Clarification of the Appropriate Use of Terms “National” and “Regional” by Recognized Accr
The U.S. Department of Education (Department) proposes to issue this interpretive rule to revise and clarify its prior interpretation of its position on the use of descriptive terms by Department-recognized accrediting agencies, specifically, the use of "regional" and "national." The Department proposes this interpreti
| Agency | Education Department |
|---|---|
| Document type | Proposed Rule |
| Published | 2026-02-17 |
| Summary | The U.S. Department of Education (Department) proposes to issue this interpretive rule to revise and clarify its prior interpretation of its position on the use of descriptive terms by Department-recognized accrediting agencies, specifically, the use of "regional" and "national." The Department proposes this interpretive rule to interpret Section 496 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), and the general duty of accrediting agencies to not make false statements and misrepresentations. Institutions of higher education also are required to ensure that they do not misrepresent their accreditation status to students and the public. |
| Document number | 2026-03074 |
| Official record | https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/17/2026-03074/clarification-of-the-appropriate-use-of-terms-national-and-regional-by-recognized-accrediting |