The Future of University Accreditation

Event Summary

On June 12, AEI’s Michael Brickman hosted a panel conversation with Anthony S. Bieda of the National Association for Academic Excellence, Stig Leschly of the Postsecondary Commission, and Robert Manzer of the American Academy for Liberal Education. The panelists, all of whom do pioneering work in university accreditation, discussed their views on accreditation’s aims and how they are preparing for impending changes in the regulations governing their organizations’ recognition and operation.

After Mr. Brickman gave a brief overview outlining the history and current state of university accreditation regulations, each panelist gave a synopsis of his respective organization’s mission and primary goals. They then discussed the various logistics involved in the success of non-legacy accreditors, such as how they can foster accountability among universities, the path to gaining recognition from the Department of Education, and the difficulty of navigating the dual accreditation option.

The event concluded with a Q&A.

Event Description

Under the leadership of Secretary Betsy DeVos, the US Department of Education overhauled the regulations governing the recognition of college and university accreditors in 2019, modernizing the accreditation process and promoting stronger accountability through increased competition between legacy agencies and new entrants.

Before the end of 2024, however, the Biden administration is expected to release new revisions likely to scale back much of the progress that the DeVos regulations made. How are existing accreditors planning to cope with these impending changes? And how are institutions and other stakeholders adapting to new opportunities for innovation and competition in the accreditation field? Join AEI’s Michael Brickman and a panel of experts to discuss these questions and more.

Event Materials

Transcript