DeSantis sues Biden administration over university accrediting system

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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has taken legal action against the Biden administration and the U.S. Department of Education, challenging the accreditation system that controls federal aid for students. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, disputes a federal law that mandates colleges and universities to seek accreditation from private agencies in order to qualify for federal funding. DeSantis, who is vying for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has been implementing a conservative agenda in Florida’s education system. One notable action was appointing trustees to the board of New College of Florida, with the intention of transforming it into a classical liberal arts school akin to Hillsdale College.

DeSantis voiced his opposition to the accrediting system, stating that he refuses to yield to unaccountable accreditors who believe they should dictate the operations of Florida’s public universities. He seeks a court ruling declaring this arrangement unconstitutional. The White House responded, criticizing DeSantis for bringing his culture wars, such as book bans, into the education system, asserting that such conflicts do not benefit students. Federal law grants private accrediting agencies the authority to determine which educational institutions are eligible for roughly $112 billion in federal funding, setting certain requirements for accreditation maintenance.

In Florida, a law was passed prohibiting consecutive accreditation cycles from the same agency or association, enabling universities to sue accrediting bodies for damages if they believe they have suffered harm. Consequently, over half of Florida’s public colleges and universities must switch accreditors within the next two years. DeSantis argued that the Biden administration’s alleged abuse of the current accreditation system imposes a significant burden on these institutions’ ability to make the required changes. Seeking a new accreditor necessitates approval from the U.S. Department of Education.

DeSantis contended that legislative power cannot be delegated to an unaccountable private entity, rejecting the accrediting agency’s potential veto power over the state of Florida. He emphasized that the responsibility for overseeing the well-being of colleges and universities should remain with the governor, Legislature, and taxpayers. DeSantis and Attorney General Ashley Moody cited an incident involving the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS), which purportedly threatened the accreditation of Florida State University due to a potential conflict of interest with Richard Corcoran, the state’s former commissioner of education, who was a candidate for the university’s presidency.

In the end, Florida State appointed Richard McCullough as its president, while Corcoran became an interim president at New College, where DeSantis had appointed six new trustees to govern the institution.

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More about university accreditation

• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Sues Biden Administration Over University Accrediting System (US News)
• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Files Lawsuit Against Biden Administration Over Accreditation Agencies (Newsweek)
• Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Challenges Accreditation System in Lawsuit Against Biden Administration (WFLA)
• Florida’s Lawsuit Challenges Accreditation System for Higher Education (Tampa Bay Times)
• Florida Governor Sues Education Department Over University Accreditation (Inside Higher Ed)