New on WCET Frontiers
Policy
Insights into AI’s Transformative Role in Higher Education: WCET’s 2025 Survey
Published by: WCET | 8/21/2025
Artificial Intelligence is no longer a distant possibility on the higher education horizon. It’s here. And it is reshaping how institutions operate, teach, and support learners (in fact, I’d say it is changing the way most places operate, whether they’re ready for it or not). Since WCET’s first AI survey in 2023, the pace of […]
Policy
Your Opportunity to Inform the Department of ED: New Rulemaking Impact on Digital Learning
Published by: WCET | 8/13/2025
Another year, another round of U.S. Department of Education Negotiated Rulemaking, and once again, the results could have a big impact on students and the institutions serving them through distance education. On July 25, 2025, the Department released Public Hearing; Negotiated Rulemaking Committees. Two committees will be formed to develop future regulations affecting Title IV […]
Policy
Understanding the Trump Administration’s Educational AI Policies
Published by: WCET | 8/11/2025
On July 22nd, the White House released its national AI action plan, and, on the same day, the Department of Education followed up with the release of both a Dear Colleague Letter on the use of federal funds for Artificial Intelligence (AI) as well as a call for public comment on the Secretary’s supplemental priority […]
Policy
What the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” Means for Digital Learning in Higher Education
Published by: WCET | 7/22/2025
There is no shortage of news items about Congress recently passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). We know that the OBBBA was a massive budget bill that was passed using an expedited process, created by the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, called “reconciliation.” This process allows for the Senate to pass the legislation […]
Policy
December Federal Rulemaking Activity – New Final Regulations & Withdrawn Provisions
Published by: WCET | 1/7/2025
T’was the final weeks of December when most of higher education was not stirring – except for the U.S. Department of Education (Department). The Department was preparing gifts announcements finalizing the regulatory issues from the Winter 2024 rulemaking. In late December, the Department released two important announcements: These announcements separate the Winter 2024 issue areas […]
Policy
Knocking at the College Door – Insights on WICHE’s new publication
Published by: WCET | 12/12/2024
Every few years, WICHE (WCET’s parent organization) publishes a pivotal analysis of high school graduate projections for the United States. This analysis, presented in WICHE’s Knocking at the College Door report, tells the story of shifting demographics, evolving opportunities, and the need to adapt to meet students wherever they are. Of key interest this year […]
Policy
What Might Happen to the Department’s Pending Regulations and Guidance?
Published by: WCET | 11/14/2024
The direction for regulations and guidance for digital and distance education shifted greatly with the recent election. As you may recall, the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) was planning to release sweeping regulatory changes on distance education, accreditation, state authorization reciprocity, and mandatory fees for books and materials. They also planned changes to guidance […]
Policy
Meeting the Looming Web Accessibility Regulations: The Time to Start Was Yesterday
Published by: WCET | 11/7/2024
A recent NWHeat webinar highlighted that public institutions must mobilize immediately (if not sooner) to meet the coming U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) accessibility guidelines. Released in April 2024, the new regulation requires “state and local governments to make their websites and mobile applications accessible for people with disabilities.” These rules encompass all public colleges and universities. […]
Policy
Last Chance to Shape 2024 Distance Education Federal Regulations – Join the Rulemaking Process Now!
Published by: WCET | 9/5/2024
There is one last chance for you to participate in the rulemaking process for the recently released distance education-related regulations to inform the U.S. Department of Education (Department) of any concerns prior to the Department issuing the final regulations. We maintain, as discussed in our July WCET Frontiers Post and our public comment, that the […]
Policy
Survey on New DOJ Regulation on Accessibility of Web Information and Services
Published by: WCET | 8/29/2024
On August 2, WCET published our post, Accessibility in the Spotlight: Department of Justice Regulations, on the Department of Justice (DOJ) final rule revising the regulation implementing Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The new regulation establishes requirements for making accessible the services, programs, and activities offered by state and local government […]