Puspan. L. 116–260, div. FF, title VII, §§ 701(span), 702(n)(1)(C), (2), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 3137, 3186; Puspan. L. 117–103, div. R, § 102(a), Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 819, provided that, effective July 1, 2024, and applicable with respect to award year 2024–2025 and each subsequent award year, as determined under this chapter, with additional provisions authorizing the Secretary of Education to implement amendment before (but not later than) July 1, 2023, this section is amended by striking out subsection (k). See 2020 Amendment note below.
Section 14071 of title 42, referred to in subsec. (f)(1)(I), was repealed by Puspan. L. 109–248, title I, § 129(a), July 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 600.
The Hate Crime Statistics Act, referred to in subsec. (f)(7), is Puspan. L. 101–275, Apr. 23, 1990, 104 Stat. 140, which enacted section 41305 of Title 34, Crime Control and Law Enforcement, and provisions set out as a note under section 41305 of Title 34.
Title IV of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, referred to in subsec. (f)(8)(A), is title IV of Puspan. L. 88–452, which was classified to subchapter IV (§ 2901 et seq.) of chapter 34 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to repeal by Puspan. L. 97–35, title VI, § 683(a), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 519.
The General Education Provisions Act, referred to in subsec. (h)(2)(C), is title IV of Puspan. L. 90–247, Jan. 2, 1968, 81 Stat. 814, which is classified generally to chapter 31 (§ 1221 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1221 of this title and Tables.
Section 264 of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, referred to in subsec. (i)(5)(B), is section 264 of title II of Puspan. L. 104–191, Aug. 21, 1996, 110 Stat. 2033, which is set out as a note under section 1320d–2 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.
A prior section 1092, Puspan. L. 89–329, title IV, § 485, as added Puspan. L. 96–374, title IV, § 451(a), Oct. 3, 1980, 94 Stat. 1449, related to provision of institutional and financial assistance information for students, prior to the general revision of this part by Puspan. L. 99–498.
Another prior section 1092, Puspan. L. 89–329, title V, § 508, formerly § 502, Nov. 8, 1965, 79 Stat. 1255; renumbered § 508 and amended Puspan. L. 90–35, §§ 2(span), 7, June 29, 1967, 81 Stat. 82, 93, prohibited the making of payments for religious purposes for authorized programs, prior to repeal by Puspan. L. 94–482, title I, § 151(a)(2), Oct. 12, 1976, 90 Stat. 2151.
2020—Subsec. (span)(1)(A)(viii), (x). Puspan. L. 116–251, which directed amendment of subsec. (span) of this section by striking out “and” after semicolon in cl. (viii) and adding cl. (x), was executed to subsec. (span)(1)(A) of this section to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
Subsec. (k). Puspan. L. 116–260 struck out subsec. (k) which related to notice to students concerning penalties for drug violations.
2013—Subsec. (f)(1)(C)(iii). Puspan. L. 113–4, § 304(a)(1)(A), substituted “, when the victim of such crime elects or is unable to make such a report.” for period at end.
Subsec. (f)(1)(F)(i)(VIII). Puspan. L. 113–4, § 304(a)(1)(B)(i), struck out “and” after semicolon.
Subsec. (f)(1)(F)(ii). Puspan. L. 113–4, § 304(a)(1)(B)(ii)(I), substituted “national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity,” for “sexual orientation”.
Subsec. (f)(1)(F)(iii). Puspan. L. 113–4, § 304(a)(1)(B)(ii)(II), (iii), added cl. (iii).
Subsec. (f)(3). Puspan. L. 113–4, § 304(a)(2), inserted “, that withholds the names of victims as confidential,” after “that is timely”.
Subsec. (f)(6)(A). Puspan. L. 113–4, § 304(a)(3), added cls. (i) and (v) and redesignated former cls. (i) to (iii) as (ii) to (iv), respectively.
Subsec. (f)(7). Puspan. L. 113–4, § 304(a)(4), substituted “clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph (1)(F)” for “paragraph (1)(F)” and inserted “For the offenses of domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking, such statistics shall be compiled in accordance with the definitions used in section 13925(a) of title 42.” after “Hate Crime Statistics Act.”
Subsec. (f)(8). Puspan. L. 113–4, § 304(a)(5), added par. (8) and struck out former par. (8) which related to development of statements of policy regarding campus sexual assault programs by institutions of higher education.
Subsec. (f)(9). Puspan. L. 113–4, § 304(a)(6), substituted “The Secretary, in consultation with the Attorney General of the United States,” for “The Secretary”.
Subsec. (f)(16). Puspan. L. 113–4, § 304(a)(7), added par. (16) and struck out former par. (16) which read as follows: “The Secretary may seek the advice and counsel of the Attorney General concerning the development, and dissemination to institutions of higher education, of best practices information about campus safety and emergencies.”
Subsec. (f)(17). Puspan. L. 113–4, § 304(a)(8), added par. (17) and struck out former par. (17) which read as follows: “Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to permit an institution, or an officer, employee, or agent of an institution, participating in any program under this subchapter to retaliate, intimidate, threaten, coerce, or otherwise discriminate against any individual with respect to the implementation of any provision of this subsection.”
2009—Subsec. (a)(1). Puspan. L. 111–39, § 407(span)(5)(A)(i)(I), substituted “commonly known as the ‘Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974’ ” for “also referred to as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (a)(1)(I). Puspan. L. 111–39, § 407(span)(5)(A)(i)(II), substituted “students with disabilities” for “handicapped students”.
Subsec. (a)(4)(B). Puspan. L. 111–39, § 407(span)(5)(A)(ii), inserted “during which” after “time period”.
Subsec. (a)(7)(B)(iv). Puspan. L. 111–39, § 407(span)(5)(A)(iii), inserted “education” after “higher” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (e)(3)(B). Puspan. L. 111–39, § 407(span)(5)(B), inserted “during which” after “time period”.
Subsec. (f)(1). Puspan. L. 111–39, § 407(span)(5)(C), inserted “of” after “foreign institution” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (f)(3), (4)(A), (5), (8)(A). Puspan. L. 111–39, § 407(span)(5)(C)(ii), substituted “under this subchapter, other than a foreign institution of higher education,” for “under this subchapter”.
Subsec. (g)(2). Puspan. L. 111–39, § 407(span)(5)(D), substituted “paragraph (1)(G)” for “subparagraph (G)”.
