State University System
Ex-director says it’s too soon to reinstate FAMU band
USA TODAY
FAMU’s board of trustees will meet Monday to hear a report from President James H. Ammons on the future of the band. State University System Chancellor Frank Brogan weighed in on the issues this week, recommending the band remain suspended because of …
Ex-FAMU band director says he’s not to blame for hazing death
Florida Times-Union
The Jacksonville native had served about 40 years with the band, including the past 14 as its director and chairman of FAMU’s music department. He had been on paid administrative leave since shortly after Champion’s Nov. 19 death, which prompted …
Amid FAMU breakdown, other schools say they constantly check band rosters
Orlando Sentinel
Administrators at several public universities in Florida say they constantly verify that members of their marching bands are eligible to participate — a process that suffered a breakdown at Florida A&M University last fall.
Student interest in FAMU declines
Tallahassee Democrat (blog)
Student applications for the upcoming school year at Florida A&M are down from the past two years when the university enjoyed record enrollment, FAMU officials said. Administrators said they do not think the decline in applications is tied to the …
Florida’s 2012-2013 budget: A perspective from Florida Atlantic University
Examiner.com
One example of how the reduction in funding has impacted a local university can be seen in the struggles at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), located in Boca Raton, Florida. FAU will receive approximately $24.7 million less from state funding for its fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012 compared to funding for the previous fiscal year…
FAU researches ways to thwart roadside bombs
Sun-Sentinel
Florida Atlantic University has put itself on the front lines of a U.S. military effort to identify roadside bombs…
Florida State to Big 12? ACC meetings to answer questions
USA TODAY
The meetings come after a wild Saturday that began with the chairman of FSU‘s Board of Trustees, Andy Haggard, saying he wanted Florida State to explore the possibility of leaving the ACC and joining the Big 12 Conference…
UCF Athletics Association files appeal in Ereck Plancher wrongful-death case
Orlando Sentinel
The UCF Athletics Association filed its appeal in the Ereck Plancher wrongful-death case, focusing on three issues it argues should lead to the dismissal of the case, limit damages paid to the former football player’s family or trigger a new trial. Plancher, a 19-year-old UCF wide receiver, died in 2008 after conditioning drills supervised by head football coach George O’Leary and his staff…
UF college budgets plan attrition, layoffs, but spare degree programs
Gainesville Sun
The University of Florida would use attrition, lay off staff and take other steps to make budget cuts, but spare degree programs and tenure-track faculty under plans submitted Friday…
USF area ripe for rebirth
Tbo.com
For more than a year, top local government and economic development officials have been discussing plans to revitalize and rebrand one of Hillsborough County’s toughest neighborhoods. The discussions were spurred by the belief, long shared by local leaders, that the University of South Florida‘s potential to be an economic engine for the region is hampered by its setting. The leafy campus, now considered one of the top research institutions in the country, is surrounded by a milieu of shabby duplexes, crime-riddled apartments and sign-cluttered thoroughfares…
Tampa Bay business recruiters look to capitalize on RNC
Tampabay.com
The thinking is, the Tampa Bay area will never get a better chance to sell itself than during the Republican National Convention. So business groups and convention organizers have plans in the works or under discussion to make the most of that last week in August: • An A-list event is expected to feature Gov. Rick Scott and show off the University of South Florida‘s new $38 million Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS) in downtown Tampa…
State College System
Daytona Highlands residents fight to protect urban oasis
Daytona Beach News-Journal
The land across from Daytona State College isn’t zoned for commercial uses, and a future land-use plan calls for offices, schools or multi-family homes to go there.
Edison State prepares for dorm changes
NBC2 News
Brand new dorms at Edison State College’s Lee Campus are near completion. The college is working on how to handle a constant student presence on campus for the first time. Getting a first-hand look inside the spiffy new …
FSCJ officials cite soon-to-be-closed loophole in refusing to …
Florida Times-Union
Florida State College at Jacksonville officials have used a soon-to-be-closed loophole in state law to deny releasing information to the public about bonuses that may have been awarded to employees…
HCC selects new president for Plant City campus
Tbo.com
Dr. Martyn Clay has been selected as the new president of Hillsborough Community College’s Plant City campus…
IRSC’s 2 new degree programs help address employment, training needs
Fort Pierce Tribune
Indian River State College is adding two more bachelor’s degree programs to its lineup this fall. On Thursday, the former community college received state approval to launch a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology and Security Management and a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration with concentrations in Public Policy and Leadership and Emergency Planning and Management.
Sheriff’s Office finds more stores selling alcohol to minors
Fort Pierce Tribune
The operation used volunteers ages 18 to 29, from the Indian River State College Police Academy, to pose as buyers.
