A Louisiana higher‑education task force voted to seek membership in the Commission for Public Higher Education, the nascent accreditor formed by several Southeastern public‑university systems. The move reflects growing state interest in alternate accreditation pathways amid federal scrutiny and debates over DEI, governance and curriculum. The Commission for Public Higher Education has already drawn applications from institutions such as Appalachian State and North Carolina Central to pilot the agency’s standards while it seeks federal recognition. The U.S. Department of Education also named five new members to the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI), a body that will advise on federal approval and oversight of accrediting bodies. Higher‑ed leaders say a splintering of accreditation raises regulatory complexity for institutions that must maintain federal aid eligibility while navigating politically driven state initiatives.