State University System
FAMU Hopes Fans Come Out for Football Season
WCTV
FAMU’s head football coach speaks out about the impact of the Marching 100′s absence this season. Coach Joe Taylor says it’s up to the fans to minimize any negative impact. One big reason fans used to come to FAMU football games is to see impressive moves by the band. But Coach Joe Taylor promises impressive moves by team…
New Boca Raton mosque will reach out to neighbors
Sun-Sentinel
Neighbors of the city’s newest mosque can expect an invitation on their doorsteps soon: The Muslim community plans to invite them to lunch. Leaders of the Islamic Center of Boca Raton are organizing an assortment of events for neighbors of the new building near the Florida Atlantic University campus. Unlike the antagonism some Muslims across the country have experienced when they seek to open a new prayer center, members of the Islamic Community said they feel welcomed.
Seniors ready for graduation
Florida Flambeau
Florida State University is set to hold its summer commencement ceremony this Saturday, Aug. 11, at 9 a.m. at the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center. According to the FSU Office of News and Research Communications, there will be over 2,600 students receiving degrees, and of these about 1,300 are participating in the ceremony. 913 students will receive their first Bachelors Degree, while 373 students will attain a Masters Degree, and 72 students will receive doctorates…
Tailgating Rules at Florida State’s Doak S. Campbell Stadium
Yahoo! Sports
The Florida State University football team plays its home games at Doak S. Campbell Stadium, on the campus of FSU. Tailgating is an important and exciting part of the fan experience at a Florida State Seminoles football game. From a fan’s perspective, there are a few things you need to know about tailgating before a Florida State football game at Doak S. Campbell Stadium…
New College earns more accolades
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
New College of Florida got high marks this month from several publications that rank the nation’s higher education institutions. New College placed No. 15 on Forbes magazine’s “Top 100 Best Buy Colleges for 2012.” Last year, it placed No. 16. The 2013 edition of Fiske Guide to Colleges describes New College as “a fast rising star,” “a great bargain” and as one of the more than 300 “best and most interesting colleges and universities in the United States.”…
UF investments dip, leading to slightly lower endowment
Gainesville Sun
The University of Florida’s investments struggled in the past fiscal year, returning less than 1 percent and leading to a slight dip in the endowment. UF’s endowment investment pool returned about 0.1 percent for the fiscal year ending July 31, according to the UF Investment Corporation. The endowment ended the year at $1.26 billion, about $13,000 lower than the previous year…
Long journey nears end for more than 2200 at UF
Gainesville Sun
…He is among 2,280 students graduating this summer. Based on regalia orders, 220 students are expected to participate in today’s commencement ceremony for doctoral degrees and 870 students in Saturday’s ceremony for bachelor’s, master’s and specialist degrees.
Alligator files federal suit to block UF rack policy
Gainesville Sun
The Independent Florida Alligator is suing the University of Florida in federal court to halt the removal of the student newspaper’s distinctive racks from campus.
UF to remove Alligator’s racks next week; newspaper vows a court fight
MiamiHerald.com
The Independent Florida Alligator is going to federal court to fight against the University of Florida’s decision to remove 19 of the newspaper’s signature orange racks from the campus. The UF Board of Trustees wants to replace them with its own generic racks for a monthly fee, and allow the university to decide where the free newspaper is distributed on campus…
Jacksonville general contractor boosts military, veterans programs
Florida Times-Union (blog)
Sauer Inc. a Jacksonville-based contracting firm, donated a total of $10000 to the Military and Veterans Resource Center at the University of North Florida and Wounded Warrior Project…
UNF engineering team wins Big Beam student design award
Florida Times-Union (blog)
A University of North Florida student civil engineering team was recently selected as the regional winner of the 2012 Engineering Student Design Award, also known as the Big Beam Contest, by the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI). The team also placed fourth for the first time in the national competition, coming home with a grand total of $1,250 in award monies, provided by the SIKA Corporation and PCI.
