Middle school teacher, FSU Law dean among president applicants

The initial list of candidates to replace longtime FSU president T.K. Wetherell is in, and the 17 people range from a middle school teacher to a few high-ranking professors and college deans at FSU. The earch committee is slated to start looking at the candidates' files Tuesday, with the aim of conducting interviews next week and sending recommended finalists to FSU trustees by Dec. 4.

The deadline to submit applications is Dec. 1 -- and Florida open records laws mean a few strong candidates are likely to file right before the cutoff. That way their universities don't know too soon that they're looking elsewhere.

Here's the list:

FSU speeds up search for new president

FSU's presidential search committee just released a timeline for choosing longtime President T.K. Wetherell's successor, with the aim of sending a list of finalists to the Board of Trustees by early December.

The search consultant, John Hicks of Academic Search Inc., said the schedule is "expedited" because several other universities nationwide are also looking for presidents, and because open records laws usually prompt top candidates to wait until the end of the search deadline to apply. Wetherell has said he wants to leave FSU for retirement by early 2010.
  
“The search must move forward in a timely manner while top candidates are available," Hicks said.

Info is posted on the university’s Presidential Search Web site. Here's the schedule:

BOG approves accountability, performance rules for universities

The Board of Governors for Florida's 11 state universities just approved new rules aimed at making the institutions more accountable and better planned.

As new chancellor Frank Brogan makes his pitch to lawmakers in the coming months for more state funding, the plans will be an important tool for him to prove the state is making a wise investment. Under the rules approved this morning at the BOG's meeting in Palm Beach County, each of the 11 institutions must submit a work plan and an annual report that includes details on graduation rates, enrollment, budgets, three-year goals and such.

“These work plans will lay out, simply and clearly, the future goals of each institution and will explain how those goals meet the larger, statewide plan for the future,” said Sheila M. McDevitt, head of the Board of Governors. “This is not glamorous, but it is vitally important to the State University System’s efficiency and effectiveness.”

“It is important that we use accountability measures to keep ourselves on track and to demonstrate that scarce resources are being put to the greatest use possible,” Brogan said.

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Feds indict UF professor, wife, allege fraud in NASA research contracts

A UF professor and his wife have been indicted by a federal grand jury on multiple counts of wire fraud and money laundering that stemmed from $3.7 million in contracts the couple entered into with NASA, the United States Air Force, and the Navy.

In the 71-count Indictment, the Federal Grand Jury charged Samim Anghaie, 60; and his wife, 55-year-old Sousan Anghaie, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud,  fifty counts of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, seventeen counts of money laundering, and one count of making false statements to the government.  Sousan Anghaie also faces a separate count of making false statements. 

According to the indictment, Professor Anghaie served as director of the Innovation Nuclear Space Power and Propulsion Institute (INSPI) at UF and also as president and registered agent of New Era Technology, Inc. (NETECH), a business in which Mrs. Anghaie had previously served as director and vice- president. Authorities say the couple submitted proposals for contracts with NASA, the Air Force, and the Navy that contained false information about the employees and researchers on hand and the use of subcontractors to perform work.

Familiar faces among new trustees at Florida state universities

The Florida State University System Board of Governors has named 21 new trustees to serve the state's 11 public universities.

Among them are some well-known names, including former state senator and House Speaker Daniel Webster (UCF), former Board of Governors chairwoman Carolyn Roberts (UF) and AT&T Florida president Marshall Criser, son of the former University of Florida president (UF).

For the University of South Florida, the governors selected Brian D. Lamb of Tampa, an executive with Fifth Third Bank, and Harold W. Mullis Jr. of Tampa, president of the law firm of Trenam, Kemker, Scharf, Barkin, Frye, O'Neill & Mullis, P.A.

Here is a complete list of new trustees.

College tuition: rising fast, and little to do about it

Students at Florida's universities are not alone in facing steeper tuition costs this year.

The latest research from the College Board shows that tuition has risen an average of 6.4 percent across the country. That translates into average increases of anywhere from $108 to $1,398, depending on which school you choose.

At the same time, though, families are seeing their incomes remain flat in the best scenario, and decline in an increasingly common one. A growing number of students are getting grants and aid, with the amount available straining to keep pace with need.

Yet what choice do universities have, if they hope to keep modern and viable?

Not many, Business Week reports. Once schools try program cuts, layoffs and furloughs, tuition is the main way left to generate funds. And that's what universities are turning to, with the cost of public higher ed rising faster than that of private higher ed.

Is this affecting students' ability to attend the university of their choice, much less attend at all? Well, we have seen here in Florida increasing enrollment in community colleges, but schools like UCF don't seem to be having trouble attracting students, either. Maybe they're just closer to home.

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Stetson law students team up with Innocence Project of Florida

Students from the Stetson University College of Law this month began working with the Innocence Project of Florida, which has worked on seven of the 10 Florida cases where DNA evidence has exonerated a wrongfully convicted inmate.

