The Florida Board of Governors is a 17-member board serving as the constitutional governing body for the State University System of Florida, which includes all public universities of the state of Florida.
The Florida Legislature abolished the Florida Board of Regents, the predecessor of the Florida Board of Governors, in July 2001, with Governor Jeb Bush signing the act into law. Former governor of Florida and then United States senator Bob Graham (D-FL) opposed the decision and led a ballot initiative to restore the statewide higher education body. In 2002, voters approved a Florida constitutional amendment championed by Graham. The Board of Governors was established in 2003 as a result. The establishment of the Board of Governors is part of the Constitution of Florida and can only be abolished through another constitutional amendment.
The Florida Board of Education, also appointed by the governor, oversees K–20 education and community colleges.
During the 2022–2023 academic year, the State University System enrolled 349,921 total students, and it is the second largest state university system in the United States, after the California State University system.
Universities under the board UniversitiesUniversityLocationEstablishedEnrollment (Fall 2024) Florida A&M UniversityTallahassee, Florida18878,972Florida Atlantic UniversityBoca Raton, Florida196130,246Florida Gulf Coast UniversityFort Myers, Florida199115,962Florida International UniversityMiami, Florida 196548,696Florida Polytechnic UniversityLakeland, Florida20121,766Florida State UniversityTallahassee, Florida185142,945New College of FloridaSarasota, Florida1960872University of Central FloridaOrlando, Florida196369,067University of FloridaGainesville, Florida185358,933University of North FloridaJacksonville, Florida196915,732University of South FloridaTampa, Florida195647,906University of West FloridaPensacola, Florida196313,851
Current members of the board The Florida Board of Governors has seventeen members, including fourteen voting members appointed by the governor, as well as the Florida commissioner of education, the chair of the Advisory Council of Faculty Senates, and the chair of the Florida Student Association. The board appoints a chancellor, who serves as the system's chief executive. Governors Name Profession Education Term start Term end Appointed by GovernorAshley Bell Barnett former teacher, donor BA (Florida Southern), MPA (USF) Douglas Broxson politician BS (Evangel University) Tim Cerio, Vice-Chair attorney BA, JD (UF) Aubrey Edge President & CEO, First Coast Energy Carson Good real estate (FSU), MBA (Rollins College) Edward Haddock lawyer & businessman BA (Ohio Wesleyan), JD (UVA) Ken Jones lawyer & businessman BA (FSU), JD (UF) Alan M. Levine, Chair President & CEO, Mountain States Health Alliance BSc, MBA, MSc (UF) Ashley Lukis Lawyer BA, JD (FSU) Charles H. Lydecker insurance executive BA (American) Craig Mateer businessman BA (FSU) Michael Okaty lawyer BA (UCF), JD, LLM (NYU) Keith Perry roofing contractor Nick Sinatra political advisor, real estate developer BA (Yale), MBA (Wharton School) Remaining Members Anastasios Kamoutsas Commissioner of Education BA (FIU), JD (Regent University) Kimberly Dunn Chair, Advisory Council of Faculty Senates PhD Carson Dale Chair, Florida Student Association BA (FSU, in progress)
Initiatives 2016 Think Florida In January 2016, the State University System launched a statewide communications and marketing campaign to build and bolster the state's entrepreneurial climate - Think Florida: A Higher Degree for Business. The campaign's focus is a strong connection between the system's universities and Florida's businesses, with an emphasis on collaboration in the areas of talent, research and partnerships.
2014 Performance-based funding The Board of Governors unveiled a performance-based funding model in 2014 to incentivize universities to improve on key metrics, from graduation rates to post-graduation success.
The model has four guiding principles: use metrics that align with SUS Strategic Plan goals, reward excellence or improvement, have a few clear, simple metrics, and acknowledge the unique mission of the different institutions. Key components of the model: Institutions will be evaluated on either excellence or Improvement for each metric. Data is based on one-year data. The benchmarks for excellence were based on the Board of Governors 2025 System Strategic Plan goals and analysis of relevant data trends, whereas the benchmarks for Improvement were determined after reviewing data trends for each metric. The Florida Legislature and governor determine the amount of new state funding and a proportional amount of institutional funding that would come from each university's recurring state base appropriation.
2010 Preeminent State Research Universities In 2010, the Florida Legislature created the Preeminent State Research University program and set 12 benchmarks to define these schools, which are awarded more state funding for research. 11 of the 12 benchmarks must be met for a school to be classified as Preeminent by the Board of Governors. The benchmarks are:
An average weighted grade point average of 4.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale and an average SAT score of 1200 or higher on a 1600-point scale or an average ACT score of 25 or higher on a 36 score scale, using the latest published national concordance table developed jointly by the College Board and ACT, Inc., for fall semester incoming freshmen, as reported annually. A top-50 ranking on at least two well-known and highly respected national public university rankings, including, but not limited to, the U.S. News & World Report rankings, reflecting national preeminence, using most recent rankings. A freshman retention rate of 90 percent or higher for full-time, first-time-in-college students. A 4-year graduation rate of 60 percent or higher for full-time, first-time-in-college students. Six or more faculty members at the state university who are members of a national academy. Total annual research expenditures, including federal research expenditures, of $200 million or more. Total annual research expenditures in diversified nonmedical sciences of $150 million or more. A top-100 university national ranking for research expenditures in five or more science, technology, engineering, or mathematics fields of study. One hundred or more total patents awarded by the United States Patent and Trademark Office for the most recent 3-year period. Four hundred or more doctoral degrees awarded annually, including professional doctoral degrees awarded in medical and health care disciplines. Two hundred or more postdoctoral appointees annually. An endowment of $500 million or more.
Currently, three universities are classified as preeminent: the University of Florida, Florida State University, and the University of South Florida. All three have exceeded each of the 12 benchmarks.
Former members of the board Name Profession Education Term start Projected term end H. Wayne Huizenga Jr. businessman Darlene L. Jordan former attorney BA (Fordham), JD (Suffolk) Sydney Kitson, Chair real estate developer Kent Stermon COO, Total Military Management Richard Corcoran attorney BA (St Leo), JD (Regent) Steven M. Scott physician and entrepreneur MD (Indiana) Patricia Frost retired school principal BA (Colby), MA (Columbia) Brian Lamb business executive BA, MBA (USF) Jose Oliva politician, businessman Paul Renner politician, lawyer BA (Davidson College), JD UF Eric Silagy President & CEO, Florida Power & Light BA (UT Austin), JD (Georgetown)
See also State University System of Florida University Press of Florida State University System of Florida Libraries Florida Institute of Oceanography Florida Board of Control
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