Just over a week ago, DeSantis formally installed several key allies to lead state universities. His former lieutenant governor, Jeanette Nuñez, was confirmed as president of Florida International University in Miami, while telecommunications lobbyist Marva Johnson was named president of FAMU. DeSantis also appointed former state lawmaker and education commissioner Manny Diaz to lead the University of West Florida. These moves follow earlier appointments of longtime ally Adam Hasner to lead Florida Atlantic University and Ray Rodrigues to head the State University System.
Speaking at FAU, DeSantis railed against what he described as entrenched liberalism, unaccountable faculty, weak administrators, and an “accreditation cartel” that he claims stymies reform efforts in public universities.
“Who are these accreditors? Did you elect these accreditors to anything?” DeSantis asked a crowd of supporters, criticizing current accrediting bodies for what he views as political bias and overreach.
Joining Florida’s State University System in the new venture are the public higher education systems of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas A&M—all based in states that voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. Together, they aim to challenge the influence of existing accrediting bodies such as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
The announcement follows a series of high-profile confrontations between state governments and SACS. In 2021, SACS raised concerns over political interference at the University of Florida after faculty were barred from testifying in a lawsuit against the state. A year later, it probed Florida State University over potential conflicts of interest when then–education commissioner Richard Corcoran was floated as a candidate for FSU president. (Corcoran now heads New College of Florida, where DeSantis has led a conservative overhaul.)
In North Carolina, SACS raised red flags over governance issues at UNC-Chapel Hill. State lawmakers responded in 2023 by quietly inserting a provision into the state budget that mandates institutions change accreditors—mirroring a 2022 Florida law requiring similar switches every accreditation cycle.
Despite a federal judge dismissing Florida’s 2023 lawsuit challenging the constitutional authority of accreditors, DeSantis has continued to portray accreditation bodies as unelected gatekeepers stifling state-led education reform.
“The current system is broken,” DeSantis declared. “We’re going to set a new standard—transparent, accountable, and focused on real educational outcomes, not ideological agendas.”
Creating a new accreditor, however, is no small feat. The Commission for Public Higher Education must still gain federal recognition from the U.S. Department of Education—a process that typically takes years. The Trump administration has signaled its intent to streamline that process if reelected, potentially clearing the path for faster approval.
DeSantis’s dissatisfaction with the accreditation system dates back to his time in Congress, when he co-sponsored two unsuccessful bills to give states more autonomy in setting accreditation standards.
Now, after failed legislative and legal efforts, he’s opting for a new approach: building a parallel system from scratch, one that aligns with his broader vision for reshaping public education.
Critics warn that political interference could erode academic quality and independence, while supporters say it’s a long-overdue correction to a broken system. Either way, DeSantis’s announcement marks a significant pivot in the ongoing tug-of-war over who controls public higher education in America.