Special Section: Rankings
Newsweek: UF, FSU among America’s top party schools
Bizjournals.com (blog)
While the Gators and Seminoles have a bitter college rivalry, the two Florida universities do have a similarity – they both ranked in Newsweek’s list of America’s Top Party Schools.
Newsweek: Florida Colleges Are Among Least Rigorous, Biggest Party Schools
WUSF News
Newsweek has ranked the country’s least rigorous four-year colleges according to the percentage of applicants admitted, median SAT/ACT scores, workload and student-faculty ratio.
Florida schools didn’t do so hot:
1. University of Central Florida
2. Florida State University
4. University of South Florida*
14. Florida Atlantic University
21. University of Florida
Top Conservative College: Ave Maria University understands No. 1 …
Naples Daily News
Ave Maria University President Jim Towey isn’t completely surprised the local Catholic school ranked as the country’s No. 1 most conservative college.
FIT Listed Among Forbes Best Colleges
Brevard Times
Forbes lists Florida Institute of Technology among America’s Best Colleges in its recently published annual rankings of top colleges. The university climbed 52 spots, coming in at #453 overall.
FIT Fraternities, Sororities Make Top 20 Ranking
Brevard Times
Florida Institute of Technology’s Greek life rates high, it may be inferred, with seven chapters on campus of the national fraternities and sororities featured favorably in Newsweek and The Daily Beast’s College Rankings 2012.
State University System
FAMU reaches out to alumni & friends for next board meeting
WTXL ABC 27
The Florida A&M University National Alumni Association (FAMU NAA) is calling FAMU alumni and friends to attend the upcoming meeting of the FAMU Board of Trustees on Wednesday, August 15, 2012, from 9:00 a.m. to noon; and Thursday, August 16, 2012, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. These meetings will be held in the Grand Ballroom on FAMU’s campus. Alumni are asked to attend and show support for the future of Florida A&M University as it seeks interim leadership for their alma mater.
Subway launches expanded cafés, drive-thru window locations
South Florida Business Journal
Subway has launched its new larger café concept at Florida Atlantic University and is opening more standalone drive-thru restaurants in South Florida…
Burgers, chocolate, boxes fill retail space
Orlando Sentinel
Baker Barrios Architects and RDG Planning and Design provided architectural and master-planning services for the Alfonso Field at Florida International University stadium expansion.
FSU’s new West Palm Beach film school to launch with 30 students …
Palm Beach Post
Florida State University’s new film school here is starting small, with 30 students and a few classrooms and computer labs in an office building at the northern end of CityPlace. But it’s a crucial part of the city’s big dream of turning downtown West Palm Beach into a thriving hub for the film industry. The idea is to create what Florida State film school Dean Frank Patterson likens to a “digital coral reef” — an economic habitat that will attract other animation companies.
FSU to Recognize Veterans with Honor Cords at Graduation
WCTV
Florida State University will now salute its graduating student-veterans by bestowing them with red, white and blue honor cords to wear at commencement ceremonies. Florida State is among the first universities in the nation to recognize graduating …
Manatee Spotlight August 12, 2012
The Bradenton Times
New College of Florida recently completed a SBEP Bay Partners Grant project that helped 17 local high school students learn more about the scientific method …
UF delays removing Alligator racks from campus
Gainesville Sun
The University of Florida is delaying the removal of the Independent Florida Alligator’s newspaper racks from campus, allowing time for either a compromise or a federal lawsuit to be heard.
Gator Nation loaded with medals
Gainesville Sun
If athletes from the University of Florida comprised their own country in the Olympics, they’d give many nations a run for their money…
In these uncertain times, UF grads improvise
Ocala
Saturday’s graduates of the University of Florida are going to do lots of things, but it seems as if many may not be getting jobs in their field of study…
UNF creates Center for Urban Education and Policy
Florida Times-Union (blog)
The University of North Florida has created the Center for Urban Education and Policy, which it says will benefit the collective knowledge of the eduacation profession and address urgent education-related needs in Jacksonville.
This Florida city has aspirations
MiamiHerald.com
Close to these is the USF Graphicstudio, part of the University of South Florida. It occupies a research facility that helps artists improve the technological aspects of their creations.
