Education Department delays accreditation meeting again amid shutdown fallout
The US Department of Education has postponed its accreditation advisory committee meeting for the second time in 2019. Originally set for July, the gathering was first moved to October 21 and now to December 16. The delay follows the recent government shutdown and raises concerns about future accreditation processes.
The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity was due to meet in July, but scheduling conflicts and the government shutdown forced two postponements. The December 16 session will mark Under Secretary Nicholas Kent's first public remarks on accreditation since taking office. It will also include compliance reports from five accrediting agencies.
The meeting had been expected to introduce six new committee members appointed by the Trump administration. However, no details about these appointees—or when they were officially named—have been made public. Their absence from records suggests the delay may have disrupted their planned announcement. The postponement could create a backlog in accreditation reviews, affecting agencies and the institutions they oversee. Two commissions, the Middle States and New England, may face particular scrutiny. Earlier this year, the Trump administration sent them letters demanding action over alleged civil rights violations at member institutions.
The repeated delays leave accreditors and colleges in uncertainty. Without timely reviews, some institutions may struggle to maintain compliance or secure federal funding. The December meeting will now carry added pressure to address the growing backlog and clarify the committee's future direction.
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