DeSantis announces Florida has become the first state in the nation to answer the federal call for academic and operational excellence
Sarasota, Florida – Florida has become the first state in the nation to formally respond to a federal call for postsecondary institutions to strengthen academic and operational standards, Governor Ron DeSantis announced in Sarasota.
DeSantis personally delivered a joint statement to the U.S. Department of Education that was signed by the presidents of all 28 institutions in the Florida College System and all 12 universities in the State University System. The statement affirms the institutions’ commitment to rigorous teaching, research where appropriate, public service and other standards outlined in the federal National Call to Action.
The move places Florida at the front of a national effort launched by U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon, who has asked colleges and universities across the country to publicly explain how they intend to improve academic quality, institutional accountability and student outcomes.
Florida officials said the state views the federal initiative as an opportunity to put into writing many of the policies and reforms already adopted or being developed across its public higher education system.
“Florida’s colleges and universities offer world-class opportunities for learning, research, and career pathways. We’ve ignored the noise and focused on merit, and the results speak for themselves, said Governor Ron DeSantis.” “Today, we led the way in answering the call from the Department of Education to affirm Florida’s commitment to rigorous instruction, groundbreaking research, and service to our country in higher education.”
The joint statement covers both of Florida’s public higher education systems. By having every president sign the document, state officials are presenting a unified position on the direction they believe colleges and universities should take.
Among the central themes is a renewed emphasis on academic rigor. Florida says its institutions should maintain demanding standards for students while continuing to provide opportunities for research, career preparation and public service.
State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues said the federal initiative closely matches priorities Florida has already established for its universities.
“Secretary McMahon’s Call to Action reinforces what matters most: higher education’s mission of educating students and serving the economic and civic needs of our state and nation, said System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues.” “The State University System of Florida is proud to affirm the principles that have made our universities a national model for higher education. Florida remains focused on academic excellence through merit-based admissions, rigorous teaching and scholarship, meaningful public service, and a belief that intellectual diversity is critical to a marketplace of ideas. Our institutions will continue to offer a world-class education at the most affordable price in the nation.”
The federal Call to Action asks every postsecondary institution in the country to publish a clear statement on its website by the end of 2026. Those statements are expected to identify specific commitments related to teaching, research and national service.
The initiative outlines seven areas for institutions to examine publicly. They include admissions transparency and merit, protection of free speech and campus operations, intellectual diversity and faculty hiring, affordability and student outcomes, academic standards in an era of artificial intelligence, protection against foreign influence and a stronger focus on American students and workforce needs.
Florida officials said the state’s response is intended not only to meet the federal request but also to reinforce expectations already being applied to public institutions.
Commissioner of Education Henry Mack described the effort as a return to what he sees as the traditional purpose of higher education, including educating students for careers while preparing them for participation in civic life.
“American higher education was founded to form free citizens capable of self-government and to advance the common good—not to chase fads, inflate credentials, or serve ideological capture. It exists to prepare students for successful careers and to form citizens through serious engagement with the liberal arts and the enduring principles that sustain a free society. Florida has been leading the nation by putting students first, protecting academic excellence, and insisting that our institutions remain focused on the education and workforce needs of our state and country, said Commissioner of Education Henry Mack.” “Secretary McMahon’s Call to Action is an overdue opportunity for institutions across the country to return to those roots and make those commitments clear and measurable. In Florida, we expect our postsecondary institutions to uphold rigorous academic standards, protect free expression and open inquiry, control costs, safeguard our institutions from foreign influence, and prepare students for meaningful careers and genuine service to the nation.”
The areas highlighted by Mack mirror the issues identified by the U.S. Department of Education. They include the quality and seriousness of academic programs, freedom of expression, institutional costs, research security and the connection between higher education and the needs of employers.
Artificial intelligence is also part of the federal initiative. Institutions are being asked to consider how academic standards and expectations should be maintained as AI becomes more common in classrooms, research and other areas of college life.
Another major concern is foreign influence. The federal call asks institutions to examine ways to protect research and academic programs from malign foreign activity. Florida officials included that issue among the standards they expect its colleges and universities to uphold.
The state’s response also extends beyond the public university and college systems. The Florida Department of Education has sent letters to private colleges and universities operating under the Independent Colleges and Universities framework and the Commission for Independent Education.
Those letters call on Florida’s independent postsecondary institutions to follow the principles set out in Secretary McMahon’s National Call to Action. State officials said the goal is to encourage the same focus on transparency, academic quality, student success and institutional accountability across the state’s broader higher education landscape.
The announcement does not create a new federal deadline for Florida’s public institutions beyond the national requirement that colleges and universities publish their commitments by the end of 2026. Instead, Florida’s action gives the state an early and coordinated response to the federal request.
With all 40 public postsecondary presidents signing the statement, Florida is signaling that its higher education system intends to present a common set of priorities. The state says those priorities include merit, rigorous instruction, intellectual diversity, affordability, research, free expression, protection from foreign influence and preparation for the workforce.
Florida’s officials are now positioning the state as an early example for other states as the federal government asks colleges and universities nationwide to publicly define how they will pursue academic and operational excellence.
