Gators for Higher Education
Summer 2015 Update
Thanks to your support and involvement with Gators for Higher Ed (G4HE), the University of Florida is well positioned to become a top research university. Please find important updates about the University of Florida below, including how the university faired this legislative session.
LEGISLATIVE RECAP
The 2015 Florida Legislative Session ended on Friday, May 1, 2015. Due to an impasse by the Florida Senate and House of Representatives, a special session was held June 1-20, 2015. Legislative leaders called a mid-August special session to redraw the state’s congressional districts.
The Florida Legislature approved a budget for FY 2015-16 that includes important funding for the University of Florida. The Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate faced significant budget challenges this session, but funded UF’s priorities. We are grateful for their support.
The following are highlights from the budget:
Preeminence — $5 million — To date, UF has used preeminence funds to recruit 86 new faculty and retain existing outstanding professors and researchers. The Legislature this year approved an additional $5 million for the program.
Performance Funding — $19 million — The Legislature’s recent policy of rewarding universities for outstanding performance has provided significant additional funding to UF over the past two years.
Fixed Capital Outlay – Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO) projects — $21 million
Boiler — $7 million to replace a 40-year-old boiler that heats the UF campus.
Nexus Engineering Building — $6 million to renovate and expand a 50-year-old College of Engineering building. The project will enable UF to increase the number of engineering degrees and enhance research to encourage economic development.
Norman Hall — $8 million for critical maintenance needed for the College of Education’s Norman Hall. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Norman Hall was built in 1933 and has not been updated in years. While this passed the House and Senate, the project was vetoed by Governor Scott on June 23, 2015.
UF/IFAS Workload — $6.5 million — IFAS Workload provides funds for the increased demand for the research and extension activities in all 67 counties throughout Florida. In addition to the $5.5 million or 3.5% Workload Increase, IFAS received an additional $1 million for citrus greening research.
UF Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease — $1million — These funds support research on neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease.
UF Proton Institute — $5.8 million — The UF Proton Institute, located in Jacksonville, provides cancer treatment using proton technology.
The UF Lastinger Center — $4.25 million — The Lastinger Center at the College of Education received funding for its Math Nation and Algebra Nation educational tools, as well as an aviation and space program.
Minority Teacher Scholarship Fund — $917,798 — The Minority Teacher Scholarship provides $4,000 a year to outstanding underrepresented students enrolled in Florida’s state-approved Teacher Education programs.
New World School of the Arts — $650,000 — The New World School of the Arts is a school for the visual and performing arts in Miami that is a joint venture between UF College of Fine Arts, Miami Dade College, and Miami Dade Public Schools.
Institute for the Commercialization of Research — $5.5 million — The Institute, housed at UF’s Innovation Hub, provides seed funding for companies created from the research conducted at Florida’s public universities.
UNIVERSITY HIGHLIGHTS
Summer A/C classes started May 11. Summer B classes began June 29 and Fall classes begin August 24.
Spring Commencement was held in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium for the first time in 44 years. President Fuchs and Siri had a memorable conversation during commencement. To watch, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zO_5NIfnj54
online.
University Goal-Setting has begun. President Fuchs formed a task force in April to guide the campus-wide goal setting effort. The initiative is to establish the university’s shared priorities for the next five to ten years. We are in the phase of the process of soliciting feedback and input from the broader community. The draft goals are posted online on the Office of the President’s website, http://president.ufl.edu/initiatives/goal-setting-task-force/, until August 7, 2015. Please take a moment to review and send comments to goal-setting@ufl.edu. The Task Force will begin the next step of drafting objectives and metrics for these goals.
UF Board of Trustee Updates – We have several new members of our board of trustees including Rahul Patel, Robert Stern and Anita Zucker. Patel, of Atlanta, is an attorney and partner with King and Spalding. He previously served as president of the University of Florida National Alumni Association and is a member of the University of Florida Hall of Fame. Stern, of Tampa, is an attorney and partner with Trenam Kemker. He previously served as president of the University of Florida National Alumni Association and as a member of the Post-Secondary Education Planning Commission. Zucker is CEO and chair of the Charleston, S.C.-based global manufacturing conglomerate The InterTech Group.
Our student body president and faculty senate president, Joselin Padron-Rasines and Paul Davenport will servethe UF Board of Trustees in 2015-2016. For more information on the UF Board of Trustees, please visit http://trustees.ufl.edu/.
University Deans have been appointed in the three colleges including Dentistry’s Isabel Garcia, Law’s Laura Rosenbury, and Liberal Arts and Sciences’ Dave Richardson.
Find more great news about UF, campus activities, Gators in the news and more visit UF News.
UPCOMING GATOR EVENTS
Gator Day 2016 – Save the Date! Join Florida Blue Key, UF Alumni Association and the University of Florida in Tallahassee on Tuesday, February 16, 2016 for Gator Day. More details to come.
Gators in Government – Join us for an ‘Orange and Blue Plate’ lunch and conversation. These luncheons are held in Tallahassee for our Gators working in state government. Upcoming dates can be found on the UF Government Relations web site. Please email Associate Vice President Marion Hoffmann, marionh@ufl.edu, to be added to our mailing list.
TAKE ACTION GATORS!
The Gator Nation is everywhere! We appreciate the legislative support of higher education and the University of Florida. Please take a few minutes to contact your local state senator or representative to say thanks! You canfind your legislator through the G4HE website. Check out the Advocacy tools for tips or contact us with any questions.
UF ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NEWS
Gator Gatherings with New Men’s Basketball Head Coach Mike White will be held August 17 with the Central Florida Gator Club®, August 18 with the Lake County Gator Club®, August 24 with the Clay County Gator Club® and August 25 with the Palm Beach County Gator Club®. For more details, including RSVP tools, visit UFAA.
The 2015 Grand Guard Society Reunion will take place November 19-21, 2015 and will honor the Class of 1965. All Class of 1965 alumni and past Grand Guard Society Inductees are invited to attend.
For upcoming Alumni Association events and outreach in your area, please visit our Alumni Association athttp://www.ufalumni.ufl.edu.
FEEDBACK
We need to hear from you if you have suggestions on how to improve. Please send your feedback tog4he@ufl.edu or to Melissa Orth at maorth@ufl.edu.
We need Gators like you lending your voice and getting involved with your university. Together we WILL make a difference! Thank you for supporting Gators for Higher Education and the University of Florida!
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