Accreditation—long a technical exercise—has become a political flashpoint after six Southern public university systems formed a new regional accreditor this year, challenging the national evaluation model. The move followed federal changes limiting how accreditors can consider diversity and other institutional practices and came after Education Department rules eased accreditors’ switching. The new Commission for Public Higher Education has opened a push for federal recognition and attracted letters of intent from multiple colleges in four Southern states. The development could fragment accreditation standards, affect federal aid eligibility and force institutions to weigh alignment with a new, politically infused accrediting landscape.