The U.S. Department of Education released draft regulations Monday aimed at reshaping the college accreditation system and addressing college affordability. The proposals reflect priorities set by an executive order by President Trump and would simplify the process for new accreditors through the U.S Department of Education, institutions to switch accreditors, and accreditation requirements to not include diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Under the draft rules, colleges must be accredited by a federally recognized agency for students to remain eligible for federal financial aid. The proposal will also shorten the timelines for new accrediting agencies and weaken bureaucratic demands on member colleges. Accreditors would face new responsibilities, such as measures to ensure compliance with state and federal law, with specific emphasis toward intellectual diversity and ideological neutrality under the First Amendment. Such measures may conflict with the Higher Education Act, which limits the Department's authority over private accrediting organizations.

The new proposals are expected to draw opposition from institutions and accreditors across the political spectrum. One proposal setting requirements for colleges to presume general-education credit transferability may draw special criticism for weakening institutional autonomy. The negotiated rulemaking Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization Committee (AIM) will meet to discuss the draft regulations for next week on April 13-17 and May 18–22. A summary the draft regulations can be found here.

Read more on this on Chronicle of Higher Education and Inside Higher Ed.