In a significant move, the Department of Education is intensifying efforts to redefine how colleges are held accountable by the federal government while bolstering consumer protections for students. Jan Friis, Senior Vice President for Government Affairs at the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, noted, "The department is taking a more active role in higher education than ever before."
The U.S. Department of Education is embarking on a quest to elevate the rigor of accreditation by examining ways to ensure that the standards employed by accrediting agencies to evaluate educational quality meet the highest standards.
Conservative lawmakers are turning their attention to the accreditation process for colleges and universities, spurred by discontent over accreditor decisions regarding curriculum and institutional governance. Several states are passing legislation mandating public institutions to switch accreditors within specified timeframes.
The U.S. Department of Education has unveiled a series of regulatory proposals concerning accreditation, distance education, and state authorization in anticipation of upcoming policy negotiations. These proposals aim to ensure that accrediting agencies and state authorizing bodies effectively oversee the colleges within their jurisdiction.
Don't miss out on the opportunity to attend the 2024 US Board of Education (USBOE) Annual Conference, scheduled from January 29 to February 1 in Washington, D.C. This four-day event, themed "Quality Assurance Matters," promises engaging discussions and insights for the global USBOE community.
