I NDEPENDENT C OLLEGES U NIVERSITIES F LORIDA ICUF REPORT. Legislature funds FRAG at $2837 per student. May

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1 I NDEPENDENT C OLLEGES U NIVERSITIES of F LORIDA & ICUF REPORT ED H. MOORE, PhD ICUF PRESIDENT (850) emoore@icuf.org May Legislature funds FRAG at $2837 per student The Legislature passed a budget for next year that will fund individual FRAG awards for full time Florida resident students attending ICUF s 28 colleges and universities at $2837 per student for the school year That s a reduction of 5.4 percent in a tough budget year when legislators were facing a deficit of nearly $6 billion. A modest cut that is in line with spending reductions in many other programs is a very good result for ICUF and our students, said ICUF President Ed H. Moore. The FRAG cut will require some belt-tightening by families and students that are completing financial aid packages for the fall semester, but they can be grateful that legislators spared the grants from much deeper cuts. Moore continued, We are very pleased that the legislature recognized the tremendous value offered by ICUF schools and the importance of these dollars in helping students who choose ICUF colleges and universities to pursue their future educational opportunities. Moore noted that the budget proposed by Gov. Charlie Crist in January would have cut FRAG spending by over 45 percent. Crist s proposal would have denied the grants to about 15,000 new students entering the program for the first time. The budget approved by the Legislature ensures new students will continue to receive the FRAG. Four faculty members of Palm Beach Atlantic University s School of Education and Behavioral Studies meet with Rep. Marty Kiar. Dr. Emery Twoey, Dr. Melise Bunker (dean), Dr. Marilyn Stepnoski and Dr. Timothy Ladd. The governor was in a tight budget spot this past winter and yet he understood that we could not accept his proposal. He told our Presidents in a face to face meeting to pursue funding in the legislature, and that s just what we did, Moore said. Thanks to the hard work of our team - presidents, students, tens of thousands of alums and countless other supporters - we were able to secure this wonderful funding for the coming year that will help so many students climb the ladder of success. I want to thank everyone connected with this effort and especially all of our friends in the Legislature, he said. It sounds counterintuitive to say we succeeded when the grants were reduced, but that is indeed what happened. The legislature supported the FRAG to the maximum extent possible in a very difficult budget year.

2 ICUF STUDENTS REACH OUT TO LEGISLATORS ON FRAG Students from a number of ICUF institutions staged campus rallies and traveled to Tallahassee to meet with legislators as part of a coordinated campaign to support the FRAG. Lynn University students displayed 500 empty seats along a major road in Boca Raton to dramatize the number of students there who receive the FRAG at Lynn. The students were motivated by Crist s proposal to cut FRAG funding. Florida Southern College students (from left) Perri Bevan, Kate Knowles, and Chris Corbin visited with legislators in Tallahassee. This is an important program for the Floridians attending this university and private universities across the state, said Lynn student body president Bernard Londoni. I m really excited that there are a lot of students here. I think that s because they are passionate about it; that s why they showed up. In a final push at Stetson University, Student Government set up a table outside the student union where students could write a message on a Faces of FRAG postcard that will be sent to key legislators. Students from Florida Southern College, Saint Leo University and Warner Southern College traveled to Tallahassee to meet with legislators in the Capitol. The Warner Southern students were Ashley Hilliard, Leah Mowery and Daniel "Heath" Woolman. The groups of students reported that the feedback they got from legislators was very encouraging and they also benefited from the experience of meeting with elected officials. Sister Linda Bevilacqua, president of Barry University, and a group of students traveled to Tallahassee for a productive round of meetings with South Florida legislators and other FRAG supporters. We are pleased our students were able to hold rallies, develop grassroots strategies and visit legislators in Tallahassee, said ICUF President Ed H. Moore. Legislators tell me that meetings with students who are the leaders and voters of the future are one of the highlights of their job. Plus there is a tremendous value added of students experiencing first hand the excitement of democracy in action. Stetson University students Joseph O Brien, in foreground, and Drew Glasnovich write to legislators asking them not to cut the FRAG. Manning the table in front of Stetson s Carlton Union Building were Student Government Association representatives Ayanna Royal and Andrew Davis an ICUF Presidential Fellow. Page 2

