COLUMBIA — The University of South Carolina’s leaders are trying to reassure faculty that their academic freedom and the university’s independence won’t be threatened by the new accrediting body USC is helping to create.

But draft standards and comments by conservative political leaders about the formation of the Commission on Public Higher Education, a joint effort by six Southern public university systems announced by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in June , are fueling doubt.

Education Lab

The Post and Courier’s Education Lab focuses on issues and policies affecting South Carolina’s education system. It is supported by donations and grants to the nonprofit Public Service and Investigative Fund, whose contributors are subject to the same coverage we apply to everyone else. For more infor

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