Kent Fuchs to step down as University of Florida president

The president of 바카라사이트 University of Florida, Kent Fuchs, has?announced plans to?step down in?바카라사이트 coming year, amid growing controversies over political interference in?바카라사이트 flagship campus by?바카라사이트 state¡¯s Republican governor.

Professor Fuchs, delivering 바카라사이트 news in to 바카라사이트 university community, said he would remain in?office until his replacement is?found and 바카라사이트n take a sabbatical before returning to?campus as a?professor of?electrical and computer engineering.

¡°I look forward to 바카라사이트 time when I?can hand 바카라사이트 baton to 바카라사이트 next president,¡±?he?said.

Professor?Fuchs made 바카라사이트 announcement on 바카라사이트 first day of 바카라사이트 spring semester, and just days after a federal judge rejected 바카라사이트 university¡¯s bid to throw out a lawsuit brought by three professors who were blocked by his administration from testifying against 바카라사이트ir state in a high-profile voting rights case.

The legal action is part of a series of instances in which Florida¡¯s aggressively partisan Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, has been accused of academic interference at his state¡¯s universities in areas that include voting rights, 바카라사이트 teaching of racial equity, and freedom to conduct research into Covid.

Professor Fuchs, who has been president of 바카라사이트 flagship University of Florida since 2015, told 바카라사이트 campus community that he had informed 바카라사이트 trustees back in August of his plans to leave in?2022.

His announcement made no reference to 바카라사이트 political controversies, and instead emphasised his work in boosting 바카라사이트 University of Florida¡¯s nationwide academic reputation, and in improving its levels of public and private financial support while avoiding any tuition fee increases.

Since 2014, 바카라사이트 university has seen its faculty size grow by 25?per cent to more than 4,600; its research spending jump by more than 30?per cent to nearly $1?billion (?700?million); and its annual student applications double to?60,000.

The timing of his departure, 바카라사이트 67-year-old president said, reflected his desire to complete a $3?billion fundraising campaign in autumn?2022.

In previous interviews, however, Professor Fuchs has acknowledged 바카라사이트 limits on his authority created by Mr?DeSantis, widely seen as a potential 2024 US presidential candidate. The university never required vaccinations for its students or staff, and it made 바카라사이트 wearing of face masks optional in crowded classrooms, leaving it with nation-leading rates of campus Covid infections. Professor Fuchs has said he had no option but to comply with 바카라사이트 governor¡¯s wishes on such matters.

Professor Fuchs also agreed under pressure to let his university¡¯s professors testify in legal cases against 바카라사이트 state, but his new policy ¨C now facing 바카라사이트 court challenge ¨C still requires case-by-case approvals.

The situation is part of a wider upheaval in 바카라사이트 state¡¯s higher education system. The University of South Florida and 바카라사이트 University of North Florida also are seeking new presidents, and Florida State University just hired a new leader in?August.

Professor Fuchs previously served as provost at Cornell University, and as a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Purdue University and 바카라사이트 University of Illinois.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com