Accreditors Brace for Trump’s Promised Higher Ed Shakeup

January 31, 2025

Accreditors Brace for Trump’s Promised Higher Ed Shakeup (Higher Ed Dive, January 31, 2025) Last week, officials and professionals from the accreditation system that President Trump pledged to overhaul convened in Washington, D.C., for the American Board of Higher Education Commission Accreditation annual conference. Discussions focused on key challenges facing the sector. Beyond the anticipated replacement of accreditors, numerous other aspects of accreditation operations could undergo changes under the new administration and a Republican-controlled Congress.

How Four of Trump’s Policy Actions Could Impact Higher Education in 2025 (Higher Ed Dive, January 31, 2025) During the early days of President Trump’s second term, several executive orders signaled potential wide-ranging effects on colleges and universities. “Institutions must comply with federal and state regulations, or risk significant consequences,” noted Jon Fansmith, Senior Vice President of Government Relations at the American Council on Education, during the American Board of Higher Education Commission Accreditation conference.

New Research Validates the Remarkable Impact of Accreditation in Higher Education (EdUp, Accreditation Insights Podcast, January 23, 2025) Higher education experts presented evidence demonstrating the vital role of accreditation, particularly programmatic accreditation in healthcare administration programs across the U.S. Anthony C. Stanowski, DHA, FACHE, President & CEO of the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education, shared key findings at the CHEA 2025 Annual Conference.

Why Accreditation Matters in Online Education (DC Report, January 21, 2025) Accreditation ensures that educational programs meet industry standards and provide students with current, relevant knowledge. For online learning, it guarantees quality and credibility. Moreover, an accredited degree is crucial for employment outcomes, as employers rely on accreditation as validation of academic standards.

Hopes and Fears: Higher Ed Leaders Sound Off on Trump’s Return to Power (Inside Higher Ed, January 20, 2025) President Trump’s return to the White House, combined with a Republican-controlled Congress, a vice president critical of universities, and a controversial education secretary appointment, has created uncertainty in U.S. higher education. While higher education was not central to his campaign, his proposals included eliminating the Education Department, restructuring accreditation, deporting campus protesters, removing DEI programs, and launching a national online university.