Baltimore – By weakening regional accreditation and conditioning research grants on conformity with political views, the Trump administration has set a “timed destruction” in motion that threatens to erode the independent functioning of colleges and universities, a higher education historian told education journalists Wednesday.
“There has been significant weakening from a regional perspective,” said Eddie Cole, professor of education and history at UCLA, said of the Education Department no longer recognizing “regional” accreditors.
He said whereas regional accreditors have historically warned institutions of higher education that they risk losing their accreditation if they allow elected officials to interfere with their operations – such as in the 1960s when governors of southern states resisted desegregating state colleges – the Trump administration’s new framework favors “pop-up” accreditors that won’t apply that kind of pressure.
“Historically speaking, many institutions of higher education, colleges and universities, have been able to have some degree of protection from political interference, because one of the criteria for maintaining your status as an accredited institution is to be able to function independently of state government, and, dare I say, federal government,” Cole said. “As you see this shift in how accreditation is administered today, likely historians in the future will look at this moment as a significant way to think about (how) the way it works now is totally different in relationship to government.” 
Dr. Eddie R. Cole is a Professor of Education and History at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Cole made his remarks at the Education Writers Association’s annual meeting during a panel discussion on the “dismantling” of the Department of Education.
During a separate talk, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore also lamented the “day one” decision to take out the education department. However, when asked if Democrats should rebuild the Department of Education if they win the White House in 2028, Moore said more thought should be given into how to rebuild the department, not just restoring it back to what it was before Trump’s second administration.
Moore touted what he termed as his administration’s historic $1.4 billion the state’s four HBCUs, saying he believes in the power of HBCUs and what they do for society. But he also railed against narrowly focusing on four-year college degrees as if they’re the only viable path to a better life.
