USF System Government Relations Newsletter April 2017

2017 Legislative Session Update

The 2017 Legislative Session started on March 7th and kicked off with a "State of the State" address from Governor Rick Scott and speeches from both Senate President Joe Negron and House Speaker Richard Corcoran.    In his "State of the State" address, Governor Scott spoke about his goal to improve the education system in Florida by having a record amount of funding for education in the budget and his fight to keep tuition affordable.  In his speech, President  Negron spoke about his desire to elevate Florida’s universities to national prominence through increased funding and accountability measures. Last spring  President Negron visited USF as part of his statewide university tour and voiced his enthusiasm about USF, saying that " great things are happening at this university"  and that he "learned a lot about  how we can help the university get to that preeminent level." Speaker Corcoran laid out his legislative priorities in his speech, which focus on initiatives regarding strengthening ethics standards, transparency and process and creating a 12-year term limit for appellate judges.     Although they have differing priorities, the House and Senate will have to come together by the end of Session in the next couple of weeks to pass legislation and a state budget.

USF student veteran and entrepreneur, Chris Crist (second from the left) was honored with a personal invitation by the  Senate President Negron (center) to opening day to watch the proceedings. President Negron met with Crist when he visited USF on his statewide university tour.

Bill Spotlight: Higher Education  During the week of March 27th the Florida House of Representatives took up for consideration House Bill 3 (HB3) - Higher Education by Representative Bryan Avila (R-Miami-Dade), the bill that is set to accomplish the State's higher education policy goals this session. This bill is the house version of Senate Bill 2 (SB2) - Higher Education by Senator Bill Galvano (R-Bradenton), which is  the Senate's Higher Education funding and reform bill and has already passed the full Senate. Although overall the bills are similar there are several differences. I f passed, both bills will provide additional funding for universities, however, the amount will be determined in the General Appropriations Act which will not be finalized until the final week of the Session.  SB 2 establishes the following: The State University System “World Class Faculty and Scholar Program” which provides funding to retain and recruit world class faculty. The “Professional and Graduate Degree Excellence Program” which specifies that the funds provided shall be used by  universities for “quality improvement efforts” in medicine, law, and graduate-level business programs.  Requires each university to adopt a block tuition policy by Fall 2018 that allows resident undergrad students to enroll in credit hours beyond a full course load at no additional cost. Expands the Benacquisto scholarship  for National Merit Scholars to out-of-state students who attend Florida institutions. Establishes a new scholarship program called the “Florida Farmworker Student Scholarship” for Florida resident farmworkers and their children.

State Universities Come Together to Rally for Additional Funding

On March 29th,  leaders from all 12 of Florida's public universities  gathered in Tallahassee to rally for additional mental health counselors and law enforcement officers as well as raising the State University System's research profile, and rewarding university performance. Florida Senator Gary Farmer Jr. (D - Fort Lauderdale) spoke at the rally and discussed the importance of maintaining a safe environment for students by providing the mental health services and counseling students need.   The Board of Governors also announced their "Safer, Smarter, Stronger" campaign aimed at demonstrating the return on investment for each of the universities top priorities. BOG Chancellor Marshall Criser highlighted the importance of the initiative saying it provides "a description of what we are accomplishing for our higher education system by working together with the Governor, the Legislature and the universities."

Watch the full State University System press conference here

Mayor Bob Buckhorn visits USF to speak at Annual AAC Breakfast

On March 23rd, Mayor Bob Buckhorn visited the USF Tampa campus to speak at the annual Administrative Advisory Council (AAC) breakfast about the role USF plays in the Tampa Bay community and the growth of USF and Tampa Bay, both of which he feels have had parallel growth paths.    Mayor Buckhorn expressed his excitement about the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and Heart Institute moving downtown, and how  it will not only be an anchor in downtown Tampa but will also grow jobs, innovation and the economy throughout Tampa Bay for decades to come.

Left to Right: Judy Genshaft, USF System President and Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn

USF's Path to Preeminence

Last fall in her annual address President Judy Genshaft,  announced that USF was on "the path to preeminence" which stems from USF's designation by state leaders in June 2016 as an "Emerging Preeminent State Research University".  The Florida Preeminence program, written into state law almost four years ago, rewards state research institutions based on their performance in 12 metrics, including a high student admissions profile, at least six national academy member faculty, extensive research expenditures and an endowment of $500 million or more. If a university meets at least eleven of the metrics they reach 'preeminent status'.  Last year, Florida lawmakers passed a bill that Govenor Rick Scott signed into law , establishing the category of “emerging preeminence.” To achieve that level, a school had to meet or exceed six of those metrics. Last year, two schools did that – the University of South Florida and the University of Central Florida. Universities that achieve the distinction of "preeminent" or "emerging preeminent" receive funding from the Florida Legislature and Governor. During l ast year's legislative session, $10 million was appropriated to each of the ‘preeminent’ institutions (UF and FSU) and $5 million each in new, recurring funding for the ‘emerging preeminent’ institutions (USF and UCF).  USF has used emerging preeminence funding to make strategic investments in areas of impact, a greater focus on metrics needed to attain both preeminence and membership in the Association of American Universities  (AAU), and realignment of some administrative functions.  USF is continuing to excel in the established metrics this year as well.

USF Caucus Spotlight: Representative Shawn Harrison

Shawn Harrison is a member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing District 63 which includes the USF Tampa Campus. Rep. Harrison graduated from the University of South Florida in 1987 and the University of Florida, College of Law, in 1990.  He returned to Tampa upon graduation and has lived in New Tampa ever since. Rep. Harrison is the founder of the Tampa law firm Shawn Harrison Associates and is also a small business owner, founding Medical Collection Group, LLC in 2002, a background and asset screening firm serving the long term care industry. He has been recognized by his business peers with the Tampa Bay Business Journal's "40 under 40" award, and has also twice received the USF Fast 56 award, given to the fastest growing USF Bull-owned businesses in the world.   In November 2010, Rep. Harrison was elected as a state representative. He currently serves on the Health Innovation Subcommittee (Vice Chair), Rules & Policy Committee (Vice Chair), Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee, Careers & Competition Subcommittee, Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee and the Judiciary Committee.

Left to Right : Nancy H. Watkins, USF Trustee; Representative Shawn Harrison; Judy Genshaft, USF System President

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