A federal advisory committee that oversees college accreditation met under new, more partisan ground rules and installed Jay Greene—formerly of the Heritage Foundation—as chair after a deadlocked vote. The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) advises the Education secretary on whether accreditors should keep federal recognition and thus control access to Title IV student aid. The Education Department delayed the meeting for months and then introduced procedural changes that seated members according to appointing authority and tallied votes by appointing body—moves critics say were designed to produce partisan outcomes. Robert Shireman and other longtime members warned the changes risk politicizing a panel that has traditionally operated in a bipartisan manner. The developments come as the Education Department signals broader interest in reshaping accreditation oversight, adding pressure on accreditors and colleges that rely on federal financial aid. Higher‑education leaders say any sustained effort to alter accreditation recognition standards would affect institutional eligibility for federal funds and trigger legal and regulatory fights.