Major Changes for Higher Ed: Preparing for DOJ Inquiries and New IPEDS Requirements

Date: December 2, 2025 (2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EST)

Higher Education continues to be targeted by the Administration’s enforcement efforts to ensure compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws. Employment and admissions practices are subject to increased scrutiny by multiple federal agencies. For instance, both the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Health & Human Services (HHS) have issued Civil Investigation Demand (CID) letters requiring the submission of voluminous data and documents. These investigations pose significant risks, including potential civil and criminal lability, and the loss of federal contracts and grants.

Additionally, the Department of Education (ED) has proposed major changes to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) which, if implemented, would require institutions to report up to six years of detailed admissions data including applicant demographics and admissions criteria for undergraduate and graduate programs.

Given this rapidly changing legal compliance landscape, higher education institutions should be prepared for government investigations that scrutinize wide-ranging practices, including those related to employment, admissions, and compensation. On December 2, join attorneys from Novus Law Firm and FortneyScott and an I/O Psychologist from DCI as we discuss the scope of data being requested by the federal government and how to ensure that your institution is prepared. We will cover:

• Responding to federal agency investigations, which can include CIDs, and scope of data production
• How to prepare for a potential investigation
• How the proposed IPED revisions may impact reporting burdens
• How federal agencies may use and share institute data
• Prospective data analytics that should be conducted

Speakers:

Natasha Baker, Managing Attorney, Novus Law Firm

Elizabeth Bradley, Shareholder, FortneyScott

David Fortney, Co-Founder, FortneyScott