Wednesday, May 13, 2026
2:00 – 3:15 pm ET

Align Teams, Systems & Policies to Remain Compliant

Rapid regulatory change is redefining what it means to operate compliant, high quality distance education programs. With new U.S. Department of Education regulations taking effect July 1, 2026, including those tied to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB), the earnings premium test, accountability frameworks, and Workforce Pell, institutions are facing accelerated timelines and heightened scrutiny. Additionally, the proposed 2026 NC SARA policy modifications signal a shift toward expanded state oversight and more complex expectations for institutions serving out of state learners.

For higher education leaders, compliance officers, and online learning professionals, the challenge is no longer simply “meeting the rule”; it is learning to plan for regulatory volatility, align cross functional teams, and build systems that can adapt quickly without compromising academic integrity, student experience, or institutional reputation.

Gather your faculty, staff, and administrators involved in online and distance education and join us on May 13, 2026, when our expert presenter will equip you with the clarity, necessary frameworks, and practical tools needed to navigate the impending Federal and SARA policy shifts. He will translate complex regulatory language into clear, actionable implications for online program design, governance, and long term growth.

Leave with a grounded understanding of what is changing, why it matters, and the confidence to build institutional readiness that endures beyond the next rulemaking cycle.

Topics Covered

You will gain crucial and actionable takeaways that will help you:

• Interpret and operationalize the latest ED and NC SARA changes by identifying which rules apply, who must be involved in implementation, and what immediate steps are needed to reduce the compliance burden while increasing accuracy.
• Strengthen cross functional governance for online learning by clarifying roles across academic affairs, compliance, legal, enrollment, IT, and marketing to ensure shared accountability and consistent decision making.
• Shift from minimum compliance to strategic compliance by reframing regulatory alignment as a driver of institutional reputation, student trust, and long term program viability.
• Develop a proactive monitoring and risk scanning mindset that anticipates regulatory shifts, identifies early warning signs, and prevents compliance gaps from emerging during audits or student complaints.
• Evaluate and update institutional policies, systems, and reporting workflows to ensure readiness for July 1, 2026, requirements that include OBBB related reporting, earnings premium test implications, and Workforce Pell considerations.
• Build a sustainable institutional response framework that supports rapid adaptation to future rulemaking cycles, SARA policy changes, and evolving expectations for distance education quality and oversight.
  

Presenter

Ricky LaFosse Esq. is currently the Associate Director for Compliance and Policy for Academic Innovation at the University of Michigan.
Click here for full bio.

Invite your entire team for one low price!

• Live 75-minute online session with carefully selected expert(s)
  
• Unlimited access for your entire team to view webinar recording for two years (available after live event)
• Materials for your team (handouts, discussion questions, etc.)
• Certificate of completion for each participant
  

Instructions for live webinar access for your group are provided to you immediately upon checkout. Instructions for accessing the on-demand recording will be emailed to you approximately 24 hours following the live webinar. Feel free to contact us at info@paper-clip.com or 1-866-295-0505 with any questions. For information about licensing this webinar for unlimited distribution on your institution’s internal network/server, email info@paper-clip.com.

PaperClip Communications welcomes persons with disabilities to join our webinars. If you anticipate needing an accommodation or have questions about the online access provided, please email info@paper-clip.com at least two weeks in advance of your participation.