Ron DeSantis and Mike Lee Look to Reform College Accreditation

Toward the end of last week, U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., announced that he was sponsoring the House version of U.S. Sen. Mike Lees, R-Utah, bill to change college accreditation. Under the Higher Education Reform and Opportunity (HERO) Act proposed by Lee and DeSantis, states would be allowed to set up their own accreditation standards which would run parallel with current regional and national accreditation agencies. The more prestigious colleges and universities in Florida are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), though some trade schools and proprietary institutions rely on national accreditation bodies.

While the costs of higher education have continued to accelerate and the amount of student loan debt has skyrocketed, many college graduates are now ending up in jobs that do not even require a college degree, DeSantis said. The acquisition of advanced knowledge and skills is more important than ever for economic opportunity, and many students would benefit from alternatives to traditional brick-and-ivy institutions, such as training programs, vocational schools and apprenticeships. By authorizing states to experiment with different approaches to accreditation, the HERO Act will allow our nations students to pursue the skills and education that they need to succeed in their chosen fields.

The Higher Education Reform and Opportunity Act would not only make the cost of higher education more affordable, but also make it easier for students to customize their own education and gain the specific skills they need to compete in todays economy, Lee said. Todays higher education system is falling behind on students increasingly diverse higher education needs and the resistance to change stifles the emergence of new education models that can be much more effective and affordable. The HERO Act will open the floodgates of innovation, providing greater choice, access, and opportunity for Americas students.