Reforming Accreditation To Strengthen Higher Education
1. Purpose
This order seeks to enhance the accountability and quality of higher education by addressing the shortcomings of accreditation practices, particularly regarding diversity and academic standards.
2. Key Actions And Directives
- Conduct Investigations on Discrimination: The Attorney General and Secretary of Education to investigate medical school accreditation practices for unlawful discrimination.
- Monitor Accreditation Standards: Ensure that accreditors uphold high-quality education standards and do not engage in discriminatory practices.
- Align Accreditation with Student Outcomes: Promote accreditation reforms that focus on high-quality educational outcomes while reducing barriers to innovation.
3. Important Points
- Impact on Federal Loans: Accreditors influence eligibility for Federal student loans and Pell Grants based on their assessment of educational quality.
- Graduation Rates Concern: The national six-year undergraduate graduation rate was only 64 percent in 2020, highlighting shortcomings in educational outcomes.
- Legal Accountability: The Secretary of Education may take actions against accreditors for failing to adhere to Federal standards or engaging in unlawful discrimination.
- Intellectual Diversity Requirement: Accreditation standards should support intellectual diversity among faculty and prohibit unlawful discrimination.
- Rights not Created for Enforcement: The order does not establish any enforceable rights or benefits for individuals or institutions against the U.S. government.
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