Nasser H. Paydar
September 21, 2026
A proposed Department of Education rule would change the purpose of accreditation and risk rendering it less effective.
If the lights go out in your house, you call an electrician. If a pipe bursts, you call a plumber. Both matter. Both protect the house. But asking the plumber to inspect the wiring does not make the house safer. It simply gives the plumber the wrong job.
Something similar is happening in American higher education.
The U.S. Department of Education’s proposed Accreditation, Innovation and Modernization regulations begin with goals that many of us share: stronger accountability, better student outcomes, less unnecessary regulatory burden, greater innovation and better protection for students and taxpayers. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the colleges and universities we represent support those goals. Our members are deeply committed to student success, educational quality, accountability and continuous improvement.