Subsec. (i)(2), (3). Puspan. L. 111–39, § 407(span)(5)(E)(i), (ii), substituted “institution described in paragraph (1)” for “eligible institution participating in any program under this subchapter”.
Subsec. (i)(5)(B). Puspan. L. 111–39, § 407(span)(5)(E)(iii), substituted “commonly known as the ‘Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974’ ” for “the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974”.
Subsec. (k)(2). Puspan. L. 111–39, § 407(span)(5)(F), inserted “section” before “1091(r)(1)”.
Subsec. (l)(1)(A). Puspan. L. 111–39, § 407(span)(5)(G), substituted “paragraph (2)” for “subparagraph (B)” in introductory provisions.
2008—Subsec. (a)(1)(G)(iv). Puspan. L. 110–315, § 488(a)(1)(A), added cl. (iv).
Subsec. (a)(1)(M). Puspan. L. 110–315, § 488(a)(1)(B), added subpar. (M) and struck out former subpar. (M) which read as follows: “the terms and conditions under which students receiving guaranteed student loans under part B of this subchapter or direct student loans under part E of this subchapter, or both, may—
“(i) obtain deferral of the repayment of the principal and interest for service under the Peace Corps Act (as established by the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.)) or under the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, or for comparable full-time service as a volunteer for a tax-exempt organization of demonstrated effectiveness in the field of community service, and
“(ii) obtain partial cancellation of the student loan for service under the Peace Corps Act (as established by the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.)) under the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 or, for comparable full-time service as a volunteer for a tax-exempt organization of demonstrated effectiveness in the field of community service;”.
Subsec. (a)(1)(P) to (V). Puspan. L. 110–315, § 488(a)(1)(C)–(E), added subpars. (P) to (V).
Subsec. (a)(4). Puspan. L. 110–315, § 488(a)(2), added par. (4) and struck out former par. (4) which read as follows: “For purposes of this section, institutions may exclude from the information disclosed in accordance with subparagraph (L) of paragraph (1) the completion or graduation rates of students who leave school to serve in the armed services, on official church missions, or with a recognized foreign aid service of the Federal Government.”
Subsec. (a)(7). Puspan. L. 110–315, § 488(a)(3), added par. (7).
Subsec. (span)(1)(A). Puspan. L. 110–315, § 488(span), which directed the general amendment of subpar. (A), with the new subpar. (A) including a subsec. (span) designation and span and par. (1) designation, was executed by substituting the new subpar. (A) without the added subsec. (span) designation and span and par. (1) designation for the existing subpar. (A), to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: “Each eligible institution shall, through financial aid officers or otherwise, make available counseling to borrowers of loans which are made, insured, or guaranteed under part B (other than loans made pursuant to section 1078–2 of this title) of this subchapter or made under part D or E of this subchapter prior to the completion of the course of study for which the borrower enrolled at the institution or at the time of departure from such institution. The counseling required by this subsection shall include—
“(i) the average anticipated monthly repayments, a review of the repayment options available, and such debt and management strategies as the institution determines are designed to facilitate the repayment of such indebtedness; and
“(ii) the terms and conditions under which the student may obtain partial cancellation or defer repayment of the principal and interest pursuant to sections 1078(span), 1087dd(c)(2), and 1087ee of this title.”
Subsec. (d)(1). Puspan. L. 110–315, § 488(c)(1), inserted “Such information shall also include information on the various payment options available for student loans, including income-sensitive and income-based repayment plans for loans made, insured, or guaranteed under part B and income-contingent and income-based repayment plans for loans made under part D.” before “In addition, such information” and “The Secretary shall also provide information on loan forbearance, including the increase in debt that results from capitalization of interest.” before “Such information shall be provided”.
Subsec. (d)(4). Puspan. L. 110–315, § 488(c)(2), added par. (4).
Subsec. (e)(3). Puspan. L. 110–315, § 488(d), amended par. (3) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (3) read as follows: “For purposes of this subsection, institutions may exclude from the reporting requirements under paragraphs (1) and (2) the completion or graduation rates of students and student athletes who leave school to serve in the armed services, on official church missions, or with a recognized foreign aid service of the Federal Government.”
Subsec. (f)(1). Puspan. L. 110–315, § 488(e)(1)(A), inserted “, other than a foreign institution higher education,” after “chapter 34 of title 42” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (f)(1)(C)(i) to (iii). Puspan. L. 110–315, § 488(e)(1)(B), added cls. (i) to (iii) and struck out former cls. (i) and (ii) which read as follows:
“(i) the enforcement authority of security personnel, including their working relationship with State and local police agencies; and
“(ii) policies which encourage accurate and prompt reporting of all crimes to the campus police and the appropriate police agencies.”
Subsec. (f)(1)(F)(ii). Puspan. L. 110–315, § 488(e)(1)(C), substituted “clause (i), of larceny-theft, simple assault, intimidation, and destruction, damage, or vandalism of property, and of” for “clause (i), and” and inserted a comma after “any person”.
Subsec. (f)(1)(J). Puspan. L. 110–315, § 488(e)(1)(D), added subpar. (J).
Subsec. (f)(5)(A). Puspan. L. 110–315, § 103(span)(11), substituted “authorizing committees” for “Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate”.
Subsec. (f)(15) to (18). Puspan. L. 110–315, § 488(e)(2), (3), added pars. (15) to (17) and redesignated former par. (15) as (18).
Subsec. (g)(4)(B) to (D). Puspan. L. 110–315, § 488(f), redesignated subpars. (C) and (D) as (B) and (C), respectively, struck out “and the report to Congress described in subparagraph (B)” after “subparagraph (A)” in subpar. (B) and “the information reported under subparagraph (B) and” after “availability of” in subpar. (C), and struck out former subpar. (B) which read as follows: “The Secretary shall prepare a report regarding the information received under subparagraph (A) and submit such report to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate by April 1, 2000. The report shall—
“(i) summarize the information and identify trends in the information;
“(ii) aggregate the information by divisions of the National Collegiate Athletic Association; and
“(iii) contain information on each individual institution of higher education.”
Subsecs. (h) to (l). Puspan. L. 110–315, § 488(g), added subsecs. (h) to (l).
Subsec. (m). Puspan. L. 110–315, § 1011(c), added subsec. (m).
2000—Subsec. (f)(1)(I). Puspan. L. 106–386 added subpar. (I).
