SACSCOC Changes Name
HEADLINES
SACSCOC Changes Name (Inside Higher Ed, June 12, 2026) The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) announced it will begin operating under the public-facing name The Commission on Colleges and Universities beginning September 1. While its legal and federal recognition name will remain unchanged, the organization said the new brand better reflects its national and international reach as higher education accreditation continues to evolve beyond traditional regional boundaries.
Proposed Earnings Rule Draws Mixed Response From Higher Education (Inside Higher Ed, May 26, 2026; The Washington Post, June 1, 2026) Debate continues over the Department of Education's proposed earnings-based accountability metric, which would make academic programs ineligible for federal student aid if graduates consistently earn less than comparable workers with lower levels of education. In articles in Inside Higher Ed and The Washington Post, supporters argue the proposal would strengthen accountability and help protect students from low-value programs, while colleges and higher education organizations warn it could disproportionately affect programs in education, ministry, social work, the arts, and other public service fields where graduates often choose lower-paying careers. Critics also argue the metric may unfairly penalize mission-driven institutions and limit access to professions that provide significant public benefit despite modest earnings.
Trump Breaks Up Education Dept., Prompting Worries Over Civil Rights (The New York Times, June 16, 2026) The Trump administration announced plans to transfer oversight of special education programs and education-related civil rights enforcement from the U.S. Department of Education to the Departments of Health and Human Services and Justice, respectively. Administration officials said the move is intended to streamline responsibilities as part of broader efforts to reduce the federal role in education. Critics, including disability and civil rights advocates, argue the restructuring could weaken protections for students and create uncertainty about enforcement of federal education laws, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
New Entity Looks to Enter the 'Mysterious Industry' of Accreditation. What's at Stake? (Georgia Public Broadcasting, June 1, 2026) Georgia Public Broadcasting examines the emergence of the Commission for Public Higher Education (CPHE), a new accrediting organization seeking federal recognition as part of broader efforts to increase competition in higher education accreditation. Supporters argue that additional accreditors would provide institutions with greater choice and flexibility, while critics caution that the changes could fragment the existing quality assurance system and increase political influence over accreditation.
A Major College Accreditor Cuts Ties With Its Historical Peers (The Chronicle of Higher Education, June 12, 2026) The Chronicle of Higher Education examines Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities’ (NWCCU) decision to leave the Council of Recognized Accrediting Commissions (C-RAC), describing it as another sign that long-standing relationships among institutional accreditors are shifting. NWCCU President Selena M. Grace said leaving C-RAC is part of a broader effort by the commission to reshape its role as a national accreditor, including a name change and a revision of its accrediting standards.