668.90—Initial and final decisions.

(a) (1) A hearing official issues a written initial decision in a hearing by certified mail, return receipt requested to—

(A) The designated department official who began a proceeding against an institution or third-party servicer;

(B) The institution or servicer, as applicable; and

(ii) The hearing official may also transmit the notice by other, more expeditious means if practical.

(iii) The hearing official issues the decision within the latest of the following dates:

(A) The 30th day after the last submission is filed with the hearing official.

(B) The 60th day after the last submission is filed with the hearing official if the Secretary, upon request of the hearing official, determines that the unusual complexity of the case requires additional time for preparation of the decision.

(C) The 50th day after the last day of the hearing, if the hearing official does not request the parties to make any posthearing submission.

(2) The hearing official's initial decision states whether the imposition of the fine, limitation, suspension, or termination sought by the designated department official is warranted, in whole or in part. If the designated department official brought a termination action against the institution or servicer, the hearing official may, if appropriate, issue an initial decision to fine the institution or servicer, as applicable, or, rather than terminating the institution's participation or servicer's eligibility, as applicable, impose one or more limitations on the institution's participation or servicer's eligibility.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a)(2) of this section—

(i) If, in a termination action against an institution, the hearing official finds that the institution has violated the provisions of § 668.14(b)(18), the hearing official also finds that termination of the institution's participation is warranted;

(ii) If, in a termination action against a third-party servicer, the hearing official finds that the servicer has violated the provisions of § 668.82(d)(1), the hearing official also finds that termination of the institution's participation or servicer's eligibility, as applicable, is warranted;

(iii) If an action brought against an institution or third-party servicer involves its failure to provide surety in the amount specified by the Secretary under § 668.15, the hearing official finds that the amount of the surety established by the Secretary was appropriate, unless the institution can demonstrate that the amount was unreasonable;

(iv) In a termination action taken against an institution or third-party servicer based on the grounds that the institution or servicer failed to comply with the requirements of § 668.23(c)(3), if the hearing official finds that the institution or servicer failed to meet those requirements, the hearing official finds that the termination is warranted;

(v) In a termination action against an institution based on the grounds that the institution is not financially responsible under § 668.15(c)(1), the hearing official finds that the termination is warranted unless the institution demonstrates that all applicable conditions described in § 668.15(d)(4) have been met; and

(vi) In a termination action against an institution or third-party servicer on the grounds that the institution or servicer, as applicable, engaged in fraud involving the administration of any Title IV, HEA program, the hearing official finds that the termination action is warranted if the hearing official finds that the institution or servicer, as applicable, engaged in that fraud. Examples of fraud include—

(A) Falsification of any document received from a student or pertaining to a student's eligibility for assistance under a Title IV, HEA program;

(B) Falsification, including false certifications, of any document submitted by the institution or servicer to the Department of Education;

(1) The legal authority of an institution to provide postsecondary education in the State in which the institution is located; or

(2) The accreditation or preaccreditation of an institution or any of the institution's educational programs or locations;

(D) Falsification, including false certifications, of any document submitted to a guaranty agency under the Federal Stafford Loan, Federal PLUS, and Federal SLS programs, an independent auditor, an eligible institution, or a third-party servicer;

(E) Falsification of any document submitted to a third-party servicer by an institution or to an institution by a third-party servicer pertaining to the institution's participation in a Title IV, HEA program; and

(F) Falsification, including false certifications, of any document pertaining to the performance of any loan collection activity, including activity that is not required by the HEA or applicable program regulations.

(4) The hearing official bases findings of fact only on evidence considered at the hearing and on matters given judicial notice. If a hearing is conducted solely through written submissions, the parties must agree to findings of fact.

(b) (1) In a suspension proceeding, the Secretary reviews the hearing official's initial decision and issues a final decision within 20 days after the initial decision. The Secretary adopts the initial decision unless it is clearly unsupported by the evidence presented at the hearing.

(2) The Secretary notifies the institution or servicer and, in the case of a suspension proceeding against a third-party servicer, each institution that contracts with the servicer of the final decision. If the Secretary suspends the institution's participation or servicer's eligibility, the suspension takes effect on the later of—

(i) The day that the institution or servicer receives the notice; or

(ii) The date specified in the designated department official's original notice of intent to suspend the institution's participation or servicer's eligibility.

(3) A suspension may not exceed 60 days unless a designated department official begins a limitation or termination proceeding under this subpart before the expiration of that period. In that case, the period may be extended until a final decision is issued in that proceeding according to paragraph (c) of this section.

(c) (1) In a fine, limitation, or termination proceeding, the hearing official's initial decision automatically becomes the Secretary's final decision 30 days after the initial decision is issued and received by both parties unless, within that 30-day period, the institution or servicer, as applicable, or the designated department official appeals the initial decision to the Secretary.

(2) (i) A party may appeal the hearing official's initial decision by submitting to the Secretary, within 30 days after the party receives the initial decision, a brief or other written statement that explains why the party believes that the Secretary should reverse or modify the decision of the hearing official.

(ii) At the time the party files its appeal submission, the party shall provide a copy of that submission to the opposing party.

(iii) The opposing party shall submit its brief or other responsive statement to the Secretary, with a copy to the appellant, within 30 days after the opposing party receives the appellant's brief or written statement.

(iv) The appealing party may submit proposed findings of fact or conclusions of law. However, the proposed findings of fact must be supported by—

(A) The evidence introduced into the record at the hearing;

(B) Stipulations of the parties if the hearing consisted of written submissions; or

(v) Neither party may introduce new evidence on appeal.

(vi) The initial decision of the hearing official imposing a fine or limiting or terminating the institution's participation or servicer's eligibility does not take effect pending the appeal.

(vii) The Secretary renders a final decision. The Secretary may delegate to a designated department official the functions described in paragraph (c)(2) (vii) through (ix) of this section.

(viii) In rendering a final decision, the Secretary considers only evidence introduced into the record at the hearing and facts agreed to by the parties if the hearing consisted only of written submissions and matters that may be judicially noticed.

(ix) If the hearing official finds that a termination is warranted pursuant to paragraph (a)(3) of this section, the Secretary may affirm, modify, or reverse the initial decision, or may remand the case to the hearing official for further proceedings consistent with the Secretary's decision. If the Secretary affirms the initial decision without issuing a statement of reasons, the Secretary adopts the opinion of the hearing official as the decision of the Secretary. If the Secretary modifies, remands, or reverses the initial decision, in whole or in part, the Secretary's decision states the reasons for the action taken.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1840-0537)

Code of Federal Regulations

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1082, 1094 )

Code of Federal Regulations

[59 FR 22448, Apr. 29, 1994, as amended at 59 FR 34964, July 7, 1994; 60 FR 61774, Dec. 1, 1995; 65 FR 65637, Nov. 1, 2000]

CFR

668.90—Initial and final decisions.

Code of Federal Regulations

Code of Federal Regulations