This week, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) will hold a series of virtual public hearings ahead of anticipated negotiated rulemaking later this year. In an announcement posted last month, ED said that the forthcoming negotiated rulemaking sessions could cover a variety of issues related to accountability and student financial aid, including bringing back Obama-era Gainful Employment and Borrower Defense rules, and regulations regarding Pell Grants for incarcerated individuals.
Public hearings that precede negotiated rulemaking are typically held in person, but this year they are being held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The fact that the public hearings are virtual this year brings the potential for wider participation and observation of the hearings and, hence, greater transparency to the regulatory policymaking proceedings. (For extended discussions of costs and technology in higher education rulemaking, please see my book.)
Information on how to observe or present at this week's virtual public hearings is available at this link.