CHEA President Speaks Out on Accreditation Legislation in Florida

June 14, 2022

HEADLINES

My Concern For Florida's Universities, State Colleges (Tallahassee Democrat [Commentary by CHEA President Cynthia Jackson-Hammond], (June 12, 2022) "Recent Florida legislation, SPB 7044,should be viewed with much concern and with skepticism as to its consequences. The bill requires state colleges and universities to seek reaffirmation from different accrediting organizations at the end of each review cycle. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the U.S. Department of Education both have identified major problems that could result from this action."

CHEA President Cynthia Jackson-Hammond Interviewed on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (Web Bite, June 14, 2022) "CHEA's President Cynthia Jackson-Hammond addresses diversity, equity and inclusion from accreditation's perspective in a new podcast interview."

ACCJC Names Dr. Mac Powell As Next President (ACCJC, June 8, 2022) "The Board of Directors for the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) has announced that Dr. Mac Powell will be joining ACCJC as president effective July 19, 2022."

Restrictions Threaten 'Integrity of Our System of Higher Education,' Groups Say (Higher Ed Dive, June 8, 2022) "Accreditation has become a key issue in the battles over free speech on campus after Florida Republicans passed a law this year requiring the state’s public colleges to change accreditors every cycle and giving them the ability to sue accreditors that take negative actions against them. That law came after the regional accreditor covering Florida, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. aid it would investigate reports of political interference in the state’s universities." 

Federal Action Didn't Prompt Accreditors to Boost Student Outcomes, Research Suggests (Higher Ed Dive, June 7, 2022) "Researchers found no evidence that colleges’ full-time credential production, median student debt or one-year repayment rates improved after the accreditor put policy changes in place in response to the HEA reauthorization."