Accelerating Change in Accreditation

Driven by rapidly changing federal and state rules and requirements, as well as changing higher education landscape, the traditionally slow-moving field of accreditation is heating up. New accreditation commissions (accreditors) are being added, accreditors are competing for members and changing their offerings, and they are testing members on compliance with tough new federal requirements. That presents higher education institution boards with new accreditation choices and challenges of which many board members often are not fully aware—but need to be to execute their fiduciary duties.