Six Southern States Launch Alternative College Accreditor Against Political Influence

Florida, led by Gov. Ron DeSantis, is spearheading the creation of a new higher education accrediting body called the Commission for Public Higher Education, alongside five other conservative-leaning Southern states. This new accreditor aims to challenge the longstanding dominance of traditional agencies like the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS), focusing on academic rigor and student outcomes rather than ideological priorities, which DeSantis and allies label as "woke" indoctrination. The move has drawn strong opposition from faculty groups such as the Florida Education Association and United Faculty of Florida, who warn that politicizing accreditation threatens academic freedom, faculty governance, and could harm Florida’s academic credibility and students’ futures. The commission seeks to provide public universities with an alternative, competitive accreditation choice, which supporters argue will reduce costs and improve confidence in public higher education institutions. However, the initiative faces uncertainty regarding federal approval and acceptance by the broader academic community, especially as Florida has been involved in legal disputes with federal education officials over accreditation authority. This effort aligns with broader conservative efforts, supported by President Trump, to reshape higher education accreditation to align with their ideological priorities and reduce what they describe as left-leaning influence in academia.