The purpose of this hearing was to examine the burdensome regulations imposed on institutions of higher education and accrediting bodies by the Department of Education. In late 2010 the administration introduced regulations on 14 separate higher education issues. While many of these new regulations inject the federal government into areas that have historically been the responsibility of the states or institutions of higher education. Two of them are particularly alarming; the new state authorization regulation forces states to follow federal requirements when deciding whether to grant a college or university permission to operate within the state. Many institutions fear this is only the beginning of the federal government and states exercising more control over their colleges and universities. Members testifying before the committee were: Honorable Robert E. Andrews, a Representative in Congress from the State of New Jersey; Honorable Virginia Foxx, Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training; Honorable Ruben Hinojosa, ranking member, Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training; and Honorable Glenn Thompson, a Representative in Congress from the State of Pennsylvania. Witnesses testifying before the committee were: G. Blair Dowden, president, Huntington University; John Ebersole, president, Excelsior College; Kathleen S. Tighe, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Education; and Ralph A. Wolff, president, the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). (Individual statements contain footnotes.)