State University System
President Expands on Higher Education Plans in University of Michigan Speech
ACE: HENA Online News
The president is proposing a number of changes to current programs as well as several new initiatives aimed at keeping college affordable for students and families. One of the most significant ideas for higher education in the president’s Blueprint for an America Built to Last is a change to the eligibility formula for campus-based aid, which includes Perkins Loans, Federal Work-Study and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants.
Bright Futures scholarships may get tougher to keep
Sun-Sentinel
Recipients of Florida’s Bright Futures scholarships may be in for a much dimmer future if their grades slip in college. Those receiving the most valuable scholarship would eventually have to maintain a 3.5 grade point average — up from the current 3.0 — to keep the scholarship under a proposal supported by the Florida House higher education budget committee. The Senate hasn’t taken up the issue yet…
Deadline to register for Florida Prepaid College Plan is Tuesday
MyFox Tampa Bay
The clock is ticking if you want to sign your children up for Florida’s Prepaid College Plan. The current rates will expire on January 31st.
Lawmakers face big hurdles in revamping university system
St. Augustine Record
Amid a clamor to overhaul a state university system lawmakers say isn’t cutting it, Sen. John Thrasher wants to ban lawmakers from holding jobs with public colleges and universities they fund. Given past scandal, Thrasher (R-St. Augustine) said it’s best to eliminate the “conflict of interest.” But Thrasher is the same lawmaker who, as house speaker in 2000, helped secure a new medical school at Florida State University that higher education officials resisted. Then he helped eliminate the state board that opposed it…
College papers struggle with GOP endorsements as youth distrust of media grows
Poynter.org
Not quite as headline-generating, but note-worthy still, are the student-run newspapers in early primary states. Some decided to endorse candidates, while other editors say they don’t want to tell their peers what to do, or wanted to stay above accusations of bias in their news coverage…
FAMU Police Investigate Another Suspected Hazing
The Associated Press
Florida A&M University’s President says police are investigating another suspected case of hazing and it’s related to a spring 2011 initiation ceremony involving the university chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi. (Jan. 30)
New hazing probe targets FAMU band fraternity
Orlando Sentinel
The alleged hazing occurred last spring and involved members of the Kappa Kappa Psi band fraternity, FAMU President James Ammons told trustees of the historically black university in Tallahassee during a teleconference. This morning’s teleconference …
FAMU president: Police investigating another suspected hazing case
Washington Post
Ammons briefly discussed the case Monday with FAMU’s Board of Trustees. Board members are meeting weekly to get updates on the investigation into the death last fall of drum major Robert Champion. Tallahassee authorities acknowledged the new hazing …
FAU health fee rises
University Press
Students are paying more toward their health fee this year, but over two thirds of them aren’t taking advantage of what they pay for. FAU’s health fee went up this school year from $8.97 to $9.42 per credit hour to continue paying for the department’s operating costs, according to director of Student Health Services, Cathie Wallace.
News Briefs for January 30, 2012
Shanken News Daily
•Florida International University (FIU) has named its hospitality school the Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, honoring Southern Wine & Spirits’ chairman and CEO Harvey Chaplin and family. “Southern Wine & Spirits and the Chaplin …
Research in Motion: Alternative Fuel Vehicle Joins the Florida State University Fleet
WCTV
At first blush, it looks like an ordinary, no-frills Honda Civic sedan with some colorful graphics on it. What’s cool is that the car is powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), a safe, clean, alternative fuel option…
State College System
Bird watchers descend on Titusville for annual show
Central Florida News 13
The inside of the Brevard Community College in Titusville was filled with bird enthusiasts. Performers even had a bird fly through the auditorium. It’s all part of the Space Coast Bird and Wildlife Festival.
Several Polk Schools Score High in State Rankings
The Ledger
Collegiate High School at Northwest Florida State College in Okaloosa County was ranked number one.
