Accreditation policy and federal accountability are shifting, and boards must prepare to respond as accreditors and the U.S. Department of Education update expectations around quality, student outcomes and transparency. Experts have framed 2025 reforms as consequential for how institutions demonstrate mission alignment and board oversight. An expert webinar series advised trustees on the most consequential changes—greater emphasis on evidence of impact, board accountability, and new transparency mandates—urging boards to adapt committee structures and oversight practices. At the same time, Education Department officials plan to ‘harmonize’ accountability metrics, a move that could change performance reporting and trigger compliance demands across campuses. Leaders noted that accreditation can become a strategic advantage if boards actively engage with evidence and align institutional strategy to accreditor expectations; conversely, passive or reactive boards risk costly findings. Institutions should inventory their data readiness, evidence of student learning, and governance practices now to avoid surprises in reaccreditation cycles.