View in a browser

March 18, 2014

To: University of Florida Family

From: UF President Bernie Machen

Re: 2014 Legislative Session

The Florida Legislature began its annual session this month with a projected $1.2 billion surplus and a focus on cutting taxes and fees.  We are optimistic that lawmakers will also support public higher education – including several initiatives that will enhance education and research at the University of Florida.

Our highest priority is securing the funds for raises for our excellent faculty and staff.

This is important in part to make up lost ground in rewarding employees for their performance – performance that remained at a high level during the prolonged economic downturn despite years without raises and added workloads due to attrition and hiring freezes.

Boosting our employee compensation will also help ensure that we pay salaries that are more competitive with our peer universities nationally. This is key as we emphasize attracting accomplished faculty as part of our Preeminence Plan to rise among the nation's top public universities.

Our next highest priority is $15 million for a new chemistry building.

Chemistry is one of UF's oldest disciplines – in fact, our first Ph.D. graduate earned his doctorate in chemistry in 1932.  Students and scientists still work in the original chemistry building on campus, completed 70-plus years ago and now woefully behind the times.

The legislature dedicated $15 million to construct a new Chemistry/Chemical Biology Building last year.  We are seeking an additional $15 million to build this state-of-the-art facility, which will include cutting-edge labs, spacious lecture rooms and dedicated offices for advising, tutoring, testing and more.

Our other priorities for the 2014 session include...

• $10 million to renovate and transform Newell Hall, the third-oldest building on our campus, into a state-of-the-art student study center.
   
• $60 million for critical maintenance of the 100-plus buildings on our campus that are more than 50 years old – some in dire need of repairs.
   
• $25 million for a new engineering building equipped with student laboratories and other facilities aimed at attracting and retaining more students in engineering disciplines.
   
• $10 million to continue renovations of UF-managed historic properties in St. Augustine, including Government House, one of Florida's signature historic properties.
   
• The reinstatement of the Alec Courtelis Facilities Matching Program matching private contributions with state funds for the construction of university buildings.  UF has $28.2 million in private donations on the list awaiting a state match.

We are also joining House Speaker Will Weatherford and other lawmakers in supporting legislation that seeks to allow students of undocumented workers who graduate from Florida high schools to pay in-state tuition.   Many of these students have lived in Florida for many years, yet are required to pay out-of-state tuition, with the result that they don't enroll, delay their educations, or incur heavy debts as they pursue the opportunity of a college education.

Since its inception in 2009, Gators for Higher Education has provided strong support for UF's legislative priorities. With 7,400 members, the organization continues to make a difference by keeping lawmakers informed and aware of how legislation affects the quality and depth of higher education in Florida, our university and its 50,000 students.

I urge you to make your voice heard again this year by connecting with your own local lawmakers on behalf of UF and our 2014 priorities. You can lend your hand to shaping the university's future by visiting the Gators for Higher Education website at http://g4he.ufl.edu.

I look forward to working closely with you and members of Gators for Higher Education throughout the session and the rest of the year.

Sincerely,

J. Bernard Machen