The U.S. Department of Education convened the first session of the Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization (AIM) negotiated rulemaking committee last week, with discussions concluding on Friday, April 17. The committee is charged with developing proposed updates to federal regulations governing accreditation, including accreditor recognition, student achievement, and other priorities outlined in Executive Order 14279.

Negotiated rulemaking remains the primary mechanism for regulatory change under the Higher Education Act (HEA), which has not been reauthorized in nearly two decades. Negotiators representing institutions, students, taxpayers, and accreditors worked through a broad set of proposed regulatory revisions to the HEA. A summary of the discussion is available here.

The draft regulations are not final and will continue to be refined through the negotiated rulemaking process, which will resume May 18-22, 2026. An updated, red-lined document is expected to be issued on May 11, 2026. If consensus is not achieved, the Department may move forward with final regulations independently. A public comment period and review by the Office of Management and Budget will follow the AIM committee’s May session before regulations are finalized.

WSCUC is monitoring the negotiations and will provide an update following the completion of the May session.