Subchapter I General Provisions
Subchapter II Teacher Quality Enhancement
Subchapter III Institutional Aid
Subchapter IV Student Assistance
Subchapter V Developing Institutions
Subchapter VI International Education Programs
Subchapter VII Graduate and Postsecondary Improvement Programs
Subchapter VIII Miscellaneous
Subchapter IX Additional Programs

Terms Used In U.S. Code > Title 20 > Chapter 28 - Higher Education Resources and Student Assistance

  • action team: means a rural natural resources and economic diversification action team established by the Secretary pursuant to section 6613(b) of this title. See 7 USC 6612
  • Agreement: means the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas, adopted by the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on November 24, 1993. See 16 USC 5502
  • Agreement: means the Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, done at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in Rome, Italy, November 22, 2009, and signed by the United States November 22, 2009. See 16 USC 7402
  • agricultural commodity: means any agricultural commodity, food, feed, fiber, or livestock (including livestock as it is defined in section 1471(2) of this title and insects), and any product thereof. See 7 USC 5602
  • Anadromous fish: means fish of the species listed in the Annex to the Convention that migrate into the Convention area. See 16 USC 5002
  • Anadromous stocks: means stocks of species listed in the Annex to the Convention that migrate into the Convention area. See 16 USC 5002
  • area studies: means a program of comprehensive study of the aspects of a society or societies, including study of its history, culture, economy, politics, international relations and languages. See 20 USC 1132
  • assets: means cash on hand, including the amount in checking and savings accounts, time deposits, money market funds, trusts, stocks, bonds, other securities, mutual funds, tax shelters, qualified education benefits (except as provided in paragraph (3)), and the net value of real estate, income producing property, and business and farm assets. See 20 USC 1087vv
  • Atlantic striped bass: means members of stocks or populations of the species Morone saxatilis, which ordinarily migrate seaward of the waters described in paragraph (3)(A)(i). See 16 USC 5152
  • Authorized officer: means a law enforcement official authorized to enforce this chapter under section 5008(a) of this title. See 16 USC 5002
  • Board: means the National Recording Preservation Board. See 2 USC 1741
  • borrower: as used in this part shall include a parent borrower under this section. See 20 USC 1078-2
  • business assets: means property that is used in the operation of a trade or business, including real estate, inventories, buildings, machinery, and other equipment, patents, franchise rights, and copyrights. See 20 USC 1087vv
  • Canal: means the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, including its towpath. See 16 USC 410y
  • Chambers: A judge's office.
  • Civil forfeiture: The loss of ownership of property used to conduct illegal activity.
  • coastal State: means &mdash. See 16 USC 5152
  • coastal waters: means &mdash. See 16 USC 5152
  • collective work: is a work, such as a periodical issue, anthology, or encyclopedia, in which a number of contributions, constituting separate and independent works in themselves, are assembled into a collective whole. See 17 USC 101
  • Commission: means the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission provided for by article VIII of the Convention. See 16 USC 5002
  • Commission: means the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission established under the interstate compact consented to and approved by the Congress in Public Laws 77-539 and 81-721. See 16 USC 5152
  • compilation: includes collective works. See 17 USC 101
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Contingent beneficiary: Receiver of property or benefits if the first named beneficiary fails to receive any or all of the property or benefits in question before his (her) death.
  • Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
  • Convention: means the Convention for the Conservation of Anadromous Stocks of the North Pacific Ocean, signed in Moscow, February 11, 1992. See 16 USC 5002
  • Convention area: means the waters of the North Pacific Ocean and its adjacent seas, north of 33 degrees North Latitude,1 beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured. See 16 USC 5002
  • copies: includes the material object, other than a phonorecord, in which the work is first fixed. See 17 USC 101
  • Copyright Royalty Judge: is a Copyright Royalty Judge appointed under section 802 of this title, and includes any individual serving as an interim Copyright Royalty Judge under such section. See 17 USC 101
  • Counterclaim: A claim that a defendant makes against a plaintiff.
  • default: includes only such defaults as have existed for (1) 270 days in the case of a loan which is repayable in monthly installments, or (2) 330 days in the case of a loan which is repayable in less frequent installments. See 20 USC 1085
  • derivative work: is a work based upon one or more preexisting works, such as a translation, musical arrangement, dramatization, fictionalization, motion picture version, sound recording, art reproduction, abridgment, condensation, or any other form in which a work may be recast, transformed, or adapted. See 17 USC 101
  • Devise: To gift property by will.
