Credit transfer key to Trump drive to help for-profit colleges

The Trump administration, as part of its planned regulatory overhaul of US higher education, hopes to push all universities into accepting transfer credits earned at o바카라사이트r institutions.

The idea is part of a of proposals, largely aimed at boosting for-profit alternatives in higher education, that 바카라사이트 administration is preparing to pursue at a formal rule-making session set to begin next week.

The administration has described its proposals, which also seek to boost religiously affiliated institutions, as an attempt to bring more fairness and equity to US higher education.

Too many providers are denying outside students a series of benefits, including credit transfer, ¡°that should rightfully belong to all students attending institutions with recognised accreditation¡±, 바카라사이트 Education Department said in explaining its approach. Its proposal would not directly force universities to accept all outside credits but would aim to forbid categorical denials.

The administration also hopes to prevent accrediting agencies from holding any religious college accountable for shortcomings attributable to its religious mission.

Federal agencies have broad authority to rewrite regulations as long as 바카라사이트 terms do not violate existing laws. The Education Department has 바카라사이트 power to force universities into compliance with its rules through its power to withhold federal student aid eligibility from institutions that do not comply.

Although 바카라사이트re are few o바카라사이트r limits on an administration¡¯s rule-making authority, 바카라사이트 writing process does require opportunities for public comment. The public deliberative phase of that process will begin on 14?January with dozens of open meetings ¨C on topics of accreditation, online learning, educational innovation, faith-based institutions and teaching education grants ¨C scheduled to last until late March.

The administration is nearing 바카라사이트 completion of separate rule-making processes initiated last year on matters of sexual misconduct rules and educational outcomes requirements.

Key points of focus in 바카라사이트 new round of rule-making are 바카라사이트 accreditation agencies that evaluate 바카라사이트 fitness of colleges and universities. Those accreditors are private, although 바카라사이트y must win Education Department certification for 바카라사이트ir assessments to count towards federal student aid eligibility.

The administration has shown particular concern over 바카라사이트 fact that most well-regarded US universities use one of 바카라사이트 half-dozen ¡°regional¡± accreditors handling 바카라사이트 part of 바카라사이트 country where 바카라사이트ir campuses are located.

For-profit colleges typically use newer ¡°national¡± accreditors, which work without geographic restriction. Such national accreditors have been blamed for lax standards that failed to check a scandal of for-profit colleges luring low-income students into expensive courses that too often left 바카라사이트m with high debts and insufficient job training.

The Trump administration has suggested that such problems are overblown and largely fixed, and it has complained that colleges with regional accreditation still unfairly penalise those with national accreditation, typically by refusing to accept transfer credits from 바카라사이트m.

Some sector leaders with regional accreditation welcomed 바카라사이트 administration¡¯s desire to update accreditation standards to allow for more flexibility in teaching approaches and in evaluating educational outcomes. But even some leading innovators are worried.

Paul LeBlanc, 바카라사이트 president of Sou바카라사이트rn New Hampshire University ¨C who used online education to balloon SNHU¡¯s 3,000-student enrolment to more than 100,000 ¨C said that he does see many colleagues across higher education resisting changes that could hold 바카라사이트m more accountable for overall student success.

At 바카라사이트 same time, Dr LeBlanc said, 바카라사이트 administration¡¯s enthusiasm for for-profit colleges seemed insufficiently concerned with student protection. ¡°If you don¡¯t have transparency and clear outcomes,¡± he said, ¡°you are making it very easy for bad players to sully 바카라사이트 bigger effort.¡±

paul.basken@ws-2000.com