Notice2024-04136
Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review: Application for Approval of an Institution of Higher Learning Facility; Institution of Higher Learning-Program Submission List; Application for Approval of Organizations Other Than Institutions of Higher Learning; Non-Institution of Higher Learning-Program Submission List
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
February 28, 2024
Issuing agencies
Veterans Affairs Department
Abstract
In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, this notice announces that the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs, will submit the collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden, and it includes the actual data collection instrument.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 40 (Wednesday, February 28, 2024)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 40 (Wednesday, February 28, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14739-14740]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-04136]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
[OMB Control No. 2900-0932]
Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review:
Application for Approval of an Institution of Higher Learning Facility;
Institution of Higher Learning--Program Submission List; Application
for Approval of Organizations Other Than Institutions of Higher
Learning; Non-Institution of Higher Learning--Program Submission List
AGENCY: Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans
Affairs.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995,
this notice announces that the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA),
Department of Veterans Affairs, will submit the collection of
information abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes the nature
of the information collection and its expected cost and burden, and it
includes the actual data collection instrument.
DATES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of
this notice by clicking on the following link <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>, select ``Currently under Review--Open for Public
Comments'', then search the list for the information collection by
Title or ``OMB Control No. 2900-0932.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maribel Aponte, Office of Enterprise
and Integration, Data Governance Analytics (008), 810 Vermont Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20420, (202) 266-4688 or email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3875594a515a5d5416594857564c5d784e59165f574e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="eea38f9c878c8b82c08f9e81809a8bae988fc0898198">[email protected]</span></a>.
Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 2900-0932'' in any correspondence.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority: Public Law 117-333 sec. 11; 38 U.S.C. 3672 and 3674.
Title: Application for Approval of an Institution of Higher
Learning Facility, VA Form 22-10287; Institution of Higher Learning--
Program Submission List, VA Form 22-10287a; Application for Approval of
Organizations Other Than Institutions of Higher Learning, VA Form 22-
10288; Non-Institution of Higher Learning--Program Submission List, VA
Form 22-10288a.
OMB Control Number: 2900-0932.
Type of Review: Extension.
Abstract: Public Law 117-333 sec. 11, enacted January 5, 2023,
amended title 38 U.S.C. 3672, ``Approval of Courses''. This provision
of the law required VA to create and design two new uniform
applications and any accompanying documentation for approval of courses
of educational programs, and for those forms to be available for use by
October 1, 2023. The Program Office created those four forms to meet
the amended criteria of 38 U.S.C. 3672.
These forms are completed by educational institutions, training
establishments and other organizations seeking approval of one or more
programs of study for the payment of VA Education benefits rendered to
eligible beneficiaries. The institutions submit the forms to the State
Approving Agencies (SAAs) of jurisdiction for their review. By law,
each SAA has the authority to make such approvals in their respective
state. VA contracts with SAAs in each state for this approval
assessment work.
Prior to the new legislative requirement, each SAA used their own
application form(s), making it difficult for training institutions
operating in more than one state to readily complete the process, as
different states required different information. The amendment to title
38 U.S.C. 3672 now ensures uniformity in the program approval process
across all states. The uniform SAA applications are used by educational
and training institutions to apply for initial approval of their
programs for payment of VA benefits; to make revisions of existing
program approvals, or to submit withdrawals of approved programs no
longer being offered. The institutions complete either the VA Form 22-
10287, or the VA Form 22-10288, based on the type of training offered
at their institution. Institutions of Higher Learning (IHLs) will use
the VA Form 22-10287 exclusively, and all other types of educational
training establishments will use the VA Form 22-10288. Each institution
may use the associated ``Program List'', VA Form 22-10287a or VA Form
22-10288a to add, revise, or remove any program offered. In some cases,
institutions may use their
[[Page 14740]]
own documentation to make administrative revision(s) such as changes of
address, banking information, or ownership changes, when all program
offerings remain the same. The VA Forms 22-10287 and 22-10288, and any
associated program list or documentation are submitted by the
educational or training institution to the SAA of jurisdiction for
review. Currently the educational institution sends the requests for
program approval to the SAAs either via email, direct mail, an SAA
portal, or as directed by the SAA. The SAA makes an approval decision
and notifies the institution accordingly. The SAA then sends the
approval package to the VA Education Liaison Representative (ELR) of
jurisdiction. Program reviews will be conducted in the near future to
determine the availability of advanced automation technology for
submitting the applications between educational and training
institutions, SAAs and VA, which may help to reduce future burdens. The
approval package includes the application/form received from the
training institution, the SAA's findings, and any additional related
information that supports payment of GI Bill benefits, as well as a
copy of the notification sent to the training institution. The VA
Education Liaison Representative (ELR) reviews the approval package for
completeness, or requests additional information, if required. After
the package is deemed complete, the ELR processes the package by
entering the required information into VA's internal ``Web Enabled
Approval Management System (WEAMS)''. The ELR provides the report to
the training institution, which contains the final approval
information. The ELR then sends a copy to the SAA of jurisdiction.
Finally, the approval data entered in WEAMS by the ELR is then used by
Veterans Claims Examiners to adjudicate education benefit claims.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a
currently valid OMB control number. The Federal Register Notice with a
60-day comment period soliciting comments on this collection of
information was published at 88 FR 89502 on Wednesday, December 27,
2023, Page(s) 89502-89503.
Affected Public: Individuals and households.
Estimated Annual Burden: 70,400 hours.
Estimated Average Burden Time per Respondent: 8 hours or 480
minutes.
Frequency of Response: Once.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 8,800.
By direction of the Secretary.
Maribel Aponte,
VA PRA Clearance Officer, Office of Enterprise and Integration, Data
Governance Analytics, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2024-04136 Filed 2-27-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on February 28, 2024.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.