> Skip to content
FEATURED:
  • Student Success Resource Center
Sign In
  • News
  • Advice
  • The Review
  • Data
  • Current Issue
  • Virtual Events
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Resources
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Resources
Sign In
  • News
  • Advice
  • The Review
  • Data
  • Current Issue
  • Virtual Events
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Resources
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Resources
  • News
  • Advice
  • The Review
  • Data
  • Current Issue
  • Virtual Events
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Featured Products
    • Reports
    • Data
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Resources
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Resources
Sign In
ADVERTISEMENT
Government
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Show more sharing options
Share
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Copy Link URLCopied!
  • Print

Jerry Falwell’s New Higher-Ed Task Force Could Take Cues From a Private-College Association’s Playbook

By  Goldie Blumenstyk
February 1, 2017

What might the new higher-ed task force led by Jerry L. Falwell Jr. put on its agenda? The president of Liberty University, who told The Chronicle on Tuesday that he had been asked by President Trump to head up such a group, said a policy memo from the head of a major higher-ed organization offered “a nice summary” of many of the issues he hopes the panel will take on.

That organization is the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. And the two-page memo, written by David L. Warren, president of Naicu, highlights several areas “ripest for deregulation in higher education,” including new rules on teacher education, a federal definition of the credit hour, and regulations that require states to create additional consumer protections for students. It also names the new overtime rules, the gainful-employment regulation, and the borrower-defense-to-repayment rule as other possible target areas.

We’re sorry. Something went wrong.

We are unable to fully display the content of this page.

The most likely cause of this is a content blocker on your computer or network. Please make sure your computer, VPN, or network allows javascript and allows content to be delivered from c950.chronicle.com and chronicle.blueconic.net.

Once javascript and access to those URLs are allowed, please refresh this page. You may then be asked to log in, create an account if you don't already have one, or subscribe.

If you continue to experience issues, contact us at 202-466-1032 or help@chronicle.com

What might the new higher-ed task force led by Jerry L. Falwell Jr. put on its agenda? The president of Liberty University, who told The Chronicle on Tuesday that he had been asked by President Trump to head up such a group, said a policy memo from the head of a major higher-ed organization offered “a nice summary” of many of the issues he hopes the panel will take on.

That organization is the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. And the two-page memo, written by David L. Warren, president of Naicu, highlights several areas “ripest for deregulation in higher education,” including new rules on teacher education, a federal definition of the credit hour, and regulations that require states to create additional consumer protections for students. It also names the new overtime rules, the gainful-employment regulation, and the borrower-defense-to-repayment rule as other possible target areas.

The memo, which was provided to The Chronicle and can be viewed in full below, says the U.S. Department of Education “should not overly meddle” in the operations of accrediting agencies or institutions. (It also takes issue with the notion of using federal funds to support free college at the expense of student aid, and it highlights the association’s concerns about possible legislation that would restrict how colleges use their endowments or donations.)

Mr. Warren said he wrote the memo at the end of November, not knowing that Mr. Falwell would be leading a task force, but with the expectation that the Liberty president would probably have the ear of the White House and the U.S. Education Department. Mr. Falwell was an early supporter of Mr. Trump’s candidacy.

ADVERTISEMENT

Many in higher education have reacted with concern to news of the task force: Social-media speculation has focused on whether Mr. Falwell would use the group to promote an agenda that aligns with the evangelical Christian policies of Liberty. But Mr. Warren said he hopes the task force remains focused on deregulation. Despite the anxieties that have arisen over Mr. Falwell’s role, Mr. Warren told The Chronicle on Wednesday, if he gets the chance to play a further role, he’ll take it. “I’d rather be at the table than not,” he said.

Goldie Blumenstyk writes about the intersection of business and higher education. Check out www.goldieblumenstyk.com for information on her new book about the higher-education crisis; follow her on Twitter @GoldieStandard; or email her at goldie@chronicle.com.

We welcome your thoughts and questions about this article. Please email the editors or submit a letter for publication.
Law & Policy
Goldie Blumenstyk
The veteran reporter Goldie Blumenstyk writes a weekly newsletter, The Edge, about the people, ideas, and trends changing higher education. Find her on Twitter @GoldieStandard. She is also the author of the bestselling book American Higher Education in Crisis? What Everyone Needs to Know.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
  • Explore
    • Get Newsletters
    • Letters
    • Free Reports and Guides
    • Professional Development
    • Virtual Events
    • Chronicle Store
    • Find a Job
    Explore
    • Get Newsletters
    • Letters
    • Free Reports and Guides
    • Professional Development
    • Virtual Events
    • Chronicle Store
    • Find a Job
  • The Chronicle
    • About Us
    • DEI Commitment Statement
    • Write for Us
    • Talk to Us
    • Work at The Chronicle
    • User Agreement
    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Policy
    • Site Map
    • Accessibility Statement
    The Chronicle
    • About Us
    • DEI Commitment Statement
    • Write for Us
    • Talk to Us
    • Work at The Chronicle
    • User Agreement
    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Policy
    • Site Map
    • Accessibility Statement
  • Customer Assistance
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Post a Job
    • Advertising Terms and Conditions
    • Reprints & Permissions
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
    Customer Assistance
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Post a Job
    • Advertising Terms and Conditions
    • Reprints & Permissions
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • Subscribe
    • Individual Subscriptions
    • Institutional Subscriptions
    • Subscription & Account FAQ
    • Manage Newsletters
    • Manage Your Account
    Subscribe
    • Individual Subscriptions
    • Institutional Subscriptions
    • Subscription & Account FAQ
    • Manage Newsletters
    • Manage Your Account
1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037
© 2023 The Chronicle of Higher Education
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • facebook
  • linkedin