Does a “stand alone” graduate school have to sign a new participation agreement with the Department of Education?
No. A school should not need to sign a new Program Participation Agreement (PPA) with the Department of Education. But the school should go to the Department’s online application and update Question 37 by checking the box that says they want to be involved in PLUS loans. Then the Department will update the school’s ECAR, indicating the school has permission to be involved with the PLUS loan program.