Notable Recent National Reports:
A Stronger Nation Through Higher Education (Report) (Press Release) (Related story)
Lumina Foundation
This annual report outlines the latest national and state-level data on college degree attainment. According to the report, 38.7 percent of Americans held a two- or four-year college degree in 2011, up from 38.3 percent and 38.1 percent in 2010 and 2009, respectively. The Lumina Foundation referred to this progress as “far too modest” and outlined 10 short-term goals to boost educational attainment. Lumina’s goal is to have 60 percent of Americans with high-quality postsecondary credentials by 2025.
Is Starting College and Not Finishing Really That Bad? (Report) (Related story)
The Hamilton Project, Brookings Institution
This report by leading two leading economists reveals a strong return on investment—9.1 percent—for those with some college, but no degree. This exceeds average returns from the stock market and Treasury bills. Nevertheless, the returns are far below those from finishing a college degree. The report also discusses the latest data on the number of jobs that need to be created to return to pre-recession levels.
NextDev Challenge: Instructional Delivery (Report)
Education Commission of the States
A growing body of research and data show that the traditional methods of remedial instruction have been ineffective for many students. While the typical semester-based courses are helpful for some students, they are unnecessary and frustrating for others who need to learn or refresh specific skills. This brief examines accelerated programs, modular- and competency-based programs, sequencing redesigns and co-enrollment models.
State University System
New Ranking Shows FAMU Provides Affordable Education and Secure Jobs for …
WCTV
FAMU ranks near the top when it comes to graduates finding a job after school. Not just any job — jobs that pay pretty good money. That’s what a new study says that ranks Florida colleges with the highest financial return…
Florida Gulf Coast University collects “about $15000″ during first quarter of 2013
NBCSports.com
The Florida Gulf Coast men’s basketball team put not just their program, but school on the map advancing to the Sweet 16 in the 2013 NCAA Tournament. It’s impossible to put a price on the kind of exposure and earned media the school from Fort Myers — established just over 20 years ago in 1991 — received due to their magical run beating Georgetown and San Diego State convincingly. When the cash registers officially closed and numbers tallied, Florida Gulf Coast only cashed out on about $15,000 in royalties from sales of officially licensed merchandise in the first quarter of 2013…
Florida State University Prepares for Hurricane Season
WCTV
Tallahssee: Florida State University is making sure students, faculty, and staff are prepped for hurricanes. The University staged a hurricane drill today, in preparation for the worst. That drill included three stages– preparations before and during the storm,, and recovery after it hit. Nothing was left to chance and everything was tested– from transportation… to student and faculty safety…
Sugar Bowl not so sweet: Florida loses $840000 on game
al.com
Not only did Florida lose the game, they lost a large chunk of change on the Sugar Bowl held on January 2 of this year. Unsold tickets are to blame for the University of Florida‘s $840,000 loss, according to The Gainsville Times. The university had an allotted 17,500 tickets to sell and did not do so, per school officials at an annual budget meeting. Even on the heels of a strong season, fans still didn’t make the journey to New Orleans. The Gators entered the post-season 11-1 before losing the bowl game to the Louisville Cardinals 33-23…
Thunderstorm blows through town, causing wrecks, downing trees
Gainesville Sun
Thunderstorm blows through town, causing wrecks, downing trees. A workers with the Physical Plant Division clears fallen limbs from Center Drive at the University of Florida in Gainesville following a thunderstorm on Friday.
Online ballot fraud marks the ‘e-boletera era of Miami politics’
MiamiHerald.com
They employed different tactics to target different types of voters, a University of Florida/Miami Herald analysis of election data indicates…
Pompano may ban euthanizing of feral cats
Sun-Sentinel
TNR advocates cite University of Florida studies from 2004 and 2006 as evidence that feral cats can live healthy, happy lives…
Scientists hunt for rabbit habitat in Idaho – with drones
The Republic
The flights, overseen by University of Idaho, Boise State University and University of Florida scientists, are meant to help determine whether aerial shots from small, unmanned planes can effectively locate the best areas to reintroduce captive-bred pygmy rabbits into the wild…The university scientists say they’ve got all the approvals for their rabbit-habitat hunting flights. The University of Florida Unmanned Aircraft Systems Research Program, a partner in this research, has received go-ahead from the Federal Aviation Administration, provided scientists stay over unpopulated areas and don’t stray beyond a one nautical mile radius from the controller on the ground.
