The Department of Education pressed a reset of the nation’s accreditation apparatus this week, with Under Secretary Nicholas Kent urging NACIQI to prioritize graduation rates, earnings and academic rigor over diversity initiatives. The committee’s new makeup and the selection of Jay Greene as chair signal a planned shift in oversight, with the department opening pathways for alternative accreditors such as Florida’s Commission for Public Higher Education. NACIQI (the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity) advises the Education Department on whether accreditors meet federal recognition standards. Officials told members they will revisit recognition criteria to hold accreditors to measurable student outcomes and permit new recognition routes for accreditors that “drive innovation.” The move gives the administration a leverage point to reshape accountability and compliance across colleges and universities, affecting federal aid eligibility and institutional oversight. Legal and sector stakeholders say the change could redraw the incentives for institutional behavior and accreditation markets.