Higher Learning Advocates Submits Public Comment on Accrediting Agencies

WASHINGTON (July 9, 2019) — Today, Higher Learning Advocates submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Education on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding the Secretary’s recognition of accrediting agencies. Higher Learning Advocates urged the Department to ensure any regulatory changes governing accreditors and their actions focus on students having an expectation of quality no…

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The Keys to Quality: Reforming Higher Education Accreditation Policy

The key to assuring higher education quality in the U.S. is accreditation, the complex system used by the Federal government as a gate-keeping mechanism to over $130 billion annually in federal student aid. But federal accreditation policy has become almost entirely focused on compliance and bureaucratic procedures, instead of what counts: student outcomes and results.…

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101: Accreditation

What is Accreditation? Accreditation is the linchpin of the federal role in higher education as the gate-keeping system for the federal government’s $120 billion annual investment in higher education. Looking to understand the complex and esoteric process that determines which colleges and universities get a “stamp of approval” to receive federal student aid? Our new…

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101: NACIQI

What is NACIQI? Established by a Congressional statue in 1992 and maintained in the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, NACIQI is responsible for overseeing the federal accreditation recognition process for institutions of higher education and accrediting agencies. Although the decision ultimately rests with the Secretary of Education, this advisory panel provides recommendations on which…

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101: Accreditation Glossary

This “101” accreditation glossary is a handy resource decoding the language used during NACIQI meetings and other accreditation debates. From accreditors to on-site evaluations and self-study—the accreditation glossary summarizes the essentials behind the complex process of higher education accreditation. Download the 101: Accreditation Glossary here. 

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