Dive Brief:
- Lobbyists for traditional colleges and universities are joining those of for-profits in opposing new accountability rules for higher education.
- Pacific Standard reports traditional schools have historically opposed for-profits as unwelcome competition but are coming to their defense over regulations that would also touch their campuses.
- The traditional colleges and universities, in rare alignment with Republicans, argue the new regulations are overly cumbersome and ineffective, according to the article.
Dive Insight:
While there are some leaders at traditional colleges and universities who welcome the additional regulation for its intended effect on the for-profit industry, it is an interesting shift that most are throwing in their lot with the often-criticized sector. One key element of the Obama administration’s latest reforms is a proposed college rating system. It is supposed to be harder to game and some colleges that have worked to look good under the U.S. News & World Report system may find themselves having a harder time with recruitment if the federal ratings are implemented.