For USF expansion, major fundraising needed
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Inside the gleaming rotunda at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee entrance, a miniature architectural model showcases the school’s ambitious expansion plan including a new academic center, a student residence hall and an aquatic center for rowing and sailing. But for the model to become more than just a fancy foyer adornment, the school will have to raise up to $50 million just for the project’s first phase — at a time when state funding for higher education construction has slumped and businesses and nonprofit groups have little spare cash to invest in educational partnerships…
Will USF expansion help revitalize north Sarasota?
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
A proposed expansion of the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus might be just the jolt Sarasota officials have pined for along the economically languished North Tamiami Trail, the primary entree into downtown. Discussed more for its crime and blight than its four colleges and a world-class museum, that stretch of road could get a breath of new life as USF rolls out ambitious plans to draw more students, more housing and more nightlife…
State College System
Scholarships available for nursing and first generation students …
WTXL ABC 27
Florida College System Chancellor Randy Hanna today announced the distribution of more than $825,000 in scholarship funds to the 28 college system foundations. The scholarships are aimed at relieving the nursing shortage and helping students who are the first in their family to attend college…
Higher One to pay out $11 million
Florida Times-Union
Florida State College at Jacksonville offers its students an option to receive refund checks deposited to debit cards issued by Higher One…
BCC Veteran’s Conference Targets Business Growth
Brevard Times
However, there are numerous agencies ready to help and among them is Brevard Community College’s Small Business Development Center…
BCC Library Launches e-Reader Program
Brevard Times
As the 2012 fall semester begins, a new era is starting at Brevard Community College campus libraries thanks to a new service — e-readers. These special tools — four Kindle Touches and an iPad — will be available at each library …
Broward College creates high-tech public safety complex
Sun-Sentinel
With its indoor firing range, high tech machinery and state-of-the-art crime lab, Broward College‘s renovated public safety complex looks like something out of CSI or NCIS…
Plant City welcomes new HCC campus president
Tbo.com
Community and political leaders were on hand today for a reception welcoming Martyn Clay to his relatively new job as president of Hillsborough Community College‘s Plant City campus.
Big Bend news briefs
Tallahassee Democrat (blog)
Tallahassee Community College will begin its fall semester of GED class offerings in Gadsden County beginning Aug. 27.
Independent Colleges and Universities
Law Schools That Misreported Student Debt Figures to ABA, US News …
ABA Journal
We now know the names of three of the law schools that misreported average student debt figures to the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar and to U.S. News & World Report. The three schools—identified in this Wall Street Journal Law Blog posting—are Barry University School of Law in Orlando, Fla…
GOP candidate Mitt Romney to make St. Augustine stop Monday at Flagler College
Examiner.com
In his first stop on a three-city Florida tour, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney will speak at a campaign rally at Flagler College in St. Augustine on Monday morning…
Jacksonville police: Woman kidnapped, raped on JU campus
Florida Times-Union
A woman was raped on the Jacksonville University campus Tuesday night after she was ordered into a car at gunpoint and threatened with death multiple times, police said…
TOMS and University of Miami Release Shark Shoe in Time for Shark Week
Miami New Times (blog)
What does a species more than 400 million years old have in common with a pair of espadrilles? Not a whole lot — until TOMS and University of Miami’s RJ Dunlap Marine Conservation Program decided to team up and protect marine life in style and comfort.
