Florida colleges top U.S. News rankings of online programs

| 1/28/2021

Florida colleges top U.S. News rankings of online programs

Several Florida colleges, including Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the University of Florida and the University of Central Florida, were included on U.S. News and World Report’s annual ranking of top online bachelor’s degree programs. Embry-Riddle in Daytona Beach claimed the top spot on this year’s list, the fourth time in six years it has achieved that distinction. The rankings, released Tuesday, are based on factors like how well programs promote student participation; provide support services like financial aid and career guidance; and employ instructors whose credentials are similar to their colleagues who teach on campus. More from the Orlando Sentinel and the Tampa Bay Times.

Bill aims to keep lid on names of college president candidates

The names of everyone applying to be a university or state college president in Florida will no longer be public under legislation making its way through the Legislature. The legislation, which has been filed for six years, cleared a hurdle by passing the Florida Senate’s education committee on a 6-to-4 vote along party lines Tuesday morning. It is now in the hands of the committee on government oversight and accountability. [Source: WJXT]

South Florida colleges seeing more applications and interest during pandemic

COVID has had a major impact in how students look for colleges - and what we’re finding is that not only is it harder for colleges to pick students during the pandemic, but also tough for students to pick where they want to go. In many cases, they’re doing it practically blind, which may just be a boon to South Florida schools. [Source: WPEC ]

Senate bill would expand Florida school vouchers

Florida Senate Republican leaders are set to push sweeping legislation this year that could bring what many advocates consider to be the holy grail in the school choice movement: education savings accounts for students. The 158-page proposal would merge the state’s five key school choice programs and make them all state-funded. It would also convert the scholarships into more flexible education savings accounts that families could use to pay for children’s private tutoring, therapy, private schooling or even college savings. [Source: Tampa Bay Times ]

UF offers powerful new NVIDIA supercomputer to students and researchers across State University System

University of Florida’s new supercomputer -- the fastest artificial intelligence supercomputer in higher education -- will soon be available for students and faculty across the State University System, UF Provost Joe Glover announced today. The computer will give faculty and students from across the State unparalleled computing power in artificial intelligence (AI) to apply across many areas to improve lives, bolster industry, and create economic growth across the state. [Source: UF News]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› FSU celebrates 170th anniversary over the weekend [FSU News]
Known originally as the West Florida Seminar, FSU did not become the Florida State College for Women until 1905. It stayed that way until May 15, 1947 when the college officially became known as Florida State University and started accepting all genders. To celebrate 170 years of success, multiple organizations across campus held socially-distanced events and activities that students could participate in to learn more about FSU and commemorate its history.

› UF faculty members fear virus exposure, ‘tattle button’ as more in-person classes resume [Orlando Sentinel]
Many UF faculty members say they’re worried about potential exposure to the coronavirus this spring, with six times as many in-person sections compared with the fall, policies that allow students who’ve had the virus to return to campus without a negative test, and a mobile app that allows to students to report instructors who aren’t teaching their courses in the format they were advertised.

› USF brings 'Call Me MISTER' program to St. Pete to increase teacher diversity [WFTS]
The University of South Florida and Pinellas County Schools are teaming up to bring the Call Me MISTER program to the Bay Area. “Call Me MISTER is important for children of color,” said Brenda L. Walker, Interim Associate Dean of The College of Education at USF St. Petersburg. MISTER stands for Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models.

› UCF to pay $15 million to cut ties with Osceola BRIDG tech center [Orlando Sentinel]
University of Central Florida leaders agreed Tuesday to pay $15 million to end a 40-year lease that called for the school to pay operating expenses at a struggling Osceola County semiconductor chip manufacturing facility that once promised to bring high-wage jobs to the region and provide a place for faculty to conduct research.

Tags: Education eNews

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