State University System

PECO running dry as revenue source for universities
The Current
Florida lawmakers face what one committee chairman calls an “extraordinary challenge” to pay for state university capital costs. Revenue from a gross receipts tax on electricity and communication services peaked in 2007 at about $1.4 billion and is expected to decline this year to around $1 billion. That tax money is used to back bonds to pay for new construction, maintenance and renovation of facilities. The drop in collections is significant enough that last year lawmakers had to add $250 million from general revenue and the lottery to the Public Education Capital Outlay trust fund, the entity that finances education construction projects.

Strapped for cash to build, university presidents urge lawmakers for relief
MiamiHerald.com
Those energy efficient appliances and flat screen TVs bought in the last few years by Florida consumers are a real drag for state schools.Energy consumption is one of the things that finances Florida’s gross receipts tax, which has paid $8.6 billion for school capital costs since 2004. The problem is that, while tax revenue dropped in the last few years mostly because of the economy, much of it won’t ever come back because of the more efficient way we use electricity. During Thursday’s House Appropriations Committee meeting, Chairman Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland, devoted 90 minutes to what state educators are calling a growing problem…

Squeezed universities want more flexibility to build things
Orlando Sentinel
Florida’s cash-challenged university system is making a push this year to deregulate its construction requirements, allow it to partner with more private companies, and tap more tax dollars to beef up campus construction. Universities have been hamstrung by a decline in Florida’s gross reciepts tax in recent years that is used to pay for education construction bonds, a state program known as Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO). PECO trust fund appropriations have fallen from a high of about $1.4 billion in 2007 to nearly zero now, as the communications and energy tax sources have declined.

Gainesville SDS protests tuition hikes outside FL Board of Governors’ meeting
WUFT
Almost 30 students from Gainesville Students for a Democratic Society organized a protest outside the Board of Governors meeting at Emerson Alumni Hall Thursday afternoon. The rally was the first in a series of campaigns that the organization has preplanned for this semester to protest against tuition hikes and changes to Florida Prepaid and Florida Bright Futures scholarships. According to SDS organizers Skye Schmelzer and Eric Brown, the Blue Ribbon Task Force is proposing differential tuition, which would affect non-STEM majors who make up about 70 percent of the UF student population. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics…

FAMU reopens search for new band director
Tallahassee Democrat (blog)
One day after abruptly canceling a news conference to name a new band director for the famed Marching 100, Florida A&M University has reopened its search. Interim President Larry Robinson decided Wednesday that protracted negotiations with Jorim Reid, his choice to lead the university’s marching and pep bands, had led him to reopen the search. Reid, a FAMU alum and band director at North Carolina Central University, had been one of four finalists to fill the vacancy created by the departure of longtime director Julian White…

BOG panel to review FSU film school program in South Florida
Tallahassee Democrat
Dean Colson, chair of the Board of Governors, said today he will be naming a three-person committee to review FSU’s new satellite film school program in West Palm Beach…

UCF has 4th highest number of students seeking ‘sugar daddies’
Central Florida News 13
The University of Central Florida just made the top 5 in a new college list — but it’s not necessarily a good thing. The dating website seekingarrangement.com just released a list of colleges with the most female students looking for “sugar daddies …

UCF Hillel draws South Florida students
Sun Sentinel
The University of Central Florida will unveil a new complex, NorthView Towers, which includes a state-of-the-art 20,000-square-foot Hillel center this summer. This 21st century “Google-inspired” Hillel will feature a modern theater, game room, café …

Gov. Rick Scott spoke to UF presidential candidate Woodson before asking Machen to stay
Miami Herald
We knew that Gov. Rick Scott helped convince University of Florida President Bernie Machen to postpone retirement. Now, the Times/Heraldhas additional details about what preceded the Jan. 8 announcement that the UF Board of Trustees had cancelled a nationwide search to find Machen’s replacement. Scott took Board of Trustees Chairman David Brown up on an offer to talk to North Carolina State University Chancellor Randy Woodson, the rumored front-runner in the nationwide presidential search although he never formally applied. They met in Naples, where Scott owns a home, some time between Christmas and New Years Day, the governor’s office said…

UF, 3 others get $3.75 million in performance funding
Gainesville Sun
The University of Florida was among four state universities each to receive $3.75 million in performance funding for degree programs associated with computer science and information technology at Thursday’s Board of Governors meeting. The board awarded UF, the University of Central Florida, Florida International University and the University of West Florida the funding after the schools applied as part of a pilot program in performance funding. According to state statute, the money should go to the university departments offering degrees in computer and information science, computer engineering, information system technology, information technology and management information systems…

Florida Board of Governors lauds UF in State of the System address
WUFT
The State University System of Florida Board of Governors spoke about changes in higher education and rewarded universities that they say are doing the best. The board meeting, which began Wednesday, continued Thursday at the University of Florida with the state of the system address. Dean Colson, chair of the board, applauded the collaboration among the system schools and what they are accomplishing with few funds…

State College System

Daytona State moves toward 4-year nursing degree
Daytona Beach News-Journal
Area nurses may soon have another option on where to continue their college education. The Daytona State College board of trustees at Thursday’s meeting unanimously approved the staff’s recommendation to add a four-year nursing program starting in January 2014…

Junior Orchestra begins rehearsals
Walton Sun
The Junior Orchestra, a string ensemble of Northwest Florida State College, iis getting ready to start their second semester of rehearsals. The program is open to young string students (violin, viola, cello and string bass) with at least two years of experience from third to ninth grade in Okaloosa and Walton Counties…

Independent Colleges and Universities

Financial Aid Nights scheduled to help students
Cape Coral Daily Breeze
To help, Lee County Public Schools, with the assistance of Hodges University, will be hosting several Financial Aid Nights.

