Senator Banks introduces Fairness in Higher Education Accreditation Act

Submitted by Office of U.S. Sen. Jim Banks

Banks

U.S. Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) introduced on Wednesday the Fairness in Higher Education Accreditation Act.

The bill bars accreditors from forcing colleges to adopt racial or sex-based quotas as a condition of accreditation and requires accreditors to consider a school’s commitment to academic freedom. The bill aligns with President Trump’s recent executive order, Reforming Accreditation to Strengthen Higher Education.

“Accreditation should be about academic quality, not about enforcing woke quotas,” Sen. Banks said. “My bill puts common sense back into accreditation and defends the principles that make American higher education strong.”

Key provisions

• Protects academic freedom: Requires accreditors to respect free inquiry, academic freedom, and First Amendment rights at colleges and universities
• Blocks diversity quotas: Prohibits accreditors from imposing standards based on the race, sex, or national origin makeup of students, faculty, or staff
• Empowers schools: Ensures colleges can set their own lawful policies without risking loss of accreditation
• Protects religious institutions: Exempts religious colleges from free inquiry mandates, respecting their faith-based missions
• Creates legal recourse: Allows colleges to sue accrediting agencies that violate these protections