- Policy changes requested but not recommended for public discussion at this time include:
- Increase the limit on how many names an institution may register
- Allow an institution to put one or more name “off limits” even without registering them (e.g., CHICAGO.EDU)
- Extend .EDU eligibility to K-12 schools
- Extend .EDU eligibility to non-US institutions
The .EDU Web site will report that the Policy Board considered these suggestions and decided not to bring them forward for public discussion at this time.
- Policy change requested and recommended for public discussion at this time:
- Eligibility for System and District Offices (now called “Governing Bodies”).
Proposed policy change: Modify the .EDU eligibility requirements to comprise two categories of organizations. Category 1 would be labeled “Accredited Institutions”; Category 2 would be labeled “Governing Bodies”. Category 1 would contain the current eligibility criteria (postsecondary institutions accredited by one of the agencies on the Department of Education list of National Recognized Accrediting Agencies). Category 2 would contain this text:
Entities which, based on their administrative, statutory, or constitutional responsibilities, have as their principal activity the governance, supervision, or regulation of institutions in Category 1.
Discussion: EDUCAUSE has received numerous requests to make this change since the transition from VeriSign. Interested parties include the American Association of Community Colleges, on behalf of the approximately 150 Community College District or System Offices, as well as a number of individual systems. The language here is based on discussions with Judith Eaton of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and David Baime of the American Association of Community Colleges, and is intended to be even-handed with respect to all types of aggregations of .EDU-eligible institutions (including community college systems, state systems, for-profit groups, etc.) Because there is no definitive list of such governing bodies, the process of requesting a .EDU name under Category 2 will require the applicant to submit a form indicating how it satisfies the eligibility requirements. The Board feels that this change is entirely within the spirit of assigning .EDU names to the major, accredited units of systems of higher education.
EDUCAUSE plans to open a 90-day period of public comments on this proposed change on the .EDU web site in accordance with established procedures.
