Accreditors React to President Trump’s Latest Executive Order Targeting College Oversight

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Dr. Heather Perfetti, President of Middle States Commission on Higher Education and Chair of the Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions (C-RAC), a collaborative of the nation’s seven largest federally recognized college accreditors tasked with postsecondary quality assurance and federal financial aid oversight, today issued the following statement in response to the fact sheet on President Trump’s latest Executive Order:

“Accrediting agencies are instrumental to promoting quality assurance and protecting student and taxpayer investments in higher education. While we firmly reject President Trump’s mischaracterization of accreditors’ role in the nation’s postsecondary education system, we stand ready to work with the Secretary of Education on policies that will advance our shared mission of enhancing quality, innovation, integrity, and accountability.

“The latest Executive Order directs the Secretary of Education to take actions that accrediting agencies have previously supported and encouraged, including facilitating the recognition of new accreditors and making it easier for institutions in good standing to change accreditors. Additionally, to the extent any accrediting agency has standards related to diversity, equity, or inclusion, they are predicated on institutions implementing such requirements in accordance with applicable state and federal laws.

“We urge the Secretary of Education to advance these policy directives through a negotiated rulemaking process that considers voices and insights from the broader public. Accrediting agencies appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with the administration to ensure America’s colleges and universities – which are broadly recognized as the gold standard worldwide – not only meet baseline quality assurance standards and legal requirements but exceed expectations. Our goal is to continually enhance student success, provide lasting value, and contribute to educational excellence.”

To read more about C-RAC’s position on the directives included in the Executive Order, along with relevant background information on current federal regulations, click here. 

It is important to note the Higher Education Act, along with corresponding regulations and case law, establishes a clear system of due process for the recognition of an accreditor. This process includes an initial review and report issued by Department of Education staff and may also involve supplemental reviews from the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI), the Senior Department Official (SDO), and the Secretary of Education. Ultimately, concerns about accreditor recognition can be escalated to federal court.

For more information, please visit www.c-rac.org.

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About the Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions (C-RAC):

C-RAC’s seven federally recognized institutional accrediting commissions are responsible for accrediting almost 2,800 postsecondary, degree-granting colleges and universities in the United States. These include over 1,500 public, 1,100 private non-profits, and nearly 100 private for-profit institutions. Accrediting commissions are private, nonprofit organizations and provide oversight and accountability of diverse institutions, including faith-based institutions, historically Black colleges and universities, other minority-serving institutions (MSI), community colleges, research universities, and tribal colleges, among others. The commissions and peer evaluation teams at the heart of the accrediting enterprise are made up of volunteers, and at least one of every seven commissioners is a representative of the public.