MEMBER ADVISORY

December 3, 2015

U.S. Department of Education webinar to address new process for Title V eligibility designation

Following the U.S. Department of Education’s change to the Higher Education Act’s Title V and Title III Eligibility requirements, institutions may have to apply for a waiver to a portion of the requirements relating to core expenses and enrollment of students in need to gain designation.

The Department of Education is now implementing an Eligibility Matrix, a process that uses enrollment and fiscal data from the 2013-2014 academic year submitted by institutions to IPEDS to make eligibility determinations for possible grant awards in FY 2016. Institutions can verify Title V or Title III grant program eligibility by examining their entry on the Eligibility Matrix on the Department's Institutional Service Eligibility website.

Though all colleges and universities can be affected, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) predicts California community colleges could be impacted due to the Board of Governors waiver, which may result in fewer students accessing the Pell Grant and other forms of eligible federal student aid than required.

Hispanic-Serving Institutions meeting the 25 percent Hispanic enrollment criterion are urged to use the new process immediately to view their status on the Eligibility Matrix. Institutions failing to meet any of the requirements are required to submit a waiver application by Jan. 4, 2016.

The U.S. Department of Education will host a webinar addressing the designation process on Dec. 17. Registration is limited and on a first-come first-serve basis. Institutions seeking information on waiver application are advised to attend the webinar.

To view the HACU member advisory issued on Nov. 20, 2015, click here. The full text of the Federal Register notice and the application related information can be found here. For additional information, contact HACU government relations staff at 202-833-8361 or at DCGR@hacu.net.

HACU Member Advisories are a service of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU).