The U.S. Department of Education today released final regulations related to higher education accreditation.
While C-RAC is still in the process of reviewing the final regulations, it appears the rules largely maintain the integrity of the consensus reached earlier this year by negotiators, including C-RAC Chair Barbara Gellman-Danley. In the months ahead, regional commissions will update their policies to align with the new requirements.
Overall, regional accreditors expect the regulations will support our ongoing efforts to promote student success, strengthen outcomes, and encourage flexibility and innovation in higher education. Additionally, the regulations will streamline accreditation and recognition processes, helping to reduce costs and unnecessary paperwork and allowing a stronger focus on institutional quality and improvement. Finally, we appreciate the fact that the regulations will maintain accreditors’ autonomy over determining the states from which they will accept institutions’ applications for accreditation. We look forward to working with the Department, institutions, and other stakeholders to ensure implementation by the July 2020 deadline.
For more information about the 2019 rule making, click here.