C-SPAN’s Campaign 2012 Bus Stops at Santa Fe College Feb. 1
Santa Fe College
1, at Santa Fe College. The bus will set up in the Oak Grove behind S Building at the Northwest campus, 3000 NW 83rd St. The general public is welcome to visit campus and check it out. SF Provost Ed Bonahue will officially welcome the bus at 12:15 pm …
TCC to unveil new calendar tonight
Tallahassee Democrat (blog)
Tallahassee Community College will unveil its 12th annual Cherry Alexander African-American History Month Calendar tonight at 7 in Turner Auditorium. The ceremony will honor influential African-Americans from the Big Bend area, including professors …
College suspects local pranksters in ‘acid bomb’ scare
New York Daily News
A recent string of acid bomb scares at a Florida community college is probably the work of some harmless teenage pranksters, school officials believe. Lucy Boudet, a spokeswoman for Valencia College in Orlando, said the school suspects that neighborhood teens have been sneaking onto the empty campus after hours blowing up plastic water bottles for kicks.
Independent College and University System
Embry-Riddle ROTC units compete, have fun during Camo Night
Daytona Beach News-Journal
The US Army team races to the cone in a human chariot race during the ROTC’s Camo Night at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University …
Lynn University renovates in preparation for presidential debate
WPTV
With its big national moment only nine months away, Lynn University is planning to spruce up its main entrance on Military Trail — and add a second entrance on Potomac Road. The price tag is about $2 million, $1 million each pledged by two donors.
Stetson University hosts lecture, ‘Race in the Age of Obama,’ by …
Florida Courier
7, at 7 pm at Stetson University. The presentation is free and open to the public and will be held in the Stetson Room of the Carlton Union Building, …
UM patient data stolen
MiamiHerald.com
Limited data on 1219 University of Miami patients was stolen in November when someone broke the back window of a pathologist’s car and took a briefcase that contained a flash drive. The drive contained information on the patients’ age …
Yip Yap: Noted and Quoted FLHE Voices from Around the State
Editorial: Valuable job training
Ocala
And, for an example of a college working hand in hand with local employers, … should check the record of Ocala’s homegrown College of Central Florida.
Lawyers, University Employees and Conflicts of Interest
Sunshine State News
There are silly bills and then there are the bat-crazy, dangerous, shoot-it-before-it-reaches-the-border bills. SB 1560 fits nicely into the latter category …
Kathleen Long: Why the Florida nursing shortage matters
Gainesville Sun
Here in Gainesville, both UF and Santa Fe College play important and unique roles in addressing the nursing shortage and improving health care in our community. Santa Fe’s recently announced program for those already licensed as RNs to earn the …
Give Florida’s young voters some time
MiamiHerald.com
With the 2012 election creeping ever closer to home, one question remains: Where have all the young voters gone? A recent study by the Florida Joint Center for Citizenship, the Lou Frey Institute of Politics, the Bob Graham Center for Public Service and the National Conference on Citizenship shows that young adults in Florida are less engaged in voting, volunteerism and public debate than those in other states. Several former state leaders have vowed to increase Florida’s youth voting rate by 10 percent in the next election, but what will it really take to get young adults to care?
Negative campaigns drive GOP loyals to polls
Florida Today
This typifies presidential races,” said [Chris] Muro, a political science professor at Brevard Community College. And, Muro said, the attention it creates helps drive up voter turnout.
Treasure Coast GOP leaders look past primary, see need for unity
TCPalm
Kevin Lanning, professor of psychology at Florida Atlantic University’s Wilkes Honors College in Jupiter, said during two Florida debates, voters watched sparks fly as rivals former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Massachusetts Gov.
Brevard shrimpers: Coral plan could crush industry
Florida Today
John Reed, a researcher at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University, first discovered the Oculina reefs off Fort Pierce in the 1970s. “They are essential fish habitat for grouper and snapper and other important fin-fish …
GOP officials: Crafting national immigration policy ‘an economic imperative’
Florida Independent
Florida International University College of Law Dean Alexander Acosta said that “we need the political will to take on illegal immigration and a pathway to legal immigration,” adding that there must be a deadline on comprehensive immigration reform.