1998—Subsec. (a)(1). Puspan. L. 105–244, § 486(a)(1)(B), in introductory provisions, inserted after second sentence “Each eligible institution shall, on an annual basis, provide to all enrolled students a list of the information that is required to be provided by institutions to students by this section and section 1232g of this title, together with a statement of the procedures required to obtain such information.”
Puspan. L. 105–244, § 486(a)(1)(A), in introductory provisions, substituted “upon request, through appropriate publications, mailings, and electronic media, to an enrolled student and to any prospective student” for “, through appropriate publications and mailings, to all current students, and to any prospective student upon request”.
Subsec. (a)(1)(F). Puspan. L. 105–244, § 486(a)(1)(C), amended subpar. (F) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (F) read as follows: “a statement of the refund policy of the institution, as determined under section 1091span of this title, for the return of unearned tuition and fees or other refundable portion of cost, as described in subparagraph (E) of this paragraph, which refunds shall be credited in the following order:
“(i) to outstanding balances on loans under part B of this subchapter for the period of enrollment for which a refund is required,
“(ii) to outstanding balances on loans under part D of this subchapter for the period of enrollment for which a refund is required,
“(iii) to outstanding balances on loans under part E of this subchapter for the period of enrollment for which a refund is required,
“(iv) to awards under subpart 1 of part A of this subchapter,
“(v) to awards under subpart 3 of part A of this subchapter,
“(vi) to other student assistance, and
“(vii) to the student;”.
Subsec. (a)(1)(O). Puspan. L. 105–244, § 486(a)(1)(D)–(F), added subpar. (O).
Subsec. (a)(3)(A). Puspan. L. 105–244, § 486(a)(2), amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: “shall, for any academic year beginning more than 270 days after the Secretary first prescribes final regulations pursuant to such subparagraph (L), be made available to current and prospective students prior to enrolling or entering into any financial obligation; and”.
Subsec. (a)(6). Puspan. L. 105–244, § 486(a)(3), added par. (6).
Subsec. (span)(1)(A). Puspan. L. 105–244, § 486(span)(1), struck out “(individually or in groups)” after “counseling to borrowers” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (span)(2)(C). Puspan. L. 105–244, § 486(span)(2), added subpar. (C).
Subsec. (d). Puspan. L. 105–244, § 486(c), designated existing provisions as par. (1), redesignated former pars. (1) and (2) as subpars. (A) and (B), respectively, and added pars. (2) and (3).
Subsec. (e)(2). Puspan. L. 105–244, § 486(d)(1), substituted “the student’s parents, guidance” for “his parents, his guidance” and inserted at end “If the institution is a member of a national collegiate athletic association that compiles graduation rate data on behalf of the association’s member institutions that the Secretary determines is substantially comparable to the information described in paragraph (1), the distribution of the compilation of such data to all secondary schools in the United States shall fulfill the responsibility of the institution to provide information to a prospective student athlete’s guidance counselor and coach.”
Subsec. (e)(9). Puspan. L. 105–244, § 486(d)(2), amended par. (9) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (9) read as follows: “This subsection shall not be effective until the first July 1 that follows, by more than 270 days, the date on which the Secretary first prescribes final regulations pursuant to this subsection. The reports required by this subsection shall be due on that July 1 and each succeeding July 1 and shall cover the 1-year period ending August 31 of the preceding year.”
Subsec. (f)(1)(F). Puspan. L. 105–244, § 486(e)(1)(A), amended subpar. (F) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (F) read as follows: “Statistics concerning the occurrence on campus, during the most recent calendar year, and during the 2 preceding calendar years for which data are available, of the following criminal offenses reported to campus security authorities or local police agencies—
“(i) murder;
“(ii) sex offenses, forcible or nonforcible;
“(iii) robbery;
“(iv) aggravated assault;
“(v) burglary; and
“(vi) motor vehicle theft.”
Subsec. (f)(1)(H). Puspan. L. 105–244, § 486(e)(1)(B), (C), redesignated subpar. (I) as (H) and struck out former subpar. (H) which read as follows: “Statistics concerning the number of arrests for the following crimes occurring on campus:
“(i) liquor law violations;
“(ii) drug abuse violations; and
“(iii) weapons possessions.”
Subsec. (f)(1)(I). Puspan. L. 105–244, § 486(e)(1)(C), redesignated subpar. (I) as (H).
Puspan. L. 105–244, § 102(span)(3), substituted “section 1011i” for “section 1145g”.
Subsec. (f)(4). Puspan. L. 105–244, § 486(e)(6), added par. (4). Former par. (4) redesignated (5).
Puspan. L. 105–244, § 486(e)(2)(A), which directed the substitution of “On an annual basis, each” for “Upon request of the Secretary, each” was executed by making the substitution for “Upon the request of the Secretary, each” to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
Puspan. L. 105–244, § 486(e)(2)(B), substituted “paragraph (1)(F)” for “paragraphs (1)(F) and (1)(H)”.
Subsec. (f)(4)(A). Puspan. L. 105–244, § 486(e)(2)(C)–(E), substituted “and the Workforce” for “and Labor” and “2000” for “1995” and struck out “and” at end.
Subsec. (f)(4)(B), (C). Puspan. L. 105–244, § 486(e)(2)(F), (G), added subpar. (B) and redesignated former subpar. (B) as (C).
Subsec. (f)(5). Puspan. L. 105–244, § 486(e)(5), redesignated par. (4) as (5). Former par. (5) redesignated (6).
Subsec. (f)(5)(A). Puspan. L. 105–244, § 486(e)(3), amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: “For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘campus’ includes—
“(i) any building or property owned or controlled by the institution of higher education within the same reasonably contiguous geographic area and used by the institution in direct support of, or related to its educational purposes; or
“(ii) any building or property owned or controlled by student organizations recognized by the institution.”
Subsec. (f)(6). Puspan. L. 105–244, § 486(e)(5), redesignated par. (5) as (6). Former par. (6) redesignated (7).
Puspan. L. 105–244, § 486(e)(4), substituted “paragraph (1)(F)” for “paragraphs (1)(F) and (1)(H)” and inserted at end “Such statistics shall not identify victims of crimes or persons accused of crimes.”
Subsec. (f)(7), (8). Puspan. L. 105–244, § 486(e)(5), redesignated pars. (6) and (7) as (7) and (8), respectively.
Subsec. (f)(9) to (15). Puspan. L. 105–244, § 486(e)(7), added pars. (9) to (15).
Subsec. (g)(1)(I), (J). Puspan. L. 105–244, § 486(f)(1), added subpars. (I) and (J).
