All conference participants will receive printed materials on the CHEA analysis outlined above, and there will be presentations and discussions of the major provisions. In addition to the conference, CHEA will continue its practice of meeting with the leadership and the general memberships of selected higher education associations to discuss HEA 98 and its implications. CHEA will make extensive use of its website to disseminate materials, as we have throughout the legislative process. This will be available in bulk for accreditation organizations and others to provide directly to their respective memberships, in order to disseminate information on the new law. Now that the President has signed the HEA 98 into law, the next steps by the federal government to implement its provisions begin with revision of regulations.
Regulations are necessary both to modify existing procedures and to implement new programs.
Experience suggests that a massive HEA reauthorization like the current one takes two to three years to complete all of the accompanying regulations. And the process is modified to require additional feedback and explanations of federal regulatory decisions. CHEA will also work with ED officials on studies and program evaluation provisions in the new law that may not require formal regulation and rule making. CHEA and its like-minded supporters will be active in this process to assure that the gains made in the legislation are fully executed, and are not eroded, in the accompanying ED regulations. In order to succeed, accreditors, institutions and other higher education associations need to be aggressive participants.