In a May 21 press release, the Department of Education announced that the Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization (AIM) negotiated rulemaking committee has reached consensus and will move forward with developing proposed regulations on higher education accreditation. The committee met May 18-21, continuing deliberations from earlier sessions in April [refer to Washington Highlights, April 24]. Ahead of the meetings, the department released draft regulatory text (PDF), a summary of key proposals (PDF), and a list of negotiators (PDF).
During the May session, negotiators reviewed and refined draft regulatory language on issues including streamlining transfer-of-credit policies, strengthening conflict-of-interest controls, increasing competition among accreditors, the relationship between accreditors and affiliated trade associations, reducing accreditation costs, and promoting academic freedom and intellectual diversity. The press release also notes that the department intends to “refocus accreditors on outcomes rather than inputs that increase the cost of higher education without improving student learning or post-graduation results.”