Starting Oct. 2, Stetson law students were selected to work pro bono with the organization, which tries to help innocent prisoners in Florida reverse their convictions and regain their freedom.

Through the Innocence Project, students can learn that they not only can help others, but can become leaders "in assuring that justice is the primary goal of our criminal legal system," according to a statement from Professor Judith A.M. Scully, who is helping coordinate the program at Stetson.

Based in Tallahassee, the Innocence Project of Florida has received more than 3,000 inquiries since 2003. Only 10 percent of its cases are DNA cases, but it hopes working with Stetson will help it reach the other 90 percent of cases, according to attorney Seth Miller, who directs the project.

Founded in 1992 by Barry C. Scheck and Peter J. Neufeld at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University, the Innocence Project has spread to more than 70 places worldwide and has exonerated more than 240 people through DNA testing, including 17 who served time on death row.

To learn more about the Innocence Project of Florida, visit http://www.floridainnocence.org/.

-- Richard Danielson, Times Staff Writer

It's time to start planning for college again

The enrollment period for Florida's Prepaid College Tuition program is again upon us.

Families can sign up beginning Monday, securing today's prices for tomorrow's education.

“In current times of economic uncertainty and rising prices, the peace of mind for a family with a Florida Prepaid College Plan is more valuable than ever," Prepaid College Board chairman Duane Ottenstroer said in a news release. "You don’t have to worry about the economy when it comes to college savings. Your Florida Prepaid College Plan is financially guaranteed by the State of Florida. And once your family has purchased a Prepaid College Plan, your payments are fixed and never increase." 

Go online for a Florida Prepaid College Plan at www.myfloridaprepaid.com, or call toll-free, 1-800-552-GRAD (4723) to request an Enrollment Kit in English or Spanish and speak with a customer service representative. Parents, grandparents and even friends can contribute to a child's plan.

Sen. Gaetz: It's time for more accountability in Florida's colleges, universities

The idea is not fully formed yet. But Florida Sen. Don Gaetz , the Niceville Republican who now oversees the Policy and Steering Committee on Social Responsibility, says it's time to make the state's higher education system more accountable to the public, both financially and academically.

"Last spring they asked for what amounts to a blank American Express card, and they got it," Gaetz told the Gradebook, referring to the university system's request for higher tuition charges. "Now I think it's important to address issues of performance."

People should be talking, for instance, about how many years students really need to graduate, he said. And how many psychology departments the state needs within an 8-mile radius. And how much bureaucracy can be shared by schools in the same service area.

Gaetz has begun conversations on such matters with other lawmakers. He made clear his intention during recent committee hearings, where he questioned chancellor Frank Brogan — who has made similar comments in the past. And from his committee post, which oversees higher education policy, Gaetz said he plans to initiate "substantive discussion on performance measures, both financial and academic" when lawmakers return to Tallahassee in the spring.

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State Sen. John Thrasher joins Senate education committee

Former Florida House Speaker John Thrasher, who helped design Jeb Bush's overhaul of the state's education system (reportedly on a cocktail napkin), is the newest member of the state Senate's PreK-12 education committee. He's also been assigned to higher ed appropriations.

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FAMU-FSU engineering college lauded for diversity

The engineering college shared between FSU and FAMU, the state's only historically black public institution, will receive one of three national diversity awards presented by ABET, the national science and technology education accrediting agency.

FAMU-FSU's College of Engineering will get the 2009 Claire Felbinger Award for Diversity later this month in San Antonio, Texas, at an ABET summit.

“When the College was established in 1982, its mission was to attract and graduate a greater number of minorities and women in professional engineering, engineering teaching and research, and to attain national and international recognition of the college through the educational and research achievements and the professional service of its faculty and students,” said Ching-Jen Chen, dean of the engineering college. “We are meeting these goals through our accomplishments.”

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The trouble with Christopher Columbus

As we approach Columbus Day, University of Florida researcher Donna Sabis-Burns releases her study showing that most children's books dealing with Christopher Columbus present an outdated and distorted view of his explorations.

“Picture books are usually the first time children are exposed to the story of Columbus, so they need to be truthful,” she said in a statement. “Unfortunately, these books are telling our children a history that is filled with omissions and misrepresentations.”

Most specifically, she points to references to the native Taino people whom Columbus encountered and, in many instances, enslaved.

Nancy Rankie Shelton gives a shout-out to Sabis-Burns in the release for her work: "Year after year, schools across our nation celebrate Columbus Day with the youngest of our citizens, never once thinking about or teaching the destruction he caused the Taino people."

Think about it.

(Image from ChristopherColumbusfans.com)

Well, at least they'll be safe from zombies

There's always something like swine flu, hurricanes and campus gunmen to worry about.

But how many universities are ready for when the dead rise?

