Northern Arizona University Mandates Regular and Substantive Interaction for Distance Education to Maintain Federal Financial Aid Eligibility
Northern Arizona University (NAU) is implementing federal regulations requiring 'Regular and Substantive Interaction' (RSI) between instructors and students in all distance education courses. This mandate, outlined in 34 CFR §600.2, applies to online, blended, and fully remote courses. The primary reason for this requirement is to ensure these courses remain eligible for federal financial aid. The university emphasizes that interaction must be scheduled, predictable, and initiated by the instructor, not solely upon student request. Furthermore, the interaction must be educationally meaningful, encompassing at least two of the following activities: direct instruction, feedback on coursework, responding to content questions, facilitating group discussions, or other instructional activities consistent with institutional and accreditor expectations. This initiative aims to enhance the quality of online learning experiences at NAU.
