ALERT: [Proposed Rule] Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization: The Secretary's... — ED Rules
To our higher-education compliance colleagues:
> Operational impact: What: Proposed rule — Comment by: 2026-09-21 — CFR: 34 CFR Part 600; 34 CFR Part 602; 34 CFR Part 668
> _Operational areas this touches (from CFR citation): Accreditation; Institutional Eligibility & Participation; Student Eligibility & General Provisions_
> _Vendor relevance: Accreditor recognition, institutional accreditation status, and program review processes.; PowerFAIDS/Regent ISIR import, verification tracking, COD disbursement, NSLDS reporting, SAP policy, and R2T4 billing — Part 668 underlies all of them.; Program Participation Agreement (PPA), HCM designation, 90/10 rule, financial responsibility standards — affects institutional eligibility._
What Happened
The Department proposes to revise the existing accrediting agency recognition regulations at 34 CFR part 602 to implement the directives set forth in Executive Order 14279, Reforming Accreditation to Strengthen Higher Education, and other Administration priorities, align the regulations more closely with statute, and reduce regulatory burden.
Details from Document
- Document type: Proposed Rule — Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
- Comment deadline: 2026-09-21
- CFR citations: 34 CFR Part 600; 34 CFR Part 602; 34 CFR Part 668
- RIN: 1840-AD82
- Docket ID: Docket ID ED-2025-OPE-1042
- Dates as stated: We must receive your comments on or before September 21, 2026.
Source: Federal Register 2026-17001
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📄 [Proposed Rule] Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization: The Secretary's Recognition of Accrediting Agencies: Institutional Eligibility Under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as Amended, Student Assistance General Provisions
Proposed rule · Comments due 2026-09-21
CFR: 34 CFR Part 600; 34 CFR Part 602; 34 CFR Part 668
Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/20/2026-17001/accreditation-innovation-and-modernization-the-secretarys-recognition-of-accrediting-agencies
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Who It Affects
Organization(s) named in this advisory: The Department, accrediting agency, other Administration.
What to Do
From the source: Strengthen Higher Education, and other Administration priorities, align the regulations more closely with statute, and reduce regulatory burden — per Federal Register — Education Department.
Source
[[Proposed Rule] Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization: The Secretary's Recognition of Accrediting Agencies: Institutional Eligibility Under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as Amended, Student Assistance General Provisions](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/20/2026-17001/accreditation-innovation-and-modernization-the-secretarys-recognition-of-accrediting-agencies)
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