The University of Florida is.

The Gainesville Sun reports that UF workers got emergency training for zombie invasions this week as part of their disaster response preparation.

It was the planner's attempt at levity. But once it gained national attention the university ordered the piece removed from the exercise.

Plan author Doug Johnson doesn't face any discipline, as he wrote the items on his own time. He said he was just trying to lighten the mood.

"Sometimes (disaster planning) can be stressful," He told the Sun. "One of my goals was to give the group a laugh."

Us, too. Just check out this plan on how to deal with zombies.

(Times file photo)

Poll: Underage drinking

Should the Florida Legislature support a proposal by Florida universities to ban all-you-can-drink specials?
Yes, too many underage students drink too much
No, just enforce existing drinking laws

FSU tops Fla law schools in bar passage

Continuing a trend of recent years, Florida State University's law school graduates had the highest bar passage rates among all Florida law schools public and private, according to figures just released by the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. The passage rates are for the July exam, where the average pass rate was 80 percent.

FSU enjoyed a pass rate of 91.4 percent, while UF was No. 2 with 86.3 percent passing, and Nova was close behind with 86.1 percent. FIU's 6-year-old law school had a pass rate of 80.9 percent, while the FAMU law school that just got full accreditation continues to struggle with lower pass rates: 52.6 percent this time. FAMU pass rates have been in the 50th and 60th percentile consistently, though the new dean has established weekly bar prep and academic success workshops to improve those scores in the years to come.

Florida State graduates have ranked first in the state on five of the past eight administrations of the exam. This month, the school was ranked the nation’s 10th “Best Value” law school by National Jurist magazine and the country’s third-best law school for Hispanics by Hispanic Business magazine.

“We are very proud that Florida State Law students continue to achieve outstanding results on the Florida Bar exam,” said Law Dean Don Weidner. “Special congratulations and thanks go to our recent graduates for their superb accomplishment.”

See the full list of pass rates here.

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UF faculty declares impasse in contract talks

The United Faculty of Florida - University of Florida, which represents 1,800 UF teachers, has declared an impasse in negotiations with the UF board of trustees.

Next up, barring any agreements in the meantime, would be a hearing and recommendations with a special magistrate.

According to the union, the sides have been bargaining since 2005, reaching agreement on several individual items. But several key issues remain unresolved. Those include:

• Salaries
• Sabbaticals
• Intellectual property
• "Faculty enhancement opportunities"

The union also accuses the school of reaching deals and then backing out.

"It's imperative that we bring negotiations to a close and complete the contract,” Chris Snodgrass, chief negotiator for UFF-UF, said in a news release. "Unfortunately, it's impossible to negotiate with a party that will not honor its commitments."

The trustees have not released any statement.

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University of Florida alumnus donates gift worth $32 million to business school

Al Warrington, the generous University of Florida alumnus whose name already graces the UF College of Business Administration, is feeling more generous.

Warrington, a UF trustee and 1958 graduate, announced this morning that he is committing $16-million to UF for an endowment that will be used to hire and support additional faculty for the business school -- one of the state university's largest and most popular colleges. Salary and benefits for the positions will come entirely from the income generated by the newly created Warrington Faculty Fellows Endowment. The four faculty positions will be in accounting and entrepreneurship, as well as in other areas still being determined.

The gift is eligible for state matching funds, which means the value of the donation is as much as $32 million.

UCF is bigger than UF? 'Good for them,' UF prez says

When fall classes started this week at Florida's colleges and universities, the University of Central Florida in Orlando made a little history -- topping UF, long the state's largest public university, in total enrollment.

Final enrollment numbers won't be in until after the drop-add class deadline this week. But UF expects its enrollment to be slightly less than 52,000 students, and UCF is poised to top 52,000. That makes UCF one of the three largest universities in the country.

Well, it seems that's just fine with UF's president. Bernie Machen, addressing the Faculty Senate at UF this afternoon, had this to say about UCF's size: "Good for them. We're not concerned with size; we;'re concerned with quality."

UCF's booming population is mostly due to undergraduate growth, and that's where it has topped UF ijn recent years. But UF continues to have the state's largest graduate student population, an intentional focus for the research institution in Gainesville. Machen also pointed out the UF's undergraduate students continue to be the brightest in the state.

Average GPAs for the 6,400 incoming freshmen are 4.24, up from last year’s 4.18.  Average SAT scores are 1963 under the new 2400-point scale. And the average ACT scores are up to 29.6, from 28.3 last year.

UF will spend $10-mil in stim bucks to hire new profs

The University of Florida has seen its faculty ranks shrink by about seven dozen professors during the past year thanks to tens of millions in budget cuts, but President Bernie Machen is about to announce he will use $10 million in federal stimulus dollars to fill that hole.

