At the American Council on Education’s annual meeting, Education Department Under Secretary Nicholas Kent told campus leaders the agency plans tougher oversight, saying higher education has “lost its north star” and signaling an accreditation overhaul and more civil‑rights investigations. The remarks reflect the administration’s aggressive push to reshape campus policy. ACE and other sector figures responded by urging protection of institutional autonomy and academic mission. Speakers at the conference framed the moment as a test of higher education’s independence even as they acknowledged the need for accountability and improved student outcomes. The exchange indicates rising friction between federal priorities and campus governance. University presidents and board chairs are likely to recalibrate compliance strategies, legal planning, and external relations as Washington intensifies conditionality tied to research funding and accreditation.