Key Provisions of S.1614

Section 131, Page 32

"Section 131 (20 U.S.C. 1015) is amended--
(1)by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
    “(b) COLLEGE CONSUMER INFORMATION.-
        “(1) IN GENERAL- Each year the Secretary shall make available to the public, on an annual basis, the information described in paragraph (2), in a form that enables the public to compare the information among institutions of higher education. Such information shall be made available for each of the categories described in paragraph (3) and updated regularly.
        “(2) INFORMATION- The information described in this paragraph is the following:
            “(A) Tuition and fees for a full-time undergraduate student.
            “(B) Cost of attendance for a full-time undergraduate student.
            “(C) The average annual cost of attendance for a full-time undergraduate student for the 10 academic years preceding the year for which the information is made available under this subsection, or if data are not available for such 10 preceding academic years, data for as, or if data are not available for the 10 preceding academic years, data for as many of such 10 preceding academic years as are available.
            “(D) The percentage of full-time undergraduate students receiving financial assistance, including--
                “(i) Federal grants;
                “(ii) State and local grants;
                “(iii) institutional grants; and
                “(iv) loans to students.
            “(E) The percentage of students successfully transferring from another institute of higher education.
            “(F) Information regarding students who have completed an undergraduate degree and who enroll in graduate education.
            “(G) A ranking of the dollar and percentage increases in tuition for all institutions of higher education for which data are available, disaggregated by quartile."

Section 487, Page 256

"(h) Transfer of Credit Policies. -
        "(1) Disclosure - Each institution of higher education participating in any program under this title shall publicly disclose in a readable and comprehensible manner the institution's transfer of credit policies which shall include a statement of the institution's current transfer of credit policies that includes, at a minimum -

            "(A) a statement that transfer of credit shall not be denied solely on the basis of the agency or association that accredited such other institution of higher education, if that agency or association is recognized by the Secretary pursuant to section 496 to be a reliable authority as to the quality of the education or training offered; and
            "(B) a list of institutions of higher education with which the institution has established an articulation agreement."

Section 487, Page 257

"Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to -
            "(A) authorize an officer or employee of the Department to exercise any direction, supervision, or control over the curriculum, program of instruction, administration, or personnel of any institution of higher education or any accrediting agency or assocation;"

Section 499, Page 289

"(10) confirms, as part of the agency or assication's review for accreditation or reaccreditation that the institution has transfer of credit policies -
            "(A) that are publicly disclosed;
            "(B) that do not deny transfer of credit based solely on the accreditation of the sending institution, if the agency or assocation accrediting the sending institution is recognized by the Secretary pursuant to this section; and"
            "(C) in which acceptance or denial of transfer of credit is decided according to criteria established in guidelines developed by the institution's admissions committee.".