UF will hire 100 new professors during the year ahead, Machen is telling the faculty Senate during a meeting in Gainesville. The stimulus money will serve as a “bridge” until higher undergraduate tuition rates that went into effect this week for Florida residents generate enough revenue to cover the new professors’ salaries. Other Florida colleges including Florida Gulf Coast University and Florida International University are using stimulus money to hire new faculty, but none on so large a scale as UF.

UF, the state’s flagship research institution, is hoping to lure professors from states like California with far more dire budget situations affecting public colleges and universities. Call it a reversal of the “brain drain” that has been happening in the past couple of years, with top professors leaving institutions like UF and Florida State University for jobs at colleges in South Carolina, Georgia and beyond.

“We face attrition every year due to retirement and normal turnover, but there is no question that we have had some departures because of our financial challenges. This has been portrayed as a “brain drain” and can have serious impacts if left unchecked,” Machen said. “With other institutions struggling, we have a unique opportunity to hire excellent people – from both the California system and other systems.”

The ratio of students to tenured and tenure-track professors at UF is now 20:1. Machen said the ratio needs to be closer to 13:1 or 14:1 for UF to join the ranks of institutions like the University of Michigan or Berkeley.

UF research funding is up, despite weak economy

The economy is still struggling, but University of Florida faculty have managed to secure more in research funding nonetheless. And that's a boon for all of Florida's economy, UF officials say.

UF President Bernie Machen announced this afternoon that in the 2008-09 budget year, nearly 2,000 faculty received $574 million in research awards. That was a 2.2 percent increase over the previous fiscal year, when the state's flagship research institution secured $561.6 million.

“During a challenging economic period when the university has been under extreme budgetary pressures, our faculty continued their commitment to securing external funding for their research,” said Win Phillips, UF’s vice president for research. “In addition to furthering science, this funding impacts all facets of Florida’s economy, benefiting everyone from construction workers to graduate students.”

The $574 million in research funding generates more than $1.2 billion in business activity and 10,500 jobs, according to an analysis from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Federal awards, representing 58 percent of UF’s total, rose 4.3 percent to $336.5 million, led by the National Institutes of Health with $131.7 million and the National Science Foundation with $46.3 million. But funding from state agencies, 13 percent of the total, was down by 8 percent to $75.8 million.

College of Engineering awards rose 8.7 percent to $72.8 million, including $15 million from the State of Florida for research and administration of the Florida Energy Systems Consortium, a statewide program to develop alternative energy sources.

How Tampa Bay schools and districts fared on ACT, SAT

We told you in recent days how Florida fared on the latest ACT and SAT results, but you can see on the state Department of Education Web site how individual districts fared on those tests here and here, and how individual high schools fared here and here. Here’s the quick district roundup for Tampa Bay:

On the ACT
Pinellas: 19.8 average composite score, with 46.6 percent participation
Hillsborough: 19.4 … 53.4 percent participation
Pasco: 20.0 … 49.9 percent
Hernando: 19.9 … 65.9 percent

On the SAT
Pinellas: Average scores of 506 in reading, 513 in math, 484 in writing, with 46.2 percent participation
Hillsborough: 493, 501, 477 … 53.7 percent participation
Pasco: 499, 499, 479 … 39.3 percent
Hernando: 504, 491, 481 … 32.4 percent

Ron Matus, State Education Reporter

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You're not done yet? Florida university students to pay extra for additional credits

Students at the University of South Florida got the word earlier this month.

If they exceed the number of credits they need to earn their declared bachelor's degree by 20 percent, the university may charge them an additional 50 percent per credit hour. That's $44.29, an amount that will only go up as tuition continues to rise.

"When you have students ... who are graduating in 170, 180 hours, what they are doing is taking seats in classrooms away from other students," associate dean Glen Besterfield told the USF Oracle. "So now we have an access issue -- we can't admit more students if we've got students hanging around here longer than necessary to get their degree."

The rule holds true for all Florida public colleges and universities, effective this year. And by the way, students, welcome back.

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Florida SAT scores tick up slightly

SAT scores for Florida's high school graduates inched up one point in reading and one point in math in 2009, and dipped one point in writing, according to a report this morning from the College Board, which administers the test. The slight increase comes as the number of students taking the test, which many consider to be a key predictor of success in college, rose from 98,578 to 100,179.

UF, ESPN team up with SEC schools to keep 'student' in 'student athlete'

Who says big football schools are all play and no work?

UF and its 11 fellow SEC universities are teaming up with ESPN to promote the institutions' research and academic success through a new Web site, the SEC Academic Network.

“This truly keeps the ‘student’ in ‘student-athlete,’ and I know (athletic director) Jeremy Foley is as excited about it as I am,” said UF president Bernie Machen.

Visitors to UF’s page will find videos demonstrating research highlights -- from air-cooled shoulder pads for football players to a robotic car and, of course, Gatorade. 

The Web site, secacademicnetwork.com was launched last week.

