Southern States Move to Remove Diversity from Education

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue, have championed the CPHE as a way to break up accreditation monopolies and eliminate DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) requirements.

In 2025, Georgia Southern University and Columbus State University became the first Georgia institutions to submit letters of intent to join the Commission for Public Higher Education (CPHE). 

The Institutions and Their Rationale
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• Georgia Southern University: President Kyle Marrero positioned the school as a pilot institution for the new agency, noting it is well-suited as it pursues "Research I" status.
• Columbus State University: President Stuart Rayfield cited a commitment to academic excellence and praised the CPHE’s focus on reducing administrative bureaucracy. 

The New Accreditor: CPHE

The CPHE was formed in June 2025 by a consortium of public university systems from six Southern states: Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. It aims to provide an alternative to the "legacy" accreditor for the region, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). 

Why It Is Controversial

The agency has drawn significant debate for several reasons:

• Political Motivations: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue, have championed the CPHE as a way to break up accreditation monopolies and eliminate DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) requirements.
• "Intellectual Diversity" Standard: A core standard of the CPHE is promoting "intellectual diversity" (formerly termed "viewpoint diversity"). Critics and some university staff have raised concerns that this may conflict with equal opportunity employment or lead to political interference in hiring.
• Federal Recognition: The CPHE is currently seeking formal recognition from the U.S. Department of Education. Until this is granted, both Georgia Southern and Columbus State will maintain their existing accreditation with SACSCOC to ensure continued access to federal funding.