[Federal Register: December 13, 1996 (Volume 61, Number 241)] [Notices] [Page 65925-65927] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [[Page 65925]] _______________________________________________________________________ Part IX Department of Education _______________________________________________________________________ Office of Postsecondary Education; Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Work- Study, and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Programs; Notice [[Page 65926]] DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Postsecondary Education; Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Work-Study, and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Programs AGENCY: Department of Education. ACTION: Notice of the closing date for institutions to file an ``Application for Institutional Participation'' (ED Form E-40-34P, OMB #1840-0098) to participate in the Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Work- Study, and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant programs for the 1997-98 award year. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Secretary invites currently ineligible institutions of higher education that filed a Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participate (FISAP) (ED Form 646-1) in one or more of the ``campus- based programs'' for the 1997-98 award year to submit to the Secretary an ``Application for Institutional Participation'' and all documents required for an eligibility and certification determination. The campus-based programs are the Federal Perkins Loan Program, the Federal Work-Study Program, and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program and are authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. The 1997-98 award year is July 1, 1997, through June 30, 1998. DATE: Closing Date for Filing Application and Required Documents. To participate in the campus-based programs in the 1997-98 award year, a currently ineligible institution must mail or hand-deliver its ``Application for Approval to Participate'' on or before January 13, 1997. The application along with all documents required for an eligibility and certification determination must be submitted to the Institutional Participation Division at one of the addresses indicated below. ADDRESSES: Applications and Required Documents Delivered by Mail. The application for approval to participate and required documents delivered by mail must be addressed to the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education, Division, Accreditation and Eligibility Determination Initial Participation Branch, Room 3522, Regional Office Building 3, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20202-5323. An applicant must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following: (1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark; (2) a legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the U.S. Postal Service; (3) a dated shipping label, invoice or receipt from a commercial carrier; or (4) any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of Education. If an application is sent through the U.S. Postal Service, the Secretary does not accept either of the following as proof of mailing: (1) A private metered postmark, or (2) a mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service. An applicant should note that the U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before relying on this method, an applicant should check with its local post office. An applicant is encouraged to use certified or at least first class mail. Institutions that submit institutional participation applications and required documents after the closing date will not be considered for funding under the campus-based programs for award year 1997-98. Applications and Required Documents Delivered by Hand. An institutional participation application and required documents delivered by hand must be taken to the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education, Institutional Participation Division, Room 3522, Regional Office Building 3, (GSA Building), 7th and D Streets, S.W., Washington, D.C. We will accept hand-delivered applications between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Eastern time) daily, except Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays. An institutional participation application for the 1997-98 award year that is delivered by hand will not be accepted after 4:30 p.m. on the closing date. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the three campus-based programs, the Secretary allocates funds to eligible institutions of higher education. The Secretary will not allocate funds under the campus-based programs for award year 1997-98 to any currently ineligible institution unless the institution files its ``Application for Institutional Participation'' and other required documents by the closing date. If the institution submits its application for approval to participate or other required documents after the closing date, the Secretary will use this application in determining the institution's eligibility to participate in the campus-based programs beginning with the 1998-99 award year. For purposes of this notice, ineligible institutions only include: (1) An institution that has not been designated as an eligible institution by the Secretary but has previously filed a FISAP; or (2) An additional location of an eligible institution that is currently not included in the Department's eligibility certification for that eligible institution but has been included in the institution's 1997-98 FISAP. The Secretary wishes to advise institutions that the institutional eligibility form, ``Application for Approval to Participate,'' should not be confused with the FISAP form that institutions were required to submit electronically as of October 1, 1996, in order to be considered for funds under the campus-based programs for the 1997-98 award year. Applicable Regulations The following regulations apply to the campus-based programs: (1) Student Assistance General Provisions, 34 CFR Part 668. (2) Federal Perkins Loan Program, 34 CFR Part 674. (3) Federal Work-Study Program, 34 CFR Part 675. (4) Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program, 34 CFR Part 676. (5) Institutional Eligibility Under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, 34 CFR Part 600. (6) New Restrictions on Lobbying, 34 CFR Part 82. (7) Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) and Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants), 34 CFR Part 85. (8) Drug-Free Schools and Campuses, 34 CFR Part 86. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information concerning designation of eligibility, contact: Liz Neverson or John Frohlicher, Accreditation and Eligibility Determination Division, Initial Participation Branch, U.S. Department of Education, Room 3522, Regional Office Building 3, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20202-5343. Telephone: (202) 708-4906. For technical assistance concerning the FISAP or other operational procedures of the campus-based programs, contact: Sandra K. Donelson, Institutional Financial Management Division, U.S. Department of Education, P.O. Box 23781, Washington, D.C. 20026-0781. Telephone: (202) 708-9751. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1- 800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday. (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Numbers: 84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program; [[Page 65927]] 84.033 Federal Work-Study Program; 84.038 Federal Perkins Loan Program) (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1087aa et seq.; 42 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.; and 20 U.S.C. 1070b et seq.) Dated: December 9, 1996. David A. Longanecker, Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education. [FR Doc. 96-31664 Filed 12-12-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P