Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday announced the creation of a new accreditation body for public universities, forming a multi-state commission aimed at providing an alternative to what he described as an ideologically driven higher education system.

The Commission for Public Higher Education, or CPHE, is a consortium comprised of six states public university systems: Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas A&M, and is expected to develop an outcomes-based model that prioritizes academic performance, institutional efficiency and student achievement.

Speaking in Boca Raton, DeSantis said the new system is designed to challenge the dominance of existing accreditors, particularly the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which currently oversees Florida’s universities and colleges.

“Florida has set an example for the country in reclaiming higher education—and we’re working to make that success permanent. That means breaking the activist-controlled accreditation monopoly,” said GovernorDeSantis. “Today, I announced that a new accreditor, the Commission for Public Higher Education, will offer an alternative that will break the ideological stronghold. With transparent, rigorous, outcomes-based standards, this accreditor will help ensure the Free State of Florida leads the way in higher education for decades to come.”

Officials from each participating university system voiced support for the effort, describing CPHE as a reform-minded alternative that will focus on academic quality, cost-efficiency and the practical value of degree programs.

Florida State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues said the commission will use student data to guide decisions and streamline the accreditation process. University leaders from Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee and Texas described the move as a necessary shift toward accountability and performance-based evaluation.

“I am proud to be joined by leaders of five other public university systems to establish an accreditor that will focus on ensuring institutions provide high-quality, high-value programs, use student data to drive decisions, and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the process,” said Rodrigues.