USF campus enhancements mean opportunities for Manatee businesses
Bradenton Herald
Local officials believe the expansion plan touted by the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee will bring an economic boon to an aging corner of the community.
USF expansion could keep young minds here
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
The narrow mall of rectangular ponds, trees and bright “Bulls Country” flags that lead to the towering rotunda could be a rough sketch of an unfinished dream. Inside the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus, there are hints of the kind of traditional college experience university leaders say is possible here: A modest fitness room for the health nuts, a computer lab for the digitally inclined and a window where all sorts of irritated students might pay parking fees.
Navy Federal Gets First of Legislature’s Oil Spill Recovery Funds
Sunshine State News (blog)
Navy Federal Credit Union in the Pensacola area is receiving the funding through the Industry Recruitment, Retention & Expansion Fund Grant Program, administered by the University of West Florida Office of Economic Development and Engagement…
State Colleges and Universities
Renovated Broward College building comes with a crime lab and gun …
MiamiHerald.com
Inside the classroom, an empty bottle of wine sat on a table and two people lay dead, one of whom clutched a goodbye letter. The crime lab of Broward College’s newly renovated Institute for Public Safety is not your typical classroom…
College credit rules complex
Nassau County Record
Under new state guidelines, dual-enrolled students may only complete six credit hours per semester at the FSCJ campus. However, students are permitted to complete additional credit hours when taking dual-enrolled courses at their respective high school campus…
Department of Corrections to hold forum
The News Herald
The Florida Department of Corrections will hold a public meeting Wednesday to allow residents to make comments and suggestions on how the department can work with community members in facilitating the positive re-entry of inmates into Florida communities. The meeting will be at Gulf Coast State College in the Student Union East Conference Center. Registration and information booths open at 5 pm and the forum …
IRSC offers course in health communication
TCPalm
Indian River State College is introducing a new course in health communication to help both patients and health care professionals communicate more effectively.
Unemployed veterans hopeful training at new IRSC business center will help …
TCPalm
The 55-year-old Desert Storm veteran and Vero Beach resident hopes Indian River State College’s new Veteran’s Business Institute can help him. The program is designed to provide unemployed veterans with the education and training they need to compete …
School Notes
The Ledger
A new Polk State College Foundation scholarship honors the legacy of a nurse who practiced with unfailing empathy, and will benefit those who aspire to join …
Independent Colleges and Universities
Embry-Riddle plans upgrade for FAA facility in Palm Coast
Daytona Beach News-Journal
That convincing includes a plan to invest $1.5 to $2 million to upgrade the Palm Coast facility, said John Johnson, president of Embry-Riddle.
Big crowds expected for Romney visit this morning
St. Augustine Record
A work crew ducking in and out of a light steady rain prepared the West Lawn of Flagler College on Sunday evening for Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign rally at 8 a.m. today.
Fall FIT Teens and Young Adult Autism Workships
Brevard Times
Florida Institute of Technology’s School of Psychology offers free monthly workshops of particular interest to parents, educators and professionals who deal with issues of autism.
John Torres: Florida Tech kicking off Brevard’s football future
Florida Today
The new Varsity Training Center at Florida Institute of Technology is just part of the renovations for the new football program.
Woman kidnapped and sexually battered on JU campus
ActionNewsJax.com
A woman was kidnapped and sexually battered on the campus of Jacksonville University. A woman near the Arlington Expressway and Cesery Boulevard was approached by a man with a gun. The man forced her inside a dark colored vehicle and drove her to the campus of Jacksonville University. The suspect took the victim to a wooded area near MSRI where he sexually battered her while holding her at gunpoint. He then forced her out of the vehicle and left…
Florida to be host to final, and third, presidential debate
MiamiHerald.com (blog)
The Florida Society of News Editors will partner with Lynn University to help host the third and final fall presidential debate, the newspaper association said Wednesday. The debate is scheduled Oct. 22 on the Boca Raton campus.
Stetson University seeing record enrollment for 2nd year
Daytona Beach News-Journal
With the return of football and an expanding honors program, Stetson University is seeing its second year of record enrollment with a 42 percent increase in freshmen and transfer students compared to two years ago.
Demolition of Stetson theater set to begin
Daytona Beach News-Journal
Demolition of the Stover Theatre at Stetson University in DeLand is set to begin Monday morning, according to a spokeswoman for the university.
