The U.S. Department of Education rolled back a rule that required owners of private, for‑profit colleges to accept personal liability to retain access to federal student aid, shifting enforcement to a case‑by‑case basis. Jessica Blake reported the change, which reduces a blanket accountability mechanism intended to deter bad actors in the corporate college sector. The original regulation aimed to ensure corporate owners bore financial and legal responsibility for federal program compliance; its rollback means regulators will weigh owner liability in individual enforcement actions rather than applying a uniform requirement. Critics warn the change could weaken protections for students and taxpayers, while industry proponents argue it avoids onerous one‑size‑fits‑all penalties. Institutions, accreditors and campus counsel should reassess risk and compliance frameworks; the policy change may alter due‑diligence expectations for lenders, insurers and oversight bodies that evaluate ownership structures.