University of South Florida still waiting for permit to exhume graves at Dozier School for Boys
First Coast News
University of South Florida researchers on Friday did not get the green light to begin exhuming graves at the now closed Dozier School for Boys. Instead, the state asked for more information before it makes a final decision …
Hospital Requests Zoning Change
The Ledger
The academic building, at which medical doctors would do residency training in different medical specialties, is a key element of Lakeland Regional’s plans to become an academic teaching hospital affiliated with the University of South Florida…
A brief history of entrepreneurship in Tampa Bay
Tampabay.com
USF St. Petersburg College of Business Named “outstanding emerging entrepreneurship program” in the United States by U.S. Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship…
UWF public health master’s program 10th in nation
Pensacola News Journal
The University of West Florida Master’s in Public Health program was ranked No. 10 out of the top 50 public health graduate programs nationwide by Master’s Degree Online. The list rates programs based on diversity, focus and Council on Education for Public Health accreditation…
State College System
Drop in enrollment blamed for predicted $1.3M deficit
Baker County Press
…In addition, Florida Gateway College paid $36,810 for teachers who instructed college classes on the high school campus this year, but will no longer provide that funding. That means the total loss to the school district will be $104,543. Officials have said they plan to fund the program so that students can continue to work toward an associate degree while also completing their high school requirements…
Institute accepting Leadership Okaloosa applications
Crestview News Bulletin
Northwest Florida State College’s Costa Leadership Institute is accepting applications for the nine-month 2013-14 Leadership Okaloosa program…
Southwest Florida College honors graduates today
The News-Press
Southwest Florida College is issuing diplomas and degrees today to 437 graduates, nearly half of which studied at the Fort Myers campus…
St. Petersburg College Midtown project ignites more controversy
Tampa Bay Business Journal
St. Petersburg College has so far rejected an offer to settle a fiery bid protest over a contract for the planned $14 million Midtown campus…
Local Teens Learn How to Build Skateboards
WCTV
Tallahassee Community College’s Advanced Manufacturing Training Center is again hosting its highly-successful series of composite materials summer camps for local teenagers…
Independent Colleges and Universities
Spring tea celebrates newly renovated Flagler solarium
St. Augustine Record
Guests to the annual Flagler College Spring Tea donned flowered frocks and colorful hats to attend one of the first special events in the newly-renovated solarium…
Rollins’ new ‘lifelong learning’ courses target over-50 set
Orlando Sentinel
Adults who want to keep learning after age 50 — or just relive their college years — can attend classes designed for them starting this fall at Rollins College, one of a growing number of schools inviting older adults back to campus. Rollins‘ new Center for Lifelong Learning is intended for over-50 residents in Winter Park, Maitland and Eatonville, though older adults from throughout Central Florida are welcome too…
New Questions on NCAA Investigations and U. of Miami
Inside Higher Ed
Sports Illustrated has published damning new reports on the investigative arm of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and of the football program of the University of Miami…
UM wraps up talks with NCAA after 16 1/2 intense hours
MiamiHerald.com
The University of Miami wrapped up its hearings with the NCAA Committee of Infractions on Friday afternoon after 16 1/2 hours of talks over two days – less than it took the same committee to sort through the USC case in February 2010…
NCAA concludes Miami-infraction hearings
Yahoo! Sports
After more than 16 hours over two days, the NCAA’s hearings to determine whether the University of Miami committed major infractions involving former booster Nevin Shapiro ended Friday in Indianapolis…
For-Profit and Career Colleges
Training providers responding to job market’s needs
Tallahassee Democrat
At Keiser University, programs for health careers remain a top priority because the profession continues to need more personnel…
Yip Yap: Noted and Quoted FLHE Voices from Around the State
Letter: Fighting hunger helps feed the soul
Florida Today
The Brevard Community College gym was packed with hundreds of volunteers who were having a blast — meeting new people, singing and swaying to loud, upbeat music, and whooping when they finished a task such as filling a box with bean-and-rice…
Is PBSC right to avoid providing health insurance?
Palm Beach Post (blog)
Palm Beach State College intends to cut part-timers, including many professors, to 27.5 hours from their current 30. Why? To avoid having to cover them under Obamacare. The new health law requires larger employers to offer health insurance to employees working 30 hours a week and more. PBSC estimates the move will save $600,000…
My View: Educational leadership key to S. Florida’s STEM future
MiamiHerald.com
I read with great interest your recent article, “Miami ranks low for share of STEM jobs.” While the numbers paint a less than rosy picture of the availability of STEM jobs in South Florida, we at Florida International University, one of the largest producers of STEM graduates in the nation, are hard at work to reverse this trend…Irma Becerra-Fernandez is vice president for Engagement at Florida International University. She holds a Ph.D. in electrical engineering and is a former director of the Eugenio Pino and Family Global Entrepreneurship Center at FIU.
