Florida Lawsuit Challenges Constitutionality of Accreditation

June 29, 2023

HEADLINES

Florida Lawsuit Challenges Constitutionality of Accreditation (Inside Higher Ed, June 27, 2023) Higher education lawyers and advocates say the lawsuit is more about politics than a serious legal challenge. Cynthia Jackson Hammond, president of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, said in a statement that there’s no precedent for questioning accreditation in this way. She’s hoping the lawsuit will not set such a precedent. “There is no end ‘win’ by discrediting the work of professional experts who work with institutions to ensure quality at all levels,” Hammond said.

Florida’s Governor Escalates a Yearslong Fight with College Accreditors (Chronicle of Higher Education, June 22, 2023) Florida Governor DeSantis has made no secret of his disdain for college-accreditation agencies. Recently, he took those frustrations to new heights, with a lawsuit alleging the federal government has “ceded unchecked power” to accreditors. In response to the suit, Cynthia Jackson Hammond, president of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation said, “Overreach by state legislators is contrary to academic freedom."

The Road Ahead for Accreditation (The Chronicle of Higher Education, June 2023) At a time when accreditors are ensnared in political debates and accused of not changing with the times, a Chronicle of Higher Education survey found firm — if not overwhelming — support for postsecondary education’s quality-control process. (Note: Free registration is required to view the full research brief.)

Independent Colleges of Indiana Names Dottie L. King as the New President and CEO (WBIW.com, June 15, 2023) Dottie L. King, Ph.D., who currently serves as the president of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) was named the next president and CEO of Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI). Dr. King serves as Vice-Chair of the CHEA Board of Directors and also serves on its Executive Committee. Dr. King will begin her term as ICI President and CEO on August 1, 2023.