Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and conservative state lawmakers are frequent critics of Florida’s higher education system. But they are doing more than just lambasting universities and colleges for perceived liberal bias.

In attempt to reshape the state’s 40 colleges and universities, they've installed GOP allies in top university posts and pushed legislation that could change tenure, limit how university professors can teach lessons on race, and even how Florida higher education institutions are accredited.

Photo: Miguel Gutierrez Jr.

The search is underway for a new California Community Colleges chancellor—and the new hire has a tough job ahead. The 116-college system is not on track to meet the goals it set five years ago to narrow by 40 percent the gaps in graduation rates among racial and ethnic groups and to shrink the gaps between different regions of the state. 

Students enrolled in the system share the qualities they believe are the most important in a new leader, plus the campus issues they say matter most.

If Republicans take control of the House of Representatives after the upcoming midterm elections, higher education lobbyists and policy experts say the Biden administration can expect lawsuits challenging student loan forgiveness.

Conversations about changes to Pell Grants, affordability, and accountability will likely continue, but meaningful legislation in response is not expected to result from those discussions.