[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 12, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21644-21645]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-07812]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Docket No.: ED-2022-SCC-0049]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; 
Application for Approval To Participate in Federal Student Aid Programs

AGENCY: Federal Student Aid (FSA), Department of Education (ED).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is 
proposing a revision of a currently approved collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
June 13, 2022.

ADDRESSES: To access and review all the documents related to the 
information collection listed in this notice, please use http://www.regulations.gov by searching the Docket ID number ED-2022-SCC-0049. 
Comments submitted

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in response to this notice should be submitted electronically through 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov by 
selecting the Docket ID number or via postal mail, commercial delivery, 
or hand delivery. If the regulations.gov site is not available to the 
public for any reason, ED will temporarily accept comments at 
[email protected]. Please include the docket ID number and the title 
of the information collection request when requesting documents or 
submitting comments. Please note that comments submitted by fax or 
email and those submitted after the comment period will not be 
accepted. Written requests for information or comments submitted by 
postal mail or delivery should be addressed to the PRA Coordinator of 
the Strategic Collections and Clearance Governance and Strategy 
Division, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW, LBJ, Room 
6W208C Washington, DC 20202-8240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific questions related to 
collection activities, please contact Beth Grebeldinger, (202) 377-
4018.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Education (ED), in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general public and Federal agencies with 
an opportunity to comment on proposed, revised, and continuing 
collections of information. This helps the Department assess the impact 
of its information collection requirements and minimize the public's 
reporting burden. It also helps the public understand the Department's 
information collection requirements and provide the requested data in 
the desired format. ED is soliciting comments on the proposed 
information collection request (ICR) that is described below. The 
Department of Education is especially interested in public comment 
addressing the following issues: (1) Is this collection necessary to 
the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this information be 
processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden 
accurate; (4) how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the 
Department minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, 
including through the use of information technology. Please note that 
written comments received in response to this notice will be considered 
public records.
    Title of Collection: Application for Approval to Participate in 
Federal Student Aid Programs.
    OMB Control Number: 1845-0012.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments; 
Private Sector.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 7,286.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 24,812.
    Abstract: Section 487(c) of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, 
as amended, requires that the Secretary of Education prescribe 
regulations to ensure that any funds postsecondary institutions receive 
under the HEA are used solely for the purposes specified in and in 
accordance with the provision of the applicable programs. The concept 
of this federal gatekeeping has a long history, originating in 1952. 
Part H, Subpart 3, Section 498 of the HEA of 1965, as amended, gives 
the Secretary the responsibility for determining qualifications of 
institutions of higher education to participate in programs under the 
HEA. To comply with this requirement Section 498(b) of the HEA 
specified that the Secretary prepare and prescribe a single application 
form. The Department of Education (the Department) developed the 
Application for Approval to Participate in the Federal Student 
Financial Aid Programs to comply with the statutory requirements of 
collecting necessary information under the HEA. An institution must use 
this Application to apply for approval to be determined to be eligible 
and if the institution wishes, to participate; to expand its 
eligibility; or to continue to participate in the Title IV programs. An 
institution must also use the Application to report certain required 
data as part of its recordkeeping requirements contained in the 
regulations under 34 CFR part 600 (Institutional Eligibility under the 
Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended). The Department uses the 
information reported on the Application in its determination of whether 
an institution meets the statutory and regulatory requirements. This 
request is for a revision of the current information collection. The 
Department is transitioning the current Application to an electronic 
webform housed within the FSA Partner Connect system 
(fsapartners.ed.gov).

    Dated: April 7, 2022.
Juliana Pearson,
PRA Coordinator, Strategic Collections and Clearance, Governance and 
Strategy Division, Office of Chief Data Officer, Office of Planning, 
Evaluation and Policy Development.
[FR Doc. 2022-07812 Filed 4-11-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P