Grand opening of PSC South Santa Rosa Campus
Pensacola News Journal
There will be a grand opening and ribbon-cutting May 22 at the Pensacola State College South Santa Rosa Center…
Vets can get tuition help for college
Pensacola News Journal
Vets who need help qualifying for college or finding money to attend, can contact the Veterans Upward Bound Office at Pensacola State College…
As Florida graduates hit the market, some tough pearls of wisdom
Tampabay.com
At Miami Dade College, Richard N. Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, reminded graduates of how much change will happen over their …
Independent College and University System
Record number graduate from Ave Maria’s School of Law
The News-Press
The mustachioed Barrintes, 52, smiled and laughed at his son before thanking an unlikely source for his long-awaited law degree: Ave Maria University founder Thomas S. Monaghan…
Embry-Riddle graduation day ‘makes Mother’s Day memorable’
Daytona Beach News-Journal
A student dons a decorated cap with a Mother’s Day message at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University graduation …
Locals lobby for area to be picked as drone test site
Democratic Underground
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University wants to make Florida one of only six test sites in the country that will study how to add unmanned aircraft into U.S. airspace by 2015…
Johnson gets Libertarian nomination but still faces debate challenge
Fox News
“If we get in the debates, which we believe we can, the game changes entirely,” Hunter said. The debate schedule is Oct. 3 at the University of Denver, in Colorado; Oct. 16 at Hofstra University, in Hempstead, NY; Oct. 22 at Lynn University, …
Provost Carol Bresnahan is making a difference at Rollins College
Watermark Online
The crepe myrtles are starting to bloom on the campus of Rollins College. Hastily packed boxes will soon appear in front of emptying dormitories, awaiting parents in minivans to cart sweaters and sophomores home for the summer.
Police find drugs in Stetson dorm
Daytona Beach News-Journal
The smell of marijuana made two Stetson University officers on patrol stop at a dorm and a subsequent search of the room yielded marijuana, drug paraphernalia and prescription pills, police said.
Moody’s praises UM cuts
MiamiHerald.com
A leading debt-rating agency gave a thumbs-up Friday to the University of Miami’s steep lay-offs, saying the savings will ease the school’s financial pressures. Moody’s Investor Services tracks UM’s finances because the private school has sold debt to Wall Street investors. UM this week announced cuts that will mean the loss of nearly 1,000 jobs in its medical school and hospital. Moody’s wrote the plan will be “positive for UM’s credit position” — another way to say the school will have more cash to spend on debt payments.
University of Miami job cuts could have major impact on research, innovation
MiamiHerald.com
What will the job cuts announced last week by the University of Miami do to research and scientific discovery in South Florida? A lot, say scientists…
Paul Dee, former University of Miami athletic director, dies at age 65
Palm Beach Post
He was frat brothers with Steve Spurrier in Gainesville and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida, but nobody ever mistook Paul Dee for anything but a Miami Hurricane…
Cappy’s pizzeria warns parents: Make kids behave or leave
Tampabay.com
By Thursday, more than 105 commenters weighed in on a University of Tampa Magazine Facebook account, the discussion getting heated and downright nasty as people balanced the tendency of “kids to be kids” with diners’ rights to peace and quiet…
For-Profit and Career Colleges
Full Sail University Issues Announcement On WWE NXT Debut
Wrestling News Source
“WWE and Full Sail University are combining forces to make entertainment history! The WWE franchise NXT is moving full-time to Full Sail University and Thursday, May 17th, 2012 will be its inaugural event…
Yip Yap: Noted and Quoted FLHE Voices from Around the State
Scott’s task force a waste
Palm Beach Post
If Gov. Rick Scott wants to remake Florida’s higher education system to meet the demands of a knowledge-based economy, he should start from a personal knowledge base rather than appoint a “blue ribbon” task force…
Mayo: Dr. Shaq reax: Readers split on Barry U. doctorate
Sun-Sentinel (blog)
Or was this a case of celebrity doctorate lite, with Barry University in Miami cheapening itself by trading off an advanced diploma for a ton of national publicity? Dr. Shaq was the topic of my Thursday print column and I got a lot of feedback on it.
Reed’s strong leadership lifted Bethune-Cookman
Daytona Beach News-Journal
After the latest class graduated from Bethune-Cookman University, local officials honored the school’s outgoing president, Trudie Kibbe Reed. On Tuesday, Reed got a key to the city and plenty of accolades. These are not the usual farewell pleasantries …
FAMU needs new leader to recover from scandal
Orlando Sentinel
FAMU could pay millions in a settlement for Champion’s death. The cost to its image from the resulting scandal could be incalculable. The Marching 100 is probably the first thing that comes to mind when most people think of FAMU. The band’s reputation is in tatters. Ammons has either been out of touch or over his head. Neither should be acceptable to trustees. It’s time for him to go…
Scott Tilley: Hexbugs are creepy-crawlies with a robotic touch
Florida Today
Hexbugs are educational and great fun to play with – even for professors like me whom, I suppose, are still young boys at heart. Scott Tilley is a professor of software engineering in the Department of Computer Sciences at Florida Institute of Technology.
