On Tuesday, October 24, the US Education Department released a fact sheet titled Protecting Students Through Final Regulations That Strengthen Department of Education Oversight and Monitoring of Colleges and Universities. Several rules are included, but of particular interest to MACRAO membership is that colleges and universities will be restricted from withholding course credits paid for with Federal money from students' transcripts.

This Inside Higher Ed article talks about some of the interpretation challenges that colleges and universities will need to navigate, particularly as it relates to the concept of institutions figuring out whether to and how to attempt to withhold "parts of a transcript" when other parts are restricted from being withheld, or to eliminate withholding transcripts completely.

AACRAO and NACUDO are holding an open forum webinar on November 17, 2023 from 1-2 pm EST (so noon-1 pm CST) to discuss these regulations including the provisions related to transcript withholding practice. Individuals interested in participating in this webinar can register for it by clicking the "Register Here" button on the following website:

New Federal Regulations and Transcript Withholding. What does this mean to my Institution? (aacrao.org)

MACRAO Governmental Relations Committee