Happening this week…
FL Board of Governors Annual Meeting: Tuesday, June 19 – Thursday June 21 at UCF
Florida Atlantic University Board Meeting: Tuesday, June 19
Florida Gulf Coast University Board Meeting: Tuesday, June 19
University of North Florida Board Meeting: Tuesday, June 19
Daytona State College Board Meeting: Thursday, June 21
- No Agenda Available
Be on the look out…
Mid-June is typically when the Southern Association of Colleges and School – Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC) publishes its Accreditation Actions & Disclosure Statements. Reaffirmation is a decennial process that most Florida institutions will devote about two and a half years preparing to process through. Be on the look out this week to see how colleges and universities in the 2012 cohort from Florida actually fared in their reaffirmation efforts. Reaffirmation is important for several reasons, not the least of which is that it allows federal and state dollars in the form of financial aid to continue flowing…
State University System
Possible doubling of college loan cost a political hot potato
MiamiHerald.com
And on July 1, unless Congress acts, the cost of borrowing is about to go up — by a lot. The interest rate on federally subsidized Stafford loans, currently at 3.4 percent, is set to double to 6.8 percent.
Audio: FAMU President On Cleaning Up Band Culture
NPR
Eleven members of the Florida A&M University marching band were arraigned on felony charges Thursday, in the alleged hazing death of drum major Robert Champion. This comes after the university’s president received a “no confidence” vote from the board of trustees. Host Michel Martin speaks with FAMU‘s President James Ammons.
FAU, FIU may exceed UF in tuition hikes
Sun-Sentinel
A degree from Florida Atlantic University or Florida International University may not have the same cache as one from the University of Florida, but you wouldn’t know that by the price tags. FAU has proposed raising tuition to about $6,100 this fall, the same as UF. This past year, it charged $5,483, about $200 less than UF. FIU wants to charge students $6,414, or $300 more than UF. The proposals are raising questions about whether universities can keep increasing tuition by 15 percent year after year, and whether third- and fourth-tier universities should have the authority to charge the same or more tuition than top research institutions…
Single women earning more money, degrees
Sun-Sentinel
At Florida Atlantic University, 58 percent of the student body in the fall will be women, while Florida International University will have 55 percent women…
Major League Lacrosse eyeing South Florida franchise
Sun-Sentinel
On the surface, the Major League Lacrosse (MLL) All-Star Game at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton on Saturday, June 30 will serve as a showcase of top players from franchises throughout other parts of the country. But on closer and deeper scrutiny, the attraction at 7:30 p.m. at the Owls’ new football stadium could be a prelude to another pro sports team in South Florida. While it is not being officially called a “test market” event, the MLL will be monitoring the game to determine whether Boca Raton will receive an expansion franchise to start play in 2014…
Closing FAU’s Port St. Lucie campus was considered before budget …
TCPalm
Even before Florida Atlantic University was faced with $24.7 million in budget cuts, university officials were considering closing the Treasure Coast campus in St. Lucie West because of its dwindling student enrollment…
Florida Gulf Coast University Offers Lessons for Florida Polytechnic
The Ledger
A controversial legislative measure creating a new, independent polytechnic university in Lakeland may be bold, but it’s not the first time an independent state college has been created on a new foundation. Right now, Florida Polytechnic in Lakeland has no faculty, no students and is not accredited. The latter condition has been one of the biggest hot buttons, with many educators questioning the idea that a college could get a decent start without the official sanction of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)…
Gifted Teens Program at Lakeland Campus Cut as USF Shifts Its …
The Ledger
They may be gifted and talented, but more than 100 students who enrolled in the University of South Florida’s Lakeland summer program are gifted and talented and out of luck. Notice went out this week that the program slated to run July 9 through July 27 has fallen victim to the phasing out of the Lakeland USF campus…
Med students learn leadership
Tbo.com
A University of South Florida medical school program highlighting leadership, empathy and business wherewithal will nearly triple its number of students this fall.
