HURRICANE RITA INFORMATION - ELECTRONIC ANNOUNCEMENT #2

(09-30-05)

From: Sally L. Stroup, Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education

Subject: Length of Academic Year for Institutions Affected by Hurricane Rita

The Secretary will consider, on a case-by-case basis, requests from institutions in Louisiana and Texas that may not be able offer at least 30 weeks of instructional time due to the adverse affects of Hurricane Rita, for a reduction in the minimum number of weeks in the academic year. Such requests should be made to Jackie Shipman in the U.S. Department of Education's Dallas Regional Office at (214) 661-9490, or by email at jackie.shipman@ed.gov.

An institution that is approved for a reduction in its academic year must still obtain approval from the appropriate state licensing and accrediting agency before implementing the reduced academic year.

An institution that reduces its 2005-2006 academic year must use the reduced timeframe to determine the minimum length of eligible programs it offers. In addition, an affected institution should document the reduced academic year definition in its written policies and procedures.

Determining disbursement amounts and annual loan limits will not change as a result of these reduced academic year or term lengths. Institutions that are approved to use a reduced timeframe should use that timeframe as the definition of its academic year in these determinations.

The statute currently does not permit the Secretary to approve a reduction in an academic year to fewer than 26 weeks of instructional time, or any reduction of academic year for institutions that do not offer a two-year program leading to an associate degree or a four-year program leading to a baccalaureate degree.