The Providing Distance Education for Foreign Institutions Act would allow U.S. federal student aid to be used for distance education programs offered by foreign colleges and universities, provided certain conditions are met. Specifically, foreign institutions could offer programs with up to 12.5 percent of coursework through distance education, must be evaluated by an accrediting agency or government entity to verify they can effectively deliver online instruction, and students receiving federal aid must be physically present in the foreign country during their distance education courses. The bill takes effect upon enactment and applies to academic semesters beginning at least three months after passage. This change primarily affects international students and U.S. citizens studying abroad who wish to use federal financial aid for hybrid programs at foreign institutions.
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