3 ICUF retains small college license tags ICUF ICUF, with a major assist from the presidents of our smaller institutions and key legislators, has overcome an attempt to eliminate specialty license plates for colleges that fail to sell 1,000 tags in a 12-month period. The victory came when the Senate passed an amendment to a transportation bill that retained the current exemption for colleges from the 1,000 tag in 12 months rule. Our thanks to Senators Tony Hill, D-Jacksonville, and Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, for sponsoring the amendment and to Senator Lisa Carlton, R-Osprey and Evelyn Lynn R-Daytona Beach, for their strong support. The potential loss of the exemption began in a Senate committee through an amendment by Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, who said that some colleges had sold only 20 or 30 tags. It seems they were using an incorrect sales list from the DHSMV website. Actually all ICUF members have many more than that number and most have met the 1,000 tag threshold. Our team did an outstanding job of retaining this exemption for some schools who have not yet reached the threshold, said ICUF President Ed H. Moore. We have committed to legislative leaders to continue to boost sales through aggressive marketing to students, faculty, alumni and supporters. Let s show our pride in our institutions on the highways. Moore continued, These tags help to boost institutional identity at a minimal cost of production, helping to raise additional scholarship dollars during tough economic times. Barry official discusses health, education with Governor John McFadden, program administrator for Barry University s Master of Science in Anesthesiology program and president of the Florida Association of Nurse Anesthetists, met recently with Gov. Charlie Crist to discuss health and higher education issues. McFadden took advantage of the meeting to discuss the role the FRAG plays in helping Florida meet its crucial need for skilled health care professionals. So many of those who receive the FRAG go into helping professions such as nursing, he said. FRAG funding encourages those going into nursing at the undergraduate level, and that in turn affects our pool of advanced practitioners. Page 3

4 Come see us, NSU President tells rejected students Nova Southeastern University President Ray Ferrero, Jr., has urged students who are rejected by state universities because of enrollment limits to apply to ICUF institutions. Now may be the time for those students to consider one of Florida s 28 independent colleges or universities where financial aid and scholarships make a private education more affordable, Ferrero said in an oped article published by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. It is not too late to apply to NSU or Florida s other independent colleges and universities, he said. Selecting a private school is a very prudent decision for students, especially in light of favorable financial aid programs, smaller class sizes, dedicated faculty and course availability that enable students to graduate on schedule NSU President Ray Ferrero, Jr. Florida College professor earning first online classics Ph.D. Dr. David McClister, a professor at Florida College, will soon become the first person in the nation to earn a Ph.D. in classical studies from an online program. He is on track to receive his degree from the University of Florida s online classical studies program in May. McClister studied the Greek works of the Jewish historian, Josephus, in his doctoral program. I needed an arrangement where I could work toward an advanced degree and at the same time continue teaching and not disrupt my family too much, he said. Supporter donates Sarasota condo to Ringling Longboat Key philanthropist Mimi Edlin has donated a spacious Sarasota condominium near campus that Ringling College of Art and Design President Larry Thompson says will be put to many uses. Mimi has made an extraordinary contribution to Ringling College of Art and Design, and we will forever be grateful for her generosity, Thompson said. Page 4

5 Florida Tech, ERAU share in state science school grant Florida Institute of Technology, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Florida State University have received a $500,000 contract from the state to plan the Governor s School for Science, Mathematics and Space Technology. The new school will be located in or near Cape Kennedy. The mission of the school is to provide advanced education in a residential setting for gifted high school students in the fields of science, biology, math, engineering and technology. It will offer teachers in those subject areas professional development courses in the summer. This two-fold mission will offer an amazing educational opportunity for students and teachers from all over the state to enrich their studies in a unique and stimulating setting, said Sen. Steve Wise, R-Jacksonville, a sponsor of the legislation that created the school. F UTURE BARRY BARRISTERS WIN NATIONAL ABA AWARD A team of Barry University law students has won the championship of the American Bar Association s National Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy competition in the school s first attempt. Twenty-two other law schools competed for the award. Award-winning Barry law school team: From left, Professor/Coach Mark Summers; Students David Baker, Carla Matinata, Denise Kim and Roy Wolgamuth; and Professor/Coach Mitch Frank. I am thrilled that the rest of the country will now know what we at Barry have known for some time, that we have some of the brightest, most talented students in the country, said Barry Law Dean Leticia M. Diaz. Page 5

