Office of Postsecondary Education - Home Page

Welcome to the Office of Postsecondary Education Web site.

The Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) formulates Federal postsecondary education policy and administers programs that address critical national needs in support of our mission to increase access to quality postsecondary education. OPE is led by Sally L. Stroup, Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education. OPE includes several key components:

Policy, Planning, and Innovation (PPI) develops postsecondary education policy and legislative proposals and is responsible for budget formulation and forecasting for programs administered by OPE. PPI leads OPE strategic planning and is responsible for developing OPE program performance measures. The Program Oversight Staff oversees the program monitoring efforts for OPE. The Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education is also part of PPI. Further information about PPI can be obtained by calling (202) 502-7950.

Higher Education Programs (HEP) administers programs that increase access to postsecondary education for disadvantaged students, strengthen the capacity of colleges and universities that serve a high percentage of disadvantaged students, and provide teacher and student development resources. HEP also administers international education and foreign language studies programs as well as the Historically Black College and University Capital Financing Program. Higher Education Programs is led by Deputy Assistant Secretary Wilbert Bryant. Additional information is available by calling (202) 502-7555.

Accreditation and State Liaison (ASL) has responsibility for the accrediting agency recognition process and for the coordination of activities between States and the U.S. Department of Education that impact institutional participation in the Federal financial assistance programs. Further information is available by calling (202) 219-7011. The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity provides recommendations to the Secretary of Education regarding the recognition of accrediting agencies as reliable authorities concerning the quality of education and training offered by postsecondary educational institutions and programs. The National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation makes determinations as to whether the standards used by foreign countries to accredit medical schools are comparable to the standards used to accredit programs leading to the M.D. degree in the United States. The Executive Director for both committees may be reached at (202) 219-7009.

General information about OPE and its programs may be obtained by calling (202) 502-7750.

Programs in the Office of Postsecondary Education continually seek field readers for our grant competitions. If you would like to become a field reader for programs in OPE you must register on line using the OPE Field Reader Application.

U.S. Department of Education
Office of Postsecondary Education
1990 K Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20006