ED has reported to Columbia's accreditor that it "violated" anti-discrimination laws and thus has not met accreditation standards. This is the feds telling an accreditor that they should punish a uni because ED wants them to. The iron triangle is in such danger... www.reuters.com/world/us/us-... - ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

bakerdphd.bsky.social • 10 days ago

ED has reported to Columbia's accreditor that it "violated" anti-discrimination laws and thus has not met accreditation standards. This is the feds telling an accreditor that they should punish a uni because ED wants them to.

The iron triangle is in such danger...

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-education-department-says-columbia-university-violated-federal-anti-2025-06-04

Comments

gc42.bsky.social•10 days ago

Other countries should recognize non-accredited uni’s that lose it due to standing up to tRump. It will cause the US to lose talent, but gives students an option.

serevi.bsky.social•10 days ago

I would hope that the accreditation body would tell the Department of Education that they'll wait for the outcome of the trial before passing judgement.

lashawndab.bsky.social•10 days ago

I wonder how their Board feels now…

bakerdphd.bsky.social•10 days ago

The iron triangle is the federal government, accreditors, and institutions working toward accountability for producing a quality education. The federal government approves who can be an accreditor and then the accreditor is supposed to independently assess institutions.

bakerdphd.bsky.social•10 days ago

Accreditation is our big gatekeeping process for which insts have access to federal financial aid (Pell grants, student loans, etc.). Basically, it would appear that ED has reached out to an accreditor to push them to threaten Columbia's accreditation, and thus its access to federal financial aid.

bakerdphd.bsky.social•10 days ago

If you want to catch up on accreditation, this is a very good piece!

https://bsky.app/profile/knottkatherine.bsky.social/post/3lqsm5dk7n222

elliot-potato.bsky.social•10 days ago

Very read possibility ED will threaten to pull recognition from the accreditor though, right? That'd screw over hundreds of other schools, but this administration hasn't shown much concern for collateral damage from any of their other actions

bakerdphd.bsky.social•10 days ago

Could certainly see threats along those lines coming soon. That's still supposed to be a long process but what are rules right now?

bakerdphd.bsky.social•10 days ago

Me and my other wonky friends just texting curse words at each other

bakerdphd.bsky.social•10 days ago

Ugh dammit I meant the triad but typed iron triangle because I'm writing that for another thing. Me and a friend just had a very big laugh.

knottkatherine.bsky.social•10 days ago

I thought you were just trying to make “iron triangle” happen. Much better than triad

shermandorn.com•10 days ago

Relevant evergreen resource:

maraleia.bsky.social•10 days ago

Fuck everyone to hell (including lots of elected Dems) who got us to this horrible and dangerous place.

erickelderman.bsky.social•10 days ago

Katherine is great - and she gets it right here, of course, that it's going to be hard for ED to force accreditors to do a lot -- though we've seen lately that the former regionals are willing to suspend some standards under pressure.

erickelderman.bsky.social•10 days ago

I think, though, that if you look at the response of accred groups to standards violations, what they do is require the instit. to tell them how they will address the issue - it's about having a process, not necessarily preventing every possible future issue - think UNC fake papers scandal.

bakerdphd.bsky.social•10 days ago

I agree about what happens under normal circumstances. I also recognize the intent to weaponize accreditation and the reality that if the accreditor chose to do that a) it means they've a accepted false premise from ED (unlike UNC) and b) ED will not be satisfied by that.

iwashyna.bsky.social•10 days ago

Dr Baker, it looks like de-accreditation might also mean that 529 college savings plans can no longer be used to pay tuition

https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/eligible-educational-inst

But I can't tell for sure. Do you happen to know?

bakerdphd.bsky.social•10 days ago

To me, this line "eligible to participate in a student aid program run by the U.S. Department of Education" is referring to Title IV (might refer to other titles for some MSIs but lets make this simple) and therefore would mean that you would not have access to ed credits without accreditation

bakerdphd.bsky.social•10 days ago

I'm doing a quick skim but that wasn't so much about 529 savings plans as things like AOTC but I would want to read it again to be sure

iwashyna.bsky.social•10 days ago

In terms of people being hurt, if these de-accreditation (at Columbia and whoever they go after next) hits both student loans AND people who used the main college savings plan, that seems like an interesting coalition

cjmott.bsky.social•10 days ago

Does this threat have more force because Columbia is currently going through MSCHE's self-study evaluation process (for the first time since 2015-16), or can an accreditor pull an accreditation at any time?

