[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 5 (Tuesday, January 8, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 1300-1301]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-121]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

34 CFR Parts 674, 682, 685, and 686


Office of Postsecondary Education; Notice of Intent To Establish 
Negotiated Rulemaking Committees Under Title IV of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965, as Amended

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice of negotiated rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Education (Secretary) announces the 
establishment of two negotiated rulemaking committees to develop 
proposed regulations related to the Federal student aid programs 
authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended 
(HEA). The first committee will develop proposed regulations for the 
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) 
Grant program. The second committee will develop proposed regulations 
for other Federal student aid programs authorized by Title IV of the 
HEA.

DATES: The dates for the negotiated rulemaking sessions are listed in 
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Kolotos, U.S. Department of 
Education, 1990 K Street, NW., room 8018, Washington, DC 20006. 
Telephone: (202) 502-7762. E-mail: [email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may 
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an 
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer 
diskette) on request to the contact person listed in this section.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 22, 2007, we published a notice 
in the Federal Register (72 FR 59494) announcing our intent to 
establish one or two negotiated rulemaking committees to prepare 
proposed regulations under Title IV of the HEA. In the notice, we also 
announced three hearings where interested parties could suggest issues 
for consideration by the negotiating committees. We also invited 
parties to submit issues for consideration in writing. Finally, we 
requested nominations for individual negotiators, who represent key 
stakeholder constituencies that are involved in the Federal student aid 
programs, to serve on these committees.
    After considering the information we received at the hearings and 
in writing, we have decided to establish two negotiating committees 
that will begin meeting in January 2008. The first committee will 
develop proposed regulations for the TEACH Grant program. The TEACH 
Grant regulations will be in a new Part 686 in Title 34 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations. The second committee will develop proposed 
regulations for the Federal student loan programs.
    In selecting individuals from the submitted nominations, the 
Department has tried to assemble a balanced and complementary 
representation of the interests affected by the subject matter, 
consistent with section 492 of the HEA. We believe the individuals 
selected will bring valuable knowledge and expertise to the table, and 
will work as a cohesive unit to assist us in developing proposed 
regulations that are both reasonable and effective. Individuals that 
were not selected as members of the committees will be able to attend 
the meetings and have access to the negotiators. The committee meetings 
will be open to the public.
    Participation in the rulemaking process is not limited to members 
of the committees or those who work with the committees. Following the 
negotiated rulemaking process, we will publish for public comment 
proposed regulations in the Federal Register. We anticipate that 
proposed regulations developed by the TEACH Grant committee will be 
published in April 2008. We anticipate that proposed regulations 
developed by the Student Loan committee will be published in June 2008.

TEACH Grant Committee Topics, Members, and Meeting Schedule

    The topics the TEACH Grant Committee are likely to address all 
relate to the new TEACH Grant program and include:
    Institutional Eligibility.
    Program Eligibility.
    Student Eligibility.
    Conversion of Grant to Loan.
    Repayment.
    Conforming Changes.
    This list of topics is tentative. Topics may be added as the 
process continues.
    The members of the TEACH Grant Committee and the interests they are 
representing are:
    Elementary and Secondary Education and Alternative Routes to 
Teacher Certification: Dr. Nell Ingram, Dallas Independent School 
District.
    Four-year Public Institutions: William Graves, Dean, Darden College 
of Education, Old Dominion University.
    Sandra Robinson, Dean, College of Education, University of Central 
Florida.
    Joseph Pettibon, Assistant Provost, Student Financial Aid, Texas 
A&M University.
    Herbert Brunkhorst, Professor of Science, Education and Biology, 
and Chair, Science, Math and Technology Education, California State 
University San Bernardino.
    Alternates: J. Robert Hendricks, Associate Dean, College of 
Education, University of Arizona.
    Beth Stack, Director of Operations, Student Financial Services, 
University of Pittsburgh.
    Jan Lariviere, Associate Director for Teacher Development, Center 
for Science Education, University of Kansas.

