The U.S. Department of Education released draft regulations to overhaul the accreditation system, including faster entry for new accreditors and requirements for agencies to include standards tied to intellectual diversity among faculty. The proposal aligns with a Trump-era executive order targeting DEI standards used by some accreditors. The draft would also require accreditors to comply with federal and state laws, including what the department described as prohibitions on preferential treatment based on protected characteristics. The department’s approach follows legal setbacks tied to earlier anti-DEI guidance; a federal court struck down that guidance in August after ruling it was unconstitutional. Negotiated rulemaking is set to begin next week, bringing together students, colleges, and accrediting agencies as the policy moves from proposal to potential final rule—meaning compliance planning for institutions may have to adjust quickly.