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Aaron Lacey

Aaron Lacey

Partner

St. Louis
314 552 6405 direct

  • OVERVIEW
  • INSIGHTS
  • NEWS & EVENTS

INDUSTRIES

PRACTICES

  • Education

    • Vanderbilt University Law School,

      J.D. and Certificate in Law and Business, 2002

    • Duke University,

      B.A., 1999

  • Admissions

    • District of Columbia

    • Missouri

    • Virginia

    • Virginia USDC, Eastern District

  • Affiliations

    • National Association of College and University Attorneys

    • American Bar Association

  • Employment

    • Thompson Coburn LLP

      Partner, 2014-Present

    • Vatterott Educational Centers, Inc.

      Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Strategic Development, 2010-2014

    • Dow Lohnes PLLC (now Cooley LLP)

      Attorney, Postsecondary Education Practice Group, 2002-2010

Aaron's practice is dedicated entirely to helping institutions of higher education navigate complex legal and regulatory matters.

With time served both as outside and in-house counsel, Aaron has substantive experience in the array of federal, state, and accrediting agency laws and standards that govern postsecondary institutions, and is a frequent writer and speaker on topics relating to higher education policy and the federal financial aid programs. He also is the editorial director of REGucation, the firm's higher education law and policy blog.

In October 2017, Aaron was selected by the U.S. Department of Education to serve as one of 17 negotiators charged with overhauling the Department's complex and controversial "borrower defense" rule. The Department selected Aaron to represent and negotiate on behalf of general counsels, attorneys and compliance officers at postsecondary institutions nationwide.

Aaron regularly represents institutions in administrative proceedings before state licensing entities, accrediting agencies, and the U.S. Department of Education, including matters arising from audits, program reviews, and investigations of the Office of Inspector General.

In support of institutional initiatives, he assists clients in drafting and negotiating a wide variety of agreements, including domestic and international articulation, consortium, licensing, marketing, and agency contracts, and in the case of postsecondary mergers and acquisitions, stock and asset purchase agreements. Aaron also assists with the management of regulatory and government agency relationships, policy creation and implementation, strategic planning, and compliance systems design.

Aaron previously served for four years as Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Strategic Development for a multi-campus, postsecondary institution, where he managed regulatory and government affairs for the institution's 24 campus locations and its online division, as well as aspects of the institution's public relations and strategic development efforts. Prior to going in-house, Aaron served for nearly eight years in the higher education practice of a prominent Washington, D.C., law firm.

Aaron is a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys and of the American Bar Association.

TCLEs

A Midsummer Update on USED Rulemaking Activity

Charitable Giving for Institutions of Higher Education

Advertising and Communications for Institutions of Higher Education

Guidance on Borrower Defense Regulations

USED’s Proposed Title IX Rules: A Detailed Examination

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Borrower Defense

Disclosure Requirements for Online and Distance Professional Licensure Programs

Borrower Defense Rule: Negotiated Rulemaking Session 3

Borrower Defense Rule: Negotiated Rulemaking Session 2

Borrower Defense Rule: Negotiated Rulemaking Session 1

Gainful Employment Disclosures and Student Warnings

New Audit Guidelines for Higher Educational Institutions

Final Borrower Defense Rule Webinar Series

Borrower Defense Rule Webinar Series

Gainful Employment Webinar Series

Competency-Based Education

The Clery Act

Blogs

New USED Gainful Employment rule warrants immediate attention

Colleges and universities must now report all litigation to the U.S. Department of Education

USED's proposed Title IX rules: Complimentary webinar now available on-demand

2016 Borrower Defense Rule now in effect: Free webinars and quick thoughts

Mergers and acquisitions in higher education: Considering the letter of intent

Getting ready for ED’s new state authorization rule

Final webinar on borrower defense rulemaking coming up February 21

Gainful employment: Alternate earnings appeals due February 1

Cybersecurity lapses could cost Title IV eligibility for higher ed

DACA: Next steps for institutions of higher education

Publications

Panelist,
"The Latest in Federal Policy," University Professional & Continuing Education Association – Annual Conference March 2018

Presenter,
"Managing ADA Accommodations in the Clinical Setting," National Conference on Allied Health Education March 2018

Presenter,
"An Update on the Rewrite of the Federal ‘Borrower Defense’ Rule," National Association of State Administrators and Supervisors of Private Schools – Webinar March 2018

Presenter,
"Consumer Information Boot Camp and What’s Next for USED’s Borrower Defense Rule," Missouri Association of Student Financial Aid Personnel - Annual Conference November 2017

"How to Project Gainful Employment Rates,"
Thompson Coburn Desk Guide, March 2016

Co-Author, "The Nuts and Bolts of Reauthorization,"
Career Education Review, October 2015

Co-Author, "Rethinking the Regulatory Environment of Competency-Based Education,"
American Enterprise Institute's Center on Higher Education Reform, May 2015

Presentations

Presenter, “The State of Gainful Employment: Current and Future Challenges for Schools”;
National Association of State Administrators and Supervisors of Private Schools – Annual Conference, April 2017

Panelist, “Regulatory and Compliance Aspects of International Online and Continuing Education”;
University Professional & Continuing Education Association, February 2017

Co-Presenter, “FSA: The New Audit Guide”;
New York State Financial Aid Administrators Association, January 2017

Presenter, “Hot Topics in Higher Education”;
Louisiana Association of Private Colleges and Schools Executive Management Meeting, January 2017

Presenter, “USED Program Review Preparation and Unwrapping the Borrower Defense Rule”;
Missouri Association of Student Financial Aid Personnel - Annual Conference, December 2016

Presenter, “The Borrower Defense Final Rules”;
New York State Financial Aid Administrators Association – 48th Annual Conference, November 2016

Presenter, “Gainful Employment: Preparing for the Next Six Months”;
Kansas Board of Regents – Annual State Meeting, October 2016

Presenter, “Structuring International Recruiting and Marketing Arrangements and Gainful Employment: Effectively Challenging Debt-to-Earnings Rates”;
Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities - Annual Conference, June 2016

Co-Presenter, “Federal Perspectives in Higher Education”;
United States Distance Learning Association National Conference, May 2016

Presenter, "ADA Title III Fundamentals";
Commercial Vehicle Trade Association - Fall Conference, October 2015

Panelist, "The Promise (and Perils) of Competency-Based Education";
Roundtable Webinar Series Presented by University Professional & Continuing Education Association and Penn State University, September 2015

Presenter, "Paper Nirvana: Crafting Enrollment Documentation that's Great for Students and Schools Alike";
Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities - Webinar, August 2015

Co-Presenter, "Competency-Based Education: The Path to Program Approval";
Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities - Annual Conference, June 2015

Presenter, "Managing Crime, Security, and Allegations of Sexual Misconduct on the Christian Campus";
Council for Christian Colleges and Universities - 39th Annual President's Conference, January 2015

Co-Presenter, "Rightsizing the Right Way Restructuring and Realignment in Higher Education";
Webinar, September 2014