What's New OPE Funding Opportunities On August 14, 2008, the Higher Education Opportunity Act was signed into law. This law reauthorizes and extends the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). The HEA provides the authorizing legislation for most of the programs administered by OPE, as well as for the Federal Student Aid Programs.

Welcome to the Office of Postsecondary Education Web site.

The Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) formulates federal postsecondary education policy and administers programs that address critical national needs in support of our mission to increase access to quality postsecondary education. OPE includes two major components:

Policy, Planning, and Innovation (PPI) develops postsecondary education policy and legislative proposals and is responsible for budget formulation and forecasting for programs administered by OPE. PPI leads OPE strategic planning and is responsible for developing program performance measures. The Program Oversight Staff is responsible for overseeing program monitoring throughout OPE. PPI is responsible for a number of data collections and for developing the Secretary's Annual Report on Teacher Quality. Further information about PPI can be obtained by calling (202) 502-7950.

Higher Education Programs (HEP) administers programs that increase access to postsecondary education for disadvantaged students, strengthen the capacity of colleges and universities that serve a high percentage of disadvantaged students, provide teacher and student development resources, and increase expertise in foreign languages and area or international studies. The Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) provides grants to colleges and universities to promote reform, innovation, and improvement in postsecondary education. FIPSE also administers awards for Higher Education Disaster Relief.

Accreditation and State Liaison (ASL) has responsibility for the accrediting agency recognition process and for the coordination of activities between states and the U.S. Department of Education that impact institutional participation in the federal financial assistance programs. ASL also provides a list of Postsecondary Educational Institutions and Programs Accredited by Accrediting Agencies and State Approval Agencies Recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. Further information is available by calling (202) 219-7011.

The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity provides recommendations to the Secretary of Education regarding the recognition of accrediting agencies as reliable authorities concerning the quality of education and training offered by postsecondary educational institutions and programs. The National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation makes determinations as to whether the standards used by foreign countries to accredit medical schools are comparable to the standards used to accredit programs leading to the M.D. degree in the United States. The Executive Director for both committees may be reached at (202) 219-7009.

Additional information about HEP is available by calling (202) 502-7555. General information about OPE and its programs may be obtained by calling (202) 502-7750.

U.S. Department of Education
Office of Postsecondary Education
1990 K Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20006