. STUDY ON REGIONAL SENSITIVITY IN THE NEEDS ANALYSIS FORMULA.

(a) Study- The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study to review the methodology that is used to determine the expected family contribution under part F of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087kk et seq.).

(b) Study Components- The study conducted under subsection (a) shall identify and evaluate the needs analysis formula under part F of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087kk et seq.) and examine the need for regional sensitivity in need analysis. The study shall include--

(1) the factors that are used to determine a student's expected family contribution under part F of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965;

(2) the varying allowances that are made in calculating the expected family contribution;

(3) the effects of the income protection allowance on all aid recipients; and

(4) options for modifying the income protection allowance to reflect the significant differences in the cost of living in various parts of the United States.

(c) Report- Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall report to the authorizing committees on the results of the study conducted under this section.

Statutory Language:

SEC. 1115. STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF STUDENT LOAN DEBT ON PUBLIC SERVICE.

(a) Study- The Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Office of Management and Budget, is authorized to coordinate with an organization with expertise in the field of public service, such as the National Academy of Public Administrators or the American Society for Public Administration, to coordinate with interested parties to conduct a study of how student loan debt levels impact the decisions of graduates of postsecondary and graduate education programs to enter into public service careers. Such study shall include--

(1) an assessment of the challenges to recruiting and retaining well-qualified public servants, including the impact of student loan debt;

(2) an evaluation of existing Federal programs to recruit and retain well-qualified public servants;

(3) an evaluation of whether additional Federal programs could increase the number of graduates of postsecondary and graduate education programs who enter careers in public service; and

(4) recommendations for programs that could encourage new graduates of postsecondary and graduate education programs to enter public service careers.

(b) Report- Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Office of Management and Budget, shall submit to the authorizing committees a report related to the findings of the study conducted under subsection (a).

Statutory Language:

SEC. 1116. STUDY ON TEACHING STUDENTS WITH READING DISABILITIES.

(a) Independent Evaluation- The Secretary of Education shall enter into an agreement with the Center for Education of the National Academies for a scientifically-based study of the quality of teacher education programs--

(1) to determine if teachers are adequately prepared to meet the needs of students with reading and language processing disabilities, including dyslexia; and

(2) to determine the extent to which teacher education programs are based on the essential components of reading instruction and scientifically valid research.

(b) Components- The study conducted under subsection (a) shall be designed to provide statistically reliable information on--

(1) the number, type of courses, and credit hours required to meet the requirements of reading degree programs of teacher education programs; and

(2) the extent to which the content of the reading degree programs are based on--

(A) the essential components of reading instruction and scientifically valid research, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension; and

(B) early intervention strategies based on scientific evidence concerning challenges to the development of language processing capacity, including dyslexia, and the extent to which such strategies are effective in preventing reading failure before it occurs.

(c) Scope- The Director of the Center for Education of the National Academy of Sciences shall select for participation in the study under subsection (a) a diverse group of institutions of higher education with respect to size, mission, and geographic distribution.

(d) Interim and Final Reports- The Director of the Center for Education of the National Academy of Sciences shall submit to the authorizing committees and the Secretary of Education--

(1) an interim report regarding the study under subsection (a) not later than one year after the date the Center for Education of the National Academies enters into an agreement with the Secretary of Education under this section; and

(2) a final report summarizing the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of such study not later than two years after the date the Center for Education of the National Academies enters into such agreement.

(e) Task Force-

(1) ESTABLISHMENT- Upon submission of the final report under subsection (d)(2), the Secretary of Education shall establish a task force to make policy recommendations to the Secretary regarding the findings of the report.

(2) MEMBERSHIP- The membership of the task force established under paragraph (1) shall include chief State school officers, State reading consultants, master teachers, national reading experts, and researchers with expertise in relevant fields.

(3) PUBLIC HEARINGS- The task force established under paragraph (1) shall hold public hearings to provide an opportunity for public comment on the recommendations made under paragraph (1).

Statutory Language:

SEC. 1117. REPORT ON INCOME CONTINGENT REPAYMENT THROUGH THE INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING SYSTEM.

(a) Report- Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of the Treasury shall conduct a study to determine the feasibility and benefits of developing a system through which a borrower who is repaying a loan through the income contingent repayment plan or the income-based repayment program may make payments on the loan using the income tax withholding system (referred to in this section as `direct IDEA loans'). The goal of this program would be to--

(1) streamline the repayment process and provide greater flexibility for borrowers electing to use the direct IDEA loan;

(2) reduce the number of loan defaults by borrowers; and

(3) reduce the redundancy in reporting information pertaining to income contingent repayment and income-based repayment to the Department of Education, institutions, and applicants.

