ICYMI: Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Florida Becomes First State in the Nation to Respond to Federal Call to Action on Academic & Operational Excellence

August 18, 2026

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Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Florida Becomes First State in the Nation to Respond to Federal Call to Action on Academic & Operational Excellence

Sarasota, Fla. - Today, Governor Ron DeSantis hand delivered a joint statement signed by all public postsecondary presidents to the U.S. Department of Education, becoming the first state in the nation to affirm its commitment to academic and operational excellence in response to the National Call to Action issued to postsecondary institutions nationwide. The joint statement (PDF), signed by all 28 Florida College System presidents and 12 State University System presidents, affirms the Florida College System and State University System's commitment to rigorous teaching, pathbreaking research where applicable, and service to the nation, while outlining the standards and priorities Florida's institutions are committed to upholding.

"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."

"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."

"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."

Secretary McMahon called on every postsecondary institution in America to publish, by the end of 2026, a clear public statement on its institutional website outlining concrete commitments to rigorous teaching, pathbreaking research where applicable, and national service. The Call to Action challenges institutions to examine and publicly address seven critical areas: admissions transparency and merit; free speech and the protection of campus operations from disruption; intellectual pluralism and faculty hiring; affordability, cost containment, and student outcomes; academic standards and rigor in the age of artificial intelligence; safeguarding research and academic programs from malign foreign influence; and prioritizing American students, American interests, and urgent workforce needs.

Florida welcomes this national call as an opportunity for postsecondary institutions to codify and publicly communicate the reforms already implemented and underway throughout the state, while making clear the high standards expected of institutions serving Florida students.

The Florida Department of Education has also sent letters to private colleges and universities operating under the Independent Colleges and Universities (ICUF) (PDF) and Commission for Independent Education (CIE) (PDF), calling for their adherence to Secretary McMahon's National Call to Action and ensuring that Florida's independent postsecondary institutions uphold the same commitment to transparency, academic quality, student success, and institutional accountability.