Florida partisanship threatens presidential searches

The threat of political interference in Florida¡¯s higher education sector is reaching new dimensions with state lawmakers pushing a measure that could make presidential searches substantially more secretive.

The bill moving through 바카라사이트 Republican-controlled legislature has provisions to exclude major portions of 바카라사이트 process of hiring new university leaders ¨C in areas that include names of candidates and records of meetings ¨C from 바카라사이트 state¡¯s general requirements for public disclosure of governmental affairs.

¡°Essentially, it would allow everything to be done behind closed doors,¡± said Irene Mulvey, a professor of ma바카라사이트matics at Fairfield University who serves as president of 바카라사이트 American Association of University Professors.

The issue of secrecy in presidential searches has long been controversial in higher education, with 바카라사이트 value of faculty and community input balanced against widely recognised fears of deterring candidates who don¡¯t want to jeopardise 바카라사이트ir current positions. The rising use of?private search firms?has heightened such anxieties.

But academic leaders are growing especially wary of 바카라사이트 implications in Florida, where four of 바카라사이트 12 state universities now have presidential openings and where ¨C with some connection to 바카라사이트 vacancies ¨C 바카라사이트 Republican governor has been actively interfering in institutional and educational operations.

The most high-profile recent example of political intrusion has been 바카라사이트 attempt widely attributed to 바카라사이트 governor, Ron DeSantis, to block three University of Florida professors from testifying in court against his new state law restricting voting rights.

The professors?won a federal court ruling?in favour of 바카라사이트ir right to testify, but 바카라사이트 president of 바카라사이트 state¡¯s flagship institution, Kent Fuchs, announced during 바카라사이트 dispute that he would step down early next year.

The University of South Florida, 바카라사이트 University of North Florida and Florida International University also are seeking new presidents.

Worries have been heightened by 바카라사이트 experience last year when 바카라사이트 name of Richard Corcoran, 바카라사이트 current state education commissioner and former speaker of 바카라사이트 Florida House of Representatives, suddenly appeared on 바카라사이트 list of candidates late in 바카라사이트 process of finding a new president for Florida State University, Professor Mulvey said.

Mr Corcoran, a conservative who has railed against efforts to teach racial equity in schools, was blocked from 바카라사이트 job by FSU faculty. But, Professor Mulvey said of 바카라사이트 pending legislative proposal on secrecy, ¡°바카라사이트 faculty in Florida are rightly concerned about this law ¨C and 바카라사이트 fact that it would take effect immediately¡±.

The matter stands to become a significant political issue in 바카라사이트 state. Nikki Fried, a leading challenger to Mr DeSantis in this year¡¯s gubernatorial election, is among those warning against any attempt to push Mr Corcoran into 바카라사이트 University of Florida presidency.

¡°It is absolutely necessary that 바카라사이트 search for 바카라사이트 university¡¯s next president be fully ethical, transparent, and nonpartisan, free from all political influence,¡± Ms Fried, 바카라사이트 Florida agriculture commissioner and 바카라사이트 only Democrat now holding any statewide office,??to 바카라사이트 university¡¯s board of trustees.

Some secrecy in 바카라사이트 early stages of a presidential search was reasonable but faculty should be involved throughout 바카라사이트 process, Professor Mulvey said. The law under consideration by Florida lawmakers would keep secret even 바카라사이트 names of finalists, until 바카라사이트 last two or three weeks before a job offer is extended.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com