The Office of the Vice President for Regional Campuses and Online Education, the Office of Online Education, and the Office of Collaborative Academic Programs are ensuring that IU’s response to COVID-19 is in full compliance with all accreditor and regulatory expectations.
The most recent regulatory updates are listed below:
The U.S. government clarified its guidance for fall 2020. Current students can remain in the U.S. and do not have to enroll in in-person classes. This is true even if IU has to transition to fully online later in the fall. Please see the Office of International Services webpage for more information.
August 21, 2020: The U.S. Department of Education (“Department”), Office of Postsecondary Education issued a document titled Updated deadlines for flexibilities related to Coronavirus (COVID-19). The Department is extending the guidances issued on March 5, April 3 , May 15, July 9, and July 10 through either December 31, 2020, or the end of the payment period that includes a termination of the federally declared national emergency related to the coronavirus (COVID-19), whichever comes later.
May 15, 2020: The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education issued a document titled UPDATED Guidance for interruptions of study related to Coronavirus (COVID-19). The guidance provides updated information that expands upon the Department’s March 5, 2020 and April 3, 2020 guidance.
March 17, 2020: The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education issued a document titled Information for Accrediting Agencies Regarding Temporary Flexibilities Provided to Coronavirus Impacted Institutions or Accrediting Agencies. The guidance document provides both institutions and accreditors with flexibility regarding distance education, and are designed to save institutions time in seeking approvals.
March 12, 2020: The U.S. Department of Education, Student Privacy Policy Office, issued “Frequently Asked Questions regarding the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and COVID-19” to assist school officials working with public health officials in managing public health issues related to COVID-19, while protecting the privacy of students’ education records.
March 5, 2020: The U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid Office released a letter providing broad approval to institutions to use online technologies to accommodate students on a temporary basis without going through the regular approval processes, including permitting accreditors to waive their distance education review requirements for institutions working to accommodate students whose enrollment is otherwise interrupted as a result of COVID-19.
The CHEA website describes recent federal guidance and a framework that federally recognized accrediting organizations are using to work with institutions and programs.
HLC is waiving its distance education review requirements for institutions to accommodate students whose enrollment is interrupted as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
On April 13, 2020, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (ICHE) published “Waiver Policy on Distance Education Authorization in Response to the COVID-19 (SARS CoV2) Pandemic.”
Under this policy, ICHE waived the existing policy on distance education and provided temporary authorization for all certificate and degree programs offered by all public institutions to be delivered through distance education. ICHE has confirmed that this temporary authorization or waiver will expire at the end of the 2021 summer semester.
All programs temporarily moved online but admitting NEW students online require authorization. Any programs intended for permanent authorization for online delivery must seek approval in a timely manner, such that authorization may be completed prior to the start of the Fall 2021 academic term.
On Monday, April 13, 2020, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (ICHE) published “Waiver Policy on Distance Education Authorization in Response to the COVID-19 (SARS CoV2) Pandemic.” Under this policy, ICHE will waive the existing policy on distance education and provide temporary authorization for all certificate and degree programs offered by all public institutions to be delivered through distance education effective immediately. This temporary authorization or waiver will last through the end of the 2021 summer semester or earlier, if the lifting of public health mandates that led to this temporary change in instructional modality occur before the 2021 summer semester, in which case the Commission will notify all institutions of this change.
Authorization by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education is needed for any program offered by a public institution that has 80 percent or more of the total required credits delivered by distance education.
March 18, 2020 Press Release provides information and resources for institutions, students and parents.
March 13, 2020 NC-SARA Statement on COVID-19.
International students are required to have an F-1 visa to study as a full-time student in the United States. Typically, F-1 students can count only one online class each term toward a full course of study while still maintaining visa eligibility, according to DHS regulations.
Indiana University’s transition to online classes amid COVID-19 concerns will not endanger our international students’ F-1 visa status pursuant to a March 9, 2020 announcement from DHS/ICE. IU’s international students taking online classes as a result of COVID-19 are not at risk of losing their visa.