The Academic Network is part of the SEC’s 15-year television package with ESPN.

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US News says UCF one of top 5 colleges to watch; UF ranked No. 15

UCF just got a big boost in national attention, thanks to the designation by U.S. News & World Report's
2010 "America's Best Colleges" guide as one of five top national universities to watch.

UCF was ranked No. 7 on the list last year, and is the only Florida college listed this year in the category "Top Up-and-Coming Schools." The category looks at universities that have made "promising and innovative changes" in academics, faculty, students, campus life or facilities.
 
UCF also got a shout-out for being a top 20 national university whose students graduate with little debt -- no doubt a reflection of Florida's rock-bottom tuition and the Bright Futures merit scholarship that covers it for many undergrads.

The rankings come from data from the 2007-2008 academic year and are based on categories such as the average freshman retention rate, graduation rates, acceptance rates and the percentage of freshmen who ranked in the top 10 percent of their high school classes.

U.S. News' "America's Best Colleges" guide is out Monday, the same day Florida colleges start fall classes.

UF, the state's flagship research institution, was ranked No. 15 among all national public universities. UF's freshmen retention rate of 94 percent is among the top 10 highest among public universities in the prestigious Association of American Universities.  FSU got the No. 48 slot.

Florida A&M was ranked No. 11 among historically black colleges and universities. Rollins College in Central Florida was ranked No. 5 in the category of southern master's level colleges with the best undergraduate teaching.

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Florida ACT scores fall, again

Florida again pushed thousands of high school students into the ACT college readiness test last year – and again saw its average scores fall, according to a national report released this morning.

The number of Florida students taking the test rose to 105,297, up from 93,884 last year. The average composite score dropped from 19.8 to 19.5. The national average, 21.1, remained unchanged.

Florida now ranks No. 22 in the percentage of graduates tested, at 62 percent, up from No. 26 last year.

It ranks No. 48 (same as last year) in average composite score, just ahead of Kentucky and Mississippi and behind Alabama, Louisiana and Tennessee. All of those states have a bigger proportion of students taking the ACT.

Another sad stat: Only 15 percent of Florida kids who took the ACT met all four college readiness benchmarks (in English, math, reading and science).

Ron Matus, State Education Reporter

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Governor names two trustees for Hillsborough Community College

Gov. Charlie Crist has reappointed one member of the Hillsborough Community College board of trustees and named one new member. They are:

Nancy H. Watkins, 53, an accountant for Robert Watkins & Co., reappointed to a term expiring May 31, 2013.

Randall H. Reid, 51, director of business development for Hardin Construction, to succeed Thomas Huggins III for a term that expires May 31, 2013.

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UF's Bat House collapses, 100,000 bats homeless

The state's flagship research university suddenly has a real problem with the homeless -- bats, that is. The University of Florida's popular Bat House collapsed Sunday, apparently because too many bats were crowded into the house.

 (UF photo, before collapse)

That means some 100,000 bats are flying around in search of shelter. UF officials warn that the displaced bats could start appearing in attics and other dark crevices around Gainesville.

The Bat House, near Lake Alice at the edge of campus, has been a popular fixture since it was built in 1991. Over time, as more bats called it home, UF officials could tell they would need to build a bigger, better structure. Those plans were already under way but will now be sped up.

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20 Florida colleges pledge millions to help veterans

If military veterans want to take advantage of the new G.I. Bill, they can find some help at a wide range of Florida independent colleges and universities.

Twenty of them have pledged up to $35 million in financial aid and grants.

“Our members that are participating in the Yellow Ribbon program are reporting a great deal of interest from veterans, and we are expecting several thousand veterans to enroll for the fall term at ICUF institutions,” said Dr. Ed H. Moore, president of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida. “It will be several weeks before we have an exact count on the number of veterans our members have welcomed to their campuses, but early indications are very positive.”

To see the list of participating schools, and their maximum annual award, read on.

Tiny Florida college gets big props from 'Forbes'

New College, the public liberal arts institution in Sarasota, is the tiniest of Florida's 11 state universities with fewer than 1,000 students. But for the second year in a row, Forbes has ranked New College among the top five public colleges in America. In its annual report on America’s Best Colleges, Forbes.com also dubbed New College the second “best college buy” in the country among all public and private colleges.

New College came in No. 5 on a list of the top 100 public colleges and universities in the United States. Only one other nonmilitary school made the top five – the College of William and Mary in Virginia, at No. 4. Among all public colleges, the University of Florida was ranked No. 21, and Florida State University came in at No. 33.

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance and The Princeton Review/USA Today also have cited New College as a great bargain for a strong liberal arts education.

According to Forbes, for the rankings, 25 percent was based on 4 million student evaluations of courses and instructors, as recorded on the Web site RateMyProfessors.com. Another 25 percent was based on postgraduate success, equally determined by enrollment-adjusted entries in Who’s Who in America and by the average salaries of graduates reported by Payscale.com. Twenty percent was based on the estimated average student debt after four years. One-sixth was based on a formula reflecting four-year college graduation rates.

