DFI works to nurture a vision for long-term postsecondary education reform that reduces the federal role in financing postsecondary education, protects taxpayers, and meets the demand for alternatives to four-year degrees. We support opening the accreditation system to new and innovative agencies that promote transparency, value, and real accountability for student outcomes.
Student Loans
America needs a higher education system that is affordable, flexible, and aligned with the real opportunities of today’s economy. DFI supports reforms that lower costs by reigning in federal policies that fuel tuition inflation and by expanding high-value, workforce-aligned alternatives to traditional four-year degrees. Students should have access to skills-based pathways and programs that clearly demonstrate their return on investment. Institutions must share responsibility for student outcomes through stronger accountability and transparency. Our vision is a system of postsecondary education that offers students multiple pathways to success, protects taxpayers, and delivers real value for every learner.
Accreditation
As a condition of federal student aid, accreditation was designed by Congress to serve as the key determinant of whether a college or university provides a quality education to its students. Unfortunately, the higher education quality assurance system is broken. More focused on radical diversity, equity, and inclusion mandates than student outcomes, most accreditation agencies have become content with the status quo. At the same time, many institutions of higher education have drifted into illiberalism while accreditation agencies have sat on the sidelines or, worse, aided the drift. The time has come to take radical steps to create a quality assurance system focused on academic rigor and student outcomes—not woke education mandates.
Workforce Development
Americans should be free to choose the life and work that is best for them. Yet, to date, federal policy has taken a “four-year-degree-or-bust” approach that has substituted college degrees for actual job skills and knowledge. The lack of short-term learning programs and apprenticeships has aggravated this trend and hindered national prosperity. DFI supports policies that increase access to short-term credentials and earn-to-learn programs, including industry recognized apprenticeships, to help workers discover passions, develop talents, and acquire needed skills to thrive in our dynamic, evolving economy.
Foreign Influence in Higher Education
Since launching in 2021, DFI has worked to expose the Federal government’s weakened oversight of efforts by foreign governments and their proxies to use generous gifts and contracts to unduly influence American education at our universities, colleges, and schools.