On November 12, 2025, the United States Department of Education issued a notice inviting applications for grants through the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE). The funds cover four areas: $50 million toward Advancing the Understanding and Use of AI in…
On October 6, 2025, the Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions (C-RAC) released a Statement on the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Advance Learning Evaluation and Recognition. C-RAC stated: Put simply, the use of AI in learning evaluation does not conflict with accreditation…
On September 29, 2025, Heather F. Perfetti, Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) President, provided written comments on the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposal to amend the regulations on the admissions period for certain classifications of the nonimmigrant status,…
On July 14, 2025, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) decided in McMahon v. New York that the Trump administration may proceed with laying off nearly half of workers in the United States Department of Education (USDE). The decision blocked a…
On June 4, 2025, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) received a letter from the United States Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (USDE OCR) to notify us that USDE’s OCR and the United States Department of Health and Human…
The United States Department of Education (USDE) announced changes to the approval process for changing accrediting agencies in a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) on May 1, 2025. The guidance supersedes prior guidance (GEN-22-10 and GEN-22-11 issued in 2022) on this topic and in…
On April 23, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order addressing higher education accreditation. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) continues its commitment to quality assurance and institutional improvement through the rigorous application of standards. It is our mission to promote…
On March 20, 2025, an Executive Order was issued directing the Secretary of Education “to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law, take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education.” “Any such efforts must be focused on…
In light of recent uncertainty surrounding the President’s executive orders and the February 14, 2025, Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) issued by the United States Department of Education (USDE) regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) would…
On January 17, 2025, the Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions (C-RAC) issued a letter to the Trump-Vance Administration’s Department of Education Transition Team. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) is a member of C-RAC, and Heather F. Perfetti, Commission President, serves…
