Due to your continued advocacy on behalf of the University of Florida, you are receiving a sneak preview of President Fuchs’ 2017 Legislative Session letter. This letter will be distributed to the rest of the Gator Nation later this week with the official relaunch of the Gators For Higher Education website.
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Dear Gator Advocates,
Greetings from 226 Tigert Hall!
First, let me thank you for your commitment to championing our university. As members of Gators for Higher Education, your voice and advocacy on behalf of UF make an immense difference to our success in achieving our strategic goals for growth, excellence and increasing national stature.
Second, the 2017 Florida Legislative Session begins March 7. I would like to ask for your valued advocacy once again, and I hope that you will also encourage others to lend their support to UF and our agenda.
Here are our major legislative priorities:
Plan to Raise our National Ranking — $75 million
We are asking lawmakers to help accelerate our rise in the top of public universities nationally through further enabling us to attract and retain the best faculty and graduate students bolstering UF’s research capabilities in areas where we excel.
We’ve divided our plan into four categories:
- $20 million to recruit top-flight faculty in key research areas
- Recruit 100 new faculty who are leaders in their fields with well-established and successful research programs
- $30 million in support for faculty
- Bridge the faculty salary gap between UF and its national peers
- $15 million to reduce class size
- Reduce the student-to-faculty ratio from 21:1 to 19:1 by hiring 225 new professors
- $10 million to attract the most accomplished graduate students
- Increase stipends to attract and retain the brightest graduate students to support important research
Infrastructure and Other Projects — $86.55 million
We are seeking funding for our building and infrastructure needs, including:
- $30 million for utilities, infrastructure and capital renewal to help UF address its most serious building maintenance problems
- $8.65 million for the Herbert Wertheim Laboratory for Engineering Excellence, providing cutting-edge education and research opportunities and increasing the students earning engineering degrees
- $10.4 million for Norman Hall renovations to create a new standard in College of Education facilities dedicated to working, teaching and learning
- $12.5 million for the Music Building renovation and expansion to provide efficient and modern teaching labs and studio spaces
- $25 million for the Data Science and Cyber Technology Building to enhance UF’s ability to recruit and retain outstanding faculty by offering them technically-advanced facilities, as well was the opportunity to collaborate with other top researchers in engineering and medical fields
As you become engaged with our agenda, I urge you to check out the recently relaunched Gators for Higher Education, which is home to advocacy tools and resources and updates on our legislative priorities. And, if you don’t already do so, I encourage you to follow me on Twitter @PresidentFuchs and look for updates on the UF Office of the President Facebook Page.
Members of Gators for Higher Education, thank you again for your commitment to UF and for your steadfast and very effective support of our legislative priorities. I look forward to working with you this session and during the entire year as we continue to build and sustain the great university that Floridians deserve.
Warmly,
W. Kent Fuchs
UF President