  • Directed fishing: means fishing targeted at a particular species or stock of fish. See 16 USC 5002
  • Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
  • Ecologically related species: means living marine species which are associated with anadromous stocks found in the Convention area, including, but not restricted to, both predators and prey of anadromous fish. See 16 USC 5002
  • economically disadvantaged: means economic hardship due to the loss of jobs or income (labor or proprietor) derived from forestry, the wood products industry, or related commercial enterprises such as recreation and tourism in the national forest. See 7 USC 6612
  • educational programs abroad: means programs of study, internships, or service learning outside the United States which are part of a foreign language or other international curriculum at the undergraduate or graduate education levels. See 20 USC 1132
  • Electronic funds transfer: The transfer of money between accounts by consumer electronic systems-such as automated teller machines (ATMs) and electronic payment of bills-rather than by check or cash. (Wire transfers, checks, drafts, and paper instruments do not fall into this category.) Source: OCC
  • eligible institution: means an institution of higher education, as defined in section 1002 of this title, except that, for the purposes of sections 1077(a)(2)(C)(i) and 1078(b)(1)(M)(i) of this title, an eligible institution includes any institution that is within this definition without regard to whether such institution is participating in any program under this subchapter and includes any institution ineligible for participation in any program under this part pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection. See 20 USC 1085
  • eligible lender: means &mdash. See 20 USC 1085
  • eligible not-for-profit holder: means an eligible lender under subsection (d) (except for an eligible lender described in subsection (d)(1)(E)) that requests a special allowance payment under section 1087-1(b)(2)(I)(vi)(II) of this title or a payment under section 1141 of this title and that is&mdash. See 20 USC 1085
  • Enforcement officer: means a law enforcement official authorized by any Party to enforce this chapter. See 16 USC 5002
  • establishment: is a store, shop, or any similar place of business open to the general public for the primary purpose of selling goods or services in which the majority of the gross square feet of space that is nonresidential is used for that purpose, and in which nondramatic musical works are performed publicly. See 17 USC 101
  • Ex officio: Literally, by virtue of one's office.
  • excludable income: means &mdash. See 20 USC 1087vv
  • Exclusive economic zone: means the zone established by Proclamation Numbered 5030, dated March 10, 1983. See 16 USC 5002
  • exclusive economic zone: has the meaning given such term in section 3(6) 1 of the Magnuson Act (16 U. See 16 USC 5152
  • Executive session: A portion of the Senate's daily session in which it considers executive business.
  • export education: means educating, teaching and training to provide general knowledge and specific skills pertinent to the selling of goods and services to other countries, including knowledge of market conditions, financial arrangements, laws and procedures. See 20 USC 1132
  • Fair Credit Reporting Act: A federal law, established in 1971 and revised in 1997, that gives consumers the right to see their credit records and correct any mistakes. Source: OCC
  • FAO: means the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. See 16 USC 5502
  • Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation: A government corporation that insures the deposits of all national and state banks that are members of the Federal Reserve System. Source: OCC
  • Federal lands: means &mdash. See 16 USC 5207
  • Federal question: Jurisdiction given to federal courts in cases involving the interpretation and application of the U.S. Constitution, acts of Congress, and treaties.
  • Fee simple: Absolute title to property with no limitations or restrictions regarding the person who may inherit it.
  • Fish: means finfish, mollusks, crustaceans, and all other forms of marine animal and plant life other than marine mammals and birds. See 16 USC 5002
  • fish: means finfish, mollusks, crustaceans, and all other forms of marine animal and plant life other than marine mammals and birds. See 16 USC 7402
  • Fishing: means &mdash. See 16 USC 5002
  • fishing: means &mdash. See 16 USC 5152
  • Fishing vessel: means &mdash. See 16 USC 5002
  • food service or drinking establishment: is a restaurant, inn, bar, tavern, or any other similar place of business in which the public or patrons assemble for the primary purpose of being served food or drink, in which the majority of the gross square feet of space that is nonresidential is used for that purpose, and in which nondramatic musical works are performed publicly. See 17 USC 101
  • Forbearance: A means of handling a delinquent loan. A
  • Forgery: The fraudulent signing or alteration of another's name to an instrument such as a deed, mortgage, or check. The intent of the forgery is to deceive or defraud. Source: OCC
  • Garnishment: Generally, garnishment is a court proceeding in which a creditor asks a court to order a third party who owes money to the debtor or otherwise holds assets belonging to the debtor to turn over to the creditor any of the debtor
  • Grace period: The number of days you'll have to pay your bill for purchases in full without triggering a finance charge. Source: Federal Reserve
  • Guarantor: A party who agrees to be responsible for the payment of another party's debts should that party default. Source: OCC
  • guaranty agency: means any State or nonprofit private institution or organization with which the Secretary has an agreement under section 1078(b) of this title. See 20 USC 1085
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • high seas: means the waters beyond the territorial sea or exclusive economic zone (or the equivalent) of any nation, to the extent that such territorial sea or exclusive economic zone (or the equivalent) is recognized by the United States. See 16 USC 5502
  • high seas fishing vessel: means any vessel of the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States used or intended for use&mdash. See 16 USC 5502
  • holder: means an eligible lender who owns a loan. See 20 USC 1085
  • Impeachment: (1) The process of calling something into question, as in "impeaching the testimony of a witness." (2) The constitutional process whereby the House of Representatives may "impeach" (accuse of misconduct) high officers of the federal government for trial in the Senate.
