HEA Update Newsletter

• Number 45, September 19, 2008
  Accreditation and the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008.
• Number 44, August 1, 2008
  Congress Reauthorizes the Higher Education Act.
• Number 43, February 26, 2008
  Provides a comparison of the accreditation provisions of the House of Representatives bill to reauthorize the Higher Education Act (HR 4137) passed in February 2008, the Senate reauthorization bill (S 1642) passed in July 2007 and current law.
• Number 42, November 20, 2007
  Provides details about the accreditation and some accountability provisions of H.R. 4137, passed by the House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor on November 15, 2007. A chart comparing current law, the Senate bill (S. 1642) passed in July 2007 and H.R. 4137 is included.
• Number 41, October 17, 2007
  Describes the key accreditation and other provisions related to student achievement, general accountability and transfer of credit as proposed in H.R. 3746, the “College Access and Opportunity Act of 2007,” to reauthorize the Higher Education Act introduced in the House of Representatives on October 4, 2007. Includes comparisons to Senate Reauthorization Bill passed in July 2007 (S. 1642) and H. R. 609, the Reauthorization Bill passed by the House of Representatives in the last Congress.
• Number 40, August 14, 2007
  Offers information about accountability-related issues raised in the Senate Reauthorization Bill (S. Bill 1642) that will affect institutions and accrediting organizations.
• Number 39, July 25, 2007
  Provides information about key issues for accreditation in S. Bill 1642 introduced and passed by the Senate, including a comparison of accreditation provisions in current law and S. Bill 1642.
• Number 38, June 22, 2007
  Provides information about key elements for accreditation in S. Bill 1642 introduced and passed by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, the status of negotiated rulemaking on accreditation and information regarding the higher education regional summit held in Boston, MA.
• Number 37, June 12, 2007
  Provides information about the final session of negotiated rulemaking on accreditation, the status of reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, an update on the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) and information regarding upcoming higher education regional summits in progress.
• Number 36, March 26, 2007
  Provides detailed information about the United States Department of Education’s proposed rule changes for accreditation as part of the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee that is meeting February – April 2007, a brief summary of accreditation-related issues at the Secretary of Education’s Higher Education Summit on March 21-22 and additional information about negotiations in trade in services and the World Trade Organization as this relates to higher education and accreditation.
• Number 35, February 20, 2007
  Offers additional detail with regard to reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, the upcoming negotiated rulemaking on accreditation and the March 2007 summit on higher education convened by the U.S. Secretary of Education.
• Number 34, January 24, 2007
  Offers information about the House of Representatives and Senate committees that will address reauthorization of the Higher Education Act in the new Congress. Summarizes recent activity related to the recommendations of the U.S. Secretary of Education's Commission on the Future of Higher Education including the appointments to the Accreditation Committee in Negotiated Rulemaking.
• Number 33, November 14, 2006
  Describes the effect of the November election and its impact on Department efforts to implement recommendations of the Secretary of Education's Commission on the Future of Higher Education.
• Number 32, October 3, 2006
  Provides information about the final report of the Commission on the Future of Higher Education as well as proposed federal legislation on degree mills.
• Number 31, September 7, 2006
  Provides information on the status of reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, the draft report of the Secretary of Education’s Commission on the Future of Higher Education and the introduction of a House of Representatives bill on degree mills.
• Number 30, March 31, 2006
  Provides details about the accreditation-related provisions of H.R. 609, passed by the House of Representatives on March 30, 2006. Includes a chart comparing current law, the accreditation provisions in the bill passed earlier by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce and the accreditation provisions approved by the full House.
• Number 29, March 8, 2006
  Describes the current status of House and Senate bills on reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, leadership changes in the House and provides detailed information about H.R. 4795, a bill focused on due process in accreditation, introduced on February 16, 2006.
• Number 28, January 10, 2006
  Review of the 2005 end-of-the-year-activity of the House of Representatives and Senate with regard to reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, including an updated chart on accreditation issues comparing current law, the House bill and the Senate bill.
• Number 27, October 24, 2005
  Describes the activities of the House of Representatives and the Senate with regard to reauthorization of the Higher Education Act during September and October 2005.
• Number 26, September 15, 2005
  Provides a comparison of current law related to accreditation provisions of the Higher Education Act with the reauthorization bill passed by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce (HR 609) on July 22, 2005 and the reauthorization bill passed by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (S 1614) on September 8, 2005.
• Number 25, September 6, 2005
  Provides a comparison of the accreditation provisions of HR 609, the major reauthorization bill passed by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, with current law. Also provides preliminary information on the accreditation provisions of the reauthorization bill introduced by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.
• Number 24, August 2, 2005
  Provides information on the accreditation provisions of the major House of Representatives bill on reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HR 609) as approved by the Committee on Education and the Workforce on July 22, 2005.
• Number 23, July 18, 2005
  Reports on the July 13-14 markup of HR 609 by the House Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness, including Subcommittee Chairman McKeon’s substitute bill and changes in accreditation provisions.
• Number 22, July 6, 2005
  Reports on pending Congressional activities in House and Senate Committees, summarizes issues before Congress and provides links to information on the “Academic Bill of Rights” legislation. Institutions are urged to renew contacts with House Committee in advance of their July 14 markup of HR 609.
• Number 21, May 12, 2005
  Reports on a key House subcommittee public hearing on the transfer of credit provisions in the House Republican bill, HR 609. Summarizes witness testimony that transfer of credit needs to be improved, but that federal incentives for voluntary improvements by states and institutions were preferable to new federal mandates.
