US Education Department Cracks Down on Colleges

The Hechinger Report's article does provide an overview of higher education reforms that are bipartisan, but the issue of accreditation's role in graduation rates remains a challenge. If this administration wants to force accrediting bodies to improve their degree completion rates, it might influence institutions to only accept certain students who only have high academic records. The question becomes whether colleges and universities will step up their policies and programs to enhance persistence and degree completion rates. Where does these 'reforms' leave underserved students?

Forthcoming policy shifts and changes in higher education accreditation discussed. Under the new interpretive rule, the U.S. Dept. of Education aims to expedite the process for recognizing new accreditors. #policy #accountability #highereducation #accreditation https://lnkd.in/gzZ9Bi7x

In 2025, Americans’ trust in its colleges and universities slightly rebounded to 42% from its historic low of only 36% the year before. Still, more than half of Americans have little to no confidence that colleges and universities, including some of the most famous in the world right here in Massachusetts, are faithfully fulfilling missions that serve the country well. If higher ed leaders are to turn this trend around, the road to redemption will be challenging, but if every journey begins with a single step, here are a few that we should strongly consider taking to rebuild that lost trust. https://lnkd.in/e23-7-dH #RunningTheCampus

Is public education a fundamental right in the United States? Technically, no. At the federal level, education is not explicitly protected in the Constitution. In San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez, the Supreme Court ruled that education is not a fundamental constitutional right. But the story gets more interesting. A good friend, Dr. Feliza Ortiz-Licon (Ella/She/Her), recently taught me about Plyler v. Doe, when Texas attempted to charge undocumented children tuition to attend public school. The Court struck the law down using the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. But even then, the Court stopped short of declaring education a constitutional right. Instead, the Court acknowledged that while education is not a constitutional right, it plays such a fundamental role in society that denying children access to it would create a permanent underclass. And even that precedent is being challenged today. Most state constitutions already include provisions related to education, typically requiring states to provide a system of public schools. Meanwhile, some states have gone further. Friends at Innovate Public Schools shared with me that six states have explicitly recognized education as a constitutional right in their state constitutions. Which raises an interesting question. If we believe opportunity should not depend on a student’s ZIP code, should high quality public education be treated as a constitutional right in the United States? Not because a constitutional amendment would magically solve everything. But because rights create accountability, policy pressure, and clearer expectations about opportunity. Maybe it’s the optimist in me, but if the American promise is rooted in meritocracy, it’s worth asking whether high quality public education should finally be treated as a right rather than a policy choice.

Earlier this week, Nasser H. Paydar, president of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), said the U.S. will need more workers with postsecondary skills by 2031. He also noted that declining enrollment, persistent equity gaps, rising costs, and political skepticism are challenging higher education. (by Lois Elfman) https://lnkd.in/eq8b8MfF

In this article in APT Words, a new Substack published by AAC&U’s Advancing Public Trust in Higher Education initiative, AAC&U staff members Scout Meredith Best and Jeremy Young argue that colleges and universities ought to rethink their relationships with rural America. Institutions that lead with empathy and a desire to truly understand the students and families who live in rural areas will not only differentiate themselves among peers, but also increase access, build trust, and have a meaningful impact in their communities. Read more: https://bit.ly/4sE9tOh

"Continuing education programs lacking in academic integrity can undermine the credibility of the entire teaching profession. Districts need to demand rigor." New op-ed from James Hall at K12 Coalition: https://lnkd.in/e5Y5sz8J

With about 10% of Virginia’s teachers working under provisional licenses, solutions matter. Radford University launched a $750 scholarship to help educators complete licensure requirements and demand filled the program a month ahead of schedule. Now, Radford is exploring making the initiative permanent, continuing its commitment to strengthening Virginia’s educator workforce. https://lnkd.in/eYwGTmNp #RadfordUniversity #TeacherLicensure

2026 is shaping up to be a defining year for higher education. Beyond persistent challenges like enrollment pressures and rising costs, college and university leaders are now navigating unprecedented federal scrutiny — from civil rights investigations and frozen research funding to major policy shifts around accreditation and in-state tuition for undocumented students. Higher Ed Dive’s latest piece, “The Trends, Policies, and Lawsuits that Will Shape Higher Ed in 2026,” breaks down what’s ahead and what it could mean for institutions, students, and policymakers. https://lnkd.in/ebrTRYU2 #HigherEd #Campus #Trends #Data #Resources