  • Incidental taking: means catching, taking, or harvesting a species or stock of fish while conducting directed fishing for another species or stock of fish. See 16 USC 5002
  • Indemnification: In general, a collateral contract or assurance under which one person agrees to secure another person against either anticipated financial losses or potential adverse legal consequences. Source: FDIC
  • independent: when used with respect to a student, means any individual who&mdash. See 20 USC 1087vv
  • institution of higher education: means , in addition to institutions which meet the definition of section 1001 of this title, institutions which meet the requirements of section 1001 of this title except that (1) they are not located in the United States, and (2) they apply for assistance under this subchapter in consortia with institutions which meet the definition of section 1001 of this title. See 20 USC 1132
  • insurance beneficiary: means the insured or its authorized representative assigned in accordance with section 1079(d) of this title. See 20 USC 1085
  • Interest rate: The amount paid by a borrower to a lender in exchange for the use of the lender's money for a certain period of time. Interest is paid on loans or on debt instruments, such as notes or bonds, either at regular intervals or as part of a lump sum payment when the issue matures. Source: OCC
  • international business: means profit-oriented business relationships conducted across national boundaries and includes activities such as the buying and selling of goods, investments in industries, the licensing of processes, patents and trademarks, and the supply of services. See 20 USC 1132
  • international conservation and management measures: means measures to conserve or manage one or more species of living marine resources that are adopted and applied in accordance with the relevant rules of international law, as reflected in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and that are recognized by the United States. See 16 USC 5502
  • internationalization of curricula: means the incorporation of international or comparative perspectives in existing courses of study or the addition of new components to the curricula to provide an international context for American business education. See 20 USC 1132
  • Irrevocable trust: A trust arrangement that cannot be revoked, rescinded, or repealed by the grantor.
  • IUU fishing: means any activity set out in paragraph 3 of the 2001 FAO International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing. See 16 USC 7402
  • Joint resolution: A legislative measure which requires the approval of both chambers.
  • Judgement: The official decision of a court finally determining the respective rights and claims of the parties to a suit.
  • lawful hunt: means the taking or harvesting (or attempted taking or harvesting) of wildlife or fish, on Federal lands, which&mdash. See 16 USC 5207
  • Legal tender: coins, dollar bills, or other currency issued by a government as official money. Source: U.S. Mint
  • Legislative session: That part of a chamber's daily session in which it considers legislative business (bills, resolutions, and actions related thereto).
  • length: means &mdash. See 16 USC 5502
  • Librarian: means the Librarian of Congress. See 2 USC 1741
  • line of credit: means an arrangement or agreement between the lender and the borrower whereby a loan is paid out by the lender to the borrower in annual installments, or whereby the lender agrees to make, in addition to the initial loan, additional loans in subsequent years. See 20 USC 1085
  • Lineal descendant: Direct descendant of the same ancestors.
  • listed IUU vessel: means a vessel that is included in a list of vessels having engaged in IUU fishing or fishing-related activities in support of IUU fishing that has been adopted by a regional fisheries management organization of which the United States is a member, or a list adopted by a regional fisheries management organization of which the United States is not a member if the Secretary determines the criteria used by that organization to create the IUU list is comparable to criteria adopted by RFMOs of which the United States is a member for identifying IUU vessels and activities. See 16 USC 7402
  • Local government: means any political subdivision of a State, including a county, municipality, city, town, township, or a school or other special district created pursuant to State law. See 16 USC 410y
  • Magnuson Act: means the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U. See 16 USC 5152
  • Magnuson-Stevens Act: means the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U. See 16 USC 7402
  • Mandatory spending: Spending (budget authority and outlays) controlled by laws other than annual appropriations acts.