6 The University of Tampa student investment portfolio wins global forum A $150,000 PORTFOLIO MANAGED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT STUDENTS HAS WON FIRST PLACE IN THE GRADUATE DIVISION FOR CORE- STYLE PORT- FOLIOS IN THE REDEFINING INVESTMENT STRATEGY EDUCATION GLOBAL STUDENT IN- VESTMENT FORUM. THIS IS HUGE RECOGNITION, SAID FACULTY ADVISER MARCUS I NGRAM, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF FINANCE. THE UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA COMPETED STRONGLY WITH LARGE SCHOOLS THAT MAN- AGE FUNDS IN THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, AND WHICH HAVE UNLIMITED RESOURCES AND DIRECT ACCESS TO ASSISTANCE FROM W ALL STREET FIRMS. THE FORUM ATTRACTED TEAMS REPRESENTING 257 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES FROM 69 COUNTRIES. Eckerd student invents reusable green take-out containers Audrey Copeland, environmental service learning intern at Eckerd College, has invented the EcoClamshell, a green, reusable, to-go food container, the first of its kind to be used at a Florida college or university. Our society values convenience, Copeland said. In a college Eckerd EcoClamshell reusable to-go container cafeteria, convenience is translated to disposable takeout containers. The outcome? Tons of unnecessary landfill waste. Eckerd s EcoClamshell offers a recycling system that is cost-efficient, sanitary, environmentally-friendly and convenient. Students pay a $5 deposit on the durable plastic containers, which will be returned if they turn the boxes in when they graduate. Page 6

7 Jamaican PM visits Nova Southeastern Bruce Golding, the prime minister of Jamaica, stressed better ties between an estimated 250,000 Jamaicans living in Florida and their homeland when he spoke in a town hall meeting at Nova Southeastern University. It was the prime minister s first official visit to the United States. Golding said his top priorities are eliminating tuition fees for high school students, reducing dependency on imported oil, finding alternative energy sources and improving early childhood education. His visit was sponsored by the Caribbean Law Program at NSU s Shepard Broad Law Center. Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding Rollins remembers Mr. Rogers with sweaters Honoring one of its best-known alumni, Rollins College celebrated what would have been the 80 th birthday of Fred Rogers, known to millions of TV-watching toddlers as Mr. Rogers, by working with local schools to collect sweaters. Rogers was known for the zippered cardigans he wore on his show. Students from several Winter Park area schools collected more than 250 sweaters which were donated to the Orlando Union Rescue Missions. Page 7

8 NSU law school jumps NSU22 Nova Southeastern University s Shepard Broad Law Center has climbed eight places, from 30 th to 22 nd, in national legal writing rankings announced by U.S. News & World Report. NSU and Stetson University were the only Florida law schools to finish in the top 40. One of the most important features of our program is that we have one of the lowest student-teacher ratios in the country, so each student gets a great deal of individual attention from our professors, said Anthony Niewiecki, director of the NSU law school s Lawyering Skills and Values program. WARNER SOUTHERN BREAKS GROUND ON NEW ACADEMIC BUILDING Ground has been broken on a new, 49,000-square foot academic building that will house many of the academic programs at Warner Southern College. The building will feature two lecture halls, classrooms, computer labs, science labs, faculty Ground breaking for Academic Building at Warner Southern College (l-r in hard hats): Ed Lunz, Architect; Student Merissa Knauer; Rob Quam, Chair of Board of Trustees; Student Lauren Pulido; Dr. Greg Hall, President; Student Naty DuBois. In the background (left to right) are Dr. Jim Moyer,Chair of the Communication Arts Department and Dr. Terry Fasel, Chair of Teacher Education. Page 8

