House of Representatives Votes to Repeal Credit Hour and State Authorization Regulations

Publication Number 24 February 28, 2012

House of Representatives Votes to Repeal Credit Hour and State Authorization Regulations

On February 28, 2012, the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation to repeal regulations that establish a federal definition of credit hour and create new requirements for state authorization. The House approved H.R. 2117 by a bipartisan vote of 303 to 114. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration. As previously reported in Federal Update #17, a similar bill (S.1297) was introduced in the Senate with bipartisan support on June 29, 2011.

Last week, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) joined nearly 100 other higher education associations and accrediting organizations in asking members of the House to support this legislation. In addition, CHEA asked member colleges and universities and recognized accrediting organizations to contact their representatives to support H.R. 2117. We thank all of those who called or wrote to their representatives.