• Number 20, May 4, 2005
  Describes the timetable and process for the work on the Higher Education Act (HEA) presented by the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP). Discusses the barriers to a rapid conclusion of the Committee’s HEA deliberations.
• Number 19, February 11, 2005
  Discusses the 2005 version of the House Republican bill for reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA), which is redesignated as HR 609. Relates the Bush Administration 2006 budget proposals for education to the HEA. Explains the new rosters for Congressional committees.
• Number 18, February 4, 2005
  Summarizes Congressman John A. Boehner’s keynote address at the 2005 CHEA Annual Conference in Phoenix. Mr. Boehner, the powerful chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, was candid and conciliatory in his remarks. Congress wants more accountability from colleges in the new HEA, but he wants to work with CHEA and others to address the concerns expressed over proposals.
• Number 17, January 14, 2005
  Anticipating reauthorization in 2005, CHEA continues its central role addressing quality assurance issues in consultation with associations and accrediting organizations preparing to work with the new Congress. CHEA shaped and sustained a coalition to bring a largely unified voice on accreditation issues to the Hill leaders. CHEA seeks to remain your best source of information, policy analysis and cooperation on federal accreditation issues.
• Number 16, September 10, 2004
  Provides a status report on the progress of the CHEA Reauthorization Agenda in relation to the major House of Representatives bill (HR 4283) on reauthorization. Describes next steps in Congress for reauthorization of the Higher Education Act and the legislative process for 2005.
• Number 15, July 22, 2004
  Summarizes the July 13 House hearing on Graduation Rates and Accountability, along with the comments of Chairman John Boehner. Describes a Congressional letter to campuses and recent coverage of accreditation and the HEA reauthorization in the Chronicle of Higher Education.
• Number 14, July 2, 2004
  Describes the timing of HEA legislation for the balance of the year 2004 and summarizes two June 2004 House of Representatives hearings on private career school and accreditation issues.
• Number 13, June 1, 2004
  Summarizes the formal responses of higher education associations to Congress on HR 4283, which take the form of letters on May 26. The American Council on Education (ACE) coordinated a group response signed by 45 higher education organizations. This reply is highly negative on the accreditation provisions. CHEA provided its own letter addressing each accreditation provision, after consultations with other associations, accreditors and institutions. Links to the ACE-community letter and the CHEA letter.
• Number 12, May 24, 2004
  Describes consultations and other actions by CHEA and other higher education associations on HR 4283, including the preparation of a direct reply to bill sponsors.
• Number 11, May 14, 2004
  Summarizes strong and negative reactions to HR 4283 from virtually all of the higher education community. Suggests Congressional contact and provides “talking points” for this purpose.
• Number 10, May 10, 2004
  Detailed and comprehensive CHEA analysis of the accreditation-related elements of HR 4283, beginning with an executive summary and concluding with CHEA proposals for contacting Congress. Major accreditation provisions are explained and analyzed. Overall, CHEA opposes many of these provisions, suggesting major changes while endorsing some elements. Similar opposition of other associations is noted. CHEA urges contact with Congress.
• Number 9, May 7, 2004
  Initial summary of HR 4283, the new HEA bill released on May 5 that will be the framework for House action on reauthorization. Link to full legislative text of bill.
• Number 8, April 13, 2004
  Progress and timing of Congressional activity on HEA bills. House GOP leaders issue “resource kit” on their education policies and programs.
• Number 7, March 1, 2004
  Brief summary of the February 26 hearing on higher education accreditation of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP). See also detailed hearing summary and CHEA testimony submitted for the record.
• Number 6, January 23, 2004
  Discussion of credit transfer issues including CHEA’s historic advocacy of a community-driven solution rather than a federal one. Links to CHEA documents on transfers. The potential impact of Congressman McKeon’s credit transfer proposals, recently introduced in HR 3311.
• Number 5, January 13, 2004
  Overview of the philosophy and principles of the President’s “No Child Left Behind” legislation and their proposed application to higher education issues. Analysis of the Three A’s (Access, Affordability and Accountability) of the HEA Reauthorization in relation to quality assurance issues of distance education, transfer of credits, and student learning outcomes. Link to CHEA HEA Agenda, a summary of our HEA policy proposals.
• Number 4, December 23, 2003
  Congressional progress for the year 2003 on HEA legislation. CHEA presentation to the semi-annual NACIQI meeting on the complementary roles of CHEA and the Committee, and CHEA principles on the pending HEA Reauthorization. Link to written statement of Judith Eaton. Meetings with GAO officials studying quality assurance issues in distance learning, and with the U.S. Trade Representative’s office to discuss the potential impact of GATS on the freedoms of U.S. institutions.
• Number 3, December 2, 2003
  Analysis of quality assurance in distance education issues, describing the relevant legislative proposals and CHEA’s response to each.
• Number 2, November 14, 2003
  Congressional agenda and timing of HEA legislation. Issues related to the upcoming NACIQI meeting. Brief analysis of HR 838, introduced by Congressman Petri, which would break the 50 year link between accreditation and the federal government.
• Number 1, October 31, 2003
  Congressman McKeon’s Credit Transfer Proposals. Senator Gregg’s hearing on “Intellectual Diversity” on college campuses. Senate Democrats issue a counter-proposal to Republican attempts to control tuition costs.