Information on The Distance Education Demonstration Program:
Due to the overwhelming trend of distance education, Congress has implemented the Distance Education Demonstration Program in the 1998 Higher Education Amendments. The program hopes to increase student access to distance education and to test the quality of distance education. Additionally, the program helps to find ways to improve the worth of a distance education and to see the importance of financial aid in distance learning. Currently, there are some limits on which institutions can receive aid.
Limits include:
- Schools are ineligible for aid if at least 50% of their students are enrolled in a distance education program or if 50% or more of their courses are offered through a distance education program.
- The school’s academic year must consist of at least 30 weeks in order to receive financial aid.
A number of schools (have a Title IV status) implement the Distance Education Demonstration Program. Please contact your school for more information. Until Congress passes an act to allow distance education students to receive financial aid similarly to on-campus students, the Distance Education Demonstration Program is in effect.
Although receiving financial aid is difficult for distance education students, there are alternative methods in receiving aid. Don’t lose hope! Contact your school for assistance.
