1. (a) A hearing official may convene a prehearing conference if he or she thinks that the conference would be useful, or if the conference is requested by -

   1. (1) The designated department official who brought a proceeding against an institution or third-party servicer under this subpart; or
   2. (2) The institution or servicer, as applicable.
2. (b) The purpose of a prehearing conference is to allow the parties to settle or narrow the dispute.

3. (c) If the hearing official, the designated department official, and the institution, or servicer, as applicable, agree, a prehearing conference may consist of -

   1. (1) A conference telephone call;
   2. (2) An informal meeting; or

   3. (3) The submission and exchange of written material.

      (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1094)

[59 FR 22448, Apr. 29, 1994]