Mental health services planned in BP spill deal
MiamiHerald.com
In addition to the LSUHSC, the University of Southern Mississippi, the University of South Alabama and the University of West Florida will join for the five-year program. They’ll train and send mental health experts to communities to work with doctors, at local clinics and at other sites in their states.
State College System
Chipola Automotive wins Exemplary Practice Award
Chipley Bugle
The Chipola College Automotive Technology program project has been selected to receive an Exemplary Practice Award from the Association of Florida Colleges Occupational and Workforce Education Commission…
Oelrich questions Stearns on CF earmarks as wife rose at school
Ocala
In December 2000, Central Florida Community College administrators learned that the federal government would kick in almost $1 million toward the Ewers Century Center, the elegant 60,000-square-foot glass edifice that now greets visitors at the State Road 200 entrance to the campus…
Edison State College awaits status ruling
The News-Press
Enrollment has fallen, morale has been crushed and reputations have been shattered. A decision this week, however, could either right the ship at Edison State College or continue to sink the once-proud institution. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools’ Commission on Colleges will vote on Edison State’s accreditation. It’s highly unlikely Edison will be stripped of its accreditation, but the Georgia agency’s board could go three ways…
FSCJ board votes to hire third party to review activities
Bizjournals.com
The Florida State College at Jacksonville board of trustees voted in a special meeting Thursday to hire a third party to review college activities. The board hopes to meet in a workshop within a week to discuss what specific areas the review should investigate.
Toll Road plans create outrage
WOKV (blog)
In an effort to improve their public image, the Florida State College at Jacksonville is going to be hiring an outside company to review how the college operates. Board Chairman Jim McCallum proposed the idea to hire a company to observe the school’s staff and student performance. Recent troubles in the last three months have cast a negative image and McCallum says he wants to turn it around while they still can…
Up to 5000 to arrive on Treasure Coast for Police, Fire Games
TCPalm
Headquarters of the games will be the Treasure Coast Public Safety Training Complex of Indian River State College on Kirby Loop Road, Fort Pierce…
The work of finding work
Santa Rosa Press Gazette
Pensacola State College saw over 300 prospective job seekers during a career fair held by Workforce EscaRosa. Some of the people with folders full of resumes and references had lost their job as recent as June 8, while others had been unemployed for over two years…
Southwest Florida College graduates ready for life’s next challenge
The News-Press
When Southwest Florida College graduates marched Saturday into Harborside Event Center, they had a clear, straight path to reach their reserved seats…
Homeless man sues Valencia, Full Sail for free education
Orlando Sentinel
Ross is suing Valencia College and Full Sail University under an obscure provision of Florida law that says those who lack ”fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence” can attend the state’s universities, colleges and trade schools without paying tuition or other fees…
Independent Colleges and Universities
B-CU, Palmer sign dual-degree pact
Daytona Beach News-Journal
Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach and Palmer College of Chiropractic in Port Orange have signed a dual-degree program agreement to better help students attain their degrees and foster cooperation between the two institutions…
Factbox: Key dates in 2012 presidential race
Reuters
Here is a look at key dates in the race. Some may be subject to change.
August 27-30 – Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida
September 4-6 – Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina
October 3 – Presidential debate at University of Denver in Denver
October 11 – Vice presidential debate at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky
October 16 – Presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York
October 22 – Presidential debate at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida
November 6 – Election Day
Lynn spends big green to go green
Sun-Sentinel
If you’re hosting presidential candidates, you’ve gotta keep your cool. So Lynn University is building a new chilled water plant and spending $10.7 million on an energy-saving contract to keep the costs down.