Latino Vote 2012: GOP Candidates Act Aggressively To Capture Cuban-American …
Huffington Post
“It’s important,” Florida International University political science professor Kathryn DePalo told The Huffington Post. “Especially the Cuban-American vote. It’s a huge voting bloc. If you can get most of those on your side, it’s critical.
Experts, US officials testify on risk of oil spill from drilling off of Cuba
Washington Post
Florida International University Professor John Proni says spills could reach US coastal waters, damaging the ecology and economy.
On eve of primary, Gingrich, Romney remain on the attack
Sun-Sentinel
Because Florida is a big state, with a diverse population that’s voting early, it’s “absolutely critical in the nomination race,” said Nicol Rae, a political scientist at Florida International University.
Professor talks on politics, election
News Chief
In this installment, we talk with R. Bruce Anderson, an associate professor of political science at Florida Southern College in Lakeland.
Ag Gag bill, dead in Florida, alive in Iowa
Pork Magazine
But Wes Jamison, professor at Palm Beach Atlantic University, Palm Beach, Fla., warns that outlawing undercover videos is futile.
Republican rivals in Florida vie to be Israel’s best friend
The National
Despite their history of voting for Democrats, 41 percent of Florida’s Jews in 2008 voted for John McCain, “who made big inroads” into the Jewish vote in Florida, said Susan Fine, a professor of political science at the University of Central Florida.
GOP hopefuls making final push for Fla. primary votes
WFTV Orlando
… they just feel that Newt Gingrich has way, way too much baggage as a lot of the commercials have been pointing out, and that Obama would be able to slice and dice him,” said Aubrey Jewett, a political scientist at the University of Central Florida.
‘Socialist’ Obama has US conservatives seeing red
AFP
[Niels] Lobo, a professor of computer sciences at the University of Central Florida, said he is eager to see Obama voted out “because he is a Marxist.” “We really want him out,” he said. “He is slowly driving the country towards Marxism.
Worst place to lose your job: Florida
CNNMoney
“During the boom, the Florida economy was going gangbusters,” said Sean Snaith, economics professor at the University of Central Florida.
Expert: This GOP primary ‘like ultimate fighting’; Will it leave general …
Palm Beach Post
Sean Snaith, economist and political commentator at the University of Central Florida, says history supports those expectations. “When you have a family feud there are going to be harsh words exchanged,” he says.
Mitt Romney nears Florida win with cash, a steady hand
Ottawa Citizen
“Florida is just too large and there are too many different markets,” said Stephen Craig, head of the political campaigning program at the University of Florida.
UF professor films cancer journey
WJXT Jacksonville
John Kaplan, a photojournalism professor at the University of Florida, documented his battle with cancer in a film called “Not As I Pictured.”
Florida Primary First Republican-Only ‘Winner-Take-All’ Contest
BusinessWeek
Daniel A. Smith, a political scientist at the University of Florida in Gainesville, said Jan. 24 he didn’t expect turnout to match the 1.95 million voters who participated in the 2008 primary, or 51 percent of the 3.83 million registered Republican …
Expert warns that elections law already affecting voter registration numbers
Florida Independent
Daniel Smith, an elections expert and professor at the University of Florida, warned during a US Senate hearing last Friday that the state is witnessing a decrease in voter registration numbers due to a new law …
Florida’s voting fairness problem
Tampabay.com
Daniel Smith, a professor of political science at the University of Florida, offered this statistical proof of discrimination: In the 2008 general election, African-Americans comprised only 13 percent of total voters but were 31 percent of voters on …
UF librarian teaches answer to question of life, the universe and everything
Gainesville Sun (blog)
Ask University of Florida librarian Donna Wrublewski about the meaning of life and the answer you might get is “42.” Wrublewski is an assistant university librarian in chemical and physical sciences and engineering at UF.