  • moratorium area: means the coastal waters with respect to which a declaration under section 5154(a) of this title applies. See 16 USC 5152
  • moratorium period: means the period beginning on the day on which moratorium is declared under section 5154(a) of this title regarding a coastal State and ending on the day on which the Commission notifies the Secretaries that that State has taken appropriate remedial action with respect to those matters that were the case of the moratorium being declared. See 16 USC 5152
  • National Bank: A bank that is subject to the supervision of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is a bureau of the U.S. Treasury Department. A national bank can be recognized because it must have "national" or "national association" in its name. Source: OCC
  • National Bank Examiner: An employee of the Comptroller of the Currency whose function is to examine national banks periodically to determine the financial position of a bank and the security of its deposits. The examiner also verifies that the bank maintains procedures consistent with federal banking laws and regulations. Source: OCC
  • national forest: means lands included in the National Forest System (as defined in section 1609(a) of this title). See 16 USC 5207
  • national park: means lands and waters included in the National Park System (as defined in section 100501 of title 54). See 16 USC 5207
  • Native Hawaiian: as used in this subchapter , means a descendant of not less than one-half part of the blood of the races inhabiting the Hawaiian Islands previous to the year 1778. See 16 USC 410jj-6
  • net assets: means the current market value at the time of application of the assets (as defined in subsection (f)), minus the outstanding liabilities or indebtedness against the assets. See 20 USC 1087vv
  • oath: includes affirmation, and "sworn" includes affirmed. See 1 USC 1
  • Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
  • Outlays: Outlays are payments made (generally through the issuance of checks or disbursement of cash) to liquidate obligations. Outlays during a fiscal year may be for payment of obligations incurred in prior years or in the same year.
  • Park: means the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, as herein established. See 16 USC 410y
  • Party: means Canada, Japan, the Russian Federation, the United States, and any other nation that may accede to the Convention. See 16 USC 5002
  • Person: means any individual, partnership, corporation, private nonprofit organization, or club. See 16 USC 410y
  • person: means any individual (whether or not a citizen or national of the United States), any corporation, partnership, association, or other entity (whether or not organized or existing under the laws of any State), and any Federal, State, local, or foreign government or any entity of any such government. See 16 USC 5502
  • phonorecords: includes the material object in which the sounds are first fixed. See 17 USC 101
  • Plan: means a plan for managing Atlantic striped bass, or an amendment to such plan, that is prepared and adopted by the Commission. See 16 USC 5152
  • Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC
  • Precedent: A court decision in an earlier case with facts and law similar to a dispute currently before a court. Precedent will ordinarily govern the decision of a later similar case, unless a party can show that it was wrongly decided or that it differed in some significant way.
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  • proprietor: is a n individual, corporation, partnership, or other entity, as the case may be, that owns an establishment or a food service or drinking establishment, except that no owner or operator of a radio or television station licensed by the Federal Communications Commission, cable system or satellite carrier, cable or satellite carrier service or programmer, provider of online services or network access or the operator of facilities therefor, telecommunications company, or any other such audio or audiovisual service or programmer now known or as may be developed in the future, commercial subscription music service, or owner or operator of any other transmission service, shall under any circumstances be deemed to be a proprietor. See 17 USC 101
  • Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
  • Public debt: Cumulative amounts borrowed by the Treasury Department or the Federal Financing Bank from the public or from another fund or account. The public debt does not include agency debt (amounts borrowed by other agencies of the Federal Government). The total public debt is subject to a statutory limit.
  • publication: has the meaning given such term in section 101 of title 17. See 2 USC 1741
  • publicly: means &mdash. See 17 USC 101
  • qualified education benefit: means &mdash. See 20 USC 1087vv
  • qualified higher education expenses: has the meaning given the term in section 529(e) of title 26. See 20 USC 1087vv
  • Ranking minority member: The highest ranking (and usually longest serving) minority member of a committee or subcommittee.
  • residential property: means a single-family dwelling, the construction of which began before July 1, 1991, together with such land on which the dwelling and appurtenant buildings are located as is in the same ownership as such dwelling and as the Secretary designates as reasonably necessary for the owner's continued use and occupancy of the dwelling. See 16 USC 410x-2
  • rural community: means &mdash. See 7 USC 6612
  • Secretaries: means the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior or their designees. See 16 USC 5152
  • Secretary: means the Secretary of the Interior. See 16 USC 410y
  • Secretary: means the Secretary of Agriculture. See 7 USC 5602
  • Secretary: means the Secretary of Agriculture. See 16 USC 4503d
  • Secretary: means the Secretary of State. See 16 USC 5002
  • Secretary: means the Secretary of Commerce or a designee of the Secretary of Commerce. See 16 USC 5152
  • Secretary: means &mdash. See 16 USC 5207
  • Secretary: means the Secretary of Commerce. See 16 USC 5502
  • Secretary: means the Secretary of Agriculture. See 7 USC 6612
  • Secretary: means the Secretary of Commerce or his or her designee. See 16 USC 7402
  • Service: means the Foreign Agricultural Service of the Department of Agriculture. See 7 USC 5602
  • Sole ownership: The type of property ownership in which one individual holds legal title to the property and has full control of it.