Wise call on wetlands
MiamiHerald.com
South Florida’s water managers are drawing up new plans on how best to use wetlands in West Miami-Dade, land that Florida International University had pushed for as part of a land swap. Good idea…
Shalala & Veneman: Making Mother’s Day Every Day
Huffington Post
Three years ago, we came together with friends and colleagues to form an initiative representing various sectors of public life, from politics and academics to the media and entertainment. The common thread that brought us together is that we believe every woman deserves the chance to have a safe pregnancy and give birth to a healthy baby…
Brevard Community College student win $1 million
Florida Today
Brevard Community College‘s Christopher Gilmore may be a diehard Boston Red Sox fan, but the New York Yankees are making him smile today. Gilmore used the New York Yankees to win the MLB 2K12 $1 Million Perfect Game Challenge Tournament on Thursday in New York City…
Embry-Riddle students soared as campus leaders
Daytona Beach News-Journal
Justin Fletcher and Courtney Buzan pose above the flightline at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach …
Therapy dogs help college students cope with anxiety
Palm Beach Post
At Florida Atlantic University, the mandate of new counseling director Kirk Dougher is to make sure that FAU’s counseling program is helping students have a better quality of life during their time there.
Obama, Romney fates in Florida depend on jobs, economy
Broward Politics (blog)
And those kind of worries have a big impact on elections if “the unemployment rate gets reported and people sort of look around and say things don’t look so good,” said Kevin Wagner, a political scientist at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.
Long-term unemployment struggles plague Florida, nation
Palm Beach Post
The high numbers are troubling, said Emily Eisenhauer of the Research Institute on Social & Economic Policy at Florida International University. “It tells us about how deep the recession was and is and how long it will take to recover,” she said.
Graduation ceremonies going viral
Metro.us
Over the last five years, Florida International University has been attempting to draw more students and families into its commencement ceremonies via the Web. It began with a simple video stream of the main ceremony, overseen by a technical support staff of one: social media coordinator Betsy Soler. But this year, Soler gave a battalion of IT and marketing students specific instructions to take FIU commencement viral…
Nurse to sing national anthem ahead of game
MiamiHerald.com
Dr. Ora Lea Strickland is dean of Florida International University’s College of Nursing & Health Sciences. She’ll be fulfilling a personal dream Saturday while singing the praises of all nurses as part of National Nurses Week…
Florida Governor’s Chief of Staff Quits Under Scrutiny
New York Times
Mr. Hollingsworth worked on Mr. Scott’s transition team before the governor took office in 2011. Mr. [Steve] MacNamara, who is also a professor at Florida State University, was hired last summer to help Mr. Scott after his first few bumpy months in office…
Gap Year: Congrats! You’re Accepted to College, Now Go Away
ABC News
Alex Galarce from Illinois is volunteering for 10 months with City Year in Chicago. There, he serves as a full-time tutor and mentor to keep students on track for graduation from high school. Next year, he’ll attend New College of Florida…
2012 college grads see slightly improving job market
Orlando Sentinel
Sarah Lugo Rudner, 21, who is graduating with a degree in Critical Media and Cultural Studies from Rollins College in Winter Park, has already faced the harsh reality of this year’s average starting wage…
Ancient skulls found in Winter Garden puzzle experts
Orlando Sentinel
“We know that they were not placed in that location until after that date,” said Dr. John Schultz, a University of Central Florida anthropology professor who assisted Garavaglia with the remains…
Ancient Peruvian find turns up in Florida
UPI.com
John Schultz, an anthropologist at the University of Central Florida, said the skulls are typical of Inca remains from Peru…
Debate rages: Do charter students perform better than others?
Orlando Sentinel
A University of Central Florida professor was so bothered by the state’s April report — released under a headline that said charter students “excel across the board” — that he did his own analysis of charter school performance. ”Does Governor Scott, the Republicans, the DOE have a charter-school bias? I think most people would say yes,” said Stanley Smith, a UCF finance professor. “This almost seems like an infomercial for the charters.”
Manatee Baby Boomers face retirement challenges
Bradenton Herald
So many people in their 40s and 50s lost a job over the course of the recession that the trend has created systemic problems that will take some time to work through, said Sean Snaith, an economist with the University of Central Florida…
Measuring joblessness is inexact science
Orlando Sentinel
“It’s a key measure,” said University of Central Florida economist Sean Snaith, “but it’s also important to step back and take a broader view.”
Businesses assume bigger share of property taxes
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
“It’s undoing a bit of what the governor’s trying to do,” said Sean Snaith, a University of Central Florida economist.