Kassab: New UCF housing has students living in lap of luxury
Orlando Sentinel
Too many students leave college buried in debt, sweating out monthly payments. Rising tuition often gets the blame. Nobody ever talks about how the sweating starts in a Swedish sauna. It’s time to out the student luxury industrial complex that’s ravaging the bank accounts of parents and college kids everywhere, including right here at the University of Central Florida. Get a load of this ad for one of UCF’s newest housing projects: ”The Swedish Sauna and Sky Deck tanning area, complete with a Tiki Hut, provides a spa-like setting for you to unwind from exams and reinvigorate the senses.” I’m sorry, is UCF offering classes or Caribbean cruises? NorthView, the $60 million project scheduled to open for the fall semester, is what you might expect if Jackie Siegel was in charge of student housing…
Smith: A Taj Mahal at UCF?
Sunshine State News (blog)
What’s this? The University of Central Florida, steamed because it can’t raise its tuition, is about to roll out a luxury housing complex that includes a Swedish sauna. Check out the ad for NorthView, a $60 million project set to open in the fall: “The Swedish Sauna and Sky Deck tanning area, complete with a Tiki Hut, provides a spa-like setting for you to unwind from exams and reinvigorate the senses.”
Bowden: Expand tourism strategy
Pensacola News Journal
…Today, a growing educational system, led by University of West Florida and Pensacola State College, equip young professionals who want to remain in the local market and help grow the commercial market. But too many seek greener pastures in larger markets where salaries are livable; now some homegrowns are trying to be creative here because of the paradise quality that eliminates the metropolitan hustle-haste and you can work a computer keyboard in your PJs…
Beacon College biology educator Kirk A. Stowe is buggy about insects
Orlando Sentinel
Stowe, an assistant biology professor at Beacon College in Leesburg, can’t get enough of them…
A year later, South Florida men charged in ‘NATO’ terror plot near …
Sun-Sentinel
After Brian Church completed a course in emergency medicine at Broward College, he told his mother he was headed to Chicago for hands-on experience he hoped would boost his chances of becoming a paramedic. ”He was very proud of the fact that he was helping set up the first-aid tents,” said Elizabeth Ennis of her son’s participation in the NATO summit protest movement. It has been a year since Church and two others from South Florida arrived in the Windy City and were arrested in a raid of an apartment just before the May 2012 summit. Prosecutors allege the trio — now known by a cadre of supporters as the “Nato 3″ — planned to use Molotov cocktails to blow up political targets, including Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s home and President Barack Obama’s downtown re-election campaign headquarters last year…
Rattlers focus on building school spirit
Tallahassee Democrat (blog)
During his recent State of the University Address at the FAMU National Alumni Association conference, interim president Larry Robinson stoically made his points when he talked about ways to increase enrollment and coping with budget cuts…
FAMU’s Smith: An unwavering commitment to university, athletics
Tallahassee Democrat (blog)
Michael Smith could easily be misunderstood when he explains why he’s glad to be the interim athletic director at FAMU. “These are really exciting times,” he said. “I’m glad to be a part of this.”
