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Executive Order 14279
Reforming Accreditation To Strengthen Higher Education
Signed April 23, 2025, printed at 90 FR 17529. 3 sections of substance, 1,458 words.
Some bodies decide which colleges may take federal aid. This order tells them to drop race rules.
Sec. 1. Purpose
A group of higher education accreditors are the gatekeepers that decide which colleges and universities American students can spend the more than $100 billion in Federal student loans and Pell Grants dispersed each year. The accreditors' job is to determine which institutions provide a quality education--and therefore merit accreditation. Unfortunately, accreditors have not only failed in this responsibility to students, families, and American taxpayers, but they have also abused their enormous authority. Accreditors routinely approve institutions that are low-quality by the most important measures. The national six-year undergraduate graduation rate was an alarming 64 percent in 2020. Further, many accredited institutions offer undergraduate and graduate programs with a negative return on investment--almost 25 percent of bachelor's degrees and more than 40 percent of master's
A group of higher education accreditors are the gatekeepers that decide which colleges and universities American students can spend the more than $100 billion in Federal student loans and Pell Grants dispersed each year. The accreditors' job is to determine which institutions provide a quality education--and therefore merit accreditation. Unfortunately, accreditors have not only failed in this responsibility to students, families, and American taxpayers, but they have also abused their enormous authority. Accreditors routinely approve institutions that are low-quality by the most important measures. The national six-year undergraduate graduation rate was an alarming 64 percent in 2020. Further, many accredited institutions offer undergraduate and graduate programs with a negative return on investment--almost 25 percent of bachelor's degrees and more than 40 percent of master's
This sets out the case the order makes. It says accreditors decide which colleges get federal aid. That aid runs over $100 billion a year. It says they approve low quality schools. It puts the six year graduation rate at 64 percent. It says many degrees do not pay off.
Sec. 2. Holding Accreditors Accountable for Unlawful Actions
(a) The Secretary of Education shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, hold accountable, including through denial, monitoring, suspension, or termination of accreditation recognition, accreditors who fail to meet the applicable recognition criteria or otherwise violate Federal law, including by requiring institutions seeking accreditation to engage in unlawful discrimination in accreditation-related activity under the guise of ``diversity, equity, and inclusion'' initiatives. (b) The Attorney General and the Secretary of Education shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, investigate and take appropriate action to terminate unlawful discrimination by American law schools that is advanced by the Council, including unlawful ``diversity, equity, and inclusion'' requirements under the guise of accreditation standards. The Secretary of Education shall also
(a) The Secretary of Education shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, hold accountable, including through denial, monitoring, suspension, or termination of accreditation recognition, accreditors who fail to meet the applicable recognition criteria or otherwise violate Federal law, including by requiring institutions seeking accreditation to engage in unlawful discrimination in accreditation-related activity under the guise of ``diversity, equity, and inclusion'' initiatives. (b) The Attorney General and the Secretary of Education shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, investigate and take appropriate action to terminate unlawful discrimination by American law schools that is advanced by the Council, including unlawful ``diversity, equity, and inclusion'' requirements under the guise of accreditation standards. The Secretary of Education shall also
This holds accreditors to account. The Education Department may pull their standing. It may also watch or suspend them. Rules they impose on DEI are named as a fault. The Attorney General must act on law schools too. He looks at rules set through the same route.
Sec. 3. New Principles of Student-Oriented Accreditation
(a) To realign accreditation with high- quality, valuable education for students, the Secretary of Education shall, consistent with applicable law, take appropriate steps to ensure that: (i) accreditation requires higher education institutions to provide high- quality, high-value academic programs free from unlawful discrimination or other violations of Federal law; (ii) barriers are reduced that limit institutions from adopting practices that advance credential and degree completion and spur new models of education; (iii) accreditation requires that institutions support and appropriately prioritize intellectual diversity amongst faculty in order to advance academic freedom, intellectual inquiry, and student learning; (iv) accreditors are not using their role under Federal law to encourage or force institution to violate State laws, unless such State laws violate the Constitution or
(a) To realign accreditation with high- quality, valuable education for students, the Secretary of Education shall, consistent with applicable law, take appropriate steps to ensure that: (i) accreditation requires higher education institutions to provide high- quality, high-value academic programs free from unlawful discrimination or other violations of Federal law; (ii) barriers are reduced that limit institutions from adopting practices that advance credential and degree completion and spur new models of education; (iii) accreditation requires that institutions support and appropriately prioritize intellectual diversity amongst faculty in order to advance academic freedom, intellectual inquiry, and student learning; (iv) accreditors are not using their role under Federal law to encourage or force institution to violate State laws, unless such State laws violate the Constitution or
This sets new tests for accreditors. Schools must show strong programs. Those programs must be free of unlawful bias. Rules that block new teaching models must go. Schools must support a range of views on the faculty. Accreditors must not force schools to break state law.
Sec. 4. General Provisions
Every order carries this. It is not what the order does.
(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. [[Page 17532]] (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. <GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT> (Presidential Sig.) THE WHITE HOUSE, April 23, 2025. [FR Doc. 2025-07376 Filed 4-25-25; 8:45 am] Billing code 3395-F4-P </pre></body> </html>
(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. [[Page 17532]] (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. <GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT> (Presidential Sig.) THE WHITE HOUSE, April 23, 2025. [FR Doc. 2025-07376 Filed 4-25-25; 8:45 am] Billing code 3395-F4-P </pre></body> </html>
This is the closing clause that nearly every order carries. It says the order does not change what the law already allows. It also says no one can sue to enforce it.
How this order is quoted
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