Introduction by Barbara K. Mistick

Dear Colleagues:

Our attention this week continues to be focused on, among other things, accountability metrics, accreditation, and the pending July 1 deadline for complying with the provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

As I wrote last week, we continue to receive questions concerning the new metrics contained in the Accountability in Higher Education and Access through Demand-driven Workforce Pell (AHEAD) regulations. Our team is finalizing a Q&A document that we expect to disseminate to NAICU members next week. In the meantime, for additional details on AHEAD, you can access our webinar recording on our website.

We are also working on comments concerning the accountability framework the Department of Education proposed and encourage you to submit your own feedback as well. Comments are due to the Department on May 20. 

In other rulemaking news, the second and final round of negotiations of the Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization (AIM) committee take place next week. Based on the most recent draft language released by the Department earlier this week, many issues – including provisions on accreditation standards, transfer of credit, and academic freedom – remain to be resolved if negotiators are to reach consensus.

At the conclusion of negotiated rulemaking, the Department has stated that it intends to publish final regulations by November 1, 2026, in order to implement the new rules on July 1, 2027.

A reminder that on June 2, NAICU is hosting a webinar that will take a deeper dive on the AIM negotiated rulemaking. We will also host a webinar on June 4, to help you prepare for the July 1 deadline for complying with the provisions contained in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. You can register for these sessions on our webinars page.

As we were preparing today’s Washington Update, Education Secretary Linda McMahon was testifying before the House Committee on Education & Workforce on the Department’s policies and priorities. We will provide any relevant details from her testimony in next week’s issue.

I hope you have a pleasant weekend.

Regards,

Barbara

Barbara K. Mistick, D.B.A.
President, NAICU

For more information, please contact:
Barbara K. Mistick, D.B.A.