A 'paramount' responsibility, Gainesville Sun

September 29, 2008


There's been an interesting running debate on our letters page these past several weeks about, of all things, our collective obligation to educate each other's children.

On one side are a handful of writers who advocate the libertarian view.

To wit: If you want to have kids, then pay for their schooling yourself. Don't expect to dip into my wallet, especially if I chose to remain childless.

On the other side are those who take the egalitarian view.

To wit: As a society we collectively benefit from an educated citizenry, so we must all help pay.

It's made for interesting reading. But in point of fact, that argument has long been settled here in Florida.

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USF St Petersburg professor wins $1.02 million grant, Tampa Bay Business Journal

September 29, 2008

Lyman Dukes, associate professor of special education at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, has received a $1.02 million state grant for a program assisting students with disabilities.

Dukes will lead Project 10: The Transition Education Network, a program designed to assist special education personnel throughout the state to prepare disabled students to shift from school to adult life.

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Florida Colleges are Good Value, News Chief (Winter Haven)

September 28, 2008

Florida colleges have long rated highly when it comes to good value for education.
In the new U.S. News & World Report college ratings, the University of Florida ranked No. 48 in the list of best national universities, the highest state university ranked from the Southeastern Conference ...

The University of Georgia ranked No. 58, Florida State is at No. 102.
In the list of the top 50 public national universities, Georgia Tech is No. 7, Florida is No. 17, Georgia is No. 20 and Florida State is No. 50.

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Chancellor's Exit Means Tough Search for State, Tampa Tribune

By Adam Emerson
September 28, 2008

A lot was at stake last spring: The leader of Florida's public universities warned top lawmakers that his schools were weakened by budget cuts and that a planned move by the Legislature to overhaul his system of higher education would erode its credibility.

Those lawmakers snubbed him and ended their meeting together by telling him he was "dismissed."

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Florida budget may be cut again, St. Petersburg Times

By Steve Bousquet and Janet Zink
September 26, 2008

TALLAHASSEE — Even after $7-billion in spending cuts, raids on cash reserves and salary freezes for state workers, the Florida budget is not back in the black: Another $800-million in red ink must be erased this year.

That raises questions of whether a 4 percent across-the-board spending holdback imposed on state programs by Gov. Charlie Crist will have to be made permanent for the second year in a row by the Legislature, forcing deeper cuts.

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Looser enrollment cap urged for Florida universities, St. Petersburg Times

By Donna Winchester
September 26, 2008

TAMPA — A member of the group that oversees the state university system began urging his colleagues Thursday to reconsider a cap on freshman enrollment, a policy the group approved a little over a year ago.

Charles B. Edwards cited record-breaking attendance at Florida's community colleges — even as the state's public universities continue to limit student access — as a reason for turning the enrollment cap decision over to each university's board of trustees.

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FAU President Brogan touts progress in 'State of the University' Address, TC Palm

September 22, 2008

BOCA RATON — Florida Atlantic University suffered a year of painful budget cuts but, in many ways, it's been one of the best years ever, its president said Monday.

Frank Brogan said in his annual "State of the University" address that FAU made great strides toward becoming more popular among students and more respected on a national level.

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