S 478 — GRAD Act

Summary

Graduation Reporting for Accuracy and Decision-Making Act or the GRAD Act This bill expands consumer information disclosure requirements related to student completion or graduation rates at institutions of higher education (IHEs) that participate in federal student-aid programs. Currently, such IHEs must disclose the completion or graduation rate of first-time, full-time, certificate- or degree-seeking undergraduate students. This bill expands disclosure requirements to include the completion or graduation rates of non-first-time and half-time certificate- or degree-seeking undergraduate students. The bill also sets forth new time periods for calculating the completion or graduation rates for programs of study that are less than four years.

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in Senate Current html February 16, 2023

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill amends existing law to enhance the consumer information requirements regarding student completion and graduation rates.

• 20 U.S.C. 1015a(i)(1)(J)

  (J)(i) For programs of study 4 years of length or longer-- (I) the percentages of first-time, full- time, degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at the institution who obtain a degree or certificate within each of the times for completion or graduation described in subclauses (I) through (III) of clause (iii); (II) the percentages of first-time, part- time, degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at the institution who obtain a degree or certificate within each of the times for completion or graduation described in subclauses (I) through (III) of clause (iii); (III) the percentages of non-first time, full-time, degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at the institution who obtain a degree or certificate within each of the times for completion or graduation described in subclauses (I) through (III) of clause (iii); and (IV) the percentages of non-first-time, part-time, degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at the institution who obtain a degree or certificate within each of the times for completion or graduation described in subclauses (I) through (III) of clause (iii). (ii) For programs of study less than 4 years-- (I) the percentages of first-time, full- time, degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at the institution who obtain a degree or certificate within each of the times for completion or graduation described in subclauses (I) through (IV) of clause (iii); (II) the percentages of first-time, part- time, degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at the institution who obtain a degree or certificate within each of the times for completion or graduation described in subclauses (I) through (IV) of clause (iii); (III) the percentages of non-first-time, full-time, degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at the institution who obtain a degree or certificate within each of the times for completion or graduation described in subclauses (I) through (IV) of clause (iii); and (IV) the percentages of non-first-time, part-time, degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at the institution who obtain a degree or certificate within each of the times for completion or graduation described in subclauses (I) through (IV) of clause (iii). (iii) For purposes of this subparagraph, the times for completion or graduation are as follows: (I) The normal time for completion of, or graduation from, the student's program. (II) 150 percent of the normal time for completion of, or graduation from, the student's program. (III) 200 percent of the normal time for completion of, or graduation from, the student's program. (IV) 300 percent of the normal time for completion of, or graduation from, the student's program. (iv) In making publicly available the percentages described in this subparagraph, the Secretary shall display each percentage in a consistent manner and with equal visibility.

  This addition establishes new requirements for reporting student completion and graduation rates based on various enrollment statuses and completion timelines.

• 20 U.S.C. 1092(a)(1)

  each completion or graduation rate of certificate- or degree-seeking, full-time, undergraduate students entering such institutions; → each completion or graduation rate for each type of student and program described in clauses (i) and (ii) of section 132(i)(1)(J);

  This change broadens the requirement for institutions to report completion or graduation rates to include various student types and program descriptions.

• 20 U.S.C. 1092(a)(3)

  within 150 percent of the normal time for completion of or graduation from the program → within the time for completion or graduation described in section 132(i)(1)(J) applicable to such student and such program

  This update allows for more flexible reporting of completion or graduation timelines based on the new definitions provided in the bill.

Action History

1. February 16, 2023

   Introduced in Senate

2. February 16, 2023

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Sponsors

• Mitt Romney · Primary

Subjects