MIAMI — Florida’s effort to launch a new “ideology-free” college accrediting agency could get a major boost from the Trump administration — a shift with high stakes for students, universities and the industry that sets the standards for higher education.

Accreditation determines whether colleges meet basic standards of quality and, crucially, whether their students can access federal financial aid. Without it, degrees can lose value, credits may not transfer to other schools, and universities can be cut off from billions in funding.

Now, a sweeping rewrite of that system could dramatically speed up Florida’s plans.

Draft rules from the U.S. Department of Education would make it easier — and faster — for new accrediting agencies to win federal recognition. It could potentially accelerate approval of the Commission for Public Higher Education, a nascent college accreditor backed by Florida and other red states seeking to reshape higher education and root out anything that smacks of “woke”

Under current federal law, new accreditors must operate for at least two years before they can apply for recognition — a timeline Florida officials expected would push approval to 2028. But the proposal would allow that clock to start earlier, when an accreditor establishes standards rather than when it begins accrediting institutions.

According to State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues, that technical change could shave years off the process.

“The answer to that would be yes,” Rodrigues told the Herald/Times in a recent interview. “It’s good for CPHE and, ultimately, it would be good” for other aspiring accreditors as well.

Rodrigues said Florida’s original 2028 target was based on a traditional interpretation of the Higher Education Act. With the proposed changes, the chancellor added, “we could be looking at a timeline that would allow CPHE to receive recognition next year, before the end of the year.”

The sweeping rewrites of those rules is underway in Washington, where the U.S. Department of Education has convened a negotiated rulemaking panel — a federally mandated process that brings together government officials and outside stakeholders to hash out proposed regulations — to overhaul how accreditors are approved and overseen. The panel began its first round of negotiations this week and will meet again in May.

Rodrigues is among the negotiators, helping shape rules that could directly determine the fate of Florida’s accreditor. If the committee reaches consensus — or even if it doesn’t — the department can move forward with formal proposed rules later this year, with final regulations expected by Nov. 1 and taking effect in 2027.

The current draft regulations — spanning more than 150 pages — are intended to lower barriers for new accreditors, increase competition and make it easier for colleges to switch agencies. Among the most consequential changes: revising how the two-year approval window is calculated, a technical shift that could have immediate real-world impact for Florida’s effort.

If the rules are finalized as proposed, Florida’s accreditor could move from a long-term project to a federally recognized gatekeeper far sooner than expected — potentially reshaping the higher education landscape in the South and beyond.

A narrow window

For Florida leaders, the timing is critical.

The state is racing to secure federal approval before the end of President Donald Trump’s term, citing concerns that a future Democratic administration could stall or reject the effort.

Backed by $4 million from the state Legislature and support from several Republican-led states, the new accreditor is central to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ push to remake higher education and challenge what he calls “woke accreditation cartels.”

The Trump administration argues that streamlining the process will reduce red tape and encourage innovation in higher education oversight.

But critics warn the opposite — that loosening requirements could weaken oversight and allow lower-quality accreditors into the system.

Some policy analysts fear a “race to the bottom,” where struggling colleges gravitate toward newer agencies with less stringent standards — potentially putting students and federal aid dollars at risk. Others argue the proposal may exceed federal authority under the Higher Education Act and could face legal challenges.

Unlike most accreditors, which operate independently, the Commission for Public Higher Education is currently structured with Florida’s Board of Governors as its sole member — giving the state outsized influence over major decisions. Critics say that raises questions about whether the agency can maintain the independence expected of organizations that determine academic quality.

The accreditor has also drawn attention for a proposed standard on “intellectual diversity,” a concept that has sparked debate among higher education experts.

Robert Shireman, a former Obama-era Education Department official who now serves on a federal accreditation advisory committee, questioned how such a standard could be applied.

“Who are they going to be trying to satisfy?” Shireman said. “If it’s basically Ron DeSantis, then I’d say that’s a problem.”

For political leaders, accreditation is a powerful lever. Accreditors set the standards colleges must meet, and they can influence curriculum, governance and campus policies across entire systems.

Florida officials argue the current system is overly bureaucratic and, in some cases, ideologically driven. Their new accreditor would emphasize student outcomes, reduce administrative burdens and avoid diversity, equity and inclusion requirements adopted by some existing agencies.

If approved quickly, the accreditor could serve as a long-term alternative for Florida and allied states, insulating their policies from future federal shifts, said Jason Jewell, a top university system official who represents Florida on the CPHE board. He was explicit about the urgency

“It would be a safeguard,” Jewell said in an interview, and “we want to make hay while the sun shines.”

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