Save USF Polytechnic
The Issue
In the midst of January's USF budget fight in Tallahassee, Lakeland Senator JD Alexander made a push to separate the University's Polytechnic campus from the USF system. Out of the confusion came a bill that would do just that, thereby creating Florida's 12th public university, "Florida Polytechnic University." This move is against the wishes of the campus's students and faculty. The Senator and Governor Scott met Friday, April 13. USF Polytechnic's fate now rests in the hands of the governor.
Reasons to oppose the sudden split
- The split of USF Polytechnic would diminish the opportunities for students across the USF System.
- Students and faculty from the Lakeland campus oppose separation in general, much less the sudden and forced separation that would be imposed by this bill.
- USF Polytechnic's students would be left attending an unaccredited institution, diluting the value of their degrees.
- The Board of Governors, the controlling body of Florida's public universities, decided on a gradual five-year plan to split USF Poly from the University System. Alexander's bill bypasses the BOG's authority to govern Florida's Universities.
- Florida's Constitution clearly says that the State Legislature does not have the authority to create a new university.
TAKE ACTION:
Email Governor Scott! Below you will find a generic email that you can copy and paste. Be sure to add your name to the bottom. If you wish to write your own email, please do so!Click here to email Governor Scott
Dear Governor Scott,
It has come to my attention that you are considering a bill (SB 1994) that would split the University of South Florida's Polytechnic campus from the University of South Florida System. Separating the Lakeland campus via the proposed bill sidesteps the Board of Governors' authority to govern the State University System of Florida. The BOG decided on a five-year plan for the separation of the Polytechnic campus; the plan should be followed. Separating Polytechnic from the USF System ahead of schedule would leave the students of the campus attending an unaccredited university, seriously diluting the power of their degrees as well as limiting the academic choices of students throughout the System. Please veto SB 1994 and respect the wishes of USF Polytechnic's students and faculty, as well as the authority of the Board of Governors.
Sincerely,
(insert your name)