The last component was the number of students or faculty, adjusted for enrollment, who won nationally competitive awards like Rhodes Scholarships or Nobel Prizes. New College has graduated one Rhodes Scholar and has one of the highest per capita rates of Fulbright scholars among all colleges and universities. New College had a record eight Fulbright scholars in 2009.

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Frank Brogan to get pay, benefits totaling $458K as chancellor

The Board of Governors, meeting in Tallahassee this morning, is expected to approve an annual salary and benefits package for new chancellor Frank Brogan that is similar to what he was making as president of Florida Atlantic University.

Under the proposal, Brogan's total package would be worth $458,198 - $41,845 more than what former Chancellor Mark Rosenberg received. Only $225,000 would come from state taxpayer dollars; the rest will be covered by the private, donation-supported BOG foundation.

Brogan's base salary would be $357,000 (Rosenberg's was $341,686). He would receive a $42,500 housing allowance and $15,000 for a vehicle, plus $37,727 in life insurance and $5,971 in disability insurance.

Brogan will start as chancellor on Sept. 14.

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FAMU Law secures full accreditation

Florida A&M University’s law school just overcame its tumultuous track record of leadership turnover, faculty rancor and academic concerns.

The American Bar Association has granted full accreditation — a national stamp of approval that is vital to the school’s reputation and long-term survival. The decision by the ABA’s Council on Legal Education Opportunity is a major victory for the historically black College of Law, which reopened in 2002, more than three decades after legislators shut it down amid court-ordered desegregation.

Is UCF's new med school on the cutting edge of health care reform?

Or is its offer of an expense-free education to 40 students just a ploy to get some attention for a school with no track record?

CNN Money considers the issue today with a look at Florida's newest medical school:

"UCF's initiative could be a model for reforming health care, allowing more would-be doctors to go into less lucrative but essential fields of medicine. Or it could just be a way for a new medical school to make a splash in the competition for student dollars."

See the full story for more.

Florida International medical professor receives Medal of Freedom

Florida International University medical professor Dr. Pedro José Greer Jr. is one of 16 people to today receive the nation's highest civilian honor, the Medal of Freedom.

Greer, who also has a private practice in addition to his university work, has often been recognized by presidents of both political parties for his work with Miami's poor. He created the Camillus Health Concern to provide medical services to low-income families. He also founded the St. John Bosco Clinic to provide primary care to families in Little Havana.

Other recipients include Stephen Hawking, Jack Kemp and Sen. Edward Kennedy.

President Obama said in a news release of the honorees: "These outstanding men and women represent an incredible diversity of backgrounds. Their tremendous accomplishments span fields from science to sports, from fine arts to foreign affairs. Yet they share one overarching trait: Each has been an agent of change. Each saw an imperfect world and set about improving it, often overcoming great obstacles along the way."

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Florida A&M officials await law school accreditation decision

Florida A&M officials will know soon whether their running efforts to improve FAMU's Orlando law school are enough to satisfy national accreditors. The American Bar Association committee charged with reviewing FAMU's request for full accreditation will meet in Chicago tomorrow and Saturday, spokeswoman Nancy Slonim said.

University spokewsoman Sharon Saunders said FAMU is expecting a ruling - and planning a press conference Friday at the 7-year-old law school.

FAMU has been on provisional accreditation since 2004, and the ABA gives schools five years to secure full acreditation. The law school has faced problems including administrative turnover and low bar passage rates ever since opening with $40 million in taxpayer dollars, but new Dean LeRoy Pernell has been making changes aimed at boosting morale, academic performace and bar passage.

One option, if the ABA feels FAMU law isn't quite ready for full accreditation, would be to simply extend the provisional accreditation.

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BOG negotiating Brogan's chancellor contract

Board of Governors chairwoman Sheila McDevitt said today that contract negotiations continue for Frank Brogan, selected earlier this month to serve as Florida's new universities chancellor.

The BOG meets next week in Tallahassee, where Brogan will relocate with wife Courtney and son Colby, who is almost 5. But McDevitt said she isn't certain the contract will be ready for a BOG vote by then. But the board has time because Brogan isn't likely to start his new post until September. He has been FAU's president since 2003.

Carolyn Roberts, the BOG vice chair who led the search for Brogan, said he has made clear he does not expect any sort of significant raise. Most likely, his contract as chancellor will mirror what's left on the FAU contract -- though the BOG might give Brogan a housing allowance, which former chancellor Mark Rosenberg has. Brogan currently lives in the FAU president's mansion.