Romney shows voters he can take a punch, fight back
KSL-TV
University of Miami political science professor Casey Klofstad said Romney needed to “take some plays out of Gingrich’s playbook,” because he tended to be “very wooden, very stiff” rather than fired up.
No Love For Rick — Florida’s Governor Keeps Low Profile Ahead Of State’s Primary
TPM
Given those numbers, it’s not surprising that Scott’s endorsement “is not sought very intensely by the candidates,” University of Miami Associate Professor of Political Science Gregory Koger told TPM.
Blood Pressure Differences Between Arms Could Signal Heart Risk
Health.com
“This is an important [finding] for the general public and for primary care doctors,” said Dr. William O’Neill, a professor of cardiology and executive dean of clinical affairs at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
South Beach club crowd stumbles into politics at “Morning Joe” broadcast
MiamiHerald.com
“The mixture here is pure South Beach,” noted University of Miami statistics professor and Jerry’s regular Bill Younkin. With “Morning Joe” fans gathered at tables closer to the front, Skrawberry and fellow stripper Tipdrill emerged as one of the main audience sensations. Both women turned out to be local celebrities. The Miami New Times named Tipdrill 2010’s Top Stripper Under 40. And the 15,747 followers of her Twitter account, @Skraw_Berry, give her 72 percent of the following of @Morning_Joe itself.
Mushrooming super PAC spending leaves mark on Fla. ads
USA TODAY
… attack ads is a “major factor” in Romney’s resurgence in Florida polls, following his stunning South Carolina loss to Gingrich less than two weeks ago, said Matthew Corrigan, a political scientist at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.
There’s no escaping a hurricane of campaign ads in Florida
Los Angeles Times
Advertising of such ferocity is normal in the fall before a general election, but it is “over the top for a primary,” said Susan MacManus, a political science professor at the University of South Florida.
Five Things To Look For In The Florida Primary
Neon Tommy
People see it up close and personal,” Susan MacManus, a political science professor at the University of South Florida, told ABC News. “There’s just this nagging thing that the federal government can help the rich and help the poor but when it comes to …
Florida’s I-4 Corridor Influences GOP Primary
NPR
She’s a longtime political science professor at the University of South Florida. SUSAN MACMANUS: The dominate thing Floridians are looking for is someone who can win Florida. Republican pride was greatly damaged when they lost the state and it turned …
I-4 Corridor Is the Highway to Presidential Political Heaven
WUSF 89.7 News
Yet, Kolb’s frustration does not surprise Susan MacManus, a longtime political science professor at the University of South Florida. “The dominate thing Floridians are looking for is someone who can win Florida,” MacManus said.
In Fla., sense of importance of GOP primary is in the air
ScrippsNews
University of South Florida political science professor Seth C. McKee said he thinks Gingrich will lose Florida. “His ability to demagogue doesn’t translate in Florida, not even in (culturally Southern) Jacksonville,” McKee said.
Releases and Web Stories
Grassroots Activists Target Florida’s Young Adults – Unemployment Remains Top Concern
MarketWatch (press release)
Field staff from Generation Opportunity conducted a tour of college campuses in the Fort Lauderdale and Miami areas, which included stops at Broward College, the University of Miami, Florida International University, and Nova Southeastern University…
Scientists Wanted
Newswise (press release)
Nova Southeastern University is seeking people to cure cancer, find a cure for HIV, and to stop the spread of infectious diseases. The university is searching among its more than 2500 health professions students and faculty to find the next big …
Long-Term Response Plan for Cuban Oil Spill
Newswise (press release)
Nova Southeastern University (NSU) and Florida International University (FIU) researchers have drafted a plan to best prepare South Florida for an oil spill off the coast of Cuba. The proximity of intended Cuban oil drilling and production puts the US …