bakerdphd.bsky.social•10 days ago

Depending on the accreditor it can get pulled at any time but it does require a lot of steps to do that. It's almost unheard of for an institution not to be put on warning first.

jasonjdelaney.bsky.social•10 days ago

It's actually unclear whether it has more or less force but it seems higher leverage.

Accrediting bodies' reputation relies on perceptions of their independence. They're also one degree removed from any controversy so they may feel both the need and the leeway to stay neutral, esp in 10yr reviews.

siobhanmcelduff.bsky.social•10 days ago

This is all going to end with that stupid Bari Weiss 'university' getting accredited. Along with whatever all the other grifters come up with.

publichealthguy1.bsky.social•10 days ago

i was just about to ask 😅

bakerdphd.bsky.social•10 days ago

I got you

michaelspins.bsky.social•10 days ago

the pro wrestling lady dictating university accreditation, sounds good

benecal.bsky.social•10 days ago

Wow. So they are screwing poor students and students who have grants FROM the federal government.

bakerdphd.bsky.social•10 days ago

We have to hear how the accreditor chooses to move, but it definitely feels like the executive branch is attempting to get the ball rolling on denying federal financial aid access to students at Columbia

jesshoel.bsky.social•10 days ago

Is this just about Columbia, or is the Administration aiming to use this as a way to disaccredit the accreditor, and thereby ALL of the schools they accredit would be ineligible for federal financial aid?

I think the end game here is setting up new accreditors that adhere to new standards

bakerdphd.bsky.social•10 days ago

I think it could be either or a fun combination of both. It feels likely even if it's about Middle States they get the added bonus of the that to cut off Title IV access.

benecal.bsky.social•10 days ago

Columbia, tho I jumped the gun and they are not yet discredited tho that is the Trump admin’s desire.

johncraighammond.bsky.social•10 days ago

While expanding it to for-profit scam, online universities run by Trump contributors.

rjnerddad.bsky.social•10 days ago

And this after Columbia caved to trump's demands in March.

winecave.bsky.social•10 days ago

🤬🤬🤬🤬

ken-kenny-kenneth.bsky.social•7 days ago

This is after they gave in.
Never, ever give in to this administration.
It’ll never be enough.

billstewart.bsky.social•10 days ago

Meanwhile, the Trump Administration wants to get rid of the Department of Education.

jafedorko.bsky.social•10 days ago

How'd that cut-a-deal-with-Trump-and-all-will-work-out thing going for you, Columbia?

mlow29.bsky.social•10 days ago

I thought Trump promised to abolish the Education Department.

citizen12345.bsky.social•10 days ago

Can they take away the accreditor’s powers? That would be next.

jonbecker.bsky.social•10 days ago

Middle States should tell ED to fuck off.

bakerdphd.bsky.social•10 days ago

This is one of those rubber meets the road moment. I wish they arrived with all the pomp and circumstance they deserve but this is a very dry issue with the potential to completely reshape US higher ed. One of the key rubicons of higher ed policy.

robertkelchen.com•10 days ago

This is huge.

bakerdphd.bsky.social•10 days ago

If I had the space it would've just been

🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨

kitncaboodle.bsky.social•10 days ago

Only those which worship Dear Leader will be accredited. The accreditor will be removed as such if they don't go along with Dept. of Ed. Independence or no. If the feds can decide who is an accreditor they can yank that designation. Higher Ed is finished.

jonbecker.bsky.social•10 days ago

Yes, this needs a good, accessble explanation in a place where the general public can read and understand the consequences. I nominate Dr. Dominique Baker to write such a piece. Know her?

bakerdphd.bsky.social•10 days ago

Lol you find a place that wants her to write it and she'll make the time