Higher Ed Leaders Weigh in on Department of Education’s Regulatory Agenda

HEADLINES

Higher Ed Leaders Chime in on Education Department’s Regulatory Agenda (Higher Ed Dive, April 11, 2023) The U.S. Department of Education began a series of virtual meetings Tuesday to hear feedback on its expansive regulatory agenda, which could include reworks to college accreditation, federal student aid and distance learning policies.

The Changing Face of Accreditation in Higher Education (CECU Career Education Report, April 3, 2023) (CECU Career Education Report, April 3, 2023) Council for Higher Education President Dr. Cynthia Jackson-Hammond and Career Education Colleges and University President and CEO Dr. Jason Altmire of accrediting organizations in the higher education ecosystem. They also discuss shared accountability among accrediting bodies, state regulators, and institutions, CHEA’s arbitration program, and the implications of the upcoming rulemaking by the Department of Education.

Best Test-Optional Colleges Online 2023 (Forbes, April 4, 2023) Test-optional policies expand the reach of college admissions by welcoming students who experience exam-related anxiety, cannot afford ACT or SAT prep resources or prefer not to take standardized tests for other reasons. Characteristics considered within each category include accreditation, nonprofit status, average net price per year among others. Accreditation is the process through which third-party organizations recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education evaluate schools and programs.
 

Ensuring Quality Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (Inside Higher Ed, March 26, 2023) As demand continues to grow for colleges and universities to serve students with intellectual disabilities, a recently formed accreditation council is focused on ensuring that programs meet quality standards. The Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council is set to make its first campus accreditation visit this week at Western Carolina University. The council, a group of volunteers, launched this month and is registered as a corporation in Massachusetts for the purpose of serving as an accreditor, although it still has a long road to petition to being a nationally recognized program accreditor by the U.S. Department of Education.