Subsec. (g)(4), (5). Puspan. L. 105–244, § 486(f)(2)–(4), added par. (4), redesignated former par. (4) as (5), and struck out span and text of former par. (5). Text read as follows: “The Secretary shall issue final regulations to implement the requirements of this subsection not later than 180 days following October 20, 1994. Each institution described in paragraph (1) shall make available its first report pursuant to this section not later than October 1, 1996.”
1997—Subsec. (a)(3)(B). Puspan. L. 105–18, § 60001(a)(1), substituted “August 31” for “June 30”.
Subsec. (e)(9). Puspan. L. 105–18, § 60001(a)(2), substituted “August 31” for “August 30”.
1996—Subsec. (e)(9). Puspan. L. 104–208 substituted “August 30” for “June 30”.
1994—Subsec. (g). Puspan. L. 103–382 added subsec. (g).
1993—Subsec. (a)(1)(F)(i) to (iii). Puspan. L. 103–208, § 2(h)(28), inserted before comma at end “for the period of enrollment for which a refund is required”.
Subsec. (a)(1)(F)(iv). Puspan. L. 103–208, § 2(h)(29), inserted “under” after “awards”.
Subsec. (a)(1)(F)(vi). Puspan. L. 103–208, § 2(h)(32), redesignated cl. (vii) as (vi) and struck out former cl. (vi) which read as follows: “to awards under part C of subchapter I of chapter 34 of title 42,”.
Subsec. (a)(1)(F)(vii). Puspan. L. 103–208, § 2(h)(32), redesignated cl. (viii) as (vii). Former cl. (vii) redesignated (vi).
Puspan. L. 103–208, § 2(h)(30), struck out “provided under this subchapter” after “student assistance”.
Subsec. (a)(1)(F)(viii). Puspan. L. 103–208, § 2(h)(32), redesignated cl. (viii) as (vii).
Puspan. L. 103–208, § 2(h)(31), struck out period after “student”.
Subsec. (a)(1)(L). Puspan. L. 103–208, § 2(k)(9), amended directory language of Puspan. L. 102–325, § 486(a)(3). See 1992 Amendment note below.
Puspan. L. 103–208, § 2(h)(33), inserted comma after “full-time”.
Subsec. (a)(3)(A). Puspan. L. 103–208, § 2(h)(34), amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: “shall be available beginning on July 1, 1993, and each year thereafter to current and prospective students prior to enrolling or entering into any financial obligation; and”.
Subsec. (span)(1)(A), (2)(A). Puspan. L. 103–208, § 2(h)(35), substituted “under part” for “under parts”.
Subsec. (d). Puspan. L. 103–208, § 2(h)(36), inserted period at end of penultimate sentence.
Subsec. (e)(9). Puspan. L. 103–208, § 2(h)(37), added subpar. (9).
1992—Subsec. (a)(1)(F). Puspan. L. 102–325, § 486(a)(1), inserted “, as determined under section 1091span of this title,” after “of the institution” and “, which refunds shall be credited in the following order:” after “of this paragraph” and added cls. (i) to (viii).
Subsec. (a)(1)(K). Puspan. L. 102–325, § 486(a)(2), struck out “and” at end.
Subsec. (a)(1)(L). Puspan. L. 102–325, § 486(a)(4), redesignated subpar. (L), relating to deferral or partial cancellation of student loans, as (M).
Puspan. L. 102–325, § 486(a)(3), as amended by Puspan. L. 103–208, § 2(k)(9), amended subpar. (L), relating to completion or graduation rate, by substituting semicolon for period at end.
Subsec. (a)(1)(M). Puspan. L. 102–325, § 486(a)(4), (5), redesignated subpar. (L), relating to deferral or partial cancellation of student loans, as (M) and substituted “; and” for period at end.
Subsec. (a)(1)(N). Puspan. L. 102–325, § 486(a)(6), added subpar. (N).
Subsec. (span). Puspan. L. 102–325, § 486(span), amended subsec. (span) generally, making changes in substance and structure of former text which related to exit counseling for borrowers and borrower information.
Subsec. (f)(1)(F). Puspan. L. 102–325, § 486(c)(1), amended subpar. (F) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (F) read as follows: “Statistics concerning the occurrence on campus, during the most recent calendar year, and during the 2 preceding calendar years for which data are available, of the following criminal offenses reported to campus security authorities or local police agencies—
“(i) murder;
“(ii) rape;
“(iii) robbery;
“(iv) aggravated assault;
“(v) burglary; and
“(vi) motor vehicle theft.”
Subsec. (f)(7). Puspan. L. 102–325, § 486(c)(2), added par. (7).
1991—Subsec. (a)(1)(L). Puspan. L. 102–26, § 10(a), which directed the insertion of “undergraduate” after “full-time” in subpar. (L), was executed to the subpar. (L) added by Puspan. L. 101–542, § 103(a), relating to completion or graduation rate, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
Subsec. (a)(3)(A) to (C). Puspan. L. 102–26, § 10(span), inserted “and” at end of subpar. (A), substituted a period for “; and” at end of subpar. (B), and struck out subpar. (C) which read as follows: “shall be updated not less than biennially.”
Subsec. (a)(5). Puspan. L. 102–26, § 10(c), added par. (5).
Subsec. (span). Puspan. L. 102–164 substituted “Exit counseling for borrowers; borrower information” for “Exit counseling for borrowers” in span and inserted at end “Each eligible institution shall require that the borrower of a loan made under part B, part D, or part E of this subchapter submit to the institution, during the exit interview required by this subsection, the borrower’s expected permanent address after leaving the institution, regardless of the reason for leaving; the span and address of the borrower’s expected employer after leaving the institution; and the address of the borrower’s next of kin. In the case of a loan made under part B of this subchapter, the institution shall then submit this information to the holder of the loan.”
Subsec. (f)(1). Puspan. L. 102–26, § 10(d), substituted “August 1, 1991,” for “September 1, 1991,” in introductory provisions, and in subpar. (F) substituted “calendar year” and “calendar years” for “school year” and “school years”, respectively.
1990—Subsec. (a)(1)(L). Puspan. L. 101–610, § 201, added subpar. (L) relating to deferral or partial cancellation of student loans.
Puspan. L. 101–542, § 103(a), added subpar. (L) relating to completion or graduation rate.
Subsec. (a)(3), (4). Puspan. L. 101–542, § 103(span), added pars. (3) and (4).
