Application for Approval to Participate in Federal Student Aid Programs

Forms and Documents

Forms and supporting documents for this ICR

Document	Type	Status	Availability
2022 E-App for Partner Connect 30-day comments Response.docx	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2022-07-11	Available
Updated Paperwork Burden Statement 2022.docx	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2022-04-11	Repair queued
1845-0012 E-App Supporting Statement Part A - 30D.docx	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2022-07-11	Available

IC Document Collections

Information collection document groups

IC ID	Collection	Type	Status	Form
22167	Application to Participate in Federal Student Financial Aid: Public Institutions	Other-E-App Application Fields	Modified
209356	Application for Approval to Participate in Federal Student Financial Aid Programs	Other-E-App Application Fields	Modified
193845	Application to Participate in Federal Student Financial Aid: Private Sector	Other-E-App Application Fields	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1845-0012	ICR Reference No: 202204-1845-002
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 202203-1845-005
Agency/Subagency: ED/FSA	Agency Tracking No: ED-2022-SCC-0049
Title: Application for Approval to Participate in Federal Student Aid Programs
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 12/05/2022
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 07/21/2022
Terms of Clearance:

table that charts list comparision

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	12/31/2025	36 Months From Approved	12/31/2022
Responses	7,286	0	7,286
Time Burden (Hours)	24,812	0	24,352
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: Section 487(c) of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, as amended, requires that the Secretary of Education prescribe regulations to ensure that any funds postsecondary institutions receive under the HEA are used solely for the purposes specified in and in accordance with the provision of the applicable programs. The concept of this federal gatekeeping has a long history, originating in 1952. Part H, Subpart 3, Section 498 of the HEA of 1965, as amended, gives the Secretary the responsibility for determining qualifications of institutions of higher education to participate in programs under the HEA. To comply with this requirement Section 498(b) of the HEA specified that the Secretary prepare and prescribe a single application form. The Department of Education (the Department) developed the Application for Approval to Participate in the Federal Student Financial Aid Programs to comply with the statutory requirements of collecting necessary information under the HEA. An institution must use this Application to apply for approval to be determined to be eligible and if the institution wishes, to participate; to expand its eligibility; or to continue to participate in the Title IV programs. An institution must also use the Application to report certain required data as part of its recordkeeping requirements contained in the regulations under 34 C.F.R. Part 600 (Institutional Eligibility under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended). The Department uses the information reported on the Application in its determination of whether an institution meets the statutory and regulatory requirements. This request is for a revision of the current information collection. The Department is transitioning the current Application to an electronic webform housed within the FSA Partner Connect system (fsapartners.ed.gov).

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 20 USC 1094,1099c Name of Law: Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	87 FR 21644	04/12/2022
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	87 FR 42163	07/14/2022
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 3

table that charts list of burden

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Application for Approval to Participate in Federal Student Financial Aid Programs
Application to Participate in Federal Student Financial Aid: Private Sector
Application to Participate in Federal Student Financial Aid: Public Institutions

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ICR Summary of Burden

table that charts list of burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	7,286	7,286	0	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	24,812	24,352	0	460	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This revision retains the current estimate of 7,286 responses from the prior filing, but increases the number of estimated hours to 24,812 (+460 hours). There have been no significant program changes for domestic institution Recertification, Expanded Eligibility, and Eligibility updates, so the hours required for these application types have not changed. The few question changes will be completed the first time the school submits an application after the new electronic version goes live, and any additional time will be offset by the streamlined system updates. Additional time is added for Foreign Recertification and for Change in Ownership applications. The additional data collected incorporates information required to complete a thorough evaluation of the institution while limiting the need for requesting additional follow-up information. It will take longer for the school to complete, and longer for ED to review, these applications.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $710,185

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 07/21/2022

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