U.S. Proposes New Regulations on Accreditation

The U.S. Education Department on Thursday proposed new regulations to carry out changes that Congress made last year to federal law governing higher education accreditation. Among other things, the proposed rules, which resulted from negotiations last spring between federal officials and college and accrediting agency officials, would: expand due process protections for institutions when they are reviewed by accreditors; require the disclosure of more information by accreditors and colleges; require agencies to require college to submit "teach out" plans when they close campuses; and require accrediting agencies to ensure that colleges publish their transfer of credit policies.