Subsec. (span)(3). Puspan. L. 101–610, § 202, added par. (3).
Subsec. (d). Puspan. L. 101–610, § 203, inserted before last sentence “The Secretary shall provide information concerning the specific terms and conditions under which students may obtain partial or total cancellation or defer repayment of loans for service, shall indicate (in terms of the Federal minimum wage) the maximum level of compensation and allowances that a student borrower may receive from a tax-exempt organization to qualify for a deferment, and shall explicitly state that students may qualify for such partial cancellations or deferments when they serve as a paid employee of a tax-exempt organization”.
Subsec. (e). Puspan. L. 101–542, § 104(a), added subsec. (e).
Subsec. (f). Puspan. L. 101–542, § 204(a), added subsec. (f).
1987—Subsec. (span). Puspan. L. 100–50, § 15(10), inserted “(other than loans made pursuant to section 1078–2 of this title)” after “part B of this subchapter”.
Subsec. (d). Puspan. L. 100–50, § 15(11), inserted after second sentence “In addition, such information shall include information to enable borrowers to assess the practical consequences of loan consolidation, including differences in deferment eligibility, interest rates, monthly payments, and finance charges, and samples of loan consolidation profiles to illustrate such consequences.”
Amendment by Puspan. L. 116–260 effective July 1, 2024, except as otherwise expressly provided, and applicable with respect to award year 2024–2025 and each subsequent award year, as determined under this chapter, see section 701(span) of Puspan. L. 116–260, set out as a note under section 1001 of this title.
Amendment by Puspan. L. 116–260 may be implemented by Secretary of Education before (but not later than) July 1, 2023, notwithstanding certain provisions, with such date of implementation required to be published in the Federal Register, see section 702(n)(2) of Puspan. L. 116–260, set out as a note under section 1078–2 of this title. Effective date of title VII of div. FF of Puspan. L. 116–260 was changed from July 1, 2023, to July 1, 2024, by section 102(a) of Puspan. L. 117–103, see section 701(span) of div. FF of Puspan. L. 116–260, set out as a note under section 1001 of this title. However, the July 1, 2023, implementation dates in section 702(n)(2) of Puspan. L. 116–260 were not correspondingly amended.
Amendment by Puspan. L. 116–251 effective 180 days after Dec. 22, 2020, see section 6 of Puspan. L. 116–251, set out as a note under section 1018 of this title.
Puspan. L. 113–4, title III, § 304(span), Mar. 7, 2013, 127 Stat. 92, provided that:
Amendment by Puspan. L. 111–39 effective as if enacted on the date of enactment of Puspan. L. 110–315 (Aug. 14, 2008), see section 3 of Puspan. L. 111–39, set out as a note under section 1001 of this title.
Puspan. L. 106–386, div. B, title VI, § 1601(c)(2), Oct. 28, 2000, 114 Stat. 1538, provided that:
Amendment by Puspan. L. 105–244 effective Oct. 1, 1998, except as otherwise provided in Puspan. L. 105–244, see section 3 of Puspan. L. 105–244, set out as a note under section 1001 of this title.
Puspan. L. 105–18, title VI, § 60001(span), June 12, 1997, 111 Stat. 214, provided that:
Amendment by Puspan. L. 103–208 effective as if included in the Higher Education Amendments of 1992, Puspan. L. 102–325, except as otherwise provided, see section 5(a) of Puspan. L. 103–208, set out as a note under section 1051 of this title.
Amendment by section 486(a), (span), and (c)(2) of Puspan. L. 102–325 effective July 23, 1992, except that changes relating to disclosures effective with respect to periods of enrollment beginning on or after July 1, 1993, see section 498 of Puspan. L. 102–325, set out as a note under section 1088 of this title.
Puspan. L. 102–325, title IV, § 486(c)(3), July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 622, provided that:
Puspan. L. 101–542, title I, § 104(span), Nov. 8, 1990, 104 Stat. 2384, as amended by Puspan. L. 102–26, § 10(e), Apr. 9, 1991, 105 Stat. 128, provided that:
Puspan. L. 101–542, title II, § 204(c), Nov. 8, 1990, 104 Stat. 2387, provided that:
Amendment by Puspan. L. 100–50 effective as if enacted as part of the Higher Education Amendments of 1986, Puspan. L. 99–498, see section 27 of Puspan. L. 100–50, set out as a note under section 1001 of this title.
Section effective Oct. 17, 1986, except as otherwise provided, see section 2 of Puspan. L. 99–498, set out as a note under section 1001 of this title.
Subsec. (span) of this section applicable only to periods of enrollment beginning on or after July 1, 1987, see section 407(span) of Puspan. L. 99–498, set out as a note under section 1091 of this title.
Puspan. L. 101–542, title IV, § 401(a), Nov. 8, 1990, 104 Stat. 2388, provided that:
Puspan. L. 110–315, title IV, § 484, Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3286, provided that:
Puspan. L. 103–382, title III, § 360B(span), Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3969, provided that:
Puspan. L. 101–542, title I, § 102, Nov. 8, 1990, 104 Stat. 2381, provided that:
Puspan. L. 101–542, title II, § 202, Nov. 8, 1990, 104 Stat. 2384, provided that:
Memorandum of President of the United States, June 7, 2012, 77 F.R. 35241, provided:
Memorandum for the Secretary of Education [and] the Secretary of the Treasury
More individuals than ever before are using student loans to finance college. Nearly two-thirds of college graduates borrow to pay for college, with an average debt upon graduation of about $26,300. While a college education remains an excellent investment, this debt can be overly burdensome, especially for recent graduates during the first few years of their careers.
The Income-Based Repayment (IBR) plan for Federal student loans currently allows former students to cap their student loan payments at 15 percent of their current discretionary income. This plan can be an effective tool for helping individuals to manage their debt, especially during challenging economic times.
Over the past several years, my Administration has worked to improve repayment options available to borrowers, including through passage of an enhanced Income-Based Repayment plan, which will cap a Federal student loan borrower’s monthly payments at 10 percent of his or her discretionary income starting in 2014. And we are pursuing administrative action that may extend these lower payments to some students as soon as the end of this calendar year.
However, too few borrowers are aware of the options available to them to help manage their student loan debt, including reducing their monthly payment through IBR. Additionally, too many borrowers have had difficulties navigating and completing the IBR application process once they have started it.
