April 2026
A Briefing for Institutional Leaders
Introduction
The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) has developed a new publication entitled Executive Talking Points. This publication provides concise updates on accreditation-related issues of importance to executives at CHEA-eligible institutions. Each issue will summarize key developments and policy actions emerging from the White House, the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), the United States Senate, the United States House of Representatives, and the federal courts.
We hope you find this publication a valuable resource for staying informed about the evolving policy landscape affecting accreditation and higher education.
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
The Department of Education (USDE) released the draft proposals outlining changes to how accreditors review institutions and how the federal government reviews accreditors. Under the proposed rules, both accreditors and institutions would assume new responsibilities. USDE has also prepared a nine-page summary of its draft regulations.
These proposals follow an executive order from President Trump focused on student achievement, easing the pathway for new accreditors to be approved by USDE, allowing institutions to move to new accreditors with notice to USDE, and removing DEI-related requirements from accreditation.
Several draft proposals raise broader questions about how to strengthen accountability and student outcomes while preserving the core role of accreditation as a peer-driven process focused on academic quality. As outlined in CHEA’s April 14 statement, maintaining clear lines of responsibility across the higher education system will be essential to ensure that accreditors do not assume functions more appropriately handled by federal and state authorities.
Within this broader context, specific proposals illustrate these concerns: 1) a requirement that institutions “presume the transferability of credits earned at another institution toward general-education requirements,” raising questions about institutional autonomy and academic judgment; 2) expectations that accrediting organizations establish minimum standards for student achievement, including return on investment, which may not fully account for differences in institutional mission and student populations; and 3) requirements that accreditors monitor compliance with civil rights laws, including Title IX, potentially expanding their role into areas traditionally reserved for regulators.
The negotiated rulemaking committee will consider the proposed regulations in public sessions April 13-17 and May 18-22.
CHEA Insight: The Department has used rulemaking to develop regulations that are more restrictive for institutions and programs than are necessary. It is important for institutions to follow the rulemaking process as the changes will require changes in transfer policy and in published materials.
The USDE has published a proposed rule related to two changes made to the Pell Grant program under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking establishes the new Workforce Pell Grant program, which would allow students to use federal grant funds to enroll in high-quality, short-term programs in high-skill, high-wage or in-demand industry occupations. Programs must lead to a postsecondary credential and be stackable. Beginning in July 2026, students will be able to use Pell Grants for eligible workforce programs as short as eight weeks.
The proposed rule specifies that eligible workforce programs must include 150–599 clock hours of instruction in at least eight weeks but fewer than 15 weeks. Additional eligibility requirements include approval by a governor, after consultation with the state’s workforce board. Each program must also meet certain accountability benchmarks, including completion and job placement rates, as well as a value-added earnings measure.
CHEA Insight: Institutions will have very little time to prepare to implement these rules as they are effective on July 1, 2026. The programs leading to Workforce Pell require state and USDE approval and will have to meet significant benchmarks.
USDE has published an interpretive rule that could significantly decrease the timeline for recognizing new accreditors. Prior regulations required accreditors to have conducted accrediting activities for two years prior to seeking recognition from the Department, followed by a 2–3 year federal review process.
The interpretive rule states that new accreditors may seek recognition once they have formed a corporation and “conducted at least one type of accrediting activity,” such as: adopting accreditation standards; granting or denying accreditation or preaccreditation; conducting a site visit at an institution or program; adopting operating procedures; or establishing a process to accept applications for accreditation. However, accreditors must still grant preaccreditation or accreditation to at least one institution prior to recognition.
While USDE staff and NACIQI recommendations may be made earlier, the Department must wait until an accreditor has operated for two years before granting official recognition.
CHEA Insight: This rule will shorten the time new organizations will have to operate before they can seek federal recognition. We are likely to see new accrediting organizations receiving recognition in the next few years.
In February, the USDE issued a proposed interpretive rule declaring that the term “regionally accredited” creates unnecessary barriers and misleads students and the public. USDE is concerned that some institutions, states, and licensure boards continue to use the term, fostering confusion, discriminatory transfer credit policies, and denial of credit for completed coursework.
USDE emphasizes that all recognized institutional accreditors are held to the same standards, regardless of geographic scope. Accreditors are to ensure that member institutions accurately represent their accreditation status in admissions, marketing materials, and transfer of credit policies. The proposed rule “strongly encourages States, including State licensure boards, to revise their laws or regulations, as necessary, to remove this distinction.”
CHEA Insight: The new rule will require institutions to review their transfer of credit policies and practices, catalogs, and marketing materials
The USDE announced two new interagency agreements with the Departments of State and Health and Human Services (HHS). State will partner with the USDE on the Section 117 foreign gift reporting, and HHS will partner with the USDE on family engagement and school support programs. These agreements follow other agreements previously announced.
CHEA Insight: These partnerships will require institutions to work with additional federal agencies while institutions are doing the same work that has been done in the past.
THE WHITE HOUSE
Executive Order: Accreditation Reform
An April 2025 Executive Order directs the Secretary of Education to overhaul the accreditation process by increasing accreditor competition.
CHEA Insight: Institutions and accreditors are awaiting details on the regulations USDE may develop to implement these directives as noted above.
For more details on each of these topics, please review CHEA’s Policy Watch