<p>Ok, I saw this and had to post the link:</p>
<p>Senate</a> bill would designate UF as state's elite school | Gainesville.com</p>
<p>Of course, I have my own thoughts, but I want to see the reactions from others first, this is a controversial move to say the least. Yes, not a law yet, but in the starting blocks.</p>
<p>The article doesn’t really say what the impact of this is, so it’s hard to react. If I may speculate though, it sounds like UF may allow more out of state students to reflect its “international reputation”, as the article put it. I think also it’s a move toward limiting the number of schools in Florida that are aspiring to be like UF, such as UCF and USF.</p>
<p>Just for the record, I’m hereby issuing an edict designating myself as an “elite” College Confidential poster. When responding to my posts from now on, please address me as “Your Ultra-elitehood.” :)</p>
<p>I don’t see where the controversial-ness comes from… UF is already the state’s public flagship. They’re just giving it a title.</p>
<p>^^^
“Jane Adams, UF’s vice president for university relations, who attended the meeting with President Bernie Machen, Provost Joe Glover and other university officials, said UF is the only state university that meets the criteria for a flagship university.”</p>
<p>I disagree…Just a little bit of controversy with that statement.</p>
<p>If you have to formally declare yourself elite, you probably aren’t.</p>
<p>^^^ I consider the state “flagship” to be the primary school in the state university system - the one that is usually the oldest and typically (though not always) known as “The University of (state name).” That is different from the land-grant / agricultural or tech university. So it’s one to a state - the U. of Texas but not Texas A&M or Texas Tech. UC-Berkeley, but not UCLA. LSU, despite its name having the “State” appendage, since the U of Ls are not its equal in age or primacy. UF and not FSU. I think Adams’ statement is accurate.</p>
<p>This is a blatant power grab by UF supporters in the Florida Legislature (in SB 2442). It must be defeated. It would strip FSU of its rightful co-flagship status.</p>
<p>Robert M. Berdahl, then [Chancellor</a> of UC Berkeley](<a href=“http://cio.chance.berkeley.edu/chancellor/]Chancellor”>http://cio.chance.berkeley.edu/chancellor/) and now [President</a> of the Association of American Universities](<a href=“http://www.aau.edu/about/article.aspx?id=9064]President”>http://www.aau.edu/about/article.aspx?id=9064) says this about “flagship” universities:
See: <a href=“http://cio.chance.berkeley.edu/chancellor/sp/flagship.htm[/url]”>http://cio.chance.berkeley.edu/chancellor/sp/flagship.htm</a></p>
<p>^^^ But the definition of “flagship” is “the chief one of a related group.” The flagship of a group of vessels carries the commander and displays the commander’s flag. There cannot be a second commander, nor a second flagship.</p>
<p>This, in higher ed, has sort of evolved in some peoples’ minds into a badge of honor to which schools might aspire. But in my mind, most states have a single flagship school - generally the oldest - and may then have a land-grant school, usually dating from the 1860s or 1870s.</p>
<p>A flagship university, BTW, doesn’t necessarily mean the best. SUNY-Albany, as the first institution of higher ed created by the State of New York, would be the SUNY flagship. But Binghamton University (until recently, SUNY-Binghamton), created over a century later, is generally much more highly ranked in the college rankings. In my state, UGA is the flagship university, while Georgia Tech clearly generates higher ratings and greater prestige.</p>
<p>Apparently universities demand more flexibility in the definition as UF is neither the flag officer with authority in the SUS nor does it house the flag officer. Indeed, if any university were closest to meeting those demands then Florida State would be the sole flagship as it is the leading and senior university in Tallahassee, the state capital, where the flag officer of the SUS resides. </p>
<p>Berdahl has it most correct.</p>
<p>Is this the legislative embodiment of the often commented on (here at CC, for sure) UF Arrogance/Entitlement culture? Two more recent stories from Bernie Machen’s hometown paper:
[University</a> of Florida student body President Jordan Johnson allegedly drunk, disorderly | Gainesville.com](<a href=“http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100326/ARTICLES/3261007/0/news]University”>http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100326/ARTICLES/3261007/0/news)
[What</a> they’re saying about Meyer | Gainesville.com](<a href=“http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100324/ARTICLES/100329616/0/news]What”>http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100324/ARTICLES/100329616/0/news)
“You know who I am,” is quite illuminating from the Student Body President, as is the near universal condemnation of Meyer’s bullying actions. In both cases, institutions which keep society in check from excesses (a free press, police) are derided by University of Florida leaders as being “beneath them.” Bernie “Peerratinggate” Machen is already known for his superiority complex. The flagship law article only reinforces this perception.</p>
<p>Does the State of Florida really want most its reputation in university academia to be symbolized by this bunch?</p>
<p>More thoughts to follow…</p>
<p>Update:
[Meyer</a> apologizes to reporter in private setting - College Football - Rivals.com](<a href=“http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ap-florida-angrymeyer]Meyer”>http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ap-florida-angrymeyer)</p>
