cant get fed aid for distance regional accre., schools.....

is the statement below true????

Federal financial aid is not available for distance education programs in general. The Federal Government has piloted a program at a few selected schools. The pilot is complete. Changes in Federal regulations have not been promulgated.

Sincerely,
Robert Young
Associate Vice President
Academic Administration
Columbia Union College

 

When attending Suny @ Empire State, I was enrolled in the Center for Distance learning. I was able to get federal aid. All of the classes I took were DL classes.

 

Where is Columbia Union College?
Wouldn't a college administrator know the answer?

 

It's in MD
RA by the Middle States Association

 

Art - According to a press release by the US Department of Education:

"...A number of statutory and regulatory provisions currently limit the growth of distance education programs at institutions that provide federal financial aid to students. Under the Distance Education Demonstration program, the participating institutions receive waivers from one or more of these requirements in order to give their students greater access to federal financial aid. In addition, some of the participating programs are testing new models for delivering federal financial aid to their distance education students.

The program provides waivers from two legislative provisions:

The statutory rule that currently bars institutions that enroll 50 percent or more of their students in distance education programs or that offer 50 percent or more of their courses via distance education from participation in the federal student aid programs. This waiver will make it possible for students at institutions that offer all courses and programs via distance education to receive federal financial aid and allows currently participating institutions to significantly expand their distance education programs;

· The statutory rule that requires that an academic year provide a minimum of 30 weeks of instruction. This waiver will permit qualified students who complete an equivalent amount of work in a shorter period of time to receive a full year's worth of aid for their educational expenses. It will also simplify the administration of federal student aid for schools that do not offer instruction in traditional academic terms such as semesters"

Hope this helps answer your question.

The link is http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/06-2001/06252001.html

Regards - Andy