Overview
- The Commission for Public Higher Education comprises Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and the Texas A&M University System.
- The new body has formally applied for federal recognition, with supporters expecting an expedited review under policies enacted by President Trump.
- Advocates say the commission will prioritize academic quality, student outcomes and efficiency over diversity, equity and inclusion requirements they view as ideological.
- The move follows Florida’s 2022 Senate Bill 7022 mandating accreditor rotation every five years and Gov. DeSantis’s legal challenges to federal accreditation rules.
- Texas A&M University System has joined the commission but will maintain its current Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accreditation until the new body gains recognition.