Negotiators in the Department of Education’s rulemaking process reached consensus on regulatory guardrails for the new Workforce Pell Grant program. The package sets eligibility for short-term workforce programs (generally eight to 15 weeks), requires state approval or governor sign-off, and imposes performance benchmarks for completion, job placement and earnings. The AHEAD committee’s agreement paves the way for a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Governing boards and provosts should be preparing governance, quality assurance and data systems to document program outcomes and workforce alignment — the new rules will create a fast-moving market for short-term credentials but also new federal accountability triggers.