(b) Evaluations- In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of the Treasury shall evaluate--

(1) the feasibility of implementing direct IDEA loans by the Department of Education and the Department of the Treasury;

(2) any advantages or disadvantages of direct IDEA loans on borrowers and taxpayers;

(3) the program structure necessary to administer direct IDEA loans; and

(4) whether the repayment programs that implement income contingent and income-based repayment collected through revenue services, such as programs in England, Australia, and New Zealand, could be effective in collecting loan payments under the income contingent and income-based repayment options in the United States.

(c) Recommendations- Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of the Treasury shall provide a report on the study conducted under subsection (a) to Congress. The report shall include recommendations based on the factors examined in subsection (b) for implementing direct IDEA loans, including the necessary statutory changes needed to implement such repayment option.

Statutory Language:

SEC. 1118. DEVELOPING ADDITIONAL MEASURES OF DEGREE COMPLETION.

(a) In General- The Secretary of Education, in coordination with the Commissioner for Education Statistics and after consultation with representatives from diverse institutions of higher education, students, experts in the field of higher education policy, State higher education officials, and other stakeholders in the higher education community, shall issue a report with recommendations to Congress about alternatives ways to measure and report degree or program completion rates for institutions of higher education receiving funds under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.).

(b) Measures to Take Into Consideration- The alternative measures described in subsection (a) shall consider--

(1) the number of degrees awarded and the increase in number of degrees awarded disaggregated by race, ethnicity, gender, and income for all students who have earned a degree; and

(2) the increase in degrees awarded in high-need fields such as science, technology, engineering, mathematics, education, and nursing.

Statutory Language:

SEC. 1119. STUDY ON THE FINANCIAL AND COMPLIANCE AUDITS OF THE FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN PROGRAM.

(a) In General- Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall complete a study to examine all the financial and compliance audits and reviews required or conducted as part of the proper management of the Federal student loan programs under parts B and D of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1071 et seq. and 1087a et seq.), whether each such audit or review is required under a law or is otherwise performed in order to evaluate a program.

(b) Content of Study-

(1) COMPARISON OF AUDITS AND REVIEWS UNDER PARTS B AND D OF TITLE IV- As part of the study under subsection (a), the Comptroller General of the United States shall compare the audits and reviews of programs under parts B and D of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1071 et seq. and 1087a et seq.) for purposes of--

(A) determining whether such audits and reviews are comparable among programs;

(B) determining whether such audits and reviews result in a level of protection of borrower interests and of Federal fiscal interests that is comparable for each program; and

(C) determining the extent to which the Department of Education ensures timely submission of required financial and compliance audits and reviews and compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.

(2) ADDITIONAL CONTENT OF STUDY- The study under subsection (a) shall--

(A) provide a list of the financial and compliance audits and reviews required or conducted as part of the proper management of the Federal student loan programs under parts B and D of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1071 et seq. and 1087a et seq.);

(B) determine the frequency of each audit and review;

(C) provide a list of the entities and activities that are the subject of each audit and review, including institutions of higher education, servicers, secondary markets, guaranty agencies, the Department of Education and the contractors of the Department of Education, and any other entities that are required to participate in the audit or review;

(D) determine the degree of individual borrower level reconciliation required under Federal student loan programs under such parts B and D of title IV;

(E) make recommendations with respect to such audits and reviews to ensure--

(i) such audits and reviews are comparable among Federal student loan programs under such parts B and D of title IV; and

(ii) a level of protection of borrower interests and of Federal fiscal interests that is comparable for Federal student loan programs under such parts B and D of title IV, to the extent such comparability does not exist; and

(F) assess the extent to which the Department of Education makes appropriate use of such financial and compliance audits and reviews in the Department's administration and oversight of the Federal student loan programs under such parts B and D of title IV.

Statutory Language:

SEC. 1120. SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABILITY.

Not later than September 30, 2010, the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall convene a summit of higher education experts working in the area of sustainable operations and programs, representatives from agencies of the Federal Government, and business and industry leaders to focus on efforts of national distinction that--

(1) encourage faculty, staff, and students at institutions of higher education to establish administrative and academic sustainability programs on campus;

(2) enhance research by faculty and students at institutions of higher education in sustainability practices and innovations that assist and improve sustainability;

(3) encourage institutions of higher education to work with community partners from the business, government, and nonprofit sectors to design and implement sustainability programs for application in the community and workplace;

(4) identify opportunities for partnerships involving institutions of higher education and the Federal Government to expand sustainable operations and academic programs focused on environmental and economic sustainability; and

(5) charge the summit participants or steering committee to submit a set of recommendations for addressing sustainability through institutions of higher education.

Statutory Language:

SEC. 1121. NURSING SCHOOL CAPACITY.