DeLand leaders to decide on Stover Theatre demolition
Daytona Beach News-Journal
Members of the West Volusia Historical Society hope the City Commission will follow the recommendation of a city advisory panel and deny a request tonight from Stetson University to demolish Stover Theatre…
Class at UT to cover convention topics
Tbo.com
RNC 101, part of an introductory course for all University of Tampa freshmen when classes are in session again, will teach students everything from the history of political conventions to a rundown of daily happenings at the August convention here…
Yip Yap: Noted and Quoted FLHE Voices from Around the State
Dual-enrollment pressures force community colleges to cut back
Orlando Sentinel
The Florida College System says the dual enrollment program is a priority for the state. Research shows dual-enrollment students earn higher grades and are more likely to continue their schooling than their counterparts. Though young students reap the benefits of a free higher education, however, colleges aren’t allowed to charge tuition to help pay for the costs. Statewide, dual-enrollment programs cost Florida colleges $50 million in uncollected tuition in 2010-11…
Skinner: Seeking to define the ‘skills gap’
Ocala
Workforce and our educational partners — the College of Central Florida, Community Technical & Adult Education and Withlacoochee Technical Institute — are ready to help; we just need businesses to help us get it right…
Editorial: A single ‘shot’ in the battle against rising college costs
Daytona Beach News-Journal
A 9 percent increase in the cost of anything usually is not cause for celebration. But there was some high-fiving around Gainesville recently when the University of Florida Board of Trustees decided to approve a request for a 9 percent tuition hike instead of the maximum of 15 percent allowed by state law…
Otto: Rising costs soak ‘typical’ families
Tbo.com
On the same day the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the cost to a middle-class family of raising a child born in 2011 to age 18 was now $234,900, the University of South Florida said it wanted to give students a break and was only going to ask for an 11 percent tuition increase. By Friday, USF trustees had backed down and instead voted to only go for a 9 percent jump. The cost for a full-time student, including fees, is scheduled to be $6,335 a year…
Chipola Theatre students visit New York
Chipley Bugle
The Chipola theatre department travels to the Big Apple every other year. Chipola director Charles Sirmon says, “It is great to share the city and its rich theatrical culture with my students. It’s a trip of a lifetime!” Chipola theatre majors are preparing to make a big step as they will open next season in the new Center for the Arts…
Immigrant speaks about new Obama immigration policy
Wink News
A 17 year old, who doesn’t want to be identified, just graduated high school and has a goal of going to Edison State College to become a psychiatrist…
Edison employee writes for kids
Lehigh Acres News Star
When her first children’s book was published in 2010, Mireille Lauture said it was the first of a series of 10 children’s books that she had contracted through AuthorHouse to publish. Lauture, who works in the Academic Success Program at Edison State College’s Lee County campus, had made progress since then, with her third book, “Remi’s Magical Gift,” published recently.
Five local women in war featured in Flagler College documentary
St. Augustine Record
“Women in War” tells the story of five local women and their changing roles during wartime. “The documentary is the brainchild of my wife, Dianna, who felt not enough attention was being paid to women serving in the armed forces,” said Michael Isam, the director and a local veterans’ advocated. He also gives credit to Flagler College’s Dr. Tracy Halcomb, Communication Department Director; and professor Mark Huelsbeck, and Josh Wallace.
Florida a national leader in mortgage applications
Sun-Sentinel
The lower interest rates — plus South Florida’s current low home prices — are helping the region rebound from one of its worst economic downturns in decades, said William B. Stronge, an economics professor emeritus at Florida Atlantic University.
Gulf Coast Venture Forum Selects Board of Directors
Florida Technology Journal
Several new directors were elected, including Beth Cotner, retired Chief Investment Officer, Large Cap Growth at Putnam Investments; David Diamond, co-founder of DeAngelisDiamond and VentureX; John Gleeson, Principal of CFO Vision; Sara Hand, Managing Partner of S.P. Hand Associates; Dr. Sandra Kauanui, Director of the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship at Florida Gulf Coast University; and Colleen Kvetko, President and CEO of Shamrock Bank of Florida.
