What Trump's Victory Means for Higher Ed

HEADLINES

What Trump’s Victory Means for Higher Ed (Inside Higher Ed, November 6, 2024) Donald Trump’s first term shined a political spotlight on higher ed that has only grown more glaring since. His second term could bring more sweeping changes which could all add up to more extreme policy positions from his new administration. He promised to reshape the college accreditation process to root out what he sees as ideological bias and misplaced educational priorities.  

Higher Ed’s Challenges Run Deeper Than the Campaign Let On (Opinion) (Chronicle of Higher Education, November 5, 2024) The Chronicle sets the stage by looking at the higher-ed issues Washington needs to address — regardless of who wins the White House and Congress. From fixing the accreditation system that serves as a gatekeeper for financial aid, see-sawing outcomes and program quality, to addressing athletics and more, these issues should be addressed.

The Evolving Accreditation Landscape in the U.S. (AACRAO.org, October 31, 2024) The American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) conducted a webinar titled, The Evolving Accreditation Landscape in the U.S. Council for Higher Education (CHEA) President Cynthia Jackson Hammond, Ed.D., was a panelist in this important discussion which explored the evolving landscape of accreditation in the U.S. It focused on the shift toward a unified system, greater transparency, and the role of quality assurance in alternative credentials. Discover the implications of these changes for institutions and credential recognition. Click here to listen to the AACRAO webinar.

Harris, Trump, and Higher Ed (Chronicle of Higher Education, October 29, 2024) From the economy to immigration, the major issues of this presidential campaign have big implications for colleges and universities. You may not have heard much about higher education in the presidential campaign, but the U.S. Department of Education, higher education accreditation, and student loan debt are definitely on the ballot.

Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Assessment Academy Graduates Aim to Improve Student Learning and Engagement (River Cities’ Reader, October 28, 2024) Nineteen colleges and universities will work to boost student learning and engagement on their campuses with new skills attained over the last four years in the Higher Learning Commission’s Assessment Academy. HLC’s Assessment Academy has been a leader for nearly twenty years in training colleges and universities on how to use assessment tools that can bolster student learning. HLC is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education.

Iowa State Students Rally Against State Law that Shut Down the School's DEI Office (Gannett News, October 24, 2024) Iowa State University students are displeased with a state law that shut down the university's Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion office. The law, to take effect on July 1, 2025, prohibits universities from starting, maintaining, or funding DEI offices or positions unless required by law or for accreditation.

This Program Exists Because of the Reinstatement of Pell (Inside Higher Ed, October 17, 2024) After decades of waiting, incarcerated students are starting to receive Pell Grants toward a handful of new higher education programs in prisons. Recent federal regulations to become an official Pell-Eligible Program, or PEP, require new college-in-prison programs to be approved by state corrections agencies, the federal Bureau of Prisons or a sheriff, an accreditor, and the U.S. Department of Education. 

Registration Open – 2025 CHEA/CIQG Annual Conference Early-Bird Registration Discount Now Available. 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 to take advantage of our early-bird discount which expires on November 15.