Ron DeSantis Launches New Higher Ed Accreditation Agency to Combat 'Woke Cartels'

Florida's Higher Education Reforms

• 🎓 Florida boasts the nation's top public higher education system, characterized by low tuition and a high percentage of debt-free graduates.
• 💰 In-state tuition has remained stable at $6,300 since the governor took office, with 77% of undergraduates graduating debt-free.
• 🛠️ The state emphasizes workforce education, doubling apprenticeships and offering vocational programs in middle and high schools, leading to certifications in fields like HVAC and electrical.

Addressing Campus Ideology and Indoctrination

• 🚩 Events since October 7th, 2023, exposed perceived ideological rot in higher education, with administrators appearing impotent against harassment.
• 🚫 Florida aims to ensure universities focus on education and academic rigor, not indoctrination or ideological joyrides.
• ⚖️ Reforms include overhauling tenure with post-tenure review, allowing termination for poor performance, and removing unproductive, activist faculty.
• 💡 Hiring processes have been reformed to prevent ideological litmus tests, banning diversity statements and attracting scholars focused on teaching and research.

Combating DEI and Promoting Merit

• ✅ Florida eliminated Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, shifting focus to merit and achievement.
• 📊 The state views DEI practices as divisive and indoctrinating, asserting that merit, achievement, and aptitude should be the basis for evaluation.
• 📈 This move, initially met with criticism, has seen other states follow suit, with a national shift against DEI in public universities.

Reforming Accreditation and Curriculum

• 🎯 A new accreditation agency, the "Commission for Public Higher Education," is being established to challenge the monopoly of existing "woke accreditation cartels."
• 🏛️ This new agency will focus on student achievement, measurable outcomes, and the pursuit of truth, offering an alternative to ideologically driven accreditation bodies.
• 📚 Universities are streamlining course offerings to focus on core subjects and classical liberal arts, moving away from esoteric studies and ideological fads.
• 🇺🇸 There's a renewed emphasis on American civics in K-12 education, with programs to train teachers on foundational documents and principles.

Upholding Standards and Free Speech

• 🗣️ Florida has adopted the Chicago model of free speech but holds students accountable for disruptive conduct that sabotages the academic process.
• 🚫 Universities will not tolerate the commandeering of campuses for agendas, as seen with responses to protests.
• 🎓 Accountability for behavior, including withholding diplomas for disruptive conduct, is crucial to maintaining order and academic integrity.
• 🚀 The state aims to create an environment where universities lead with integrity, ensuring accountability for administrators and faculty.