The AIM rulemaking is a federal effort focused on updating regulations related to accreditation and quality assurance in higher education. You can review the list of negotiators and a summary of proposed changes. Additional materials can be found on the USDOE website.

The AIM committee is set to meet for two sessions: April 13-17, 2026 and May 18-22, 2026.After that, the Department publishes proposed rules for public comment before issuing final regulations.

Anticipated topics include:

• The role and responsibilities of accreditors
• Student outcomes and accountability measures
• Processes for recognizing new providers or models
  
  

We encourage you to review the draft regulations.

Depending on the outcomes, the rulemaking could lead to changes in federal expectations for accrediting agencies, including how they evaluate institutions, define quality, and oversee new types of educational offerings.

At this stage, there are no immediate changes for institutions. However, new federal regulations may impact the Standards for Accreditation and NECHE policies and procedures. NECHE will continue to monitor developments and communicate any implications to our membership.

NECHE will share updates as the process unfolds and provide context on potential implications for member institutions. Institutions may also follow updates directly from the USDOE, including notices of meetings and opportunities for public comment.

Yes. While negotiated rulemaking committee members represent stakeholder groups, the broader higher education community typically has an opportunity to submit comments once proposed regulations are published. This is an important avenue for institutions to share perspectives.

If the committee reaches consensus, the USDOE generally uses that agreement as the basis for proposed regulations. If consensus is not reached, the Department may still propose regulations. In both cases, there will be a public comment period before final rules are issued.