Yip Yap: Noted and Quoted FLHE Voices from Around the State
FAMU hazing charge dismissed in beating of female clarinet player
Orlando Sentinel
A former member of the Florida A&M University marching band accused in the hazing of a female clarinet player last year has completed a diversion program offered by the State Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors dismissed the misdemeanor hazing charge against James R. Harris III, 23, on Aug. 1, according to court records in Tallahassee…
Florida Pension Issue: A Look Forward and A Look Back
WFSU
Under new changes that went into effect July 1st, university and state college employees who are part of the optional retirement system will also see a reduction from 7-point-4 to 5-point-1 percent, which did not sit well with Chris Robé. He’s the President of the Florida Atlantic University Chapter of the United Faculty of Florida (UFF-FAU). “You just can’t change employees’ contracts midway after they signed for something,” said Robé. “You can’t run a stable university or state system when you don’t know the terms of agreement that you’re a part of. This does not make for stability or economic viability.” Robé‘s union, the UFF-FAU, is affiliated with the Florida Education Association, the union that filed the pension lawsuit. And, Robé says the state could have another lawsuit on their hands now that this new law is in place. But, he says his union will wait on the outcome of the three-percent contribution challenge, which will be taken up next month in the Florida Supreme Court…
Private Equity Group LLC buying 5000 acres from Alico
Gulf Coast Business Review
“The decision to sell the property was difficult given its proximity to Florida Gulf Coast University and Alico’s historical role in the establishment of the university and partnering with FGCU on many projects,” JD Alexander, Alico’s president and CEO, says in a press release. “However, we believe that OJ Buigas and his team at PEG will also be a great partner with FGCU. Alico will derive significant tax benefits from the sale, and the cash flow will provide us the opportunity to potentially reduce our net debt position to approximately $20 million by our fiscal year end.”
Suit to kick Florida justices off ballot dismissed
Ocala
Former Florida State University President Talbot Sandy D’Alemberte attended the hearing on behalf of a group called Floridians for Fair and Impartial Justice. D’Alemberte, also a former American Bar Association president, said the lawsuit was a political attack and frivolous. ”It would rank somewhere in the top three or four in that category that I’ve ever seen in my life,” D’Alemberte said.
Wait or be flexible in planning for sea level rise, experts tell planners
The Florida Current
Robert Deyle, a professor of urban and regional planning at Florida State University, said rising sea levels could cause designated “coastal high hazard” areas, where development may be restricted under state law, to move inland.
FSU pays tribute to faculty legend at Saturday commencement
Tallahassee Democrat (blog)
More than two feet of snow had accumulated outside Tommie Wright’s New York City apartment when he took a call offering him a job at Florida State University. Wright, a concert pianist who was composing jingles for CBS and NBC, had never laid eyes on Tallahassee when he decided to join FSU’s music faculty. “I figured I’d come down for a year and that would be that. I was ready to go a year without snow,” Wright said.
RNC offers a learning experience for local college students
Tampabay.com
That’s the way Patrick Brathwaite feels, too. As one of six Hillsborough Community College students chosen to participate in an RNC academic internship through the Washington Center in Washington, D.C., aspiring law student Brathwaite will be learning about the convention as it happens. He will participate in a week of seminars focusing on political and convention-related topics, then spend the next week watching the RNC happen from the convention floor…
Davie coach, former Jamaican national team hurdler accused of molesting teen
Sun-Sentinel
A track coach, and former hurdler for Jamaica’snational team, is being accused of molesting a 15-year-old girl at University School of Nova Southeastern University in Davie, police said. Matthew Love, 42, of Plantation, was charged with three counts of lewd and lascivious molestation…
Standout Growth Predicted for Polk Housing By BusinessInsider.com
The Ledger
Jim Haischer, a professor of economics at Polk State College, said there’s probably an element of bouncing back from the bottom that contributes to the…
Zimmerman Prosecutors In Huge Screw-Up
The Smoking Gun
(George) Zimmerman’s Seminole State College of Florida records–61 pages in total–include his original application to the community college and his class transcripts. The documents detailed Zimmerman’s poor grades, which landed him on academic probation last year. Zimmerman, who was studying for an associate degree in criminal justice, did not graduate last year due to a failed class. Following the February 26 shooting of the unarmed Martin, Zimmerman “was issued administrative withdrawals” for three classes in the Spring 2012 term “with no fees charged against his account.”
