 In July 2017 Dandridge was announced as the inaugural Chief Executive of the Office for Students, a new public body created as part of the Higher Education and Research Act 2017 to regulate the higher education sector.Having previously led the higher education sectors lobbying group UUK, there were questions as to whether her appointment was "poacher turned gamekeeper".Since being in post, Dandridge has been critical within the media of vice-chancellor salaries, grade inflation and unconditional offer making.