For-Profit and Career Colleges

Police: Man killed by towed car
Local 10
The dean of Keiser University‘s business school died Wednesday after he was run over by his own vehicle as it was towed away. Elias Konwufine‘s vehicle was parked on the grass of the Sienna Green Condos and he saw the tow truck with his car, say police. A driver for Capitol Towing, a company contracted by the complex to tow away illegally parked cars, arrived about 6:25 p.m. Wednesday to the apartments.

Elias Konwufine, Dean of Keiser University Business School, Killed by Towed Car…
NBC 6 South Florida
The dean of Keiser University‘s business school was run over and killed by his own car when he tried to stop it from being towed, Lauderhill Police said. Elias Konwufine, 39, jumped onto the running boards of the Capitol Towing truck and fell under its wheels as it pulled away outside his his home in the 3300 block of Northwest 67th Way Wednesday night, Capt. Rick Rocco told the Sun-Sentinel.

Lauderhill man fatally run over by his own car
Sun-Sentinel
The dean of the business school at Keiser University died on Wednesday when he tried to prevent his car from being towed from outside his Lauderhill home, police said. Elias Konwufine, 39, jumped on the running boards on both sides of the tow truck then fell under the wheels of his car as the Capitol Towing wrecker pulled away, Capt. Rick Rocco said.

Yip Yap: Noted and Quoted FLHE Voices from Around the State

Rankings highlight colleges’ online programs
Daytona Beach News Journal
Daytona State College has won a top ranking among all colleges and universities, and it did so by staying on top of technology. U.S. News & World Report just ranked Daytona State as No. 2 among hundreds of colleges and universities for online baccalaureate programs. This ranking will enhance Daytona State’s reputation and it could help bolster enrollment. There is little doubt that Daytona State is becoming a larger player in higher education.

Editorial: FAU has opportunity to recommit to presence in St. Lucie County
TC Palm
With adoption of a five-year expansion program at its campus at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University has an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to St. Lucie County and the Treasure Coast…

Our view: FAMU student newspaper deserves First Amendment rights
Daily O’Collegian
Student journalists have the power to spark discussion and create change. They have First Amendment rights that should not be stifled. The FAMUan, Florida A&M University’s student newspaper, will not publish its first issue until Jan. 30, FAMU School of Journalism and Graphic Communication Dean Ann Kimbrough said. She said the student staff will undergo intensive training before they reapply for their editorial board positions…

Board of Governors Names Seven Trustees for University System
Sunshine State News
The Florida Board of Governors made seven appointments to various university boards of trustees in the state system on Thursday. [Thomas Workman Jr., John Dudley Goodlette, Leslie Victor Pantin, George Arthur Skestos, Fred D. Franklin, Stanley I. Levy, Suzanne Lewis]

FAMU Fires Baseball Coach
WCTV
FAMU has fired Head Baseball Coach Willie Brown. That’s according to Brown’s attorney, Steven Andrews. Andrews is calling the move a travesty and requesting a hearing with FAMU officials for what he says is to clear his client’s name. Brown was put on administrative leave back in December after a player accused him of mistreatment and making degrading comments about the player’s weight and sexual orientation. Brown denied the allegations, but university officials have decided to part ways with the coach, issuing him a letter of termination this week.

Big Award For FAU Prof’s Short Story
Boca News Now
Ayşe Papatya Bucak, associate professor of creative writing within Florida Atlantic University’s Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, has been awarded a prestigious 2013 PEN/O. Henry Prize for her short story, “The History of Girls …

Goodlette named a trustee at FGCU
The News-Press
Dudley Goodlette has landed back at FGCU, a university he helped shape nearly two decades ago. Florida’s Board of Governors on Thursday appointed Goodlette to the Board of Trustees at Florida Gulf Coast University, where he served on the FGCU Foundation board of directors from 1994 to 2007. Goodlette also served on the presidential search committee in 2007 that resulted in the hiring of Wilson Bradshaw, who now will report to Goodlette and fellow trustees. Goodlette’s term runs through January 2018…

FGCU provost proposes ‘pajama tax’ for online courses
Naples Daily News
The convenience of taking courses online may start coming at a price for Florida Gulf Coast University students. Provost Ron Toll said Tuesday he plans to ask the Board of Trustees in June to approve an additional fee for the online classes. The extra money is needed to expand the university’s online offerings, he said. ”Future trends show that online delivery will be more ubiquitous nationally, and we need to stay ahead of that curve,” Toll said during Tuesday’s Board of Trustees meeting.

