New Regulations #3: Direct Assessment and Competency-Based Education

April 13, 2020.Reading time 25 minutes.

In case you missed it, the Department of Education finally released the last set of regulations from its epic 2019 negotiated rulemaking process on April 1st. And, no, it wasn’t an April Fool’s Day joke. This is the third and final part of WCET’s analysis of the proposed rules. Part one of our analysis details […]

Continuing Our Regulatory Odyssey: Final Accreditation Regulations

November 22, 2019.Reading time 21 minutes.

Illiad text written and illustrated on an ancient scroll

Earlier this year, the Department of Education engaged in negotiated rulemaking around several issues including state authorization and reciprocity, accreditation, distance education and innovation, regular and substantive interaction, competency-based education (CBE), TEACH grants, and faith-based institutions. Despite all odds and expectations, negotiators reached consensus on a comprehensive set of proposed regulations. In July of 2019, […]

It’s Up to Us to Build It: Lessons Learned from Five Years in the Vanguard of CBE

November 13, 2019.Reading time 12 minutes.

We’ve written several posts on the negotiated rulemaking process and updates to state authorization and accreditation regulations. Today we hear from another participant in the innovation negotiated rulemaking process on that experience and her institution’s take on new models of learning. We’re excited to welcome Jillian Klein from Strategic Education, Inc. to discuss Capella University’s […]

ED Negotiated Rulemaking: Suggested Principles for Addressing Issues

January 7, 2019.Reading time 25 minutes.

The U.S. Department of Education begins meetings of its negotiated rulemaking main committee and subcommittees next week. There are several issues that will have an impact on the technology-enhanced higher education community. These decision will affect your students, faculty, and your operations.In this post we suggest some principles to use in developing regulatory language around a […]

Revisiting the CBExchange

October 9, 2018.Reading time 13 minutes.

This week on WCET Frontiers we’re excited to hear from Cali Morrison and Luke Dowden about their experiences at the recent CBExchange conference. While Cali has attended this conference a few times, this year was Luke’s first time attending. Read on for their reflections on this conference, as well as some great resources shared to […]

Sweeping Changes Proposed by the Department of Education

August 3, 2018.Reading time 17 minutes.

text box reads: Be observant! Be innovative! Be Active! Your participation in this process is critical! These comment periods offer the regulated parties the ability to share their insight into the practical application of what the Department proposes before they become a final regulations.

Ready to change higher education, as we know it, in the United States? Based on two announcements from the U.S. Department of Education on July 31, Betsy DeVos and company seem poised to do so. Of most importance to our readers is a wide-ranging set of issues that are slated to be addressed in an […]

A DETA Update

July 26, 2018.Reading time 11 minutes.

It’s a DETA Update! Today we welcome Tanya Joosten, Director of Digital Learning Research and Development and Co-Director, National Research Center for Distance Education (DETA) and Technological Advancements at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, to give us an update on DETA. DETA was established with funding from the U.S. Department of Education Fund for the Improvement […]

Comparing Credentials: An Update on the Credential Engine

May 24, 2018.Reading time 7 minutes.

showcasing how the credential engine works (starts with common credential description language, publishing the credentials to the Credential Engine Registry, ensuring the credentials are live on the Credential Finder (a search tool), and finally developing a comunity of organizations, developers, and users who will have support and resources from credential engine staff.

What does the “higher education of the future” look like? Will it be online? On campus? Virtual? Will we still have the same 4 – 7 year undergraduate degree programs? Or will alternative credentials change the higher education landscape? This future seems a bit complex! Luckily, today we’re joined by Carrie Samson, Communications Manager for […]

Higher Education Act – Innovations, Definitions, and State Authorization

March 15, 2018.Reading time 18 minutes.

When passed in 1965, the Higher Education Act (HEA) was intended to “to strengthen the educational resources of our colleges and universities and to provide financial assistance for students in postsecondary and higher education.” Updated or “reauthorized” several times since then, the Act has historically housed most of federal resources and regulations for higher education […]

Senate Weighs Innovation and Access Options in Reauthorizing Higher Ed Act

January 26, 2018.Reading time 18 minutes.

The Senate is moving ahead with deliberations on its version of a bill to reauthorize the Higher Education Act (HEA). Yesterday morning, the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee held a hearing focusing on “access and innovation.” Much was said about such issues as competency-based education, distance education, accountability, supporting students outside the classroom, and […]