USDE Secretary Meets With Higher Education Leaders, Discusses Accreditation

Publication Number 71 December 19, 2018

In This Issue:

SECRETARY OF EDUCATION BETSY DEVOS MEETS WITH HIGHER EDUCATION LEADERS, DISCUSSES ACCREDITATION

On December 19, 2018, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and Principal Deputy Under Secretary Diane Auer Jones spoke to a group of higher education leaders and institutional presidents, including CHEA President Judith Eaton, in Washington, DC and discussed the Administration’s future plans for higher education.

At the meeting, DeVos addressed “rethinking” higher education and USDE’s upcoming negotiated rulemaking on accreditation (see Federal Update #69). She also noted that USDE is releasing two white papers: Accreditation Reform and Rethinking Higher Education (links courtesy of Inside Higher Ed). The white paper on accreditation reform cites CHEA’s Position Paper on Regulatory Relief for Accreditation.

HELP COMMITTEE CHAIR LAMAR ALEXANDER WILL NOT SEEK REELECTION IN 2020

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, announced on December 17, 2018 that he will not run for reelection in 2020. Alexander has served in the U.S. Senate since 2003 and has been HELP Committee Chair since 2015. The impact Alexander’s retirement on the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act in the Congressional session beginning in January 2019 is unknown. “With all of his knowledge and experience, Senator Alexander has been a major contributor to higher education policy and has brought an unparalleled understanding of education issues to his role as HELP Committee Chair,” said CHEA President Judith Eaton.

USDE SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS TO SERVE ON NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON INSTITUTIONAL QUALITY AND INTEGRITY

USDE published a notice in the December 12, 2018 Federal Register seeking nominations for individuals to be appointed by USDE to serve on the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI). NACIQI is the advisory body that provides recommendations to the Secretary of Education on recognition of accrediting organizations. The U.S. Senate, House of Representatives and Secretary of Education each appoint six members of the 18-member committee. There is currently one open seat on NACIQI for USDE to fill; the balance of the seats have terms that expire in September, 2019. Nominations can be emailed to USDE at [email protected] (specify “NACIQI Nomination” in the email subject line) and must be received by January 11, 2019.