Calculation of Completion, Graduation and Transfer-Out Rates

 The U.S. Department of Education (ED) recently published a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) announcing changes to the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) that affect an institution's annual calculation of completion, graduation and transfer-out rates.  Provisions of Public Law 105-18, entitled "1997 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Recovery From Natural Disasters, and for Overseas Peacekeeping Efforts, Including Those in Bosnia," that pertain to the calculation of these rates are effective July 1, 1998 and are self implementing.

 Public law 105-18 significantly changes 34 CFR 668.46 of the Student Right-To-Know Regulations by redefining a cohort year as one that begins September 1 and ends on August 31 of each year, rather than one begins on July 1 and ends on June 30.  This DCL provides instructions on how to calculate the 1998-99 cohort under these regulations.

 A copy of this DCL is available on ED's web-site at http://ifap.ed.gov.  If you have any questions about administrating these regulations, please contact ED's Customer Support Branch  at (800) 433-7327.