The Politics of Higher-Education Accreditation

James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal ^ | January 24, 2025 | Scott Yenor

[karpov]

Accreditors often claim to be neutral arbiters who merely measure whether accredited universities meet their own standards. Yet a not-so-deep dive into actual accreditation standards reveals a stacked deck, whereby accreditors ask certain questions and do not ask other questions. The Trump administration promises to challenge the current accreditation system’s transparent political bent with some politics of its own. Reverberations are already being felt across the accreditation system.

During his campaign, President Trump promised to fire, in his inimitable words, “the radical Left accreditors that have allowed [America’s] colleges to become dominated by Marxist Maniacs and lunatics.” Changing accreditation standards is, for Trump, “the secret weapon” in higher-education reform. Accreditation standards are a lever since they are connected to federal student aid. No accreditation, no federal grants and loans. Trump promises “to fire accreditors” who do not, among other things, change course away from diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and personnel and toward things like “implementing college entrance and exit exams to prove that students are actually learning and getting their money’s worth.”

Can Trump “fire” accreditors? Absolutely, but it is a bit complicated. Accreditation agencies are ostensibly private entities serving important public purposes—they are a typical neoliberal private-public partnership akin to immigration re-allocation charities. Accreditors are creatures of American law. The United States Department of Education (USED) regulates accreditors. Accreditors carry out public policy. Universities fund accreditors through fees. If the federal government cannot immediately touch misbehaving accreditors, it can mediately do so.

[13Sisters76]

This can NOT happen fast enough!

Our institutions of “higher learning” haver become nothing more than re-education camps for the stupid. Radical ignorant “professors”, worthless degrees, and nothing but unending indoctrination. Talking to most college students is an exercise in lowered IQs.

I got my second master’s degree in 2013- it was the EASIEST thing I have ever done. Our universities are a joke.

[Brian Griffin]

The federal government should stop issuing new money student loans.

Let private lenders step in to fill the gap, with:
1. at least 120% of the principal amount having to be repaid before the person can declare bankruptcy on the rest, if the person has had W-2 income of at least $40,000 in a calendar year,
2. at least 80% of the principal amount having to be repaid before the person can declare bankruptcy on the rest, if the person never has had W-2 income of at least $40,000 in a calendar year but has had a 1040 Adjusted Gross Income of at least $30,000 in a calendar year,
3. at least 50% of the principal amount having to be repaid before the person can declare bankruptcy on the rest, if the person never has had a 1040 Adjusted Gross Income of at least $30,000 in a calendar year.

The dollar amounts to be based on the year of initial loan issue.

Accreditation should be a market-based product.

Making student loans a market product will help direct students to a college education which has market value.

[glorgau]

Proof that more than one political ideology can do a “march through institutions”.

[scrabblehack]

Years ago, student loans couldn’t be discharged through bankruptcy. Some said that was incentive for the colleges to produce an inferior product. I’m not sure what the rules are now.

Do any colleges offer exit exams?

[Tired of Taxes]

The Biden administration exercised control over the accreditors.

Now, the Trump administration will have control.

What happens when the Democrats get back into the White House?

It seems we need a different system, or the control over higher education will merely switch back and forth every four years.

Only private schools, colleges, and universities that refuse federal funds can avoid federal control.