HEA Reauthorization Bill Markup and Other Accreditation-Related Issues

December 15, 2017

HEADLINES

Too Much, Too Fast? (Inside Higher Ed, December 14, 2017) “The Republican-led Congress's early attempt at rewriting the federal Higher Education Act uses incentives and deregulation to encourage new twists on college, including competency-based education, short-term programs and nonaccredited providers.” (See also House Republicans Press for Higher-Ed Overhaul in 2018, Chronicle of Higher Education, December 12, 2017). More information on the accreditation-related provisions of the bill can be found in CHEA Federal Update #62).

What’s Next for the House Higher Ed Overhaul (Politico “Morning Education,” December 14, 2017) “Republicans’ major revamp of higher education policy cleared an initial hurdle this week, setting the stage for what’s likely to be a lengthy and contentious rewrite of the Higher Education Act next year.”

House Panel Calls for Greater Transparency Around Student Data (Education Dive, December 13, 2017) “Advocates say data reform is happening no matter. Republican Congressman Paul Mitchell (MI), for instance, is one of several policymakers leading the conversation creating more accessible datasets, and in speaking at a Council for Higher Education Accreditation event earlier this year, explained that upping data transparency is in the works, even if the process is still unclear.”

Cooley Law School Loses Request for Temporary Restraining Order in Lawsuit Against ABA (ABA Journal, December 13, 2017) “Cooley Law had sued the ABA in November, arguing a letter made public by the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar about the school’s accreditation compliance violated the Higher Education Act and common law due process.”

Student Debt Is a Symptom of Our Broken Education System. This Bill Would Spark a Change. (Daily Signal, December 13, 2017) “[Rep. Ron DeSantis]: ‘I recently introduced the Higher Education Reform and Opportunity (HERO) Act, a bill that would foster innovative solutions to the process of higher education accreditation and would essentially put choice and affordability back into the hands of students.’”