Why Public Universities Need Their Own Accreditor (opinion)

"I also understand why our public institutions will benefit from an accreditor that aligns with their mission and their public obligations. They need an accreditor that offers true peer review and a disciplined focus on improving student outcomes. They need an accreditor familiar with the mechanics of state oversight, able to promote academic quality while also being more efficient by eliminating redundant bureaucracy in the accreditation process."

"Established by a consortium of six public university systems-the State University System of Florida, the University System of Georgia, the University of North Carolina System, the University of South Carolina System, the University of Tennessee System and the Texas A&M University System-the aim of CPHE is to offer public universities across the country an alternative to the regional accreditors that have long dominated higher education,"

Public universities educate the largest share of students and drive economic mobility for Americans of diverse backgrounds. Public institutions require an accreditor aligned with public missions and obligations, offering rigorous peer review and a disciplined focus on student outcomes. An effective accreditor should understand state oversight mechanics, promote academic quality, and eliminate redundant accreditation bureaucracy to increase efficiency. The Commission for Public Higher Education (CPHE) was formed by six public university systems to provide an alternative to regional accreditors that applied uniform rules across diverse institution types, aiming to better align accreditation with public university needs.

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