Good ol’ Ways: The History of Ways General Education Requirements

Good ol’ Ways: The History of Ways General Education Requirements (The Stanford Daily, April 29, 2024) For decades, every American college or university effectively instated some form of higher education requirements to receive accreditation from the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Stanford, which is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, currently implements a set of breadth requirements collectively known as Ways of Thinking/Ways of Doing.

Iowa Lawmakers Pass Last-Minute Ban on DEI, Institutional Statements (Inside Higher Ed, April 26, 2024) Iowa’s Board of Regents adopted a broad diversity, equity, and inclusion ban across its public universities in November. Its first directive stated: “Restructure the central, university-wide DEI offices to eliminate any DEI functions that are not necessary for compliance or accreditation.” The board directed that universities “Review all college, department, or unit-level DEI positions to determine whether DEI-specific job responsibilities are necessary for compliance, accreditation, or student and employee support.”

DEI as a Transformational Catalyst for Higher Education and Public Good (CHANGE: The Magazine of Higher Learning, April 25, 2024) (Subscription Required) CHEA Vice President for Research and Policy Analysis Michelle Claville authored an article for CHANGE: The Magazine of Higher Learning, which is focused on the relationship between Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion constructs, quality assurance, student success, and the public good, which fosters a stronger American society.

Presidential Candidate Vows to ‘Reclaim’ the “Once Great Education Institutions” in the U.S. (Breitbart, April 25, 2024) In a video posted to Truth Social on Tuesday, Former President Trump revealed that he will establish the “College Accreditation System.” In the U.S., colleges, universities, and other programs are accredited by organizations that have been certified for quality by either the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), the United States Department of Education (DoE), or both, according to the CHEA website.

Leveraging Accreditation to Drive Innovation and Equity in Higher Education (Springfield News-Sun, April 8, 2024) In the realm of higher education accreditation holds significant weight. It serves as both a validation of institutional quality and an impetus for continuous improvement, as well as a gatekeeper for financial aid and credit transfer. Yet, all too often, colleges approach the reaffirmation of their accreditation with a mindset fixated solely on meeting requirements rather than leveraging the process as a catalyst for innovation and equity.