Not all of Romney’s potential VP choices are fat cats
CBS News
Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, a 41-year-old, first-term senator from Florida, has at least $127,000 in assets, according to his financial disclosure report, including one rental property worth at least $100,000. And in addition to his congressional salary (the base pay for a member of Congress is $174,000), he earned just over $14,000 last year in his stint as a political science instructor at Florida International University. Still, the young senator — considered a rising star in the GOP– has at least $550,000 in liabilities, including $100,000 in student loans…
Joe West: out of academia, into bagels, and loving it
MiamiHerald.com
Joe West didn’t expect to be working for a fast-food chain. Then he lost his job. This isn’t your standard recession story. West was dean of Florida International University’s renowned hospitality program for a decade, and then he lost his job after opposing the hire of the school’s new president. Now he’s running a bagel franchise with Larry King as a spokesman and 11 locations. His transition from top academic to bagel executive marks one of the more surprising turns in West’s career as a top player in South Florida’s hospitality industry. He led FIU’s hospitality school into prominence with two major initiatives: starting the event that went on to become the South Beach Wine and Food Festival, and spearheading a government-funded FIU hospitality school in China. Both were bringing in almost $4 million a year while West was dean…
Turner failed to report income
Tbo.com
Rob Turner, who made $153,000 last year as Hillsborough County property appraiser, earns extra money teaching appraisal classes around the state but hasn’t reported any of it on financial disclosure forms…In a written reply to questions from The Tampa Tribune, Turner said these classes — and one this year at Hillsborough Community College — are the only ones he recalled teaching in the past five years…
Deportation change eases fears, opens college doors, but seen as …
Palm Beach Post
[Maria] Lazcano arrived in the U.S. illegally with her Mexican parents when she seven. She studied in local schools and graduated with honors last year from Fort Pierce Central High School. She said she won a full tuition scholarship to Indian River State College for two years and University of Florida for two more years but couldn’t use those grants because she had no Social Security number.
New Obama administration policy already changing lives of some …
TCPalm
With the change, [Kenia] Armendariz can search for a better-paying job that would help her support her 2-year-old son, Julio. She’ll also be able to afford school expenses — this summer she’ll start studying cosmetology and culinary arts at Indian River State College, where she is paying out-of-state tuition because she couldn’t prove Florida residency…
Video: Two Grieving Fathers Help Rebuild Haiti in Their Deceased …
ABC News
A student at Lynn University, Britney Gengel was in Port-au-Prince for a college service trip when the earthquake struck on Jan. 12, 2010. Her body was discovered a month later in the rubble of the Hotel Montana. Since then, Len Gengel has made 28 trips to Haiti, and took a painful pilgrimage with “Nightline” back to the spot where Britney was found…
Book Review: Portrait of the president as a young man
MiamiHerald.com
Barack Obama’s soulful rendition of an Al Green classic had them swooning at the Apollo, but after reading David Maraniss’ new biography one longs to hear his Mick Jagger impression. College classmates recall his “wicked” send-up of Jagger’s plea for calm at the riotous Altamont concert…Ariel Gonzalez teaches English at Miami Dade College.
Gary Johnson announces plans for Florida tour in early July
Examiner.com
Libertarian Party Presidential nominee Gary Johnson, who is in a three way race for the White House with Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, announced plans to visit Florida cities from July 3rd-6th…On July 5th, Gary Johnson will do a speech at Palm Beach State College which is free and open to the public, followed by a private fundraiser that evening in Fort Lauderdale.
Board confirms firing of EDC director Anderson
News-Sun
IDA/EDC Board Vice-president Norm Stephens, president of South Florida Community College, stated in a memo dated June 11 that he was made aware of “matters regarding the performance of duties” assigned to Anderson. In his memo, Stephens alleged that “inappropriate and unauthorized expenditures” had occurred and EDC funds were acquired by Anderson for “personal use.”…
Florida unemployment rate falls but Palm Beach County sees increase
Palm Beach Post
“The Florida labor market has been bogged down in a national economic recovery that’s lost steam,” University of Central Florida economist Sean Snaith said.
