Six university systems across the nation established a new accreditor focused on academic excellence, with a medical group seeing it as a sign that accreditors’ “stranglehold” on public education may be nearing its end.
Do No Harm medical director Dr. Kurt Miceli told The Center Square that “the creation of the Commission for Public Higher Education marks a promising step forward for public postsecondary education.”
The new accreditor – the Commission for Public Higher Education – “will create a first-of-its-kind accreditation model for public higher education institutions that will offer high-quality, efficient services prioritizing academic excellence, student outcomes and achievement,” according to a news release.
The six systems making up the commission are the State University System of Florida, the University System of Georgia, the University of North Carolina System, the University of South Carolina, the University of Tennessee System, and Texas A&M University System.
According to the joint statement for the commission obtained by The Center Square via communications with the State University System of Florida, a few of the commission’s principles include reducing bureaucracy, ensuring accountability to the states of its member institutions, and remaining recognized by the Department of Education “for the purposes of Title IV participation by its accredited institutions.”
Medical group Do No Harm is pleased with the establishment of a new accreditor, seeing the action as a sign “accreditors’ stranglehold on public education may be breaking,” according to a news release.
Do No Harm is a group of medical professionals committed to keeping identity politics out of the medical field, including medical education, according to its website.
In their position of power over the schools they accredit, accreditors are able to – as Do No Harm puts it – “inject political agendas into universities’ policies” if they please. Do No Harm is especially concerned with this issue of political agenda as it pertains to medical education.
“Medical education could likewise stand to gain from this same spirit of innovation,” Miceli said.
Miceli said “accreditors wield considerable power in shaping higher education, particularly within healthcare.”
“They’ve unfortunately misused this influence to push political agendas through university policies that have proven both divisive and discriminatory,” Miceli said.
“In the landscape of medical education, some of these DEI standards have recently been rolled back by two of the main medical education accreditors,” Miceli said. “Yet, more needs to be done to ensure and maintain an unwavering focus on excellence and outcomes.”
When asked how the newly formed commission can be kept from enforcing political agendas as other accreditors have done, Miceli told The Center Square that “one of the most effective ways of ensuring accountability is by fostering competition.”
“President Trump underscored this in his Executive Order on Reforming Accreditation, instructing the Secretary of Education to recognize new accrediting agencies as a means of promoting competition,” Miceli said.
“Additional accreditors create greater choice for institutions,” Miceli said.
“And with no single accrediting agency holding monopoly power, all accreditors are naturally compelled by market forces to better serve the genuine needs of higher education – focusing on academic rigor and quality outcomes over political agendas,” Miceli said.
When reached for comment, the University System of Georgia told The Center Square: “The University System of Georgia (USG) is working with neighboring higher education systems on a new accreditation approach that keeps academic and institutional rigor front and center.”
“While this effort expands accreditation options, USG institutions and programs remain accredited by SACSCOC and other accrediting bodies,” USG’s statement said. “We’re grateful to the federal administration for its support and look forward to how this collaboration opens the door to future opportunities by strengthening and innovating higher education oversight.”
The University of North Carolina System, the University of South Carolina, the University of Tennessee System, and Texas A&M University System have not yet responded to The Center Square’s requests for comment.
