OME Advocate Newsletter

On August 20, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) released its Accreditation, Innovation and Modernization (AIM) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), proposing significant changes to federal accreditation requirements, including a greater emphasis on measurable student outcomes and return on investment, academic freedom, civil rights compliance, research integrity and increased competition among accreditors. The NPRM reflects the consensus language reached by the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee back in May.

Accreditors would be required to assess program-level outcomes such as licensure exam performance, completion and post-graduation outcomes, as well as economic returns relative to the cost and length of a program. The proposal also strengthens requirements separating accrediting agencies from affiliated professional or trade associations, including restrictions on shared personnel, facilities, technology and other resources.

AACOM anticipates providing feedback to ED. Comments on the proposed regulation are due September 21, 2026, with implementation scheduled for July 1, 2027. For more information, read our analysis.

On August 3, 2026, Education Secretary Linda McMahon issued a national “Call to Action” urging university presidents and governing boards to publicly outline their commitments to academic excellence, research and national service by the end of the year.

The letter asks institutions to address seven priority areas, including affordability and student outcomes, admissions transparency, research security and alignment with national workforce needs.

The Call to Action does not create new regulatory requirements, and there is no formal federal comment process. Rather, ED is asking institutions to respond by publicly posting their commitments and planned reforms on their websites, and it will be watching how institutional practices align with those stated priorities.

• On September 1, 2026, the House voted 370-48 to pass a short-term continuing resolution (CR), H.R. 6500, funding the government through December 11. President Trump signed it into law the next day, ahead of the September 30 funding deadline and the November midterms.
• The CR extends current funding levels and carries over the same "anomalies" as the House's initial version, H.R. 9770, with added Senate provisions to secure bipartisan support. It also delays until December 11 an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) rule overhauling Uniform Guidance for federal grant administration, a win for stakeholders concerned about the rule's impact.
• The House Republicans also announced a shortened pre-midterm session schedule, cutting the last two planned weeks. Under the revised calendar, the House returns September 14 for what's expected to be a single one-week session before members head home.

Recent federal actions address student loan changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-21), institutional reporting requirements and oversight of federal grants:

• Continuing student loan limits: ED now directs schools to calculate Expected Time to Credential using completed credits rather than time enrolled. This determines how long continuing students may access higher, pre-OBBBA loan limits. Schools that relied on earlier guidance may need to reassess eligibility. Learn more.
• Financial value transparency and gainful employment reporting: More than 1,900 institutions with incomplete 2024 and 2025 data must report by January 15, 2027. No further extensions will be granted, and noncompliance may result in fines or sanctions. The 2026 reporting deadline remains October 1, 2026. Learn more.
• Federal grant oversight: OMB has proposed government-wide rules that would give senior political appointees greater authority over federal grant awards and terminations. Although the OMB rule is not final, ED and the National Science Foundation are advancing separate proposals with similar provisions. ED’s proposal would also favor applicants that accept lower or no indirect-cost reimbursement and require states and subrecipients to comply with presidential executive orders. If finalized, these changes could make institutional grant funding less predictable. Comments on ED’s proposal are due September 23. Learn more.

• On August 25, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed an additional $103,265 filing fee for cap-subject H-1B petitions, including those under the advanced degree exemption.
• The proposal follows a June federal court ruling striking down a similar $100,000 fee imposed through presidential proclamation. Cap-exempt petitions, including those filed by institutions of higher education and certain nonprofit or governmental research organizations, would not be subject to the new fee.
• Comments are due September 24, 2026.