The Association for Institutional Research (AIR) joined a coalition of higher education associations that submitted a letter to the U.S. Department of Education expressing concerns about the proposed Admissions and Consumer Transparency Supplement (ACTS) data collection. The coalition’s response, highlighted by the American Council on Education (ACE), outlines areas where the proposal could be strengthened to better support transparency while avoiding unintended burdens on institutions.

In the letter, the organizations note that several elements of the proposal may be unclear or overly broad, making consistent reporting difficult. They encourage the Department to clarify definitions, streamline requirements, and ensure alignment with existing federal data systems. The coalition also raises concerns about the potential administrative complexity associated with the proposal and recommends adjustments to support data quality and practical implementation.