Advocacy Alert: USDE Releases Issue Papers for Upcoming Negotiated Rulemaking Committee

As part of our strategic priority to promote advocacy initiatives for members and others, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) encourages our members to register to observe the United States Department of Education (USDE) Institutional Quality and Program Integrity Committee meeting, January 8-11, 2024, during which accreditation rules will be a featured topic. Institutional representatives and other constituents can also provide public comment at the end of each day by submitting a request to USDE in advance.  

USDE recently announced the release of issue papers to be discussed during the committee meeting. The papers and committee meeting are part of the negotiated rulemaking process for Title IV regulations. MSCHE member institutions are encouraged to review Issue Paper 5: Accreditation and the Accreditation Regulatory Text. 

Materials for the meeting, including the agenda and a list of negotiators who will serve on the committee, are available. 

Jamienne S. Studley, Chair of the Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions (C-RAC), will serve as a primary negotiator representing institutional accrediting agencies recognized by the Secretary. Institutional representatives from our membership selected to serve as primary and alternate negotiators include: 

• Joe Weglarz, Marist College: Primary, Business Officers from Institutions of Higher Education  
• Scott Dolan, Excelsior University: Alternate, Private Nonprofit Institutions of Higher Education  
• David Cohen, Five Towns College: Alternate, Proprietary Institutions of Higher Education 
• Michael Cioce, Rowan College at Burlington County: Alternate, Public Two-Year Institutions of Higher Education 
• Alyssa Dobson, Slippery Rock University: Alternate, Public Four-Year Institutions of Higher Education  

MSCHE President Dr. Heather F. Perfetti previously served as a primary negotiator representing accrediting agencies on the Affordability and Student Loans Committee for the negotiated rulemaking on higher education issues in 2021. Read MSCHE President Dr. Heather Perfetti Named as Primary Negotiator on USDE Negotiated Rulemaking Committee.