Summary
Aims to change the college approval system to focus on student success and job value, instead of what it calls discriminatory diversity rules.
What problem does this solve?
College approval groups have focused on diversity rules while approving low-quality schools, leaving students with large debt. This order forces these groups to focus on student success and stops them from requiring certain diversity practices.
Who does this affect?
- Higher education institutions
- College and university students
- Accrediting agencies
What does this order do?
Reference
Text:
Section:
Header:
Holding Accreditors Accountable for Unlawful Actions
Holds accreditors accountable for discrimination
Allows the Secretary of Education to punish or remove recognition from accreditors who require schools to use what the order calls unlawful 'diversity, equity, and inclusion' rules.
Reference
Text:
Section:
Header:
Holding Accreditors Accountable for Unlawful Actions
Investigates law and medical school accreditors
Directs the Attorney General and Secretary of Education to investigate and stop discrimination by law and medical school accreditors that use DEI requirements.
Creates new principles for accreditation
Requires the Secretary of Education to make sure accreditation focuses on high-quality programs, intellectual diversity among teachers, and student value.
Increases competition among accreditors
Directs the Secretary of Education to start recognizing new accrediting groups again to create more competition and accountability.
Tests new ways to approve schools
Launches a test program to find faster and more flexible ways to approve high-quality college programs.
Makes it easier for schools to change accreditors
Simplifies the process for colleges to switch to a different accrediting group if they disagree with the group's standards.
What is the real world impact?
•
Removes diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) requirements
Stops college approval groups from forcing schools to adopt diversity policies, which the order calls unlawful discrimination, as a condition for receiving federal student money.
•
Focuses on student financial success
Shifts the goal of college approval from meeting certain rules to making sure students get a good education that leads to a well-paying job and is worth the cost.
When does this start?
This order takes effect on April 23, 2025, the date it was signed.