Tag: University of Florida

COVID-19

Higher Ed Faculty Excluded from Florida’s COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Expansion

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s executive order, which took effect on Tuesday,  has excluded higher ed faculty, The Independent Florida Alligator reported. The order expanded COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to some essential workers, such as law enforcement, firefighters and K-12 employees over age 50. “The United Faculty of Florida (UFF) and the 22,000 people we represent congratulate […]

March 9, 2021

News Roundup

University of Florida Puts Engineering Professor on Paid Leave After Graduate Student Suicide

The University of Florida has put on paid leave a tenured professor accused by a graduate student of academic misconduct and abusive personal behavior before the student killed himself on campus, WUFT reported. Dr. Tao Li, a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, was placed on leave Feb. 15. As academic supervisor […]

March 2, 2021

COVID-19

Higher Ed Institutions Work to Bring Students Back to Campus as COVID-19 Vaccines Roll Out

As the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 begins to roll out to states, many in the higher ed sector and beyond are beginning to look forward to some sense of normalcy.

January 18, 2021

Sports

Keyontae Johnson’s Collapse on the Basketball Court Highlights Economic Injustice for College Athletes

When Keyontae Johnson, a 21 year old basketball player, agreed to play NCAA basketball at the University of Florida, he had no idea about the trauma that he would experience. Keyontae contracted COVID-19 in August and after passing physical screenings, he collapsed while playing basketball. He was then diagnosed with a rare heart disease that would impact him for the rest of his life. He was also placed in a medically induced coma as doctors fought to save his life. Luckily for Keyontae, he was able to recover and is back on the sidelines at the University of Florida while managing his heart condition. Many suspected that the heart condition was linked to COVID-19 and had concerns about NCAA athletes contracting the virus while playing sports.

January 13, 2021

African-American

University of Florida Students Call for Building Name Change, Citing Racism of Namesake

The University of Florida (UF) students protested Tuesday, calling on the administration to change the name of one of its buildings, WUFT reported. Two UF groups, a student government political party called Change Party and an activist group called Goddsville Dream Defenders, led the protest. The building in question, the J. Wayne Reitz Union, is […]

October 7, 2020

Students

UF Board of Trustees Votes to Implement Furloughs

University of Florida’s Board of Trustees unanimously passed an amendment  on Tuesday to implement furloughs, leaving some faculty and staff feeling targeted while administrators’ pay remain untouched, The Alligator reported. The regulation makes the school able to institute furloughs, but administrators said there are no immediate plans to furlough anyone. During the meeting, faculty and […]

September 30, 2020

Students

U of Florida’s Law School Receives $1.1 Million Gift To Fund Scholarships For HBCU Grads

In tribute to the late congressman and civil rights activist John Lewis, a Florida real estate developer has given $1.1 million to the University of Florida’s (UF) law school to fund scholarships for at least five graduates of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) each year, reports the Herald-Tribune. “Congressman Lewis used every day of […]

September 1, 2020

News Roundup

U of Florida to End ‘Gator Bait’ Cheer for its ‘Horrific Historic Racist Imagery’

The University of Florida will stop the use of its ‘Gator Bait’ athletics cheer because of its “horrific historic racist imagery,’ said institution president Kent Fuchs on Thursday. “While I know of no evidence of racism associated with our “Gator Bait” cheer at UF [University of Florida] sporting events, there is horrific historic racist imagery […]

June 18, 2020

COVID-19

U of Florida Tells Professors Not to Order Sick Students to be Tested for Coronavirus

The University of Florida on Jan. 31 told its professors to stop ordering visibly sick students to leave the classroom and be tested for the Coronavirus, reported National Public Radio. The university didn’t say how many students were ordered by professors to be tested, nor did it identify the professors who took this action. “While […]

February 14, 2020

News Roundup

University of Florida Student Body President Faces Impeachment Charges

For the second time in the University of Florida’s (UF) 115-year history, a student body president is facing impeachment charges after inviting Donald Trump Jr. and Trump campaign adviser Kimberly Guilfoyle to speak on campus last month. The call for impeachment, which was signed by more than 100 students and alumni, came after UF’s independent […]

November 13, 2019

Community Colleges

Dr. Anne Kress Named New President of NOVA

After months of searching, Northern Virginia Community Colleges (NOVA) named Dr. Anne M. Kress as their sixth president. Kress will begin her new position early next year. She previously served as president of Monroe Community College in Rochester, New York. Over the course of her 30 year career in higher education, Kress worked as an […]

October 10, 2019

Opinion

Culturally Responsive Graduation Ceremonies: Opportunities and Considerations for University Leaders

Many minoritized students participate in graduation ceremonies that are not reflective of their cultural heritage or social experience. Though many institutions provide culturally responsive graduation ceremonies (CRGCs), their legitimacy and relevance have been challenged in recent years.

July 5, 2019