ED Finalizes Biden-Era Regulations, Withdraws Proposals Amid Transition
January 13, 2025
In preparation for the transition to the Trump administration, the Department of Education (ED) has finalized key regulations, withdrawn several proposals, and reinforced upcoming compliance deadlines. These actions mark the conclusion of the department’s regulatory agenda, addressing issues such as distance education, Title IX, and campus safety.Here’s what campuses need to know as ED’s focus shifts under new leadership.
Distance education, Return of Title IV, and TRIO programs: On Jan. 3, ED released final rules on distance education and Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4), concluding the 2023-24 negotiated rulemaking process. While the rules missed the Nov. 1 deadline for a July 2025 effective date, ED opted for early implementation of some provisions, with the remainder taking effect on July 1, 2026.
On distance education, ED did not move forward with several problematic provisions that ACE and the higher education community opposed. These included creating a new “virtual location” for reporting online enrollment and limiting asynchronous coursework for clock-hour programs. Instead, the final rule requires institutions to report enrollment in distance education courses through the National Student Loan Data System, starting July 1, 2027. The rule also includes a revised definition of a “distance education course,” reflecting ED’s focus on online learning quality. You can read more in this summary.
