Committee asks whether professional master's programs should be reported separately to IPEDS; chief economist to follow up

A committee member asked the U.S. Department of Education whether it could develop a definition for professional master's degree programs and require those programs to be reported separately to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).

The transcript records the question directed at Jenna Colvin: "Jenna, could the department develop a definition of professional master's degree program and, require these programs to separately report to IPEDS?"

Staff responded that Jason Delisle, described in the transcript as the committee's chief economist, would be involved in follow-up discussions. An unidentified speaker said Jeff would convene a sidebar with Jason Delisle to examine the question in detail and that the three named participants would continue the conversation separately.

The transcript does not record a final answer or commitment to a change in IPEDS reporting; staff said the economics office would "look into this." The committee scheduled follow-up conversations to allow constituencies to see how such a reporting change might work before any formal regulatory text or reporting requirement was proposed.