Dear Colleagues,

Please find a federal government update from our teams.

Upcoming Elections
On Nov. 3, Coloradans will head to the polls for the 2026 general elections, which includes statewide races for U.S. Senate, governor, attorney general, secretary of state and treasurer as well as all eight U.S. House seats and seats in the Colorado General Assembly. Voters will also consider numerous statewide ballot initiatives. The CU Office of Government Relations will actively monitor and report on the results when they are final.  

ED Issues Accreditation Final Rule
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) issued a final rule on Oct. 30 to reform the nation’s higher education accreditation system. The rule, which will take effect on July 1, 2027, requires all colleges and universities to be accredited by a federally recognized accrediting agency to receive federal student aid.

The regulation largely mirrors the consensus proposal advanced by the Accreditation, Innovation and Modernization negotiated rulemaking committee in May and the proposed rule published in August. ED noted the regulation seeks to “strengthen quality assurance and improve affordability in higher education by prioritizing student outcomes, reducing regulatory burdens, promoting innovation and intellectual diversity, and increasing competition among accrediting agencies.”

The Federal Relations and General Counsel teams are actively monitoring developments at the federal level. We are working closely with the President and Chancellors, as well as the Colorado congressional delegation to champion CU priorities. We are committed to keeping you informed. Please visit the CU System Federal Updates and Actions page for up-to-date communications and federal memos.

Danielle Radovich Piper, Sr. VP External Relations and Strategy  
Kerry Tipper, Vice President, University Counsel