Shreveport political science professor helps explain a possible change in Louisiana college accreditations

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)- Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry recently signed an executive order creating a task force to create a new public college accreditor.

LSUS Professor Jeffrey Sadow explains what an accreditor does, “It sets up rules for periodic vetting of institutions. They look at all sorts of things, not just on the academic side, to see if it is a legitimate educational program, but also things like the finances of an institution, so in other words, it needs to have a demonstration of financial stability in order to be able to carry out its mission of education.”

Landry talked about moving away from diversity, equity, and inclusion and to a more merit-based program for admissions.

Sadow says that has been the law for years with a supreme court decision years ago.

The law says these institutions are barred from using race, gender and other things in admissions.

Sadow told us most students and everyday people would not notice a difference in accreditation changes unless a school’s accreditation was pulled or they were put on probation.

In those cases, it could be difficult for students to transfer those credits to other colleges.

Louisiana hopes to have a new non-profit accreditor operating next year and have them approved by the US Department of Education by 2028 if the task force finds the state should move forward.