Constant and Rapid Change Within Higher Education
Rapid change continues to unfold within the American higher education setting.
Rapid change continues to unfold within the American higher education setting. This includes more and more deregulation at the behest of the Department of Education. Knowing the continued federal policy changes (many will go into effect July 1, 2027) and deregulation, I won’t be surprised to find institutional accreditation agencies moving toward a stronger “marketing” ploy in the near future. This public promotion will be to both current institutional members and to prospective members across the landscape of America.
You see, the barriers of the old “regional” accreditation system was dissolved by the Department of Education in 2019 (though, in reality, many administrators and faculty still don’t realize such). The removal of border lines that determine which agency accredits which region means that any institution can now be accredited by any agency. For example, a college in Texas can be accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) or a university in California can be accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
With this, I won’t be surprised to see many institutions interested in being accredited by an agency with the least regulations. Not to offer poor education, but to allow for more institutional autonomy with the removal of the burden of being overly regulated. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) has recently released their proposed updated principles of accreditation for 2027, which will have them move from 73 total standards to 31. What a way to streamline and simplify! Interestingly, the state of Florida passed a bill in 2022 requiring institutions to switch accreditors regularly.
Speaking of SACSCOC, they just announced yesterday (June 11, 2026) that they will be changing their name to The Commission on Colleges and Universities. I suppose the new acronym will be COCU. This aligns with the removal of regional barriers within higher education accreditation.
Noting such major and rapid changes, there may be some shaky ground to navigate within accreditation. To keep institutions from jumping ship and heading to another accrediting body, or as a way to attract institutions to move away from their current accreditor and to another one, some level of marketing will need to take place. “Hey, look at us. We provide the necessary accreditation while giving you, the institution, the most leeway within your programs and services. Come on over and join us.”
It perhaps sounds silly, especially in such a historically highly regulated setting as higher education and accreditation. But, while I don’t expect the marketing to reach levels as we might experience amongst public businesses, accreditors will have to find ways to stay relevant and attractive to the approximately 5,700 currently accredited institutions in the US.
Things are changing, and they are changing fast. May we engage the process with wisdom and healthy innovation in the years to come.