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Rule also says no more recruiting based on race
Accreditors, the gatekeepers of higher education, may have to ditch their diversity, equity, and inclusion requirements in favor of policies that value “intellectual diversity” and “academic freedom” under a proposed U.S. Department of Education rule.
Introduced Wednesday, the rule also would make it easier for new accreditors to be approved, a department news release states.
“The proposed changes would break up entrenched accreditation monopolies and reorient the sector to prioritize innovation, academic excellence, and student outcomes,” the release states.
Education Department Under Secretary Nicholas Kent blamed the current, “antiquated” system for creating expensive administrative bloat and pushing schools to adopt DEI.
“The Department’s proposed changes to our higher education quality assurance system will improve college affordability, reconnect education to workforce needs, strengthen accountability, and restore confidence in our accreditation system,” Kent stated in the news release.
The Trump administration created the rule to address concerns about, among other things, higher education accreditors pushing left-wing ideology on schools.
These include the American Bar Association, which, until recently, was the sole accreditor of law schools, as well as medical and social work accreditors.
“A small group of accreditors has dominated the higher education landscape for decades, driving up costs for American students and families and, in some cases, pushing colleges and universities to prioritize ideological agendas over a robust education focused on student outcomes …” the department stated Wednesday.
The rule, which follows up on a 2025 executive order from President Donald Trump, must go through a comment and review process prior to final approval.
As an example of what the rule aims to address, Trump’s order mentioned the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, which accredits allopathic and osteopathic medical programs.
The council “expect[s]” schools to adopt “policies and procedures related to recruitment and retention of individuals underrepresented in medicine,” including “racial and ethnic minority individuals,” according to the executive order.
Under the new rule, accreditors would no longer be allowed to require these affirmative action-type policies, which the department characterized as discriminatory.
Higher Ed Dive summarized other parts of the proposal:
Under the proposed rule, new accreditors could gain recognition from the Education Department much more quickly than before. Currently, accreditors must have conducted accrediting activities for at least two years unless they’re affiliated with or part of an already recognized agency, but the Trump administration’s proposal would eliminate that requirement.
The Education Department’s proposal would replace that requirement with other criteria, such as being legally established “to operate in the relevant jurisdiction,” having accreditation standards and operating procedures, and having received an application for accreditation from at least one college or program.
Accreditors would also have to ensure that colleges have policies “designed to support, promote, and appropriately prioritize intellectual diversity and the free exchange of ideas amongst faculty.” The proposal would carve out an exception to this requirement for religious colleges.
Shortly after the rule’s release, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation warned that the changes could lead to federal overreach.
“CHEA is also concerned by sweeping characterizations of accreditation in the Department’s proposal that do not reflect the complexity, diversity, and record of American accreditation,” council President Nasser Paydar said in a statement Wednesday.
“Accreditation should continue to evolve, but reform should strengthen, not diminish, the independent, peer-based review that is central to American quality assurance and that respects the diversity and autonomy of higher education,” Paydar stated.
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