Economists Expect Slow but Steady Growth
Wall Street Journal
The results “virtually ensure” that at least one nation will leave the euro zone, noted Sean M. Snaith of the University of Central Florida.
Lovebugs pestering drivers
Ocala
“The eruptions are quite heavy,” said Mark Hostetler, wildlife ecology and conservation professor at the University of Florida. “Conditions here are perfect for them.”
Passion earns UF writer McEwen scholarship
Tbo.com
She never met the legendary Tom McEwen. But already, after reading his books and scouring some old newspaper columns, University of Florida sophomore Emily Padgett feels like she knows him. “He sounds like such a down-to-earth person,” Padgett said.
Facebook CEO Focuses Investors on Mobile Strategy as IPO Nears
BusinessWeek
That adds to pressure on company executives to articulate their mobile strategy ahead of the IPO, due this week, said Jay Ritter, a professor at the University of Florida…
Brodie Smith: 1 year of ultimate trick shots
ESPN (blog)
A year ago, inspired by trick-shot artists in basketball and football, ultimate/Frisbee enthusiast Brodie Smith decided to try his (throwing) hand at his own YouTube clip. He expected a few thousand views — similar to his “how-to” Frisbee videos, or his highlight shots from the University of Florida.
Voter apathy — not Florida’s new voting laws — may hurt turnout in 2012
MiamiHerald.com
“I don’t see it as voter suppression,” said Daniel A Smith, a University of Florida political scientist who is studying the new law’s effects. “This is more an effort to constrain voter participation under the guise of fighting fraud…
In Florida, Registering Voters A Whole New Game
NPR
Although the new rules have been in effect less than a year, University of Florida political scientist Daniel Smith says its clear they’re already having an impact…
Immigration stance keeps Hispanics sour on Romney
Palm Beach Post
“Given that, the whole immigration issue just doesn’t play as strongly in Florida as it does among Hispanics in some other states,” said University of Florida political scientist Daniel Smith…
New procedures for hard-to-treat aneurysms
MiamiHerald.com
“Imagine a garden hose with water going through it,” said Dr. Ali Aziz-Sultan, a neurosurgeon at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Medical Center, who treated Fields’ aneurysm…
Campaign Roundup: Voter registration review, and the endorsement shuffle in NE …
The Florida Current
University of North Florida President John Delaney and Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford withdrew their endorsements of Bean, who is running for the Senate District 4, which covers all of Nassau County and part of Duval County.
Florida farm workers tell how drugs, debt bind them in modern slavery
Tampabay.com
Lonnie Smith, a trained chef who said he has worked at the University of North Florida and restaurants on South Beach, said he was addicted and desperate when a contractor recruited him at a mission in Jacksonville…
Memphis College of Art, in financial straits, weighs personnel, program cuts
Memphis Commercial Appeal
[Ron] Jones, previously dean of the College of Arts at the University of South Florida, became president in May 2011, following the 19-year tenure of Jeff Nesin. ”We’re not Pinnacle Airlines. We’re not going into bankruptcy,” Jones said in an interview Thursday. “What we’re doing is righting the ship and setting it back on course. Part of that process, if the board approves, will involve the dissolution of contractual obligations with the faculty and a review of the college’s programs. The financial problems the school faces are urgent, and that requires urgent solutions.”
Florida battleground features full slate of competitive House, Senate races
The Hill
That could force House candidates to take their message to less crowded venues, such as radio, cable television and the Internet, said Susan MacManus, a political scientist at the University of South Florida.
Flight academy camp teaches teens math, science
Boston.com
“Unless kids get a spark somewhere and they get excited about math or science, they are not going to do it and that is what this is about. They may not find that they want to be an aviator, but they may be really good at meteorology or geometry and that helps them make decisions about a career,” said Pam Northrup, dean of the college of professional studies at the University of West Florida and consultant on the Flight Academy project since it was conceived 15 years ago…
Concert Will Help Webber University Soccer Player Bailee Kent
The Ledger
A free concert to benefit Webber International University student/soccer player Bailee Kent is Saturday at the Triple Canopy Ranch in Lake Wales…
Releases and Web Stories
Flagler College names AARP Bulletin editor Jim Toedtman as new Flagler Forum …
ReadMedia (press release)
AUGUSTINE, FL (05/11/2012)(readMedia)– Jim Toedtman, editor of AARP’s Bulletin, has been named director of the Flagler College Forums on Government and Public Policy lecture series.
Shifting Sands of Education
University of South Florida
TAMPA, Fla. (May 11, 2012) – State Rep. Will Weatherford looked out over the crowd at the Marshall Student Center – a group keenly involved in the educational landscape – and told them a seismic shift is taking shape in higher education learning. Technology fits hand in glove with learning now, Weatherford said, with youngsters nowadays spending hours online. The goal is to get them to carve out time away from distractions like Facebook and plug into learning and engagement…