[[Page 1301]]

    Four-year Private Institutions: Janet Dodson, Director of Financial 
Aid, Doane College.
    Scott Fleming, Government Relations, Georgetown University.
    Ellis Salim, Director of Financial Aid, Baker College.
    Alternates: Bernard Pekala, Director of Financial Strategies, 
Boston College.
    Thomas O'Neill, Jr., President, Association of Independent Colleges 
and Universities of Nebraska.
    Two-year Public Institutions: Patrick Moore, Director of Financial 
Aid, Delaware Technical and Community College.
    For-Profit Institutions: Marry Dorrell, Corporate Vice President of 
Student Finance, Career Education Corporation.
    Students: Carmen Berkeley, United States Students Association.
    Alternate: Cedric Lawson, United Council of University of Wisconsin 
Students.
    Associations: Terry Hartle, Senior Vice President, American Council 
of Education.
    Alternate: Cyndy Littlefield, Association of Jesuit Colleges and 
Universities.
    Department of Education: Gail McLarnon.
    We have scheduled a total of three negotiated rulemaking sessions, 
all of which will be held at our offices on 1990 K Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20006. The following schedule is subject to change. We 
will announce any changes to this schedule on the Department's Web site 
at http://www.ed.gov/policy/highered/reg/hearulemaking/2008/index2008.html.
    Session 1: January 8-January 10.
    Session 2: January 22-January 24.
    Session 3: February 6-February 8.
    For the first negotiating session, the TEACH Grant committee is 
scheduled to meet from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
    For Session 2, the committee is scheduled to meet from 9 a.m. to 5 
p.m. each day.
    For Session 3, the committee is scheduled to meet from 1 p.m. to 5 
p.m. on February 6 and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on February 7 and 8.

Student Loan Committee Topics, Members, and Meeting Schedule

    The topics the Student Loan Committee is likely to address are:
    Income-based Repayment Plan (IBR).
    Conforming the Economic Hardship Deferment with IBR.
    Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
    Definition of Not-for-Profit Holder.
    Harmonizing HEROES Waivers with Other Benefits Provided to 
Returning and Active Duty Military.
    Federal Preemption of State Laws Related to improper inducements 
and arrangements between schools, lenders and other entities in the 
student loan programs.
    This list of topics is tentative. Topics may be added as the 
process continues.
    The members of the Student Loan Committee and the interests they 
are representing are:
    Students: Luke Swarthout, United States PIRG.
    Alternate: Rebecca Thompson, United States Student Association.
    Graduate and Professional Students: Carrie Steere-Salazar, American 
Association of Medical Colleges.
    Alternate: Radhika Miller, National Lawyers Guild Partnership for 
Civil Justice.
    Legal Aid: Deanne Loonin, National Consumer Law Center.
    Alternate: Lauren Saunders, National Consumer Law Center.
    Four-year Public Institutions: Allison Jones, California State 
University.
    Alternate: Anna Griswold, Pennsylvania State University.
    Four-year Private Institutions: Eileen O'Leary, Stonehill College.
    Alternate: Kathleen Koch, Seattle University School of Law.
    Two and Four-year Public Institutions: George Chin, City University 
of New York.
    For-profit Institutions: Mark Pelesh, Corinthian Colleges.
    Alternate: Tammy Halligan, Career College Association.
    Lenders--For-Profit: Tom Levandowski, Wachovia Corporation.
    Alternate: Walter Balmas, MyRichUncle.
    Lenders--Non-Profit: Scott Giles, Vermont Student Assistance 
Corporation.
    Alternate: Phil Van Horn, Wyoming Student Loan Corporation.
    Guaranty Agencies: Gene Hutchins, New Jersey Higher Education 
Student Assistance Authority.
    Alternate: Dick George, Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty 
Cooperation.
    Servicers: Wanda Hall, EDFinancial Services.
    Alternate: Rob Sommers, Sallie Mae.
    Collection Agencies: Martin Darnian, Windham Professionals.
    Alternate: Carl Perry, Progressive Financial Services.
    Associations: Anne Gross, NACUBO.
    Department of Education: Dan Madzelan.
    We have scheduled a total of three negotiated rulemaking sessions, 
all of which will be held at our offices on 1990 K Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20006. The following schedule is subject to change. We 
will announce any changes to this schedule on the Department's Web site 
at http://www.ed.gov/policy/highered/reg/hearulemaking/2008/index2008.html.
    Session 1: January 14-January 16.
    Session 2: February 4-February 6.
    Session 3: March 4-March 6.
    For the first negotiating session, the Student Loan Committee is 
scheduled to meet from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
    For Session 2, the committee is scheduled to meet from 9 a.m. to 5 
p.m. on February 4th and 5th; and from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on February 
6th.
    For Session 3, the committee is scheduled to meet from 9 a.m. to 5 
p.m. each day.

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    Note: The official version of this document is the document 
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    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1098a.

    Dated: January 3, 2008.
Diane Auer Jones,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
 [FR Doc. E8-121 Filed 1-7-08; 8:45 am]
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