Overhauling Rules for Higher Ed - Andrew Kreighbaum and Paul Fain, Inside Higher Ed

The Education Department's proposals for upcoming negotiated rule-making process would narrow the responsibilities of accreditors and modify federal definitions for credit hour and distance education. In a package of highly detailed proposals set to be released today, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos delivers on a promise to limit the authority and scope of higher education accreditors, the organizations that serve as gatekeepers for federal student aid. The Trump administration wants to clarify that the Education Department -- and not accreditors -- is responsible for enforcing federal student aid rules, and would give the agencies more latitude to approve and encourage innovative programs, particularly ones featuring online or competency-based education.  https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/01/07/trump-administration-wants-flexibility-accreditors-and-encourage-alternative