For many borrowers, the most significant challenge in completing the IBR application has been the income-verification process, which, until recently, required borrowers to provide a signed copy of their income tax return. Although the Department of Education has recently removed some of the hurdles to completing the process, too many borrowers are still struggling to access this important repayment option due to difficulty in applying.
Therefore, by the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby direct the following:
Section 1. Streamlined Application Process for Income-Based Repayment Plans. By September 30, 2012, the Secretary of Education, in coordination with the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, shall create a streamlined online application process for IBR that allows student loan borrowers with federally held loans to import their Internal Revenue Service income data directly into the IBR application. This process will allow income information to be seamlessly transmitted so that borrowers can complete the application at one sitting. Federal direct student loan borrowers shall no longer be required to contact their loan servicer as the first step to apply.
Sec. 2. Integrated Online and Mobile Resources for Loan Repayment Options and Debt Management. By July 15, 2012, the Secretary of Education shall:
(a) create integrated online and mobile resources for students and former students to use in learning about Federal student aid, including an explanation of (1) the current IBR plan, which allows student loan borrowers to cap their monthly loan payments at 15 percent of their discretionary income and be eligible to have their remaining loan balances forgiven after 25 years of responsible payments; and (2) the proposed Pay As You Earn plan, which will allow many students to cap their monthly loan repayments at 10 percent of their discretionary income and be eligible for loan forgiveness after 20 years of responsible repayment; and
(span) develop and make available to borrowers an online tool to help students make better financial decisions, including understanding their loan debt and its impact on their everyday lives. This tool should incorporate key elements of best practices in financial literacy and link to students’ actual Federal loan data to help them understand their individual circumstances and options for repayment.
Sec. 3. Improved Notification of the Income-Based Repayment Plan. The Secretary of Education shall instruct Federal direct student loan servicers to make borrowers aware of the option to participate in IBR before a student leaves school and upon entering repayment. Within 1 year of the date of this memorandum, the Department of Education shall make available, for institutions of higher education, a model exit counseling module that will enable students to understand their repayment options before leaving school and to choose a repayment plan for their student loans that best meets their needs.
Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(span) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
The Secretary of Education is hereby authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.
Barack Obama.Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies
Memorandum of President of the United States, Jan. 22, 2014, 79 F.R. 4385, provided:
The prevalence of rape and sexual assault at our Nation’s institutions of higher education is both deeply troubling and a call to action. Studies show that about one in five women is a survivor of attempted or completed sexual violence while in college. In addition, a substantial number of men experience sexual violence during college. Although schools have made progress in addressing rape and sexual assault, more needs to be done to ensure safe, secure environments for students of higher education.
There are a number of Federal laws aimed at making our campuses safer, and the Departments of Education and Justice have been working to enforce them. Among other requirements, institutions of higher education participating in Federal student financial assistance programs (institutions), including colleges, universities, community colleges, graduate and professional schools, for-profit schools, trade schools, and career and technical schools, must provide students with information on programs aimed at preventing rape and sexual assault, and on procedures for students to reporting rape and sexual assault. Institutions must also adopt and publish grievance procedures that provide for the prompt and equitable resolution of rape and sexual assault complaints, and investigate reports of rape and sexual assault and take swift action to prevent their recurrence. Survivors of rape and sexual assault must also be provided with information on how to access the support and services they need. Reports show, however, that institutions’ compliance with these Federal laws is uneven and, in too many cases, inadequate. Building on existing enforcement efforts, we must strengthen and address compliance issues and provide institutions with additional tools to respond to and address rape and sexual assault.
Therefore, I am directing the Office of the Vice President and the White House Council on Women and Girls to lead an interagency effort to address campus rape and sexual assault, including coordinating Federal enforcement efforts by executive departments and agencies (agencies) and helping institutions meet their obligations under Federal law. To these ends, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Establishment of the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault. There is established a White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault (Task Force). The Task Force shall be co-chaired by designees of the Office of the Vice President and the White House Council on Women and Girls.
(a) Membership of the Task Force. In addition to the Co-Chairs, the Task Force shall consist of the following members:
(i) the Attorney General;
(ii) the Secretary of the Interior;
(iii) the Secretary of Health and Human Services;
(iv) the Secretary of Education;
(v) the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy;
(vi) the Director of the Domestic Policy Council;
(vii) the Cabinet Secretary; and
(viii) the heads of agencies or offices as the Co-Chairs may designate.
(span) A member of the Task Force may designate, to perform the Task Force functions of the member, senior officials who are part of the member’s agency or office, and who are full-time officers or employees of the Federal Government.
Sec. 2. Mission and Function of the Task Force. (a) The Task Force shall work with agencies to develop a coordinated Federal response to campus rape and sexual assault. The functions of the Task Force are advisory only and shall include making recommendations to meet the following objectives:
(i) providing institutions with evidence-based best and promising practices for preventing and responding to rape and sexual assault;
(ii) building on the Federal Government’s existing enforcement efforts to ensure that institutions comply fully with their legal obligations to prevent and respond to rape and sexual assault;
(iii) increasing the transparency of the Federal Government’s enforcement activities concerning rape and sexual assault, consistent with applicable law and the interests of affected students;
(iv) broadening the public’s awareness of individual institutions’ compliance with their legal obligation to address rape and sexual assault; and
(v) facilitating coordination among agencies engaged in addressing rape and sexual assault and those charged with helping bring institutions into compliance with the law.
(span) In accordance with applicable law and in addition to regular meetings, the Task Force shall consult with external stakeholders, including institution officials, student groups, parents, athletic and educational associations, local rape crisis centers, and law enforcement agencies.
(c) Because rape and sexual assault also occur in the elementary and secondary school context, the Task Force shall evaluate how its proposals and recommendations may apply to, and may be implemented by, schools, school districts, and other elementary and secondary educational entities receiving Federal financial assistance.
Sec. 3. Action Plan. (a) Within 90 days of the date of this memorandum, the Task Force shall develop and submit proposals and recommendations to the President for:
(i) providing examples of instructions, policies, and protocols for institutions, including: rape and sexual assault policies; prevention programs; crisis intervention and advocacy services; complaint and grievance procedures; investigation protocols; adjudicatory procedures; disciplinary sanctions; and training and orientation modules for students, staff, and faculty;
(ii) measuring the success of prevention and response efforts at institutions, whether through compliance with individual policies or through broader assessments of campus climate, attitudes and safety, and providing the public with this information;
(iii) maximizing the Federal Government’s effectiveness in combatting campus rape and sexual assault by, among other measures, making its enforcement activities transparent and accessible to students and prospective students nationwide; and
(iv) promoting greater coordination and consistency among the agencies and offices that enforce the Federal laws addressing campus rape and sexual assault and support improved campus responses to sexual violence.
