ACE and other higher education groups weighed in this week on the Department of Education’s (ED) draft accreditation rule, a proposal that could significantly change what institutions are expected to demonstrate during the accreditation process and add new compliance responsibilities for campuses. The biggest change would come from more than 20 new requirements the department wants accreditors to incorporate into their reviews. Institutions could face new scrutiny of student outcomes and economic returns, academic freedom, intellectual diversity, research practices, and other areas not traditionally dictated by the federal government through accreditation. The comments submitted by ACE President Ted Mitchell on behalf of 45 other organizations contend that many of these requirements go well beyond ED’s authority under the Higher Education Act and urges the department to focus instead on specific changes that will enhance the accreditation process.
Campuses could also see more work around transfer of credit, including a requirement to provide a written, course-specific explanation each time they decline to accept credit. The accreditation process itself could change, with a diminished role for peer review and new restrictions on who can participate in accreditor decision-making.
On the other hand, the comments stressed support for changes such as more flexibility to change or add accreditors, streamlining initial accreditation, reducing unnecessary paperwork and costs, and continuing Title IV aid in certain cases while an accreditation decision is under review. For ACE’s summary of the proposed rule, click here.