USDE Decision to Deny Initial Recognition to Programmatic Accreditor

HEADLINES

Education Department Decision Could Imperil Some Programmatic Accreditors (The Chronicle of Higher Education, [subscription required] November 14, 2019) “The department’s decision to deny recognition to a new nursing accreditor has left some higher-education experts confused and concerned about a possible new interpretation of existing regulations.”

Governor Signs College Financial Transparency Bill (Hampshire Gazette, November 14, 2019) “Gov. Charlie Baker has signed into law a bill that requires greater financial transparency from colleges that face possible closure. In addition to provisions requiring notification of stakeholders if a college is in danger of going under, the bill provides for annual financial screenings of colleges and universities. Either the Department of Higher Education or an accrediting agency like the private New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) will conduct those financial screenings to determine if schools are at risk of imminent closure.”

DeVos Pushes Alternative Credentials, Flexibility in Speech to Business Leaders (Education Dive, November 13, 2019) “U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Wednesday extolled the potential benefits of microcredentials and other alternatives to traditional degrees, calling on the higher education sector to innovate and look to inexpensive programs for college students. Speaking to corporate leaders at an event run by The Conference Board, a public policy and economic think tank, DeVos touted the department's moves to give more flexibility to institutions by loosening federal policies on accreditation and federal student aid.”

Options for Innovation and Reform in Higher Education (American Action Forum, November 12, 2019) “National-level reforms – specifically accreditation reform and greater transparency – would pave the way for greater innovation at the local level and generate more competition with traditional 4-year degree programs.”

DeVos Cancels Nearly $11 million in Student Loans That the Education Dept. Sent to Unaccredited For-Profit Colleges (The Washington Post, November 11, 2019) “The Education Department said Friday it will cancel federal loans provided last year to students at four Art Institutes locations after revelations that officials knew the for-profit colleges were not accredited and ineligible to receive such aid.”

DMC, Wayne State Lose Neurosurgery Training Accreditation (The Detroit News, November 7, 2019) “A training program for neurosurgeons at the Detroit Medical Center has lost its accreditation, jeopardizing the reputation of the health system and its longtime academic partner, Wayne State University. The Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education withdrew accreditation from the program earlier this month following a site visit on Sept. 18. Accreditation is set to end on June 30.”