In this special live-streamed episode of Accreditation Insights, Dr.Laurie Shanderson and Dr. Greg Pillar broadcast directly from the inaugural HigherEd PodCon 2025 in Chicago, IL!

As the first-ever gathering of podcast hosts, producers, and enthusiastsin the higher education space, PodCon 2025 marks a milestone in how ideas areshared, voices are elevated, and change is sparked through digitalstorytelling. Dr. Shanderson and Dr. Pillar discuss the power of podcastingto shape policy and perception, and reflections from the sessions andspeakers shaping the future of higher ed.

Tune in for insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and a celebration of what happens when thought leadership meets the mic!

In this episode of Accreditation Insights, we are honored to welcome Mr. Lee Hammond, Chief Executive Officer of the Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges, and Universities (ASIC). Under his leadership, ASIC has strengthened its global presence, offering accreditation services that emphasize quality enhancement,institutional effectiveness, and international collaboration. Mr. Hammond brings a wealth of experience in overseeing quality assurance processes across diverse educational systems and supporting institutions in achieving excellence on a global scale. In our discussion, we explored the evolving landscape of international accreditation, the role of innovation in quality assurance, and the future directions of ASIC under Mr. Hammond’s stewardship.

In this episode of Accreditation Insights, I’m stepping into the host chair solo for a special commentary on a significant development:

Six state university systems—led by Florida—are launching a newaccreditor.

This effort, announced by Governor Ron DeSantis, is poised to challenge the traditional accreditation landscape and raises serious questions aboutoversight, accountability, and political influence in higher education.

As always, I welcome diverse perspectives on what this means forinstitutional autonomy, students, and the future of our sector.