Here is a comparison of Brogan's FAU contract and Rosenberg's chancellor package:

Brogan

Salary: $357,000 ($225,000 by the state, remainder from FAU Foundation)

Benefits (retirement, life insurance, health insurance, etc.): $53,210
 
Additional long-term disability insurance (Foundation): $6,000
 
Supplemental compensation (Foundation): $42,840
 
Car allowance (Foundation): $15,000

Total: $474,050

Rosenberg

Salary: $341,686 ($216,686 by the state, remainder by BOG foundation)

Retirement compensation: $41,667

Housing allowance: $24,000

Car allowance: $9,000

Total: $416,353

Governor appoints three to serve on PHCC board

Gov. Charlie Crist has named three members to the Pasco-Hernando Community College board of trustees. They are: 

John DiRienzo, a retired Hernando school principal who teaches classes at Saint Leo University.

Rao Musunuru, a cardiologist at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, who has served on the board since 1999.

Deborah Kilgore, a retired Brooksville banker, who has served on the board since 2005.

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UF not so 'Animal House,' 'Princeton Review' says

The football team is still No. 1, but maybe Gators quarterback Tim Tebow should throw a few parties....Princeton Review, in its annual ranking of top party schools, bumped UF out of the No. 1 spot.

Penn State is now ranked No. 1, and UF is No. 2. FSU, frequently in the top 10, is ranked No. 9.

College administrators do not like this ranking, of course. They'd rather be ranked for their degree programs than their keggers.

Here's the top 10:

A weekend interview with incoming Florida university system chancellor Frank Brogan

Over the years, Frank Brogan has become a familiar face in Florida education policy and politics. A former Martin County teacher, principal and superintendent, he served as state education commissioner before being tapped to become lieutenant governor under Jeb Bush. He left the Bush administration to lead Florida Atlantic University, his alma mater, where he's remained for six-plus years. Now Brogan is slated to become chancellor of the State University System. He spoke with reporter Jeff Solochek about Florida higher education leadership, planning, funding and reputation during his first full interview since winning the new position.

Why would you want to take on this role at this time?

I just six months ago began a new six-year contract at Florida Atlantic University. I love this university. It's been great to me and my family. We've done together some really extraordinary things during my first six years here. And the university is really coming into its own, to a great degree. ... It would be a logical question to ask, then, why would you early into your new six-year contract look at the role of chancellor and see yourself in it?

The answer, and please believe me I'm not trying to be overly noble here. I'm really pure of intent when I say this. I have a fairly interesting resume, which means I have a fairly interesting set of experiences. By most accounts I've been pretty good at all of them. And that's not a statement of arrogance. I've got nothing to be arrogant about. But I think the resume is as interesting as it is because it's an accumulation of successful opportunities that I've pursued.

And I looked at the role of chancellor right now. Not years gone by, but right now. And having worked in higher ed now for six and a half years, look at some of the challenges that we face. We need clearly to better establish quality reputation for our existing higher education system. We need to engage, to a greater degree, important partners around higher education. The governor's office, who has really strongly begun to support higher education. The Florida Legislature, obviously, the House and Senate leaders and the members in general, who all love and respect higher education. But I think it's a matter of getting people better organized on how we can move forward together as a state....

Can I ask you about the Legislature and the governor? They have a role that many people have questioned when it comes to higher ed. Do they really care? Because of the issues of financing and control. Where do you see the role of the universities and the role of the Legislature and governor coming together in a more productive way?

UF secures $8-mil federal grant for tech startups

UF is getting an $8.2 million grant to help establish an incubator "hub" where technology startup companies can get office space, labs, conference rooms and other support from the university.

The grant comes from the federal Economic Development Administration, and it will help with the building of a 45,000-square-foot facility called the Florida Innovation Hub at UF. UF already has a biotech incubator, but this new one will house the university's main commercialization efforts. The building is scheduled for completion by December 2011.

"The hub will serve as a catalyst to get innovation from university laboratories into the marketplace, where it can have an impact on the world while creating jobs in Florida," said UF President Bernie Machen,
who noted that the university is contributing an additional $5 million in support."

Will Mayor Rick Baker replace Carl Kuttler at St. Petersburg College?

Whether it was Congress, a job with Gov. Charlie Crist, or most recently, running for governor, Rick Baker's future always has been a topic for discussion. Enter St. Petersburg College president Carl Kuttler's surprise resignation announcement Tuesday. Cue the speculation. Could this be Baker's next job? Story here.

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Who should replace Carl Kuttler?

In an interview with St. Petersburg Times reporter Aaron Sharockman, Kuttler himself throws out three names: Pinellas schools superintendent Julie Janssen, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker, and John Delaney, the former Jacksonville mayor who is now president of the University of North Florida.

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FSU prez search moves forward, but not with haste

FSU's board of trustees just selected a familiar face to lead the search for a new university president.

John B. Hicks, a senior consultant with Academic Search Inc., who helped FSU officials find their medical school and business school deans, will search the country for someone to replace longtime president T.K. Wetherell. The cost is $75,000, less than what the other five search firms considered were asking.