Stetson set for historic football rebirth
Orlando Sentinel
After an absence of more than five decades, football is back at Stetson University and so is the excitement. “It’s been every cascade of emotions that you can imagine,” said Roger Hughes, the Hatters’ new coach.
The future is now at Miami hackathon
MiamiHerald.com
Those were a few of the dozens of ideas being sketched in notebooks, designed on chart paper and coded on laptops at the University of Miami Life Science & Technology Park over the weekend.
Jackson Health System board holds private meeting
MiamiHerald.com
With budget and University of Miami issues roiling at a crucial moment in the government hospital’s history, the leaders of the Jackson Health System are making crucial decisions out of public view.
Yip Yap: Noted and Quoted FLHE Voices from Around the State
Editorial: Edison State College
Naples Daily News
The story told of how Edison State College‘s four-year bachelor’s degree program in nursing, a pioneer in its field, has won a favorable review from the National League for Nursing Accreditation. This is a big deal.
Opinion: A parting gift for a budget chairman?
Tbo.com
During the last legislative session, one legislator used his position as appropriations chair to push through a bill creating the state’s 12th university while cutting $300 million from the existing 11. Not one of the legislative leaders reined in his costly pet project. Some claimed the state needed more STEM degrees — short for science, technology, engineering and mathematics — as though the University of Florida’s College of Engineering is somehow a front for the liberal arts…
Our Opinion: Summer salute
Tallahassee Democrat (blog)
Today marks the second consecutive weekend of rewarding some of this community’s most valuable talent, with the summer commencement ceremony for Florida State University. It follows Florida A&M University, which honored its summer graduates last …
UCF should go easy on young entrepreneurs
Daytona Beach News-Journal
Frustrated with difficulty in obtaining open slots to needed classes, senior Tim Arnold of the University of Central Florida came up with a program that UCF students could use to automatically surf the university’s class-availability site…
Letter: State agency is moving aggressively to protect foster children
Florida Times-Union
Regarding the recent letter “Our foster kids need better protection,” we agree that the state and society have a special responsibility to foster children. We appreciate University of North Florida department head Matthew Corrigan‘s comment that some private agencies providing services to foster children have performed “remarkably well.” We also agree with him that more work is needed…David Abramowitz, Northeast regional director, Florida Department of Children and Families - Lee Kaywork, CEO, Family Support Services of North Florida.
Shannon Nickinson: Let’s get our nerd on, Pensacola
Pensacola Business Journal
Paul worked for six years at Overgroup, a Pensacola technology company, where he began as an intern while attending the University of West Florida. He had been looking at shopping list apps and didn’t like the ones he found, so he made his own…
Former BCC Palm Bay campus leader Purga dies
Florida Today
One of Brevard Community College’s former long-serving administrators has passed away. Dr. Bert Purga died Thursday at age 62 at Cape Canaveral Hospital.
Candidate mischief deprives South Florida voters of a say in some races
Sun-Sentinel
It is often a stalking horse,” said political scientist Kevin Wagner of Florida Atlantic University. “It basically disenfranchises half the electorate, whether it’s done on the Democratic side or the Republican side.”
FGCU Political professor gives election edge to Aubuchon
Fox 4
But Florida Gulf Coast University Political Science Professor Peter Bergerson gives the edge to one candidate. “I probably would put my money on [Gary] Aubuchon,” said Bergerson, citing his name recognition and experience.
Commission undecided on how to replace resigning member
KeysNet
Commissioner Susan Hammaker resigned effective Aug. 8 to spend more time in her role with Florida International University. But when she announced last month that she would step down, she had an exact replacement in mind — former Free Press reporter Steve Gibbs…
Survey finds rare sharks in fin soup
The Korea Herald
Michael Heithaus, director of Florida International University’s School of Environment, Arts and Society, said it might be easier for people to think of sharks as they do lions, tigers and other top predators: essential for keeping their environments in balance. “If we overfish them too much, and they aren’t filling that roll of top predators, you might have ecosystems change so much that it hurts other fisheries,” Heithaus said. “You can cause big changes in the ecosystem that can be bad not just for the ecosystem but for people’s dinner plates and pocketbooks as well.”
Cyber maids clean up your online image
Sun-Sentinel
“The bottom line is that reputation matters, and the ever-important first impression is now more than ever likely to be made online,” said Anthony Miyazaki, a marketing professor at Florida International University.
