Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday announced a package of major reforms to Florida’s higher education system, including tighter controls on faculty tenure, the creation of “civic institutes” at three universities and bans on diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
Speaking at a press conference in Bradenton, the governor praised U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of Florida as the best state for higher education before unveiling a plan he says will refocus universities on their missions.
“There’s really a debate about what the purpose of higher education is, particularly publicly funded systems of higher education,” he said. “You have a dominant view, which I don’t think is the right view, to impose ideological conformity, to provoke political activism. Instead, we need our higher education systems to promote academic excellence.”
Activism often manifests itself in “DEI bureaucracies” that push an agenda, DeSantis argued, citing diversity, education and inclusion programs.
His proposal would prohibit public schools from supporting these programs or activities related to critical race theory — both of which DeSantis describes as divisive.
“This is not the best use of your money,” said the governor, who recently required all public colleges and universities to report how much they spent on such initiatives. He said he plans to let them “wither on the vine” without funding.
Among those who reacted to his statement was state Rep. Anna Escamani, D-Orlando, who said on Twitter: “Nothing says you oppose ideology on college campuses…. like pushing your ideology on college campuses.
The ACLU of Florida tweeted: “The Governor’s latest attempt to curtail free speech and erase America’s history and legacy of discrimination by impeding the right to share ideas and receive information in classrooms is dangerous to our democracy and future generations.” “
Shawn Frost, a former Indian River County school board member and conservative activist, said in a tweet, “I don’t think this is a controversial attitude to most conservatives.”
He noted DeSantis’ double-digit victory in the November election, adding, “Let the man focus on his job without ascribing ulterior motives to running as a proven conservative.”
DeSantis was accompanied by Christopher Ruffo, one of six trustees he appointed to New College’s board of trustees on Jan. 6. Ruffo, a 38-year-old conservative journalist and fellow at the Manhattan Institute, has recently tweeted against diversity, equity and inclusion departments in higher education.
“This will be a place where equality, meritocracy and colorblindness are the law of the land,” Christopher Ruffo said Tuesday. Ruffo is one of six trustees appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to the New College Board of Trustees on Jan. 6. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]
“It’s pretty ugly stuff,” he said at the press conference, citing examples of white and Christian students on campuses being shamed. He described the term diversity, equity and inclusion as “an Orwellian abuse of language that manipulates you into thinking it’s a good thing” and praised Desantis for taking action.
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“This will be a place where equality, meritocracy and colorblindness are the law of the land,” Ruffo said.
Like many schools, the University of South Florida has an office of diversity, equity and inclusion. The office is headed by the school’s chief diversity officer, a position that is currently unfilled. The search to fill the position is ongoing, USF spokeswoman Althea Johnson said Tuesday.
“USF will continue to work with the governor, legislature and board of governors on the state’s higher education initiatives,” she added. “We look forward to learning more details about the proposals presented by the governor today and how they may impact USF.”
According to its mission statement, USF’s diversity office “collaborates with campus leaders, faculty, staff, students, alumni and the campus community to create a positive learning and work environment in which all members can succeed.”
DeSantis’ plan would also allow university boards and presidents to conduct reviews of tenured faculty members “at any time,” in addition to the periodic reviews that already take place.
“They can be released if they don’t meet expectations,” DeSantis said to applause from the audience gathered at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota.
“The most significant loss to a university is an unproductive tenured faculty member,” he said. “Why would we want to burden you, the taxpayers, with this cost?”
In a related proposal regarding university presidents, DeSantis aims to restore “their authority over the hiring process.” Currently, according to a flyer distributed by the governor’s staff, “faculty committees can tie the hands of university presidents and require them to consider only a small pool of recommended candidates.”
It also proposed changes to standards and course content “to ensure that higher education is rooted in the values of freedom and the Western tradition.”
DeSantis said all students graduating from Florida universities will be required to take general education courses that include “actual history and actual philosophy that shaped Western civilization.”
His plan would require schools to “prioritize graduating students with degrees that lead to high-paying jobs, not degrees designed to further a political agenda.”
In addition, he proposed enhancing existing “civic institutes” at the University of Florida, Florida International University and Florida State University. The institutes will be “refocused” on developing courses and curricula “that can be used to educate the next generation on the values of liberty and constitutionalism.”
The flyer also included information about the governor’s higher education budget proposals.
DeSantis is proposing $100 million to “recruit and retain highly qualified public university faculty,” plus $15 million to recruit faculty and students at New College of Florida, where he plans a conservative-led overhaul.
“We put our money where our mouth is,” he said.
The board of New College meets today for the first time since the six appointments. DeSantis expressed confidence in the direction the new trustees are taking and said students who are upset about the changes should be able to transfer easily.
Ray Rodriguez, chancellor of the State University System, praised the governor and the Legislature for supporting Florida’s public universities while other states have cut back.
“We believe in the pursuit of academic excellence, and that is our goal,” Rodriguez said. “We reject indoctrination.”
Times writer Thomas S. Tobin contributed to this report. Divya Kumar covers higher education for the Tampa Bay Times, in partnership with Open Campus.
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