1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Higher Education Standards Improvement Act”.
Higher Education Standards Improvement Act
A BILL
To improve program integrity through State evaluation of institutions of higher education, requirements for student complaint submissions, and the establishment of policies and procedures to address closure of institutions of higher education, and for other purposes.
2. State responsibilities
Section 495(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1099a(a)) is amended—
in paragraph (2)—
by inserting “and the accrediting agency or association involved” after “Secretary”;
by striking “revokes a license” and inserting “takes a negative action, or revokes a license,”; and
by striking “and” at the end;
in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(4) evaluate each institution of higher education located in the State or seeking authorization to operate in the State to determine if such institution of higher education meets the applicable standards of the State relating to—
“(A) facilities, equipment, and supplies; and
“(B) measures of program length and other factors relevant for a student or graduate to receive a professional license from the State;
“(5) certify to the Secretary that the State shall—
“(A) accept student complaints from—
“(i) all students attending an institution of higher education located in the State; and
“(ii) all students who are residents of the State and attend an institution of higher education not located in the State through correspondence or distance education; and
“(B) report to the Secretary and accrediting bodies—
“(i) relevant student complaints received by the State, including multiple student complaints that present consistent allegations with respect to an institution of higher education in the State; and
“(ii) such other complaints the Secretary determines necessary; and
“(6) establish policies and procedures to anticipate and respond to the closure of an institution of higher education, which shall include—
“(A) the maintenance of sufficient cash reserves (or an equivalent alternative) in accordance with regulations issued pursuant to section 498(c)(6)(A) to ensure repayment of any required refunds;
“(B) a plan to address ensuring custodial record-keeping of institutional records and student transcripts in the case of such a closure;
“(C) the maintenance of contact information adequate to ensure communication directly between the State and each student in the case of such a closure; and
“(D) in the case of an institution of higher education located in the State, to develop a process to identify when a campus of such institution of higher education closes in any State.”