Negotiated Rulemaking Sessions Announced for RISE and AHEAD Committees

The Department of Education announced two upcoming negotiated rulemaking panels that will tackle many of the most consequential legislative changes to federal higher education policy in more than a decade. The negotiated rulemaking panels are focused on implementing the higher education provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).

The two committees – the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee and the Accountability in Higher Education and Access through Demand-driven Workforce Pell (AHEAD) Committee – will convene this fall.

The RISE Committee’s charge is wide-ranging and will be of particular interest to independent colleges and universities. Topics on the agenda include defining “professional” graduate degree programs for purposes of loan eligibility, the phase-out of the Grad PLUS program, and the establishment of new annual and lifetime loan limits. The RISE Committee will meet for two week-long sessions, scheduled to be completed by early November.

The AHEAD Committee will focus on the OBBBA’s significant accountability provisions, including development of new institution-level outcome measures, the establishment of the workforce Pell Grant program, and changes to Pell Grant eligibility related to full cost of attendance scholarships. Independent colleges are seeking clear and fair guidelines on how these measures will be calculated and reported, especially given the distinctive missions and small size of many NAICU member institutions. The AHEAD Committee is scheduled to conclude its work in January 2026.

NAICU submitted detailed public comments to the Department in advance of these sessions, emphasizing the need for regulatory flexibility and a recognition of the diversity of the missions and programs offered to students in the private, nonprofit sector. The letter was co-signed by nearly four dozen national, regional, and state higher education organizations, underscoring the broad consensus on key priorities such as smoothing the transition away from Grad PLUS, recognizing the need for broad and flexible definitions of “professional” graduate programs, and ensuring equitable accountability frameworks. NAICU will continue to work closely with the Department and fellow associations throughout the rulemaking process to safeguard student access and institutional choice.

For more information, please contact:
Tim Powers