(a) Findings- Congress finds the following:

(1) Researchers in the field of public health have identified the need for a national study to identify constraints encountered by schools of nursing in graduating the number of nurses sufficient to meet the health care needs of the United States.

(2) The shortage of qualified registered nurses has adversely affected the health care system of the United States.

(3) Individual States have had varying degrees of success with programs designed to increase the recruitment and retention of nurses.

(4) Schools of nursing have been unable to provide a sufficient number of qualified graduates to meet the workforce needs.

(5) Many nurses are approaching the age of retirement, and the problem worsens each year.

(6) In 2004, an estimated 125,000 applications from qualified applicants were rejected by schools of nursing, due to a shortage of faculty and a lack of capacity for additional students.

(b) Study With Respect to Constraints With Respect to Schools of Nursing-

(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study for the purpose of--

(A) identifying constraints encountered by schools of nursing in admitting and graduating the number of registered nurses necessary to ensure patient safety and meet the need for quality assurance in the provision of health care; and

(B) developing recommendations to alleviate the constraints on a short-term and long-term basis.

(2) CERTAIN COMPONENTS- The Secretary shall ensure that the agreement under paragraph (1) provides that the study under such paragraph will include information on the following:

(A) The trends in applications for attendance at schools of nursing that are relevant to the purpose of the study, including trends regarding applicants who are accepted for enrollment and applicants who are not accepted, particularly qualified applicants who are not accepted.

(B) The number and demographic characteristics of entry-level and graduate students currently enrolled in schools of nursing, the retention rates at the schools, and the number of recent graduates from the schools, as compared to previous years and to the projected need for registered nurses based on two-year, five-year, and ten-year projections.

(C) The number and demographic characteristics of nurses who pursue graduate education in nursing and non-nursing programs but do not pursue faculty positions in schools of nursing, the reasons for not pursuing faculty positions, including any regulatory barriers to choosing to pursue such positions, and the effect of such decisions on the ability of the schools to obtain adequate numbers of faculty members.

(D) The extent to which--

(i) entry-level graduates of the schools of nursing are satisfied with their educational preparation, including their participation in nurse externships, internships, and residency programs; and

(ii) such entry-level graduates are able to effectively transition into the nursing workforce.

(E) The satisfaction of nurse managers and administrators with respect to the preparation and performance levels of entry-level graduates from the schools after one year, three years, and five years of practice, respectively.

(F) The extent to which the current salary, benefit structures, and characteristics of the workplace, including the number of nurses who are presently serving in faculty positions, influence the career path of nurses who have pursued graduate education.

(G) The extent to which the use of innovative technologies for didactic and clinical nursing education might provide for an increase in the ability of schools of nursing to train qualified nurses.

(3) RECOMMENDATIONS- The Institute of Medicine may include in the recommendations developed under paragraph (1)(B) recommendations for legislative or administrative changes at the Federal or State level, and measures that can be taken in the private sector--

(A) to facilitate the recruitment of students into the nursing profession;

(B) to facilitate the retention of nurses in the workplace; and

(C) to improve the resources and ability of the education and health care systems to prepare a sufficient number of qualified registered nurses.

(4) METHODOLOGY OF STUDY-

(A) SCOPE- The Secretary shall ensure that the agreement under paragraph (1) provides that the study under such paragraph will consider the perspectives of--

(i) nurses and physicians in each of the various types of inpatient, outpatient, and residential facilities in the health care delivery system;

(ii) faculty and administrators of schools of nursing;

(iii) providers of health plans or health insurance; and

(iv) consumers.

(B) CONSULTATION WITH RELEVANT ORGANIZATION- The Secretary shall ensure that the agreement under paragraph (1) provides that relevant agencies and organizations with expertise on the nursing shortage will be consulted with respect to the study under such paragraph, including the following:

(i) The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

(ii) The American Academy of Nursing.

(iii) The American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

(iv) The American Nurses Association.

(v) The American Organization of Nurse Executives.

(vi) The National Institute of Nursing Research.

(vii) The National League for Nursing.

(viii) The National Organization for Associate Degree Nursing.

(ix) The National Student Nurses Association.

(5) REPORT- The Secretary shall ensure that the agreement under paragraph (1) provides that, not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this section, the Institute of Medicine shall submit a report providing the findings and recommendations made in the study under this section to the Secretary and the authorizing committees.

(6) OTHER ORGANIZATION- If the Institute of Medicine declines to conduct the study under paragraph (1), the Secretary may enter into an agreement with another appropriate private entity to conduct the study.

(1) TERMS IN PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT- The terms “collegiate school of nursing”, “associate degree school of nursing” and “diploma school of nursing” have the meanings given to such terms in section 801 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 296).