A New Band Director Has Some Hoping FAMU’s Band Will Return This Fall
WFSU
In the halls of Florida A&M University’s band room, a lone baritone burbles along. It’s a sound that hasn’t been heard much in the year since FAMU’s Marching band was placed on suspension as a result of the hazing death of drum major Robert Champion. Today, the band room is in a state of disarray. Bookshelves, boxes, piano’s parts of instruments and garment bags are strewn about. Equipment manager Donald Beckwith says the department is doing a bit of Spring cleaning. The man responsible for the clutter is new band director Sylvester Young. The 66-year-old came out of retirement to take the job. His new office is above the band rehearsal hall with a window that looks out over the chaos…
Bowl game in Boca Raton would be huge for FAU
WPEC
Florida Atlantic University Athletic Director Pat Chun says that he’s received nothing but “green lights” in his talks with Conference U.S.A. about bringing a Bowl Game to Boca Raton…
Business development
Sun-Sentinel
In a talk, “Research Park: Economic Engine for the Future,” Andrew Duffell, president and chief executive officer of the Research Park at Florida Atlantic University, will address the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce’s business professionals …
FAU Responds to Adviser Roxanna Trinka’s Anti-Muslim Comments; CAIR Calls …
New Times Broward-Palm Beach (blog)
FAU administrators today distanced themselves from the Islamophobic and homophobic Facebook posts, first reported here, of Boca Raton businesswoman Roxanna Trinka, an adviser to the school’s College of Engineering and Computer Science. At almost the same time, the South Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called on the school to remove Trinka from her advisory role at the College, which has a significant number of faculty and students of Mideast origin…
With donation, Wolfsonian expands to Miami’s downtown
MiamiHerald.com
About 16 years ago, prolific collector Mitchell “Micky” Wolfson Jr. transferred his accumulation of historically significant furniture, paintings, sculptures, posters, books, trinkets, household goods, machinery and other artifacts — along with the building that housed them — to Florida International University…
FGCU’s Dr. Christine Wright-Isak presents The Impact of Digital Communications on Advancing Your Brand
Naples Daily News
Christine Wright-Isak, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Marketing and Advertising, Lutgert College of Business at Florida Gulf Coast University will speak at the July 9 meeting of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA), Southwest Florida Chapter, sponsored by JJ Taylor Distributing Florida, Inc. She will present, “The Impact of Digital Communications on Advancing Your Brand,” sharing “big brand” insights that are applicable for all brands—and how to implement brand strategies in a world of digital communications…
Gwendolyn Stephenson, HCC’s longest-serving president, dies at 69
Tampabay.com
Gwendolyn Stephenson, the longest-serving president of Hillsborough Community College, died Thursday under hospice care. She was 69…
Ron Littlepage: ‘Green Monster’ returns to the St. Johns River
Florida Times-Union (blog)
That’s the warning Quinton White, executive director of Jacksonville University’s Marine Science Research Institute, sounded earlier this week during a meeting of the Jacksonville Waterways Commission…
New study: Races differ in how they view delay in arrest of George Zimmerman
Orlando Sentinel
The newly published study, co-written by University of Central Florida criminal justice professor Kareem Jordan, also suggests that Hispanics are less likely than blacks to perceive race as playing a role in last year’s shooting death of Trayvon Martin …
UCF marketing professor put his students first
Orlando Sentinel
Gordon Paul was known for making students his priority during his more than 30 years as a marketing professor at the University of Central Florida. ”He never lost sight of the reason why professors are really here,” said Foard Jones, UCF‘s associate dean of business administration. “You may get involved in budget issues and everything else, but at the end of the day, it’s about the students.” Paul, who also served for several years as chairman of the marketing department at UCF, reiterated that message to professors he brought to the school. Paul, who retired from UCF in 2000 and moved to Flat Rock, N.C., died June 7. He was 79…
UF professor Calfee honored as outstanding tax attorney by peers
Gainesville Sun
Dennis Calfee, a University of Florida law professor, has been named Gerald T. Hart Outstanding Tax Attorney of the Year by the Florida Bar Tax Section in recognition of making a significant impact in improving the quality of tax law practice…
Removing Rodman Dam won’t undo mistakes of the past
Ocala
…This has been monitored at four locations monthly over the last 10-plus years, with the data reported and complied through the “Lake Watch” program under Daniel Canfield and IFAS at the University of Florida…
UF linebacker arrested
Florida Today
University of Florida linebacker Antonio Morrison, who played a major role as a true freshman last year and is expected to be a key defensive starter this fall, was arrested for allegedly punching a Gainesville nightclub bouncer late Saturday night. Morrison faces possible charges of simple battery when police claim he became angry and said, “Do you know who I am?” when he was refused entry to the club without paying a cover charge.
