Florida universities tumble in 2025 best college rankings
The Wall Street Journal released its annual list of the best colleges in the U.S. on Monday — and every single Florida university took a significant tumble in the rankings. To develop the rankings, the news outlet worked with researchers from College Pulse and Statista to analyze three main categories: student outcomes, learning environment and diversity. More from WTSP, the Gainesville Sun, and the Miami New Times.
Interim university presidents eyed
The state university system’s Board of Governors next week will consider confirmation of Kent Fuchs as interim president of the University of Florida and Timothy Beard as interim president of Florida A&M University. The board is scheduled to take up the confirmations as part of a Sept. 18 meeting in Tampa. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Preparing students for today’s workforce | Opinion
September marks Workforce Development Month in Florida, a time to focus on building and sustaining the skilled workforce that drives our state’s economy. In 2021, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Reimagining Education and Career Help (REACH) Act, which includes steps toward connecting classroom education with workforce needs. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
University union sues state over membership threshold
The union representing Florida’s public colleges and universities and its FAMU chapter have filed suit against the state, claiming a law requiring 60% membership for a union to maintain certification violates the Florida Constitution. The Florida A&M University chapter of the United Faculty of Florida’s lawsuit, filed in Leon County Circuit Court, names as defendant the Public Employee Relations Commission and cites SB 256, approved during the 2023 legislative session, and SB 1746, approved in March. [Source: Florida Phoenix]
Florida schools struggle with air conditioning breakdowns
Schools across the state are struggling to keep their students and staff cool. Incidents are arising in several counties, including in the Tampa Bay area, of schools sending kids home early, sometimes taking students to hospital for overheating, as everyone awaits repairs. The latest tale of woe comes from Orange County, where one middle school’s operation is being relocated to a different campus. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› K-8 schools are gaining popularity across Tampa Bay. Are they worth it?
Tampa Bay school districts are in a K-8 school resurgence. Common through the 1940s, with a mini-boom in the early 2000s, the idea of letting children attend the same school from kindergarten through eighth grade is gaining renewed popularity among families.
› Disney reduces education benefits program for employees
Disney employees will soon see big changes to their education benefits. For years, Disney’s Aspire program fully covered college and grad school costs for hourly workers. But now, Disney is capping reimbursements at $5,200 and dropping graduate and trade programs.
› ‘I cannot afford to live where I work': The top issue for school teachers in South Florida
Gina Pineda is a lot like most teachers, she is a teacher because she loves it. “Oh, always the kids, it’s always the kids,” Pineda said. “I mean, you can ask any educator.” But she says it’s a struggle to stretch her salary to continue living in South Florida.
› Highlands County School District supports union
The Highlands County Educational Support Professionals Association, the union representing the School District’s non-instructional staff, will continue to exist after a vote of support was tabulated Wednesday in Tallahassee. Florida Education Association Peace River Basin Service Unit Director Jim Demchak, who represents teachers and school support employees, was present at the Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC) Headquarters in Tallahassee for the counting of the ballots.