Hayward man makes sure the details of Google Maps are accurate
San Jose Mercury News
[Blake] Stephens caught Google’s attention when, frustrated by errors in Google’s maps of the University of Central Florida campus, he used Map Maker to publish corrections. ”After about a month I had 400 edits and Google sent me an email saying, ‘You’re one of the top mappers in the U.S.; would you like to come to the first ever United States GeoSummit at our headquarters in Mountain View?’ I said, ‘Sure!’ and flew out to California.”
Finalist named for presidency of Georgia College & State University
Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)
Georgia College & State University has a likely new president, Steve Michael Dorman from the University of Florida…Dr. Dorman currently serves as dean and professor in the College of Health and Human Performance at the University of Florida in Gainesville, a position he has held since 2006…
4 Business School Trends to Watch
Mashable
“The rising interest in ethics at business schools may represent a shift away from the idea that businesses, simply through being successful, contribute adequately to the common good,” says Visiting Assistant Philosophy Professor at University of North Florida and Girls in Tech NY adviser, William Koch. He added that now, more than ever, economic success may depend upon being responsive to the ethical concerns of the public…
Funny Amendment 4 ad addresses important issue
WJXT Jacksonville
Michael Binder, a political science professor at the University of North Florida, spoke about the use of comedy in political ads. ”They’re entertaining, and it catches your eye,” he said. “And from the perspective of somebody who’s creating advertisements, that’s what they want. They want you to say, ‘Oh, peeks my interest. Now I’m going to kind of pay attention a little bit.’ And now people know a little bit more about Amendment Four.
Lab hopes to change the way we fight infection
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
“This whole concept that the human body is really an ecosystem, that you are actually walking around with all these cells that are not human — that’s a hard concept to wrap your head around,” says Robert Deschenes, who chairs the department of molecular medicine at the University of South Florida’s College of Medicine…
Cities Bet They Can Curb Traffic With Games of Chance
National Geographic
“Incentive is not a new technique in the field of travel demand management,” said Chanyoung Lee, a senior research associate at the University of South Florida‘s Center for Urban Transportation Research.
FDLE still could consider charges in Fenn Center case
TCPalm
Susan McManus, a political science professor at the University of South Florida, said with the growing transparency of government records and an increasingly hostile public, agencies are becoming a little bit less reticent to try and dismiss cases. ”I’m sure that’s what happened,” McManus said, referring to the FDLE findings. “Of course with Florida recently being identified as one of the more corrupt states in the country — two different studies have determined that recently — that of course, again has made some of these agencies hold their feet to a fire a little bit better.”
Exploring African-American Fatherhood
New York Times (blog)
One of them, LaRon Nelson, a faculty member and assistant dean for Global and Community Affairs at the University of South Florida, praised the project. “There is a spirit, an essence, a sense of shared meaning that somehow most images don’t exude,” Dr. Nelson said. “I had not noticed this myself, until I saw Zun’s pictures and had them juxtaposed with the images of black fathers that were cataloged in my memory from years of media consumption. I knew instantly that I was seeing the ‘thing,’ the spirit, essence, shared meaning, about which the fathers had found so absent from the public domain.”
Sea monster rises from floodwaters, lifts spirits
WTSP 10 News
The 13.1 inches of rain that fell on Escambia County on Saturday? That was Mother Nature. That was courtesy of Kathleen Hicks, a 20-year-old University of West Florida telecommunications major. The doctored photo has become a Florida Panhandle Internet meme and an iconic symbol of the flood, having been shared thousands of times on Facebook.
Releases and Web Stories
Full Sail University and ESPN Technology Group Create Opening …
PR Web (press release)
Full Sail University joined forces with ESPN’s Creative Content Unit, ESPN’s Emerging Technology Group, and production company Victory Pictures to create …