Notebook: Former Terp Kingsbury hired by Lynn U. as first coach
Baltimore Sun (blog)
Division II Lynn University announced the hiring of former Maryland defensive midfielder Brian Kingsbury as its inaugural men’s lacrosse coach Wednesday afternoon…

MLK Panel: Much gained in racial inequality, but much more to be done
Palm Beach Post
“More than four decades have passed, it seems to be that the issues are much clearer today,” said Terriel Byrd, coordinator of the Evening Ministry Program at Palm Beach Atlantic University and the keynote speaker at Thursday’s meeting. At the time of King’s dream, Byrd said that “blacks could not freely vote. They could not sit or eat or live where they choose to back then.” “For the most part, these issues have been addressed,” he added. “The black community has made tremendous strides.” But Byrd cautioned Thursday’s crowd not to overlook a “growing underclass.”

Larry Bush: Lift, clean and place
TCPalm
The program director of the First Tee of the Palm Beaches, Craig Watson is about to take on some extra duties. He’s been asked to help start men’s and women’s golf teams at Palm Beach Atlantic University in downtown West Palm Beach. The goal is to be ready for the 2013-14 school year, Watson said…

Scott reappoints three to PSC board
Pensacola News Journal
Gov. Rick Scott has announced the reappointments of Monsignor Luke Hunt, H. Edward Moore, and Margie Moore to the Pensacola State College District Board of Trustees.

Internationally known minister to speak at SF College
Gainesville Sun
Santa Fe College will host the Rev. Joan Brown Campbell, an international religious figure in interfaith understanding, who will deliver a speech Friday night on understanding all cultures and faiths…

NASA official named director of UCF’s Florida Space Institute
Florida Today
Ray Lugo, a longtime Kennedy Space Center manager and until recently director of NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Ohio, has been named director of the Florida Space Institute at the University of Central Florida.

UMass names longtime University of Florida professor, researcher, as …
The Republic
AMHERST, Massachusetts — The University of Massachusetts has named a longtime professor at the University of Florida as the Amherst campus’ new engineering dean. UMass announced Thursday that Tim Anderson has been selected to lead the College of Engineering, effective March 1. Anderson has been on Florida’s faculty since 1978 and his research focuses on electronic materials processing. He is a fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the American Society of Engineering Education.

Releases and Web Stories

Lynn University launching one of higher education’s most extensive tablet-based learning programs
Lynn University
Lynn University is launching a far-reaching, iPad-based initiative that will use Apple technology to deliver the school’s nationally praised core curriculum to all incoming freshmen while also saving them up to 50 percent on the typical cost of their core curriculum text books…

Student grows her business class by class
Seminole State College
Launching her own beverage business has been Daisy Gray’s passion for years. The Seminole State College of Florida business student grew up drinking a hibiscus beverage in her native Jamaica that she wants to share with the world.

Hearing loss prevention drugs closer to reality thanks to new testing method …
University of Florida
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A new way to test anti-hearing-loss drugs in people could help land those medicines on pharmacy shelves sooner. University of Florida researchers have figured out the longstanding problem of how to safely create temporary, reversible hearing loss in order to see how well the drugs work. The findings are described in the November/December 2012 issue of the journal Ear & Hearing…

Panel discussion to explore UF’s past challenges, future
University of Florida
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — In honor of the 150th anniversary of the Morrill Act, a special panel discussion will be held Jan. 22 on the University of Florida campus titled, “UF: The Past is Prologue.”

Six UF professors awarded Fulbright grants for research abroad
University of Florida
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Six University of Florida faculty members have been honored with Fulbright Scholar grants to teach and learn around the globe for the 2012-2013 academic year…

Univ. of Miami profs Chen and Soden named Fellows of AMS, Albrecht receives …
EurekAlert (press release)
MIAMI— University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science Professors Shuyi S. Chen and Brian J. Soden have been elected as Fellows of the American Meteorological Society (AMS), the nation’s leading professional society for scientists in the atmospheric and related sciences.

SOS on Saturday
University of South Florida
TAMPA, Fla. (Jan. 17, 2013) – About 3,000 University of South Florida students are expected to fan out across Hillsborough County Saturday as part of Stampede of Service, USF’s largest annual community service project.  From painting the walls of a preschool to spreading mulch at a local park, students will give back to the community by volunteering time, skills, and compassion at sites throughout the area. Coordinated through the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement, part of the Division of Student Affairs, SOS is designed to engage students with current social issues and introduce them to the importance of community service…

USF St. Petersburg Entrepreneurship Program wins national honor
USFSP News Center
The Entrepreneurship Program at the USF St. Petersburg College of Business has been named the Outstanding Emerging Entrepreneurship Program in the United States. The award was presented Saturday to Program Director William Jackson, Ph.D., by the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship at its annual conference in San Francisco. The award comes less than three years after the program was founded and nearly a year after students in the Entrepreneurship Club won the prestigious 2012 CEO Startup Simulation Challenge.