STUDY OF AID TO LESS-THAN-HALF-TIME STUDENTS.

SEC. 1113. STUDY OF AID TO LESS-THAN-HALF-TIME STUDENTS.(a) Study Required.—The Secretary shall conduct a study on making and expanding the student aid available under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.) to less-than-half-time students. The Secretary shall submit a report on the results of such study, including the Secretary’s recommendations, to the authorizing committees not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act.(b) Subjects for Study.—The study required by this section shall, at a minimum, examine the following:(1) The existing sources of Federal aid for less-than-half-time students seeking a college degree or certificate.(2) The demand for Federal aid for less-than-half-time students and whether the demand is satisfied by existing sources of Federal aid, taking into consideration not only the number of less-than-half-time students currently seeking a college 122 STAT. 3498 degree or certificate, but also any increase in the number of less-than-half-time students that may result from an expansion of Federal aid for less-than-half-time students seeking a college degree or certificate.(3) The potential costs to the Federal Government and the potential benefits that could be received by students resulting from expanding Federal aid for less-than-half-time students seeking a college degree or certificate.(4) The barriers to expanding Federal aid for less-than-half-time students, including identifying—(A) statutory and regulatory barriers, such as student eligibility, institutional eligibility, needs analysis, program integrity, and award amounts; and(B) other factors that may limit participation in an expanded Federal aid program for less-than-half-time students.(c) Recommendations To Be Provided.—The Secretary’s recommendations under this section shall include recommendations for designing a demonstration student loan program tailored to less-than-half-time students. The recommendations shall include any required statutory or regulatory modifications, as well as proposed accountability mechanisms to protect students, institutions, and the Federal investment in higher education.(d) Definitions.—In this section—(1) the term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Education; and(2) the term “less-than-half-time student” means a student who is carrying less than one-half the normal full-time work load for the course of study that the student is pursuing, as determined by the institution such student is attending.