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Fairness in Higher Education Accreditation Act
12/7/2023, 5:05 PM
Summary of Bill S 1795
The bill aims to increase transparency and accountability in the accreditation process by requiring accrediting agencies to disclose information about their standards, policies, and procedures. This information would be made available to the public in order to ensure that accrediting agencies are held to high standards and are operating in a fair and consistent manner.
Additionally, the Fairness in Higher Education Accreditation Act seeks to establish a more rigorous review process for accrediting agencies, including regular evaluations to ensure that they are meeting the needs of students and institutions. This would help to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure that accrediting agencies are acting in the best interests of students and the higher education system as a whole. Overall, the Fairness in Higher Education Accreditation Act is aimed at improving the quality and integrity of the accreditation process for higher education institutions. By increasing transparency and accountability, this bill seeks to ensure that students are receiving a high-quality education and that institutions are held to the highest standards of excellence.
Congressional Summary of S 1795
Fairness in Higher Education Accreditation Act
This bill establishes additional requirements for an accrediting agency to be recognized by the Department of Education as a reliable authority on the quality of education being offered at an institution of higher education (IHE).
Specifically, the bill prohibits an accrediting agency from considering (1) the diversity, equity, and inclusion policies of an IHE; and (2) the racial composition of the accepted applicants, students, or the faculty or staff of an IHE. An IHE that is subject to a denial, withdrawal, or termination of accreditation as a result of an accrediting agency's violation of this prohibition may pursue a civil action.
The bill also requires an accrediting agency to assess the IHE's success in ensuring a right of free inquiry (with an exception for religious IHEs).
In the case of a public IHE that is legally required to abide by the First Amendment, the bill defines free inquiry as compliance with (1) the First Amendment, including protections for freedom of speech, association, press, religion, assembly, and petition; and (2) the IHE's own written policies regarding academic freedom.
In the case of a private IHE, free inquiry refers to adherence to the IHE's written institutional policies concerning freedom of speech, association, press, religion, assembly, petition, and academic freedom.
