New Accreditation Regulations Released

Yesterday the U.S. Department of Education released new regulations governing higher education accreditation. From Inside Higher Education: "The department said requirements for accreditors, which monitor colleges and serve as the gatekeepers to federal financial aid, were revised so the agencies will 'be less prescriptive and provide greater autonomy and flexibility to facilitate agility and responsiveness and promote innovation.' Representative Bobby Scott had a different take.

'Students and parents view college accreditation as a seal of approval from the federal government,' Scott, the Virginia Democrat who chairs the House education committee, said in a written statement. 'By rolling back standards for accreditors, the department is undermining a key driver of institutional accountability, further exposing students and taxpayers to fraud and abuse at the hands of low-quality schools.'”

Read the full regulation here.