Former UF director alleges in suit he was denied position because he’s white
Gainesville Sun
A longtime University of Florida professor and former director of an academic program for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds is alleging in a lawsuit that he was denied promotion to a new director position because he is white. When he complained about it to the provost and other top administrators, he further alleges that he was retaliated against. In the lawsuit filed in the 8th Circuit Court in Alachua County, Dana Peterson contends that a less-qualified person was picked as the new director of the Office of Academic Support on the basis of her race and that when he objected, he was demoted and had his contract terminated…
Man arrested after brawl in campus parking lot, police say
Gainesville Sun
Slane Talbot Ronchetto, 30, of 321 SE 3rd St. was in the parking lot of the Chemistry Lab Building on the University of Florida campus at 2 p.m. Saturday when the incident occurred, according to the University of Florida Police Department report …
Many clues, but little evidence: The search for Fort Caroline goes on
Florida Times-Union
It’s Jacksonville’s oldest, most enduring mystery, and it may never be solved: Where is Fort Caroline, the French settlement on the marshy edge of a vast continent far from home in 1564 — before St. Augustine and Roanoke, before Jamestown and Plymouth? After spending almost a year looking, Robert “Buzz” Thunen and Keith Ashley are readying a report to the state on their recent digs. Nothing. The University of North Florida archaeologists found not a thing…
Area Golf Notebook: Ex-UNF star Sean Dale helps US secure Palmer Cup
Florida Times-Union
The Jacksonville resident who recently finished his college career at the University of North Florida, won and squared his singles matches by rallying from big deficits at the Wilmington Country Club. Dale went 2-1-1 overall as the U.S. won the match …
Driver facing charges related to fatal New Year’s Day crash
ActionNewsJax.com
The Florida Highway Patrol says it has made an arrest in a crash that killed a University of North Florida Student on New Year’s Day. Investigators say 20-year-old Sean Frederik Franke was arrested and booked into the Duval County Pre-trial Facility…
Two USF Bulls picked for US national softball team
Tbo.com
Two University of South Florida players were selected to the 18-player USA Softball Women’s National Team. Left-handed pitcher Sara Nevins and shortstop Kourtney Salvarola, both rising seniors who were first-team All-Big East selections for USF …
Unmarked graves get closer look at boys’ school
Bay News 9
…USF Archaeologist Erin Kimmerle said they’ll review the questions from the state archaeologist next week. Once the answers are received, it will be at least another two weeks before a decision is made.
New Pinellas deputy tells teachers to become leaders
Tampabay.com (blog)
…Teachers from Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough counties were invited to a workshop Thursday and Friday, dubbed the Teacher Leader’s Institute, at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. Through breakout sessions and speakers like [Bill] Corbett, the goal was to help teachers think of themselves as movers and shakers within their own schools…
Teachers anxious about change to Common Core
Tbo.com
We are over-testing our kids,” said Alan Sitomer, an author and California’s 2007 teacher of the year who was keynote speaker at Thursday’s Teacher Leaders Institute at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg…
Archaeology Insights at Biophilia Center
WJHG-TV
The University of West Florida partnered with an archaeology expert to share and discuss artifacts. Director Paul Arthur says the partnership between the center and Archaeologist Tristan Harrenstein is a natural one.
Releases and Web Stories
FAU MED: Another Major Milestone For Growing Med School
BocaNewsNow.com
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) — Florida Atlantic University‘s maturing Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine has reached another major milestone. Its residency program in internal medicine is now accredited by the National Accreditation Countil for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)…
Florida International University’s School of Music and Miami Music Project …
SBWire (press release)
Miami, FL — (SBWIRE) — 06/14/2013 – Florida International University’s (FIU) College of Architecture + the Arts’ School of Music and Miami Music Project are proud to establish a research collaboration to study how music education enhances the lives of many underserved public school children…
Indian River State College Foundation – Teaching Chairs awarded
TCPalm
Three exceptional Indian River State College (IRSC) professors were surprised with Endowed Teaching Chairs from the Indian River State College Foundation in recognition of outstanding teaching and to implement training institutes benefiting students and the community. The recipients are Dr. Matthew Brooks, associate Professor, English Communication & Modern Languages Department, with the Community in Fine Arts Endowed Teaching Chair; Dr. John A. Carpenter, associate Professor, English Communication & Modern Languages Department, with the Gladys Williams Wolf Endowed Teaching Chair in Communications; and Tiffany E. Lewis, assistant Professor, Learning Assistance Department, with the J. Douglas Stephens Endowed Teaching Chair…
IRSC corporate and community training institute provides hospitality training …
TCPalm
Individuals looking for hospitality and restaurant management training in Indian River County are invited to register in the new hospitality training course at the Indian River State College Corporate and Community Training Institute.
Keiser University Celebrates Graduating Class at Summer Commencement With over 1,200 graduates from across the country and internationally
Capital Soup
Fort Lauderdale, FL—June 14, 2013 – The administration and faculty of the Ft. Lauderdale campus, the Graduate School and Online Division are proud to welcome State Representative Ritch Workman as the 2013 commencement ceremony speaker. The event takes place at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts located at 201 SW 5th Ave. on Friday, June 14 at 7:00 p.m.
Grant helps baby boomers enter health careers
Seminole State College
Seminole State College of Florida is among more than 60 colleges participating in a three-year Plus 50 grant to train 10000 baby boomers for new jobs…
Florida Museum begins free monthlong movie series with ‘King Kong’
University of Florida
The Florida Museum of Natural History will show free movies each Saturday in July beginning with “King Kong” on July 6 as part of the University of Florida “Creative B” program…
