The move comes as more colleges are going back to requiring standardized tests for admissions.
Under Secretary Nicholas Kent said Tuesday that the agency needs to make the process for college mergers, acquisitions and even closures “a lot easier.”
The former University of Alabama leader faced a delayed system-level vote and right-wing pushback over his past support for diversity efforts.
The two federal agencies are offering eligible institutions up to $30 million for property improvements — but the money requires a one-to-one match.