The second round of negotiated rule making for accreditation reform wraps up this week, and if previous neg-reg sessions are anything to go on, the committee will reach a smooth consensus. After public comment and finalization, new rules that redefine how quality is assessed in higher education could be out by July of next year.
Colleges and universities themselves recognize improvements need to be made in accreditation, but many strongly disagree with how those changes should be brought about. This is another “yes, but” situation for higher ed in the second Trump administration: Yes, we know we need to do better, but this isn’t the way to do it.
The Education Department’s accreditation reforms seek in part to address affordability challenges by setting standards for students’ return on investment and mandating seamless credit transfer. The department also wants to make it easier for institutions to switch accreditors and to cut red tape around establishing new accreditors.
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