The negotiated rulemaking committee on Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization (AIM) reached consensus last week on changes to the accreditation system that overhauls the accreditation system by making it easier for new accreditors to gain federal recognition and easier for institutions to change accreditors, streamlining transfer of credit policies, and adding requirements around academic freedom and intellectual diversity. If the Department of Education issues the final rule by November 1 of this year it should be in effect July 1 of 2027. A press release from the Department of Education is available here. Coverage from Inside Higher Ed is available here.