(span) Within 1 year of the date of this memorandum, and then on an annual basis, the Task Force shall provide a report to the President on implementation efforts with respect to this memorandum.
Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
(span) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an agency or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(c) The heads of agencies and offices shall assist and provide information to the Task Force, consistent with applicable law, as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Task Force. Each agency and office shall bear its own expenses of participating in the Task Force.
(d) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(e) The Secretary of Education is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.
Barack Obama.Memorandum of President of the United States, June 9, 2014, 79 F.R. 33843, provided:
Memorandum for the Secretary of the Treasury[, and] the Secretary of Education
A college education is the single most important investment that Americans can make in their futures. College remains a good investment, resulting in higher earnings and a lower risk of unemployment. Unfortunately, for many low- and middle-income families, college is slipping out of reach. Over the past three decades, the average tuition at a public four-year college has more than tripled, while a typical family’s income has increased only modestly. More students than ever are relying on loans to pay for college. Today, 71 percent of those earning a bachelor’s degree graduate with debt, which averages $29,400. While most students are able to repay their loans, many feel burdened by debt, especially as they seek to start a family, buy a home, launch a business, or save for retirement.
Over the past several years, my Administration has worked to ensure that college remains affordable and student debt is manageable, including through raising the maximum Pell Grant award by nearly $1,000, creating the American Opportunity Tax Credit, and expanding access to student loan repayment plans, where monthly obligations are calibrated to a borrower’s income and debt. These income-driven repayment plans, like my Pay As You Earn plan, which caps a Federal student loan borrower’s payments at 10 percent of income, can be an effective tool to help individuals manage their debt, and pursue their careers while avoiding consequences of defaulting on a Federal student loan, such as a damaged credit rating, a tax refund offset, or garnished wages.
While my Administration has made significant strides in expanding repayment options available to borrowers and building awareness of income-driven repayment plans, more needs to be done. Currently, not all student borrowers of Federal Direct Loans can cap their monthly loan payments at 10 percent of income, and too many struggling borrowers are still unaware of the options available to them to help responsibly manage their debt.
Therefore, by the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby direct the following:
Section 1. Expanding the President’s Pay As You Earn Plan to More Federal Direct Loan Borrowers. Within 1 year after the date of this memorandum, the Secretary of Education shall propose regulations that will allow additional students who borrowed Federal Direct Loans to cap their Federal student loan payments at 10 percent of their income. The Secretary shall seek to target this option to those borrowers who would otherwise struggle to repay their loans. The Secretary shall issue final regulations in a timely fashion after considering all public comments, as appropriate, with the goal of making the repayment option available to borrowers by December 31, 2015.
Sec. 2. Improving Communication Strategies to Help Vulnerable Borrowers. By December 31, 2014, the Secretary of Education shall develop, evaluate, and implement new targeted strategies to reach borrowers who may be struggling to repay their Federal student loans to ensure that they have the information they need to select the best repayment option and avoid future default. In addition to focusing on borrowers who have fallen behind on their loan payments, the Secretary’s effort shall focus on borrowers who have left college without completing their education, borrowers who have missed their first loan payment, and borrowers (especially those with low balances) who have defaulted on their loans to help them rehabilitate their loans with income-based monthly payments. The Secretary of Education shall incorporate data analytics into the communications efforts and evaluate these new strategies to identify areas for improvement and build on successful practices.
Sec. 3. Encouraging Support and Awareness of Repayment Options for Borrowers During Tax Filing Season. By September 30, 2014, the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Education shall invite private-sector entities to enter into partnerships to better educate borrowers about income-based repayment plans during the tax filing season in 2015. Building off of prior work, the Secretaries shall further develop effective ways to inform borrowers about their repayment options during the tax filing season in 2015, as well as through personalized financial management tools.
Sec. 4. Promoting Stronger Collaboration to Ensure That Students and Their Families Have the Information They Need to Make Informed Borrowing Decisions. By September 30, 2014, the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall develop a pilot project to test the effectiveness of loan counseling resources, including the Department of Education’s Financial Awareness Counseling Tool. The Secretary of Education shall convene higher education experts and student-debt researchers to identify ways to evaluate and strengthen loan counseling for Federal student loan borrowers. Additionally, the Secretaries shall collaborate with organizations representing students, teachers, nurses, social workers, entrepreneurs, and business owners, among others, to help borrowers represented by these organizations learn more about the repayment options that are available to them in financing their investment in higher education and managing their debt, and to provide more comparative, customized resources to those borrowers when possible.
Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(span) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
(d) The Secretary of Education is hereby authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.
Barack Obama.Memorandum of President of the United States, Mar. 10, 2015, 80 F.R. 13475, provided:
Memorandum for the Secretary of the Treasury[,] the Secretary of Education[,] the Commissioner of Social Security[,] the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau[,] the Director of the Office of Management and Budget[,] the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy[, and] the Director of the Domestic Policy Council
America thrived in the 20th century in large part because we had the most educated workforce in the world. Today, more than ever, Americans need knowledge and skills to meet the demands of a growing global economy. Since many students borrow to pay for postsecondary education, it is imperative they be able to manage their debt as they embark on their careers.
My Administration has taken historic action to ensure that college remains affordable and student debt remains manageable. We have eliminated tens of billions of dollars in student loan subsidies paid to banks in order to increase the maximum Pell grant by nearly $1,000 and provide a path for borrowers to limit payments on many student loans to 10 percent of income, and we have worked with the Congress to enact the American Opportunity Tax Credit, worth $10,000 over 4 years of college. We have promoted innovation and competition to bring down college costs, increased completion rates, and given consumers clear, transparent information on college performance.
College remains an excellent investment, and student loans enable many who could not otherwise do so to access further education. However, there is more work to do to help students repay their loans responsibly. In 2013, college graduates owed an average of $28,400 in Federal and private loans. More than one in eight Federal borrowers default on their loans within 3 years of leaving school. My Administration has already put in place significant protections that ensure borrowers with credit cards and mortgages are treated fairly. We can and should do much more to give students affordable ways to meet their responsibilities and repay their loans.
