Higher Ed Accreditors Emphasize Nonpartisanship After Trump’s ‘Radical Left’ Remark

HEADLINES

Higher Ed Accreditors Emphasize Nonpartisanship After Trump’s ‘Radical Left’ Remark (The College Fix, November 29, 2024) Higher education accreditation groups are emphasizing their nonpartisanship and willingness to work with Donald Trump’s incoming administration after the president-elect promised to fire “radical Left accreditors.” NECHE President Lawrence Schall, wrote, “While political shifts undoubtedly impact the sector, institutional accreditors like NECHE … have consistently carried out our work across administrations, regardless of political climate, to ensure academic quality and institutional improvement.” The Higher Learning Commission also told The Fix it would “continue to work with state and federal agencies” as it always has.

Four-Year Colleges Ride the Dual-Enrollment Wave (Inside Higher Ed, December 2, 2024) Since 2019, dual-enrollment programs have been the primary source of enrollment growth for community colleges and have fueled their post-pandemic recovery. From 2021 to 2024, the number of institutions with programs accredited by NACEP, the primary accreditor of dual-enrollment programs, grew by 23 percent.

Trump’s Vision for College Accreditation Could Shake Up the Sector (Chronicle of Higher Education, November 26, 2024) Overhauling higher education accreditation could be on the agenda for conservative lawmakers and policy mavens now that Donald Trump has been re-elected president. Trump and his allies have floated a number of changes, such as barring accreditors from requiring that colleges adhere to diversity, equity, and inclusion standards. Republicans have also proposed creating new accrediting agencies that promote conservative values and allowing state governments to take on the role of accreditors.

College Presidents Brace for Trump 2.0 (Politico, November 25, 2024) College presidents are bracing for uncertainty. President-elect Donald Trump has promised to address everything from their accreditation to dismantling the Education Department, but has yet to fill in the details on just how he’ll do it.

Registration Open – 2025 CHEA/CIQG Annual Conference – “Quality Assurance in an Era of Change: Reflect, Reimagine, Recommit.” – Join us at the 2025 CHEA/CIQG Annual Conference scheduled for January 27-30, 2025, at The Westin Washington D.C. City Center Hotel in Washington, D.C.  This year’s in-person event promises to build on the excitement and successes of last year’s Annual Conference. The theme for the four-day conference is “Quality Assurance in an Era of Change: Reflect, Reimagine, Recommit,” a powerful message that seeks to engage the global CHEA/CIQG community. Register today!