Negotiators report tentative compromise on definition of “professional degree” after caucus

Negotiators on a U.S. Department of Education rulemaking committee reported a tentative compromise Wednesday on how to define "professional degree," and staff said they are drafting regulatory text to operationalize a bifurcated approach.

Tammy, reporting out from a caucus, said, "there is a deal on the table of compromise of sorts for the definition of a professional degree," and that the department's undersecretary had proposed a bifurcated "a and a b" structure for the definition.

The committee said the department would provide draft regulatory text for analysis but would not at this stage reassess cost baselines or move the package through the Office of Management and Budget for formal review. Tammy described the department's offer as a "one-shot stop offer": if the proposal is removed from the table, she said, "there will not be consensus" and the bifurcated approach would be withdrawn.

Committee members discussed next steps to review the draft text; Tammy said department staff were available to hold side discussions to walk through details with constituencies that needed more time to review. The session recessed for lunch with negotiators encouraged to continue conversations and reconvene at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time.

The report did not include finalized regulatory language or an agreed statutory citation; staff said they were preparing reg text to enable parties to see the proposal in writing and better assess its operational effects.

The negotiating committee will resume consideration of the draft regulatory text after the lunch break; staff said additional caucuses and targeted side meetings were likely before any final consensus would be recorded.