With dates set for negotiated rulemaking, the Department of Education and accreditors are preparing for a substantive rewrite of accreditation policy. Inside Higher Ed’s podcast and the CHEA annual conference highlighted expected discussion points: student outcomes accountability, transparency, and modernization of quality assurance processes. Department officials signaled willingness to engage; accreditors urged collaboration while warning against reactive approaches. >CHEA convenings featured U.S. Department of Education undersecretary remarks and accreditors’ leaders discussing how to reconcile federal oversight with mission‑driven quality assurance. Panels underscored potential administrative burdens and offered proposals for streamlining review while preserving integrity. >For institutions, the immediate implications are operational: expect new reporting requirements, scrutiny of student outcome metrics and potential shifts in how accreditors evaluate program quality. Colleges should prepare governance and compliance teams for an intensive rule‑making period and stakeholder consultations.