<p>Interesting that he did it in private after he berated the guy in public.</p>
<p>Second point echos coureur…Why do legislators think they can codify excellence? Yes, Yes, recent events show that legislation is dominating our lives to a unprecedented degree, however, the absurdity does start to make you wonder. The sponsoring legislator wants an MIT in her state, yet even with an advanced education degree from UF, doesn’t realize land grant MIT is a PRIVATE school. Considering the amount of money the state has used (subsidized tuition, Bright Futures) to try and make higher education a state monopoly, this is comical. After trying to destroy its private competition, the state starts feeding on its own. Now, UCF, FIU, FGCU and even FSU are supposed to not aspire to anything but what the legislature tells them to be. Yes, if California did this, UCSD, UCSB and UCLA (!) would be commuter schools. Speaking of California, it is almost like their Air Resources Board and its actions a few years back. This government body decreed that 10% of cars sold in the state would be zero emission by 2008. The auto manufacturers told them the technology didn’t exist. No matter to the bureaucrats, they said it would be done and it would be done. Finally, when all the car companies said they wouldn’t sell in the state, did CARB rescind their rule.</p>
<p>You can’t fix stupid…</p>
<p>Florida State Senator Evelyn Lynn who mumbled the MIT stuff last week is semi-feeble and should have retired from the legislature years ago. Florida had its chance for an “MIT” or “Georgia Tech” over 45 years ago when the state created the Florida Technological University–it got off track from a strict focus on engineering and evolved into the University of Central Florida.</p>
<p>Florida the 4th largest state with a population of about 19 million can certainly accommodate more than 1 flagship university. Public universities UF, FSU, USF and private UM are major research universities that each do research exceeding $350 million/year. Without checking I’d bet $350 million is more than what the individual “flagship” universities for at least 25 other states do in research.</p>
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<p>It was definitely a “well let them eat cake” sort of quote, for sure.</p>
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<p>Well many of those numbers are inflated by the fact that each of those schools has a large medical school that can be supported by the fact that there are so many elderly in Florida. I am saying this in the most objective way possible as a UF alumnus and former Florida resident, but I am really surprised UF isn’t much better than it is. It is a pretty good school, but is it really the best school a state of 19 million people could muster over the course of 150 years? From that alone, it’s telling how highly regarded education really is in the state.</p>
<p>UF could be a lot more than what it is.</p>
<p>gt, Florida politicians have done more than their fair share in handicapping the growth of excellence in Florida public higher education. Too often the politicians are selfish, don’t do the right things, and overreach too trying to run the schools as illustrated in attached link: </p>
<p>[USF</a> gets money for a new pharmacy school, but not where it expected - St. Petersburg Times](<a href=“http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/college/usf-gets-money-for-a-new-pharmacy-school-but-not-where-it-expected/1083506]USF”>http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/college/usf-gets-money-for-a-new-pharmacy-school-but-not-where-it-expected/1083506)</p>
<p>The Florida Legislature is likely the worst enemy of higher education in the state. FSU was the original “University of Florida” starting in 1883. FSU had a med school, a law school, a technical school (likely what would have become engineering) and a liberal arts college. </p>
<p>The system was akin to what California has today. However, was it funded and promoted? No. Starting in 1905 the Legislature took the state backwards with the Buckman Act, a racist and misogynist law that did create what we now have today in Gainesville and Tallahassee. Both are stunted as a result.</p>
<p>The state then had the trough funding process which led to mission leap on the part of access schools and now we have med schools, pharmacy schools and law schools in odd places, equipped with a full sense of entitlement along with underfunded flagships.</p>
<p>State politicians like JD Alexander can’t be trusted when they use the state checkbook like it is their own personal checkbook: </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/new-pharmacy-school-belongs-in-tampa/1083950[/url]”>http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/new-pharmacy-school-belongs-in-tampa/1083950</a></p>
<p>USF always seems to be the state university taken advantage of the most because it really doesn’t have a defined area…Heck, when you say “South Florida” most people think West Palm, Ft. Lauderdale and Miami. This center could have just as easily been UCF’s, but that school has been able to more closely identify itself with the major city it serves, Orlando. If one school needs a name change for focus, it is USF. If a former Jacksonville CC can call itself “Florida State” why can’t USF be called Tampa Bay State or The Tampa Bay University?</p>
<p>BTW, Surprise, surprise, ole’ JD is the grandson of one of the biggest “Bull Gators.” The last stop on the UF prospective student tour is “his” stadium.</p>