Wetherell recently announced plans to retire in coming months.

Hicks and his firm recently found a president for Kansas State University, and in the past three years has conducted 75 searched for universities Depaul, George Washington and the University of Arizona.

"They know where to go to find good and qualified candidates," FSU general counsel Betty Steffens told trustees during the conference call.

Economy hits Florida independent colleges, affects enrollment

Florida’s independent colleges and universities expect to grow slightly this coming year, even as they work to keep tuition affordable for recession-weary families by limiting tuition hikes and offering more financial aid, according to a recent survey by the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida.

The University of Tampa, Rollins College, Palm Beach Atlantic and Bethune-Cookman University, among others, have limited tuition increases this year because of the economy. Most of the schools in the ICUF survey reported that they have boosted financial aid to help keep their schools affordable.

Crist pleased with Brogan as chancellor

Minutes after the full BOG selected former education commissioner and Lt. Gov. Frank Brogan to lead the state university system, Gov. Charlie Crist (himself a former education commissioner) released this statement:

“I congratulate Chancellor Brogan on his selection. We are making positive steps in improving Florida’s higher education system based on accountability and achievement. The administration looks forward to working with the Board of Governors and Chancellor Brogan in making Florida a national leader in higher education.”

Chancellor update: And then there were three....

The Indianapolis Star is reporting tonight that Thomas Snyder, head of the state's large community college system, Ivy Tech Community Colleges, no longer is interested in becoming Florida's next chancellor.

Snyder was one of three candidates search consultant William Funk recommended to the Board of Governors on Monday. He also suggested FAU President and former lieutenant governor Frank Brogan and former Ohio universities chancellor Roderick Chu. Board members also decided to include FSU associate professor and Capitol veteran Steve MacNamara among the finalists to be interviewed at the end of this week.

With Snyder dropping out, that leaves three -- with Brogan, 55, still the frontrunner.

New leadership appointments at USF St. Petersburg

A week after learning that accreditation sanctions against it had been lifted, the University of South Florida St. Petersburg has announced a leadership restructuring “to meet critical business operations.”

Three new USF St. Petersburg hires include:

Maling Ebrahimpour, dean of the College of Business. Ebrahimpour served as dean of the Gabelli School of Business at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island, where he led the school through a three-year accreditation process.

Carol G. Hixson, Nelson Poynter Memorial Library Dean. Hixson currently serves as the university librarian at the University of Regina, Saskatchewan.

Feds set to make it easier to apply for college financial aid

It won't help all the freshmen starting classes this summer and fall, but the Obama administration's plans to streamline the application process for financial aid could be in place by the time they have to seek aid for next year.

In case you missed it, President Barack Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan have announced several steps to make college more affordable, and to make it easier to apply for financial support. Among them:

• The new online FAFSA program is using more "skip logic," making it easier to navigate.
• Starting in January, applicants will be able to retrieve their relevant tax data from the IRS online.
• The administration is looking to remove several questions from the form that it says are not germane to getting aid. 

"Simplifying the FAFSA is another significant action in our quest to keep a college degree within the reach of every person who aspires to higher education," Duncan said in a news release.

House Education chairman George Miller applauded the effort and said he plans to have his committee follow through. "Confusing paperwork shouldn't stand between qualified students and a college degree," Miller said in a release.

- Jeff Solochek

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FAU prez, former LG, interested in chancellor's post?

Add Frank Brogan, Florida Atlantic University President and former lieutenant governor, to the list of people reportedly interested in leading Florida’s public university system.

Brogan, who in 1981 earned his master’s degree from FAU, has not yet submitted an application for the chancellor’s job. Nor did he return phone calls requesting comment. But speculation about his interest has been growing in recent weeks, and several sources close to the search say he plans to apply for the job by next week’s deadline.

The Board of Governors committee leading the national search for a new chancellor plans to hold a conference call on Monday, July 13, to review all applications and decide which of them to interview in person on July 17. That means applications have to be submitted to the search firm by the end of next week, Friday, July 10.

Are education colleges getting teachers ready for school? Accrediting agency says ...

Not exactly.

The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education has released new standards saying that colleges must do more to give teachers classroom skills that focus on student learning.

"The new focus will help close the gap between theory and practice, and assure that teacher education program candidates are able to help diverse students be successful learners," NCATE president James G. Cibulka said in a news release. "In the past, accreditation wrapped clinical experience around coursework. This approach reverses the priority, encouraging institutions to place teacher candidates in year-long training programs and wrap coursework around clinical practice."

The impetus? The Obama money. Through the federal stimulus package, millions have come available to improve teacher quality. So why not take some of that cash and put it toward teacher education?

Is this an implicit acknowledgment that our colleges of education have done a poor job preparing teachers for today's classroom, though?