Bad math skills cause customers to miss bargains
Sun-Sentinel
Enrique Villamor, professor of mathematics at Florida International University, isn’t surprised that consumers couldn’t tell that the discounted choice was a better deal. He says many fail to connect basic math knowledge to real world situations like shopping. He says many fail to connect basic math knowledge to real world situations like shopping. ”Many of these kinds of calculations can be done in your head,” said Villamor. “People don’t seem to apply the critical skills needed in that situation, which is very similar to a word problem.”
Do more with your mornings
Zanesville Times Recorder
“Self-control, discipline and decision-making all depend on the body’s basic energy supply,” and for most people, that supply is highest in the morning, said Roy Baumeister, a research psychologist at Florida State University and co-author of “Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength.”
Fla. court denies ‘stand your ground’ in fan fight
Sun-Sentinel
[Edward M.] Mederos claimed he acted in self-defense to protect himself and a friend, federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agent Javier Ribas, during an altercation outside Florida State University’s Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee in September 2009.
Few Felons Regain Right to Vote in Florida
FCIR
The 78 felons who regained their rights last year is “not only low — it’s shockingly low,” said Mark Schlakman, senior program director for the Center for the Advancement of Human Rights at Florida State University.
Universities pivotal in developing ideas
Tallahassee Democrat (blog)
A Florida State University professor is developing a new drug that could help prevent concussions before they occur, or reduce the chance of long-term damage. Jacob VanLandingham has been setting up meetings with the National Football League, NASCAR and the Department of Defense to discuss Prevasol…
Unlimited Corporate Money In Fla. Political Races ‘Worries Political Scientists’
WFSU
Florida State University Political Science professor Carole Weissert, says these unaffiliated attack ads are a disturbing trend because it’s harder for voters to know whom to hold accountable for them, many of which contain outright lies. ”That worries political scientists because we like to see the candidate raise money and have control over that money rather than have, in this case, groups outside the state coming in and spending money on negative ads,” she says.
St. Johns River report: Nitrogen, phosphorus levels stable, fecal levels …
Florida Times-Union
Lucinda Sonnenberg, a Jacksonville University chemistry professor and key contributor to the report, said the banned pesticides and PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls), which were used in various industrial processes, are still found at the bottom of the river and tributaries. Their condition is stable.
College busts student for class service, then launches its own
NBCNews.com
On Friday, the University of Central Florida said its new system would “allow students to secure classes faster, more efficiently and free of charge.” UCF made the announcement on its own website, acknowledging the work of Tim Arnold, the senior marketing major currently under university sanction and academic probation — although they didn’t acknowledge him by name. “As we implement our enhanced registration process — one that is free and compatible with our systems — we invite the developer of the outside website, and others, to help us make UCF more efficient,” said Grant Heston, UCF associate vice-president for communications, on the site. ”Any idea that has the potential to improve services for students is worthy of consideration.”
Who/What’s new and business milestones
Daytona Beach News-Journal
Robert Skelton, founder and chief executive officer of Best iProducts.com, has been named Entrepreneur of the Year by the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program…
GPD: Man arrested after breaking into home, raping woman
Gainesville Sun
A University of Florida student was forced at knifepoint to tie up her boyfriend early Friday morning and then was raped in their southeast Gainesville home. The rapist fled with $45, police said, and was captured just yards from the home, reeking of bleach and bleeding profusely from his right index finger. Police said Robert B. Kirksey Jr., 23, of Gainesville, admitted committing the crimes and told detectives he was sorry for what he had done. He was charged with sexual battery with a weapon and home invasion robbery with a weapon.
Romney and Scott offer up clashing narratives of Florida’s economy
MiamiHerald.com
Chris McCarty, an economist with the University of Florida, said the truth about Florida’s economy lies somewhere in-between the Scott and Romney narratives, which tend to pin all troubles on the federal government and attribute all successes to the state…
Hillsborough property appraiser’s education in dispute
Tampabay.com
“That’s designed to deceive,” [Sen. Ronda] Storms said. “My opponent [Rob Turner] has attacked my credentials and it turns out he has fabricated his credentials. His credibility is in shambles. ”Based on that assumption, (my daughter) can say she has a degree from the University of Florida because she once attended a 4-H Congress at the university.”
