Background
The U.S. Department of Education has proposed a new IPEDS survey component—the Admissions and Consumer Transparency Supplement (ACTS)—in response to the August 7 Executive Action on higher-education admissions transparency. The Secretary of Education subsequently issued a directive detailing required data elements related to race, sex, academic credentials, and financial aid.
ACTS represents the most significant expansion of IPEDS reporting in recent years, and this page will be updated as new information and resources become available
The information on this page is offered as a resource for the higher education community. It is not intended to be official guidance or a substitute for information from the U.S. Department of Education.
Recently Released
- AIR Summary of ACTS information released on November 14, 2025
- Copy of ACTS code book (extracted from ED-2025-SCC-0382-3466_attachment_13 - see below)
- AIR Webinar recording: Navigating in Uncertainty: How to Prepare for ACTS
Free Upcoming Events
Latest Resources from the U.S. Department of Education
On November 14, the Department released additional information on the proposed IPEDS ACTS survey component as part of a Federal Register notice (Docket: ED-2025-SCC-0382). The release includes several parts posted on the Regulations.gov page for this docket. Key sections related to the ACTS data collection are linked below.
- Authorization Request to OMB (Docket: ED-2025-SCC-0382)
- Request for approval to add the ACTS survey component to IPEDS during the 2025-26 collection period.
- The 30-day public comment period is open; comments may be submitted here by December 15.
- ACTS Package (Instructions, File Specifications, Codebook)
- Available on the Regulations.gov Forms and Instruments tab
- Look for: ACTS_package_102925 (Downloads as: ED-2025-SCC-0382-3466_attachment_13)
- Draft Communications to Institutions
- Available on the Regulations.gov Forms and Instruments tab
- Look for: Appendix_B_Communications_ACTS_change_package_102925 (Downloads as: ED-2025-SCC-0382-3466_attachment_15)
- Department Responses to 60-Day Comments
- Available on the Regulations.gov Forms and Instruments tab
- Look for: Appendix_E_FRN_60-day_Comment_Responses_102925 (Downloads as: ED-2025-SCC-0382-3466_attachment_18)
AIR Responses and Resources
Summary
Education
- Navigating in Uncertainty: How to Prepare for ACTS Recorded Wednesday, November 20, 2025
This free session focuses on what institutions can do today to prepare for ACTS: identifying available data, documenting gaps, and developing a feasible plan for compliant reporting as requirements are finalized.
Resources Extracted from ED Materials
- Copy of ACTS code book (extracted from ED-2025-SCC-0382-3466_attachment_13)
- ACTS FAQ (extracted from ED-2025-SCC-0382-3466_attachment_13)
Voices from the Field
Following the August 15 Federal Register notice on proposed ACTS data elements, AIR partnered with AACRAO, ACE, APLU, and NAICU to survey higher education professionals and capture campus perspectives. More than 580 colleagues provided candid feedback on feasibility, challenges, and potential value, highlighting where the proposal needs refinement and what support institutions will require.
AIR and its partners used these insights to shape the comments submitted in October, and AIR continues to draw on the findings to equip members with the tools and training needed to respond effectively.
Community Survey Results: Feedback on the August 15 ACTS proposal
Official Comments
AIR’s comments (PDF) submitted to the Federal Register on 10/14/2025
Inside Higher Education Op-Ed
Proposals Risk Making Admissions Data Unreliable (opinion) Bryan Cook & Christine Keller
Articles from AIR
-
Beyond Compliance and Through Uncertainty: Our Commitment Endures
As data professionals, we find ourselves in one of the most unsettling reporting environments higher education has faced. The uncertainty is real; shifting federal priorities, new requirements, and unclear guidance makes...Read Moreabout: Beyond Compliance and Through Uncertainty: Our Commitment Endures -
Proposed IPEDS ACTS Component: AIR Community Survey Results
When the U.S. Department of Education proposed adding an Admissions and Consumer Transparency Supplement (ACTS) to IPEDS beginning in 2025–26, AIR recognized the importance of elevating institutional voices in that...Read Moreabout: Proposed IPEDS ACTS Component: AIR Community Survey Results -
AIR Executive Director Weighs In: Proposed IPEDS Supplement Could Undermine Reliability of Admissions Data
In an Inside Higher Ed opinion piece published September 15, 2025, Bryan Cook, vice president of data and policy analysis at the American Council on Education, and Christine M. Keller, executive director and CEO of the A...Read Moreabout: AIR Executive Director Weighs In: Proposed IPEDS Supplement Could Undermine Reliability of Admissions Data -
Proposed New IPEDS Data Component Would Have Significant Impacts on Institutions
The U.S. Department of Education has proposed adding the Admissions and Consumer Transparency Supplement (ACTS) to this year’s IPEDS data collection. https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-15536.pdf &nb...Read Moreabout: Proposed New IPEDS Data Component Would Have Significant Impacts on Institutions