9 Rollins receives $1 million gift for art museum Rollins graduate Bruce A. Beal has donated $1 million to endow the directorship of the College s Cornell Fine Arts Museum. The position will now be known as the Bruce A. Beal director of the Cornell Fine Arts Museum. The background I received in fine arts at Rollins was the beginning of a lifelong journey and quest in collecting modern and contemporary art, which has enriched my life for over 50 years, said Beal, chairman of a Boston real estate investment and development company. ERAU breaks ground on phase II of aviation complex Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has broken ground on the second phase of its James Hagedon Aviation Complex. The facility is part of a $125 million construction drive at the Daytona Beach campus. Embry-Riddle has the most advanced flight education curriculum in the world, said Dr. Tim Brady, Dean of the College of Aviation. With these new buildings, our facilities will be as high-tech as our programs. Dyslexia experts speak at Florida Southern Drs. Sally and Bennett Shaywitz, internationally recognized experts on dyslexia, have presented a program on the science of reading and dyslexia at Florida Southern College. The couple are codirectors of the Yale Center for the study of Learning, Reading, and Attention. Drs. Bennett and Sally Shaywitz NSU hosts International Child Health Forum Nova Southeastern University has hosted an International Child Health Forum to discuss ways to prevent children from getting infectious diseases such as SARS, Avian Flu and drugresistant tuberculosis. The conference focused on developing new standards for the health, safety and well-being of children in south Florida and throughout the world. Participants included health experts from the United Nations, World Health Organization, Pan American Health Organization, universities, hospitals and other institutions. The event was organized by NSU s Institute for Page 9 Child Health Policy.

10 Florida Tech breaks ground for textile ar ts center Construction of the Ruth Funk Center for Textile Ar ts is underway at Florida Institute of Technology. The facility will be the only one of its kind in Florida. Funk, an ar tist, teacher, collector and philanthropist, donated $1.25 million to make the museum a reality. PBA breaks ground for new athletic campus Palm Beach Atlantic University has broken ground on its new 77-acre Athletic Campus, which will be located considerably closer to campus than the facility it will replace. The campus will provide facilities for numerous varsity and intramural sports. Establishing an athletic campus is another milestone in Palm Beach Atlantic s growth as a university, said PBA President Dr. David W. Clark. Bringing outdoor intercollegiate athletic and intramural competition closer to our downtown campus fosters a greater sense of campus community. WEBBER LAUNCHES CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM Webber International University has announced that it will offer a new degree in corporate communications starting in the fall. This degree fits very well with the rest of our business offerings but it also offers something that we think is quite unique, said WIU President Rex R. Yentes. While it will equip students with the communications skills they need to manage a company or municipality s internal and external communications needs, it is most assuredly a business degree rather than an English degree. Page 10

11 St. Thomas president attends meeting with Pope St. Thomas President Monsignor Franklyn M. Casale joined the presidents of more than 200 Catholic colleges and universities at a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI in Washington. The Catholic educators met with the Pope in Washington, D.C., during the Pontiff s recent American visit. I found Pope Benedict XVI s talk to be very encouraging and laudatory of Catholic American higher education, Msgr. Casale said. It was densely constructed with an enormous amount of foundational material for sustaining the Catholic character of our colleges and universities. The Pope provided a raison d etre for value based education today. I believe that we will be studying this document for a long time. Eckerd professor receives million dollar NASA grant The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has awarded Dr. Reggie L. Hudson, professor of chemistry at Eckerd College, more than $1 million to research the chemistry of the outer solar system and meteorites. The research will be conducted at Eckerd and NASA s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The Eckerd undergraduates involved will have research opportunities at a world-class, state-of-the-art laboratory shared by few students in the nation, and almost none at small colleges, Dr. Hudson said. Students in my chemistry and astronomy classes will benefit from learning about new science as it develops and Eckerd College will benefit from the enthusiasm, skills and knowledge brought to the campus. ICUF members are: Barry University Beacon College Bethune-Cookman University Clearwater Christian College Eckerd College Edward Waters College Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Flagler College Florida College Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences Florida Institute of Technology Florida Memorial University Florida Southern College Hodges University Jacksonville University Lynn University Nova Southeastern University Palm Beach Atlantic University Ringling College of Art and Design Rollins College Saint Leo University St. Thomas University Southeastern University Stetson University University of Miami The University of Tampa Warner Southern College Webber International University ICUF Report is written by John C. Van Gieson, Edits, layout and visual formatting by D.D. Agostini. Page 11