{"id":7575,"date":"2026-08-21T12:39:16","date_gmt":"2026-08-21T17:39:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/government-relations\/?p=7575"},"modified":"2026-08-21T12:39:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T17:39:16","slug":"august-21-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/government-relations\/2026\/08\/21\/august-21-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"August 21, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><strong>Federal Friday<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<div class=\"x_elementToProof\" role=\"presentation\" data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">Department of War:\u00a0<a id=\"OWA553e770c-d244-4ffd-817c-deaa490de161\" class=\"x_x_x_x_x_x_x_x_OWAAutoLink\" title=\"Original URL: https:\/\/www.war.gov\/News\/Releases\/Release\/Article\/4575019\/department-of-war-orders-research-security-audits-at-30-academic-institutions\/. Click or tap if you trust this link.\" href=\"https:\/\/www.war.gov\/News\/Releases\/Release\/Article\/4575019\/department-of-war-orders-research-security-audits-at-30-academic-institutions\/\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"0\">Department of War Orders Research Security Audits at 30 Academic Institutions<\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"x_elementToProof\" role=\"presentation\">Department of Justice:\u00a0<a id=\"OWAf0be511a-b519-ee15-84e7-2a1bac46cede\" class=\"x_x_x_OWAAutoLink\" title=\"Original URL: https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/justice-department-investigates-william-marys-scholarships-student-benefits-unlawful-race. Click or tap if you trust this link.\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/justice-department-investigates-william-marys-scholarships-student-benefits-unlawful-race\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"1\">Justice Department Investigates William &amp; Mary\u2019s Scholarships &amp; Student Benefits For Unlawful Race-Based Criteria<\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"x_elementToProof\" role=\"presentation\">Department of Education:\u00a0<a id=\"OWA3a765a4a-d823-9778-468a-67946fcc95a2\" class=\"x_x_OWAAutoLink\" title=\"Original URL: https:\/\/www.ed.gov\/about\/news\/press-release\/us-department-of-education-issues-proposed-rule-overhaul-and-improve-americas-higher-education-accreditation-system. Click or tap if you trust this link.\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ed.gov\/about\/news\/press-release\/us-department-of-education-issues-proposed-rule-overhaul-and-improve-americas-higher-education-accreditation-system\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"2\">U.S. Department of Education Issues Proposed Rule to Overhaul and Improve America\u2019s Higher Education Accreditation System<\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"x_elementToProof\" role=\"presentation\" data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">Department of Education:\u00a0<a title=\"Original URL: https:\/\/www.ed.gov\/about\/news\/press-release\/us-department-of-education-approves-second-workforce-pell-grant-program-indiana. Click or tap if you trust this link.\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ed.gov\/about\/news\/press-release\/us-department-of-education-approves-second-workforce-pell-grant-program-indiana\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"3\">U.S. Department of Education Approves Second Workforce Pell Grant Program in Indiana<\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization Notice of Proposed Rulemaking<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>On August 20, the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) related to\u00a0<a id=\"OWA805f41d9-26e4-df63-4e32-9a838c8502be\" class=\"x_OWAAutoLink\" title=\"Original URL: https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/public-inspection\/2026-17001\/accreditation-innovation-and-modernization-secretarys-recognition-of-accrediting-agencies. Click or tap if you trust this link.\" href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2026\/08\/20\/2026-17001\/accreditation-innovation-and-modernization-the-secretarys-recognition-of-accrediting-agencies\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"3\">Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization: Secretary&#8217;s Recognition of Accrediting Agencies: Institutional Eligibility under the Higher Education Act, as Amended, Student Assistance General Provisions<\/a>\u00a0was published.<\/p>\n<p>At the time of the release, Under Secretary of Education Nicolas Kent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ed.gov\/about\/news\/press-release\/us-department-of-education-issues-proposed-rule-overhaul-and-improve-americas-higher-education-accreditation-system\">said<\/a>, &#8220;At a time when Americans have lost trust in higher education, the Trump Administration\u2019s proposed changes to the accreditation system are intended to reorient our quality assurance framework so that accreditors prioritize student outcomes rather than bureaucratic processes or the promotion of divisive and unlawful ideological agendas. Instead of ensuring institutions offer high-quality educational programs that justify the time and cost of a college education, the antiquated accreditation system has contributed to inflated tuition, administrative bloat, and ideology-driven mandates on college campuses. The Department\u2019s proposed changes to our higher education quality assurance system will improve college affordability, reconnect education to workforce needs, strengthen accountability, and restore confidence in our accreditation system.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For more, you can read the Department of Education&#8217;s\u00a0<a id=\"OWAb8a92f6c-b4f2-10a5-be3b-68fd89af98c7\" class=\"x_OWAAutoLink\" title=\"Original URL: https:\/\/www.ed.gov\/about\/news\/press-release\/us-department-of-education-issues-proposed-rule-overhaul-and-improve-americas-higher-education-accreditation-system. Click or tap if you trust this link.\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ed.gov\/about\/news\/press-release\/us-department-of-education-issues-proposed-rule-overhaul-and-improve-americas-higher-education-accreditation-system\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"4\">press release<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Please continue to share feedback with your\u00a0<a title=\"Original URL: https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/government-relations\/federal-updates\/. Click or tap if you trust this link.\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/government-relations\/federal-updates\/\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"5\">university&#8217;s liaison<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<p><strong>Political Activity Guidance Reminder<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As a reminder, as uncertainty continues around the federal landscape, Universities of Wisconsin employees should be mindful of political activity and public advocacy guidelines.<\/p>\n<p>Activities such as sharing a petition or contacting a legislator for political purposes using your university email address or state resources to engage in political campaign activities at any time or engaging in political activities during work time are prohibited.<\/p>\n<p>In your capacity as private citizens, on non-work time, and without use of university resources (including the use of university email addresses) employees may circulate or sign a petition or letter of support advocating for public policy or a political candidate. However, if using your name and official title, it should be made clear that an individual\u2019s endorsement indicates neither support nor endorsement by the university of a particular policy position or candidate, and that you are acting solely in your role as a private citizen.<\/p>\n<p>For more information, you can read the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/government-relations\/guidance-on-political-campaign-activities-at-university-of-wisconsin-system-institutions\/\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\">Guidance on Political Activities Frequently Asked Questions<\/a>\u00a0document. Importantly, these FAQs should be treated as general guidelines and not legal advice.<\/p>\n<p>Please direct specific questions regarding political campaign issues to the Office of General Counsel or your university\u2019s Office of Legal Affairs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Federal Friday Department of War:\u00a0Department of War Orders Research Security Audits at 30 Academic Institutions Department of Justice:\u00a0Justice Department Investigates William &amp; Mary\u2019s Scholarships &amp; Student Benefits For Unlawful Race-Based Criteria Department of Education:\u00a0U.S. Department of Education Issues Proposed Rule to Overhaul and Improve America\u2019s Higher Education Accreditation System Department of Education:\u00a0U.S. Department of Education [&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3213,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48,43],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7575","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fed-friday-updates","category-federal-updates"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/government-relations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7575","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/government-relations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/government-relations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/government-relations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3213"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/government-relations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7575"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/government-relations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7575\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7580,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/government-relations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7575\/revisions\/7580"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/government-relations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7575"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/government-relations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7575"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/government-relations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7575"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}