Florida is Reshaping Higher Education
Introduction to Florida’s Higher Education Policy
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis often says that Florida is the best state in the country for higher education. It’s been ranked No. 1 for higher education by U.S. News & World Report for nearly a decade, and the University of Florida was tied as the seventh-ranked top public university this year. Other schools, like the University of South Florida and Florida State University, rose in the ranks, too. The same schools that produce successful students have also drawn heavy scrutiny, from the Board of Governors blocking a candidate in UF’s presidential search last summer to New College of Florida’s political makeover and hefty spending habits.
Drawing Critics and Copycats
But Florida isn’t only drawing critics. It’s drawing copycats. The state has been at the forefront of the push to eliminate campus diversity initiatives, create schools focused on Western thought and restrict student activism on campuses. It even established a college accrediting body this summer that includes university systems in the Carolinas, Georgia, Texas, and Tennessee.
DeSantis receives more national coverage than other Republican governors, which can thrust Florida into the spotlight, even if the state isn’t setting policy trends, said Tyler Coward, the lead counsel for government affairs at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a pro-free speech group.
Aggressive Policy Agenda
Florida’s higher education policy can also be particularly aggressive because elected officials have term limits, said Antonio Ingram, an attorney with the Legal Defense Fund, a nonprofit that fights for racial justice. They can pursue aggressive policy agendas because they don’t need to face voters cycle after cycle, he said. “I think Florida may not be perceived as conservative as places like Alabama and Texas, but once Florida does things, they ripple,” Ingram said. “I think other institutions get emboldened. Like, ‘Florida did it. Why can’t we?’”
Upcoming Changes
More change could be coming. Florida’s legislative session began this week, which means lawmakers will start to consider bills that would limit the governor’s influence on presidential searches, allow guns on campus, and rename campus roads in honor of the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Bans
Background
Florida’s 2022 Individual Freedom Act, also known as the Stop Woke act, was one of the first pieces of legislation to try to restrict campus conversations about race and push back against critical race theory, the idea that racism is systemic. The legislation prohibits any teaching that would make someone feel “guilt, anguish or other psychological distress” due to their race. The legislators who wrote the bill were likely inspired by a controversial executive order that President Donald Trump passed in his first term, Ingram said.
Implementation and Response
After many challenges, a federal judge blocked the parts of the Florida law that involve higher education and the workplace. But DeSantis signed a 2023 bill that prohibits colleges from spending state or federal funds on diversity-related projects unless required by federal law. And the state overhauled general education classes, weeding out hundreds that focused on race and gender. “I think that it’s a model of good governance, it’s a model of seriousness in terms of the policies towards higher education,” said Mark Schneider, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank.
Other States’ Response
Texas adopted similar language in two bills in 2023, and so did Alabama in 2024. Alabama’s legislation restricts colleges and universities (and groups within them) from holding events related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. It also prohibits the teaching of “divisive concepts,” including the idea that individuals can have subconscious racial biases. The bill took Florida’s idea and expanded on it, Ingram said, to put restrictions on extracurricular student events.
Student Activity Restrictions
Background
In 2024, DeSantis ordered the state highway patrol to help crack down on pro-Palestinian protests. Universities had let themselves become “overrun” with encampments, he said, adding that protesters were “spouting nonsense.” Some state universities enacted campus-wide restrictions on student activity, some of which critics say unfairly target left-wing organizers.
Implementation and Response
At USF, a new policy prohibits protests past 5 p.m., restricts the wearing of masks to conceal identities, and requires approval for campus events and dispersing literature. A handful of schools across the country, particularly those with students who led pro-Palestine encampments, tightened guidelines on student activism and events. Carnegie Mellon University, a private university in Pittsburgh, banned encampments and required registration for “formal advocacy events.”
Classical Education Centers
Background
UF’s Hamilton School for Classical and Civic Education was established in 2022 with state funding. It is one of many universities to create schools focused on civics education and Western philosophy, which tend to employ conservative faculty. Florida is also home to New College, a small liberal arts college that DeSantis overhauled a few years ago to turn into a conservative civics college.
Other States’ Response
Ohio last year passed a bill that created five civics centers at state universities, including Ohio State. The most recent state budget allocates more decision-making power to the centers, including advising lawmakers on curricula for K-12 schools. In North Carolina, UNC’s School of Civic Life and Leadership opened in 2024. It’s an effort to bring more right-of-center views to campus, former trustees chairperson Dave Boliek told Fox News.
Conclusion
Florida’s approach to higher education has been a subject of both criticism and admiration. While some see it as a model for good governance, others view it as an attempt to stifle diversity and free speech. As other states follow Florida’s lead, it remains to be seen how these policies will shape the future of higher education in the United States.
FAQs
Q: What is the Individual Freedom Act?
A: The Individual Freedom Act, also known as the Stop Woke act, is a Florida law that restricts campus conversations about race and pushes back against critical race theory.
Q: How has Florida’s higher education policy influenced other states?
A: Florida’s policy has influenced other states to adopt similar legislation, such as Texas and Alabama, which have restricted diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and created schools focused on Western thought.
Q: What are classical education centers?
A: Classical education centers are schools focused on civics education and Western philosophy, which tend to employ conservative faculty. Examples include UF’s Hamilton School for Classical and Civic Education and Ohio State’s civics centers.
Q: How have student activity restrictions been implemented in Florida and other states?
A: Student activity restrictions have been implemented in Florida and other states, such as restricting protests, requiring approval for campus events, and banning encampments. These restrictions have been criticized for unfairly targeting left-wing organizers.
