Section 7802 - Student protections(a)General rule.--If the United States Department of Education discontinues its recognition of a national accrediting agency, the Commonwealth shall take all actions necessary to ensure the following with respect to each student who attends any of the Pennsylvania postsecondary education institutions that are currently accredited by the national accrediting agency that loses Federal recognition:(1) Such student will remain eligible for all State financial assistance through the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency and any other State agency through which such student may be eligible for assistance, provided the student meets all other qualifications for the financial assistance. When advancing financial assistance funds during a school's transition to new accreditation, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency may follow the United States Department of Education's issuance of federal Title IV financial assistance, along with any other terms and conditions applied during this transition.(2) Such student will remain eligible for State licensure, certification or any other professional credential for which the student has trained, provided the student meets all other qualifications and passes any exams or assessments necessary for such licensure, certification or credential.(b) Transition of institutions to new accreditors.--The Pennsylvania postsecondary education institutions that are accredited by the national accrediting agency that loses Federal recognition shall be provided a transition period of no less than 18 months to receive new accreditation by another accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education. The student protections provided in subsection (a) shall remain in effect for students attending these institutions throughout this transition period. If a Pennsylvania postsecondary education institution has not received new accreditation by the end of this 18-month transition period, the agencies of the Commonwealth may continue the student protections provided in subsection (a) until new accreditation is received if the agency deems the extension of the protections to be in the best interest of the students attending the institution.(c) Student disclosures.--During the transition period to new accreditation, the institution shall provide a disclosure to the recipients of any state aid provided for in subsection (a) (1). This disclosure shall provide the status of the institution's application for new accreditation. It may also contain other information important to students.Added by P.L. TBD 2016 No. 149, § 2, eff. 11/4/2016.