Roman & Rowe present research at 2025 CEHA annual conference

At the 2025 Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) Annual Conference, held January 27 to 30 in Washington, D.C., Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development PhD candidates Richard Roman and Madeline Rowe presented their research on the evolving landscape of public trust in American higher education. 

Their session, titled "Fluctuating Public Trust in American Higher Education: Implications for Quality Assurance and Institutional Accountability," explored how trust intersects with accreditation, governance, and market forces. Through historical analysis and contemporary case studies, Roman and Rowe examined how declining public confidence, shifting policy expectations, and rising student consumerism reshape higher education trust dynamics. Their presentation highlighted accreditation as a key mechanism for restoring faith in institutional integrity while balancing accountability, transparency, and institutional autonomy.

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