University of Central Florida Student Honored by The Able Trust
Florida Courier
As a result of her determination to overcome challenges, Sarah Goldman, resident of Tampa and senior at the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando, was honored by The Able Trust…
Knights in not-so shining armor
Orlando Sentinel
In a summer of college sanctions, the University of Central Florida was forced to take the heat from the NCAA for major recruiting-rules violations. UCF, now a two-time offender, was slapped with a $50,000 fine and a five-year NCAA probation, and its football and basketball teams would be banned from postseason play next year. However, President John Hitt intends to appeal the football ban. Orlando Sentinel Editorial Writer Darryl E. Owens interviewed UCF vice president and director of athletics Todd Stansbury about the sanctions, the appeal and the future…
University of Florida’s Harn Museum of Art appoints Carol McCusker as Curator of Photography
Art Daily
The Harn Museum of Art today announced the appointment of Carol McCusker as Curator of Photography. She is the first to fill the curatorship since it was endowed through a $1.5 million gift by the Mary Ann Harn Cofrin family, long-time supporters of the Harn. McCusker joins the Harn with more than 12 years of experience in the field, including serving as the Curator of Photography at the Museum of Photographic Arts in San Diego from June 2001 – February 2010. She is also a seasoned educator, having served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of San Diego and at the University of California, San Diego. “We are delighted that Carol will join the Harn team to fill the newly endowed curator of photography position,” said Rebecca Nagy, Harn Museum of Art director. “Carol has had a distinguished career as a curator of photography and professor. We know she will be an asset to the Harn Museum and the University of Florida as we continue to build a strong collection of photography, develop stellar exhibitions, and create engaging programs.”
UF alum Christian Taylor wins triple jump gold
Ocala
Former University of Florida standouts finished 1-2 in the triple jump Thursday at the London Olympics. Christian Taylor won the Olympic triple jump gold medal…
University of Miami Employee, Manuel Pacheco, Allegedly Looted Pharmacy For …
Huffington Post
For three years, hundreds of expensive syringes loaded with life-saving cancer drugs disappeared unnoticed from the shelves at the University of Miami’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. It was allegedly an inside job: UM employee and pharmacy technician at the school’s cancer center, Manuel Pacheco, is accused of stealing over $14 million in cancer drugs, according to NBC Miami…
Former UNF history chair is Hough Family Endowed Chair at USF
Bizjournals.com (blog)
The former chairman of the history department at the University of North Florida has joined the staff at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg in the newly created position of the Hough Family Endowed Chair, where he plans to debunk some myths of old Florida history. In his new role at USF that begins with the fall semester, Michael Francis will focus on the university’s Florida studies program, teaching students about Florida’s rich, multicultural and sometimes confrontational history…
Why Plant City, Fla., Is A Can’t-Miss On The Campaign Trail
NPR (blog)
Then again, even if they didn’t love it, University of South Florida political scientist Susan MacManus argues that candidates have to visit Plant City as a political necessity. ”It’s still got the nostalgic feel of old Florida, but the economic realities of a changing Florida, with more people moving there and industry diversifying,” she says. “It’s kind of a nice blend of the old and the new.”
Few sense Florida’s Rubio as vice presidential choice
The News-Press
And at 41, he probably realizes he has more time than most to find his way to the White House, said Susan MacManus of the University of South Florida. “One thing about Rubio is that regardless of whether he’s picked, he will be a phenomenal asset on the campaign trail for Romney,” she said. “He can attract crowds. He can raise money. He can do a lot of good and then create good will in 2016 if he wants to run.”
UWF introduces new swim, golf coaches
Pensacola Business Journal
The University of West Florida officially welcomed its two new athletic coaches today in a reception at the Argo Athletic Club. Bryan Clarke, a 2002 UWF grad and former star player on the men’s golf team, was introduced as the new women’s golf coach…Andrew Hancock, an Australian native who was the top assistant coach for NCAA Division I program Cleveland State University, was introduces as the Argos first women’s swimming and diving coach…