Now is the time for stronger protections for the more than 40 million Americans with student loan debt. All student loan borrowers should have access to an efficient and responsive complaint and feedback system that holds loan servicers accountable and promotes transparency, the information and flexibility they need to repay their loan responsibly and avoid default, and protections to ensure that they will be treated fairly even if they struggle to repay their loans.
Therefore, by the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby direct the following:
Section 1. State-of-the-Art Complaint and Feedback System.
(a) Complaints and Feedback Regarding Federal Financial Aid. By July 1, 2016, the Secretary of Education shall develop and implement a simple process for borrowers to file complaints regarding Federal financial aid, including those pertaining to lenders, loan servicers, private collection agencies, and institutions of higher education. The process shall allow people to file a complaint and monitor its progress toward resolution. In addition, the Department of Education will provide data from the complaint system to other enforcement agencies that are responsible for oversight of Federal student loan lenders, loan servicers, private collection agencies, and institutions of higher education. By October 1, 2017, and annually thereafter, the Department of Education shall publish a report summarizing and analyzing the span in and resolution of borrower complaints and feedback received through the process. By October 1, 2015, the Secretary of Education shall report to the President, through the Director of the Domestic Policy Council and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, on the optimal way to address other student complaints regarding institutions of higher education that participate in Federal student financial aid programs.
(span) Coordination Among Other Enforcement Agencies. By October 1, 2015, the Secretary of Education shall, in consultation with the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, recommend to the President, through the Director of the Domestic Policy Council and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, a process for sharing information with relevant enforcement agencies so that those enforcement agencies may refer matters where there may be violations of consumer protection law.
Sec. 2. Helping Borrowers Repay Their Loans and Avoid Default.
(a) Higher Standards for Federal Direct Loan Servicing. By January 1, 2016, the Secretary of Education shall require all Federal Direct student loan servicers to provide enhanced disclosures to borrowers and strengthened consumer protections. These disclosures and consumer protections shall be improved throughout the loan repayment process, and shall include disclosures to borrowers regarding loan transfers from one servicer to another and notifications when borrowers become delinquent or have incomplete applications to change repayment plans. As soon as practicable, the Secretary shall direct all Federal Direct student loan servicers to apply prepayments to loans with the highest interest rate to ensure consistency across servicers, unless otherwise instructed by borrowers.
(span) Regular Review of Student Loan Performance and Borrower Trends. The Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Secretary of Education shall convene quarterly an interagency task force consisting of the Department of the Treasury, Department of Education, Office of Management and Budget, and Domestic Policy Council to monitor trends in the student loan portfolio, budget costs, and borrower assistance efforts. No later than August 1, 2015, the task force shall review recommendations for the Department of Education from its members and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on best practices in performance-based contracting to better ensure that servicers help borrowers responsibly make affordable monthly payments on their student loans.
(c) Additional Protections for Student Loan Borrowers. By October 1, 2015, the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, shall issue a report to the President, through the Director of the Domestic Policy Council and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, on (i) whether statutory or regulatory changes are needed to current provisions that permit the Secretary of Education to specify acts or omissions at institutions of higher education that borrowers may assert as a defense to repayment of a direct loan; and (ii) after assessing the potential applicability of consumer protections in the mortgage and credit card markets to student loans, recommendations for statutory or regulatory changes in this area, including, where appropriate, strong servicing standards, flexible repayment opportunities for all student loan borrowers, and changes to bankruptcy laws.
(d) Higher Customer Service Standards in Income-Driven Repayment Plans. By October 1, 2015, the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of the Treasury shall report to the President, through the Director of the Domestic Policy Council and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, on the feasibility of developing a system to give borrowers the opportunity to authorize the Internal Revenue Service to release income information for multiple years for the purposes of automatically determining monthly payments under income-driven repayment plans.
(e) Finding New and Better Ways to Communicate with Student Loan Borrowers. By January 1, 2016, the Secretary of Education shall report to the President, through the Director of the Domestic Policy Council, on the findings of a pilot program to test new methods for communicating with borrowers who have Federal Direct student loans on which they are at least 140 days delinquent but which have not entered default. By January 1, 2017, the Secretary shall also, in consultation with the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, develop and implement at least five behaviorally designed pilot programs to identify the most effective ways to communicate with borrowers to maximize successful borrower repayment and help reduce delinquency and default and report to the President, through the Director of the Domestic Policy Council, on the status and results of those pilot programs.
(f) Making it Easier for Federal Direct Student Loan Borrowers to Repay Their Student Loans. As soon as practicable, the Secretary of Education shall establish a centralized point of access for all Federal student loan borrowers in repayment, including a central location for account information and payment processing for all Federal student loan servicing, regardless of the specific servicer.
Sec. 3. Fair Treatment for Struggling and Distressed Borrowers.
(a) Raising Standards for Student Loan Debt Collectors. By July 1, 2015, the Secretary of Education shall implement actions to ensure that the debt collection process for defaulted Federal student loans is fair, transparent, charges reasonable fees to defaulted borrowers, and effectively assists borrowers in meeting their obligations and returning to good standing. By January 1, 2016, the Secretary of Education shall publish a quarterly performance report on the Department’s private debt collection agency contractors that includes the underlying data, disaggregated by contractor.
(span) Providing Clarity on the Rights of Borrowers in Bankruptcy. By July 1, 2015, the Secretary of Education shall issue information highlighting factors the courts have used in their determination of undue hardship, to assist parties who must determine whether to contest an undue hardship discharge in bankruptcy of a Federal student loan.
(c) Protecting Social Security Benefits for Borrowers with Disabilities. By July 1, 2015, the Secretary of Education and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in consultation with the Commissioner of Social Security, shall develop a plan to identify Federal student loan borrowers who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and determine which beneficiaries qualify for a total and permanent disability discharge of their student loans under the Higher Education Act of 1965. The plan shall specify a process for the Secretary of Education to stop collection on qualified borrowers in order to ensure that SSDI benefits are not reduced to repay student loans that are eligible for discharge. In addition, the Secretary of Education and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in consultation with the Commissioner of Social Security, shall identify the best way to communicate with other SSDI recipients who hold student loans about their repayment options, including income-driven plans, and assist them in entering those plans.
(d) Debt Collection Pilot Program. By July 1, 2016, the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, shall report to the President, through the Director of the Domestic Policy Council and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, on the initial findings of an ongoing pilot program that uses the Department of the Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service to collect on a sample of defaulted Federal student loan debts to help determine how to improve the collection process for defaulted Federal student loans.
Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(span) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
(d) The Secretary of Education is hereby authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.
Barack Obama.