  • sound recording: has the meaning given such term in section 101 of title 17. See 2 USC 1741
  • special combat pay: means pay received by a member of the Armed Forces because of exposure to a hazardous situation. See 20 USC 1087vv
  • State: means any State, and includes the District of Columbia. See 16 USC 410y
  • State: means each of the 50 States, Guam, American Samoa, the Republic of Palau (until the Compact of Free Association enters into effect), Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. See 16 USC 4503d
  • Supplemental appropriation: Budget authority provided in an appropriations act in addition to regular or continuing appropriations already provided. Supplemental appropriations generally are made to cover emergencies, such as disaster relief, or other needs deemed too urgent to be postponed until the enactment of next year's regular appropriations act.
  • supplementary work: is a work prepared for publication as a secondary adjunct to a work by another author for the purpose of introducing, concluding, illustrating, explaining, revising, commenting upon, or assisting in the use of the other work, such as forewords, afterwords, pictorial illustrations, maps, charts, tables, editorial notes, musical arrangements, answer material for tests, bibliographies, appendixes, and indexes, and an "instructional text" is a literary, pictorial, or graphic work prepared for publication and with the purpose of use in systematic instructional activities. See 17 USC 101
  • Tenancy in common: A type of property ownership in which two or more individuals have an undivided interest in property. At the death of one tenant in common, his (her) fractional percentage of ownership in the property passes to the decedent
  • treaty party: is a country or intergovernmental organization other than the United States that is a party to an international agreement. See 17 USC 101
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • tribally controlled college or university: has the meaning given the term in section 1801 of title 25. See 20 USC 1132
  • Truth in Lending Act: The Truth in Lending Act is a federal law that requires lenders to provide standardized information so that borrowers can compare loan terms. In general, lenders must provide information on Source: OCC
  • Uniform Commercial Code: A set of statutes enacted by the various states to provide consistency among the states' commercial laws. It includes negotiable instruments, sales, stock transfers, trust and warehouse receipts, and bills of lading. Source: OCC
  • United States: when used in a geographical sense, comprises the several States, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the organized territories under the jurisdiction of the United States Government. See 17 USC 101
  • United States: includes each of the States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the territories and possessions of the United States. See 7 USC 5602
  • United States Section: means the United States Commissioners of the Commission. See 16 USC 5002
  • untaxed income and benefits: means &mdash. See 20 USC 1087vv
  • Uphold: The decision of an appellate court not to reverse a lower court decision.
  • useful article: is a n article having an intrinsic utilitarian function that is not merely to portray the appearance of the article or to convey information. See 17 USC 101
  • User fees: Fees charged to users of goods or services provided by the government. In levying or authorizing these fees, the legislature determines whether the revenue should go into the treasury or should be available to the agency providing the goods or services.
  • Usury: Charging an illegally high interest rate on a loan. Source: OCC
  • Variable Rate: Having a "variable" rate means that the APR changes from time to time based on fluctuations in an external rate, normally the Prime Rate. This external rate is known as the "index." If the index changes, the variable rate normally changes. Also see Fixed Rate.
  • Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
  • vessel: means any vessel, ship of another type, or boat used for, equipped to be used for, or intended to be used for, fishing or fishing-related activities, including container vessels that are carrying fish that have not been previously landed. See 16 USC 7402
  • vessel of the United States: means &mdash. See 16 USC 5502
  • veteran: means any individual who&mdash. See 20 USC 1087vv
  • veteran: includes a person who died in the active military, naval, air, or space service. See 38 USC 1301
  • Veto: The procedure established under the Constitution by which the President/Governor refuses to approve a bill or joint resolution and thus prevents its enactment into law. A regular veto occurs when the President/Governor returns the legislation to the house in which it originated. The President/Governor usually returns a vetoed bill with a message indicating his reasons for rejecting the measure. In Congress, the veto can be overridden only by a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House.
  • wildlife refuge: means lands and waters included in the National Wildlife Refuge System (as established by section 668dd of this title). See 16 USC 5207
  • work of the United States Government: is a work prepared by an officer or employee of the United States Government as part of that person's official duties. See 17 USC 101