Sunday, November 6, 2011

Double Secret Probation for online programs?

In "Animal House," Dean Wormer revealed to the Delta brothers that they have been on "double secret probation." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0cF2piwjYQ

Now, a group of higher ed associations have complained to the Department of Education that the DOE's stealth rule on the "last day of attendance" for a student in an online program is the functional equivalent of Dean Wormer's maneuver to finally get the campus's animal house closed down. Here's what the groups collectively complained:

VIA MESSENGER AND ELECTRONIC MAIL
The Honorable Arne Duncan Secretary U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202
RE: Joint Statement of Concern Dear Secretary Duncan:
On behalf of the associations listed herein, we respectfully submit the enclosed Joint Statement of Concern regarding the U.S. Department of Education’s retroactive enforcement of regulations. We appreciate your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Russell Poulin Deputy Director, Research and Analysis WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies
cc: ENCLOSURE
Eduardo Ochoa, Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education

TEXT OF THE STATEMENT OF CONCERN

Inside Higher Education revealed the controversy on Friday:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/11/04/education-department-enforced-distance-education-rule-it-was-published

The "secret" proviso at issue is part of DOE's program integrity rules, accessible via this IHE link: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/10/28/regs

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