Running from Accreditors Means Running from Accountability: Who Is Left with the Tab?

Recent state legislative developments have brought accreditation to the forefront of public higher education conversations. Some accreditation critics state that accreditors have too much influence in higher education suggesting that their efforts may affect institutional autonomy and that they are allegedly structured as legalized monopolies answering to no one (Gillen et al., 2010). There are similar allegations from individuals who, for example, oppose issues focused on critical race theory and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. This has led to some individuals referencing accreditors as agents of the progressive or "woke" movement to influence or conform colleges to a certain ideology. Some have even begun an effort to "de-accredit the accreditors." In this paper, Kathleen Rzucidlo discusses the recognition of accrediting organizations by Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and US Department of Education (ED), recent legislation relative to accrediting organizations, and the potential impact of this legislation on not only accredited institutions but students and taxpayers as well.