Think tank shares blueprint for accreditation's future

A think tank set up by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), a regional accreditor, released a set of white papers this week offering broad ideas for accreditors' future in a higher ed world already being upended by change.The papers look at maintaining accreditors' role in quality control while revamping them to be more student-focused, capable of addressing new ways of learning and credentialing, and more clear about their responsibilities within the "triad" of federal and state regulators and nonprofit accreditors.They call on accreditors to better define quality and outcomes in a future that demands flexibility; support access to college and choice in options; develop new accreditation models that are quicker and more nimble; find new ways to recognize student learning; and work with state regulators to address quality concerns and duplication of effort. The papers come as the U.S. Department of Education is convening rulemaking sessions aimed at removing regulations around accreditation with the stated goal of increasing innovation in higher ed. That goal also is a driving force behind the HLC group's proposals. (The word "innovation" appears 45 times in the 38-page set, including in its title.) HLC is also among the negotiators at the rulemaking session.