Commission for Public Higher Education aims for accreditation authority by 2026
Florida is moving forward with plans to create a new accrediting agency for public universities, a move championed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and backed by five other Southern university systems. The State University System of Florida’s Board of Governors is scheduled to vote Friday on establishing the Commission for Public Higher Education (CPHE), with the goal of accrediting colleges by June 2026.
The state has earmarked $4 million in startup funds for the CPHE, and other participating systems—including those in Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee—are expected to contribute similarly. The commission ultimately aims to gain recognition from the U.S. Department of Education by mid-2028, a requirement for any accreditor whose stamp of approval qualifies colleges for federal financial aid.
The initiative comes amid a broader conservative campaign to reshape higher education. DeSantis has repeatedly targeted what he calls “ideological bias” in colleges and universities, particularly around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) standards. The CPHE’s business plan echoes that rhetoric, stating the commission will “ensure no imposition of divisive ideological content on institutions” and “streamline accreditation standards.”
The Department of Education currently recognizes around two dozen institutional accreditors. New agencies must operate independently for two years before they can be reviewed and approved—a lengthy and technical process not easily fast-tracked.
Nevertheless, recent policy changes have made it easier for institutions to switch accreditors. Regulatory reforms during Donald Trump’s presidency lifted geographic restrictions on accreditors, and the Education Department under the current administration recently issued guidance allowing for faster transitions. One of the most controversial changes allows colleges to automatically gain approval for switching accreditors if the department does not respond within 30 days—a timeline one expert described as a “30-day rubber stamp.”
Critics argue the creation of the CPHE is less about academic quality and more about political control. Both Florida and North Carolina have passed laws requiring public colleges to rotate accreditors, a rare move historically tied to disputes with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), which currently accredits institutions in all six participating university systems.
Some Florida and Texas schools have already begun exploring accreditation alternatives. But until the CPHE gains federal recognition—and proves it can uphold rigorous academic standards without political interference—its future remains uncertain.
