Dive Brief:
- The Obama administration is preparing a package of proposals relating to accreditation in the coming weeks, with executive action, regulatory reform, and proposed legislation all expected by the end of the month.
- Inside Higher Ed reports the proposals will shift requirements for accreditors, making them focus more on student outcomes as they evaluate colleges and universities for accreditation.
- The accreditation changes have been presented as a strategy to improve completion rates and other student outcomes, prompted at least in part by the embarrassing reality that Corinthian Colleges kept its accreditation until the day it declared bankruptcy.
Dive Insight:
Accreditors have been attacked from both sides, with critics arguing they are too lenient on institutions with dismal graduation rates and high student loan default rates, but at the same time too strict when it comes to allowing innovation.
Senator Marco Rubio recently called the accreditation system a “cartel” and presented new legislation as a way to break it. A Wall Street Journal article supporting his proposal earlier this month rallied a number of supporters to the defense of accreditors. But while supporters can find room for praise, virtually everyone agrees it’s time for some change in the role of accreditors, which were created to serve schools and are now expected to play enforcer to the U.S. Department of Education.