Florida Approves New Multi-State College Accreditor

Florida's Board of Governors has approved the Commission for Public Higher Education (CPHE), a new nonprofit accreditor for public colleges and universities in collaboration with university systems from five other southern states. The initiative, supported by a $4 million investment from Florida and anticipated similar funding from partner states, is intended to modernize accreditation by focusing on outcomes, academic excellence, and bureaucratic reduction. The CPHE plans a six-month pilot accreditation process involving six universities starting in December, but must secure federal approval before its accreditations allow institutions access to federal student aid. Both board members and education experts have expressed concerns about the accreditor’s independence, given Florida’s Board of Governors will be its sole member, and stressed the need to avoid influencing curricular content. The move is part of a wider conservative effort to reshape higher education governance and limit the influence of existing national accreditors. Supporters argue the change will foster innovation and eliminate ideological bias from the accreditation process.