November 21, 2025
Mr. Smucker (for himself and Mr. Schneider) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce
To amend title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide program eligibility for distance education programs offered by foreign institutions of higher education.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Providing Distance Education for Foreign Institutions Act
.
Sec. 2. Eligibility of distance education programs offered by foreign institutions of higher education
(a) In general
Section 481(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1088(b)) is amended—
(1)
by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and
(2)
by inserting after paragraph (3), the following:
(4)
(A)
An otherwise eligible program that is offered by a foreign institution and is offered in part through distance education is eligible for the purposes of this title if—
(i)
not more than 12.5 percent of such program consists of courses offered principally through distance education;
(ii)
the foreign institution has been evaluated and determined by an outside oversight entity, such as an accrediting agency or association or government entity, to have the capability to effectively deliver distance education programs; and
(iii)
the students receiving aid under this title are physically present in the country where the foreign institution is located during the distance education instruction.
(B)
In calculating the percentage of a program offered through distance education for purposes of clause (i) of subparagraph (A), any course that is part of such a program that requires a student’s regular in-person attendance for more than 50 percent of the instruction, but also includes one or more distance education components as part of the course, shall not be considered to be offered principally through distance education.
(b) Effective date and application
The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act, and shall apply with respect to the first semester (or the equivalent) that begins after such date, but not earlier than 3 months after such date.
(c) Conforming amendment
Section 83002(b) of Public Law 119–21 is amended by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
(1)
by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) as paragraphs (4), (5), and (6), respectively; and