Fla. primary lacks excitement of statewide battles
MiamiHerald.com
“There’s hardly anything that’s really driving folks to the polls at all,” said Dan Smith, a University of Florida political science professor.
The Power of Music, Tapped in a Cubicle
Pittsburgh Post Gazette
“It breaks you out of just thinking one way,” said Teresa Lesiuk, an assistant professor in the music therapy program at the University of Miami.
UM student starts boat-shoe company with friends
MiamiHerald.com
What started as a school project in an introduction to entrepreneurship class, has now turned in to a full-fledged business and made Jason Shuman, a 21-year-old rising senior at the University of Miami, the chief operating officer of his very own brand…
¿Hablas español? It might help you get a job
Jacksonville Business Journal
Jeff Michelman is the director of the international business flagship program at the University of North Florida. He said he is seeing more students express an interest in learning another language as a part of their education.
Republicans cheer Romney’s choice of Paul Ryan
Tbo.com
“I would say let the battle begin — let’s focus on the tough issues,” said retired University of South Florida political scientist Darryl Paulson, a Republican. “That’s better for the country…
Look who’s talking: Mack ready to debate
Palm Beach Post
After refusing to debate his Republican primary opponents, U.S. Senate candidate Connie Mack IV said Friday that he has accepted an invite for an October general election debate at the University of South Florida…
How to choose? Six Republicans running for congressional seat
Naples Daily News
“Obviously, for any voter, the first thing they need to think about is whether they want a new face or an experienced face,” said Susan MacManus, a political science professor at the University of South Florida.
Ryan pick could hurt Romney in crucial fight for Florida
Reuters
But Democrats are “ecstatic” too, according to Susan MacManus, a political science professor at the University of South Florida in Tampa. “They see that they have a winning hand on a key issue,” she said.
Florida’s delegate list remains elusive
Tbo.com
“Some of it would be protocol and good manners,” said Dr. Susan MacManus, a political science professor at the University of South Florida.
Not So Fast
Inside Higher Ed
Fred Pearce, director of the School of Mass Communications at the University of South Florida, said that a radical change in the program takes several years. “We are getting ready for an accreditation visit next spring, and we will probably have a more wholesale change in curriculum after that. It is too messy to try and deal with everything at the same time,” Pearce said. Public relations and advertising students will also have a new curriculum designed around changes brought about by technology, he said. Pearce felt that journalism schools are about a decade behind when it comes to necessary changes. “My goal is to be more responsive, but we cannot do everything at once,” he said. “I want to provide as many tools on [students'] tool belt, as I possibly can.”
With videos everywhere during the RNC, the revolution will be televised
Tampabay.com
“I bet if you went back 50 or 60 years and you said there are cameras everywhere, it would make people nervous,” said Paul Spector, a University of South Florida professor of organizational psychology who has studied the effect of surveillance on behavior.
History of Tampa food debated, celebrated
Tampabay.com
“Would our great-grandparents even recognize our Cuban sandwich today?” asked Gary Mormino, a recently retired history professor at the University of South Florida - St. Petersburg. “I’m not sure.” The ingredient that bothers him most: Genoa salami.
Conventions rarely sway host states
Tbo.com
Still, in a close race, a convention site as a political nudge could make sense, said Darryl Paulson, political science professor emeritus at the University of South Florida-St. Petersburg…
Insight: Mormon church made wealthy by donations
Reuters
Those are a few of the conclusions that can be drawn from an analysis of the church’s finances by Reuters and University of Tampa sociologist Ryan Cragun.
Tuesday primary vote will decide many Escambia, Santa Rosa races
Pensacola Business Journal
“Primary elections lack the attention that accompanies presidential general elections — the increased media attention, the increased grassroots mobilization efforts, and the horse-race enthusiasm,” said Jocelyn Evans, of the University of West Florida …
Releases and Web Stories
Alyson Silva, MAC, CPA Appointed Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer at Nova Southeastern University
Press Release
FORT LAUDERDALE – DAVIE, FLA. — Alyson Silva, MAC, CPA, has been appointed Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer at Nova Southeastern University (NSU). The announcement was made today by NSU President and Chief Executive Officer George L. Hanbury II, Ph.D.
