The Department of Education’s forthcoming guidance on third-party servicers and online program managers (OPMs) is shining a spotlight on contracts created to expand online academic offerings. Why did these relationships grow dramatically during the pandemic, and why are they needed now? Kelly Otter, dean of the School of Continuing Studies at Georgetown University, joins the podcast to explain. Jon, Sarah, and Mushtaq get into the Supreme Court hearing that could determine the fate of President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness initiative and other happenings in Washington.

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Here are some of the links and references from this week’s show:

Introduction: 

On Student Loan Forgiveness, Conservative Justices Skeptical of Biden Plan The Washington Post (sub. req.) | Feb. 28, 2023

Plan B To Cancel Student Loan Debt? The White House Won’t Go There Even as Pressure Mounts USA Today (sub. req.) | March 4, 2023

Fact Sheet: The President’s Budget: Extending Medicare Solvency by 25 Years or More, Strengthening Medicare, and Lowering Health Care Costs The White House | March 7, 2023

House Republicans Introduce ‘Parents Bill of Rights’ Aimed at Oversight in Education CNN | March 2, 2023

House Panel To Consider GOP Bill Banning Transgender Women, Girls From Team Sports The Hill | March 6, 2023

Conversation with Kelly Otter:

USC Pushed a $115,000 Online Degree. Graduates Got Low Salaries, Huge Debts. The Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) | Nov. 9, 2021

GAO Takes Moderate Stance on Online Program Providers Inside Higher Ed | May 6, 2022

Request for Extension on Third-Party Servicers Comment Deadline ACE | Feb. 23, 2023

Competing Models Among OPM Providers Inside Higher Ed | Oct. 25, 2017