Kristin Hultquist Shares Insights about the Federal Higher Education Rulemaking Process on The RANT Podcast

Federal higher education regulations can often arrive on campuses as a new financial aid requirement, compliance deadline, or policy change. But long before those rules take effect, many of the most consequential decisions are shaped through negotiated rulemaking.

HCM Strategists’ CEO and founder Kristin Hultquist recently joined Dr. Andy Vaughn, president and CEO of Alliant University, for a conversation about their experiences participating in recent negotiated rulemaking committees and what higher education leaders should understand about the process.

Hosted by Eloy Oakley, the discussion explores how the U.S. Department of Education translates legislation into regulations, the boundaries—or “bumpers”—established by Congress, and the opportunities stakeholders have to influence how federal policy ultimately takes shape.

Among the topics discussed is Workforce Pell and its evolution from a long-advocated policy idea into regulatory design. Hultquist and Vaughn also examine the emerging accountability framework and its potential to provide students, particularly first-generation learners, with clearer information about program value and outcomes.

The conversation also addresses graduate student loan limits and the Graduate PLUS debate, emphasizing the importance of higher education leaders engaging in the policymaking process with facts, data, and strong coalitions. Hultquist shares insights from her experience working in federal policy, including questions about the system’s longstanding reliance on time as a proxy for educational quality.

Looking ahead, the discussion identifies accreditation reform as another significant policy lever, particularly for professional licensure programs where specialty accreditation requirements can contribute to higher costs.

For higher education leaders navigating Title IV, student debt, accountability, and an evolving federal regulatory environment, the conversation offers an inside look at how policy moves from legislation to implementation—and how institutions and advocates can engage before new requirements reach campuses.

Watch Now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Clxh5fRQd1s

Listen Here: https://therant.buzzsprout.com/2131269/episodes/19683359