[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 134 (Thursday, July 14, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42163-42164]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-15021]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

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


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; 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 
August 15, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for proposed 
information collection requests should be sent within 30 days of 
publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find 
this information collection request by selecting ``Department of 
Education'' under ``Currently Under Review,'' then check ``Only Show 
ICR for Public Comment'' checkbox. Comments may also be sent to 
[email protected].

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: A 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

[[Page 42164]]

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: July 11, 2022.
Kun Mullan,
PRA Coordinator, Strategic Collections and Clearance Governance and 
Strategy Division, Office of Chief Data Officer, Office of Planning, 
Evaluation and Policy Development.
[FR Doc. 2022-15021 Filed 7-13-22; 8:45 am]
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