Today the Department of Education issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization (AIM). The proposed rule 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. Public comments may be submitted no later than September 21, 2026. If the Department of Education issues the final rule by November 1 of this year it should be in effect July 1 of 2027. Negotiated rulemaking sessions were held in April and May, and the AIM negotiated rulemaking committee reached consensus on the package of proposed changes to the accreditation system.
A press release from the Department of Education may be accessed here. The NPRM may be accessed here and also here. Coverage from Inside Higher Ed is available here.