1. 1 U.S. Government role in higher education and accreditation BACKGROUNDGROWTH SITUATION TODAY

2. 2 BACKGROUND U.S. CONSTITUTION U.S. CONSTITUTION No mention of education No mention of education Bill of Rights reserves powers to states Bill of Rights reserves powers to states NO NATIONAL UNIVERSITY NO NATIONAL UNIVERSITY Despite several founding fathers Despite several founding fathers DARTMOUTH COLLEGE CASE 1819 DARTMOUTH COLLEGE CASE 1819 Preserved rights of private college Preserved rights of private college

3. 3 BACKGROUND 1862 MORRILL ACT 1862 MORRILL ACT Established land grant colleges Established land grant colleges 1870 BUREAU OF EDUCATION 1870 BUREAU OF EDUCATION Published official list of colleges Published official list of colleges GREAT EXPANSION GREAT EXPANSION without government oversight without government oversight

4. 4 Independent Educational Associations 1847 American Medical Association 1847 American Medical Association 1876 American Library Association 1876 American Library Association 1885 New England Association of Schools and Colleges* 1885 New England Association of Schools and Colleges* 1887 Middles States Association of Colleges and Schools* 1887 Middles States Association of Colleges and Schools* 1895 Southern Association of Colleges and Schools* 1895 Southern Association of Colleges and Schools* 1895 North Central Association of Colleges and Schools* 1895 North Central Association of Colleges and Schools* 1900 College Entrance Examination Board 1900 College Entrance Examination Board 1915 American Association of University Professors 1915 American Association of University Professors 1917 Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities* 1917 Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities* 1918 American Council on Education 1918 American Council on Education 1924 Western Association of Schools and Colleges* 1924 Western Association of Schools and Colleges* 1926 National Home Study Council (DETC)* 1926 National Home Study Council (DETC)* 1932 Engineers’ Council for Professional Development (ABET)* 1932 Engineers’ Council for Professional Development (ABET)*

5. 5 Growth in Higher Education 1870189019451975199520052010 Population (millions) 3063140215263296308 Enrolled Students (millions).060.161.711.214.317.519.5 Institutions 5639981,7682,7473,7064,2167,000 Source: Cohen (1998), Snyder (1993), Brittingham (2009)

6. 6 Growth of Governmental Involvement 1944 G. I. bill provided direct funding 1944 G. I. bill provided direct funding 1952 Veterans Readjustment Act 1952 Veterans Readjustment Act Tied federal financial aid to accreditation Tied federal financial aid to accreditation Accreditors as “gatekeepers”******** Accreditors as “gatekeepers”******** 1965 Higher Education Act 1965 Higher Education Act Greatly expanded financial aid to students Greatly expanded financial aid to students 1968 Federal recognition of accreditors 1968 Federal recognition of accreditors 1980 U.S. Department of Education established 1980 U.S. Department of Education established 1992 National Advisory Committee for Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) 1992 National Advisory Committee for Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) 2006 Spellings Report 2006 Spellings Report 2010 Harkin hearings on for-profit institutions 2010 Harkin hearings on for-profit institutions

7. 7 Growth of Federal Support 1965 almost $20 billion 1965 almost $20 billion 1976 over $40 billion 1976 over $40 billion 1998 about $50 billion 1998 about $50 billion 2005 about $120 billion 2005 about $120 billion 2010 about $150 billion 2010 about $150 billion (Student aid, tax benefits, R&D at colleges and universities) Source: OMB, DOE & NSF, Hartle ACE

8. 8 “The Triad” 1.Federal government – financial aid 2.State – license to operate, consumer protection 3.Accreditors – educational quality, institutional effectiveness Regular peer review Evaluation, not ranking U.S. higher education is overseen by 3 bodies

9. 9 “Who accredits the accreditors?” Recognition by 1.U.S. Secretary of Education www.ed.gov 2.Council for Higher Education Accreditation www.chea.org

10. 10 Regulatory Overlaps Who’s in charge? Who’s in charge? Each part of Triad relies on other Each part of Triad relies on other “State Uses of Accreditation” www.chea.org “State Uses of Accreditation” www.chea.orgwww.chea.org How best to address problems How best to address problems Rising costs Rising costs Access and need for remediation Access and need for remediation Concerns that U.S. is falling behind Concerns that U.S. is falling behind

11. 11 Current Issues Student graduation rate Student graduation rate Rise of for-profit institutions Rise of for-profit institutions Increase in online education Increase in online education Transparency Transparency What does public want to know? What does public want to know? Economic uncertainty Economic uncertainty

12. 12 Obama administration Increase in federal spending Increase in federal spending Increase in regulations Increase in regulations Focus on student learning outcomes Focus on student learning outcomes 2020 goals for student completion 2020 goals for student completion

13. 13 NACIQI DISCUSSIONS If we were starting now, would we design this system? If we were starting now, would we design this system? Confusion between quality assurance, quality improvement, and compliance with regulation Confusion between quality assurance, quality improvement, and compliance with regulation What should be the role of the federal government? States? Accreditors? Students and families? What should be the role of the federal government? States? Accreditors? Students and families? Can Peer Review serve a compliance/gatekeeping function? Can Peer Review serve a compliance/gatekeeping function? Should there be tiered approach to recognition? Should there be tiered approach to recognition?

14. 14 NACIQI DISCUSSIONS What should be the metrics of quality? What should be the metrics of quality? Are data requests are intrusive in terms of academic judgment? Are data requests are intrusive in terms of academic judgment? What implications do costs have for the relationship between institutions and accreditors? What implications do costs have for the relationship between institutions and accreditors? Does the current system benefit the consumer’s decision-making? Does the current system benefit the consumer’s decision-making? Should link between financial aid and accreditation be severed? Should link between financial aid and accreditation be severed?

15. 15 NACIQI DISCUSSIONS Are there better models in other countries or other industries? Are there better models in other countries or other industries? Can the law incentivize student completion? Can the law incentivize student completion? Can uniformity be achieved and provide for diversity of institutions? Can uniformity be achieved and provide for diversity of institutions? …..Stay tuned…..

16. 16 Questions and Discussion