(2) SCHOOL OF NURSING- The term “school of nursing” means a collegiate school of nursing, an associate degree school of nursing, or a diploma school of nursing in a State.

(3) SECRETARY- The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Education.

Statutory Language:

SEC. 1122. STUDY AND REPORT ON NONINDIVIDUAL INFORMATION.

(a) Definitions- In this section:

(1) HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY- The term `historically Black college or university' has the meaning given the term `part B institution' in section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061).

(2) TRUTH IN LENDING ACT- The terms `covered educational institution' and `private education loan' have the meanings given the terms in section 140 of the Truth in Lending Act, as added by title X.

(b) Study- The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study--

(1) on the impact on and benefits to borrowers of the inclusion of nonindividual factors, including cohort default rate, accreditation, and graduation rate at institutions of higher education, used in the underwriting criteria to determine the pricing of private education loans;

(2) to examine whether and to what extent the inclusion of such nonindividual factors--

(A) increases access to private education loans for borrowers who lack credit history or results in less favorable rates for such borrowers; and

(B) affects the types of private education loan products and rates available at certain institutions of higher education, including a comparison of such impact--

(i) on private and public institutions; and

(ii) on historically Black colleges and universities and institutions of higher education; and

(3) to assess the extent to which the use of such nonindividual factors in underwriting may have a disparate impact on the pricing of private education loans, based on gender, race, income level, and covered educational institution.

(c) Report- Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a report to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives on the results of the study required by this section.

Statutory Language:

SEC. 1123. FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR STUDENT LOAN CLEARINGHOUSE.

(a) In General- Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study of the feasibility of developing a national student loan clearinghouse on the website of the Department of Education that would provide for one or more of the following:

(1) A registry of real-time information on Federal student loans (including loans under parts B and D of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1071 et seq. and 1087a et seq.) and private education loans (as defined in section 140 of the Truth in Lending Act)), for both undergraduate and graduate students, and parents of students, for use by prospective borrowers or any person desiring information regarding available interest rates, fees, and other terms from lenders.

(2) A mechanism whereby prospective borrowers could be matched with lenders that offer highly competitive products and loan servicing quality, including any procedures and safeguards necessary to minimize potentially adverse effects of multiple inquiries into participating borrowers' credit histories recorded by consumer reporting agencies.

(3) Options concerning the establishment and ongoing maintenance of such a system, including whether such a system should be operated by one or more entities, and methods to finance such a system at no or minimal cost to consumers and the Government.

(4) Other features that could help prospective borrowers make informed decisions in selecting lenders from whom to obtain Federal and private education loans.

(b) Consultation- In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Comptroller General of the United States shall consult with--

(1) the Secretary of Education;

(2) the Federal Trade Commission;

(3) representatives of student loan borrowers;

(4) representatives from institutions of higher education, including financial aid administrators, registrars, business officers, and student affairs officials;

(5) Federal and private educational lenders (as defined in section 140 of the Truth in Lending Act), loan servicers, and guaranty agencies; and

(6) other appropriate entities with relevant experience.

(c) Report- Not later than two years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the authorizing committees a report on the study conducted under subsection (a).

Statutory Language:

SEC. 1124. STUDY ON DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OVERSIGHT OF INCENTIVE COMPENSATION BAN.

(a) In General- Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall--

(1) conduct a study of efforts by the Secretary of Education to enforce the provisions of section 487(a)(20) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094(a)(20)); and

(2) submit to the authorizing committees a report that provides the results of such study.

(b) Content of Report- The report submitted under subsection (a) shall include--

(1) an analysis of the nature, extent, and effectiveness of the Secretary of Education's activities to enforce the provisions of section 487(a)(20) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094(a)(20));

(2) the number of institutions of higher education for which investigations were initiated by the Secretary for potential violations of such section since 1998;

(3) in cases where violations of such section by institutions of higher education were substantiated by the Secretary--

(A) the names of such institutions;

(B) the nature of the violations; and

(4) an analysis of the impact of the `safe harbor' regulations under section 668.14(b)(22)(ii)(A) through (L) of title 34, Code of Federal Regulations, promulgated under such section 487(a)(20), on the number and nature of cases examined by the Secretary for potential violations of such section 487(a)(20), including whether the number of cases examined by the Secretary has increased or decreased since such regulations went into effect;

(5) information on the extent to which the Secretary has considered efforts by States to examine unethical or unlawful student recruitment or admissions practices by institutions of higher education, including practices that violate the provisions of such section 487(a)(20); and

(6) information on the extent to which the Secretary reviews publicly-available documents, such as filings to the Securities and Exchange Commission, to monitor the compliance of institutions of higher education with the provisions of such section 487(a)(20).