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University of South Florida President Judy Genshaft unsuccessfully argued to keep USF Polytechnic in the fold.<\/p><\/div>\n
Board members voted 12 \u2013 3 in favor of splitting Polytechnic from the University of South Florida\u2026but not right away. USF Polytechnic has to jump over some hurdles before it becomes Florida\u2019s 12th university.<\/p>\n
It was as much drama as you can get at a Board of Governors meeting. In one corner was USF President Judy Genshaft. Up until then, she\u2019d been pretty quiet about the proposed loss of one of USF\u2019s branch campuses.<\/p>\n
But Thursday in front of the Board of Governors, she came out swinging.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not the right time, either economically, educationally, or practically for a drastic change to the USF system,\u201d Genshaft said.<\/p>\n
“It’s time to set the record straight.”<\/p>\n
She challenged the criticism that USF was holding the new polytechnic school back. She noted that USF helped begin the transformation three years ago, from USF Lakeland to a school focused on science, technology, engineering and math.<\/p>\n
In the other corner was the state Senate\u2019s budget chief, J.D. Alexander. \u00a0The Lake Wales lawmaker is the single most powerful force behind the independence drive.<\/p>\n
“It has been torturous at every step of the way to see these programs actually granted,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He said USF had neglected Polk County for years, and the only reason there\u2019s any money for USF Polytechnic is because he got it for them.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reality is not what\u2019s billed. The reality is, it\u2019s been virtually impossible to get the program arrays, to hire the faculty, to recruit the students,\u201d Alexander said.<\/p>\n
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State Sen. J.D. Alexander is the driving force behind the independence push.<\/p><\/div>\n
Alexander had a powerful friend backing him up. State Senator Don Gaetz reminded the Board of Governors that he wanted an independent Polytechnic\u2026and that they\u2019d soon be needing favors from him.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the incoming president of the Senate, I hear it said every year, from people sitting at this table and from the people you hire to come and talk to me — that the best investment in economic development and the future of Florida is higher education,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd like Senator Alexander, I believe that.\u00a0 But if that\u2019s true when you lobby me, then it\u2019s doubly true when the Polytechnic team makes its convincing and compelling case to you,\u201d Gaetz said.<\/p>\n
Students and faculty at USF Polytechnic are trying to make the case that they\u2019re opposed to split. Richard Yost, who represents university faculty on the Board of Governors, read a warning by a USFP faculty member about what would happen if this passed.<\/p>\n
“The current feeling of chaos by the faculty, students and staff, resulting from a perceived disenfranchisement and a feeling of not having their opinions valued will grow, putting the future success of the campus in jeopardy,\u201d Yost said.<\/p>\n
And then, there\u2019s the cost.<\/p>\n
“First of all, as you know, this thing is messed up,” said Board of Governors member and real estate developer John Temple of Boca Raton.<\/p>\n
He was talking about recent news reports that have brought to light questionable spending at USF Polytechnic.<\/p>\n
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USF Polytechnic Chancellor Marshall Goodman approved the purchase of $10,000 in Star Wars, E.T. and other statues.<\/p><\/div>\n
And Temple says the price being charged to construct the first building at USF Polytechnic\u2019s new I-4 campus is outrageous.<\/p>\n
“These projections are not credible. The costs are out of control,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m telling you, I\u2019m looking to USF to clean this up. The president has control\u2026(but she’s) not exercising it.”<\/p>\n
That was a common theme, even among USF President Judy Genshaft\u2019s allies on the board, such as Patricia Frost of Miami Beach.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s your responsibility to be in charge there,\u201d she told Genshaft. \u201cIt\u2019s your branch. You appointed that chancellor.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alexander piled on more criticism of Genshaft and her staff.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe contract for this building was approved by facilities folks in Tampa. So if there\u2019s a problem with this Polytech campus, it gets to the current model for how this thing has been governed,\u201d Alexander said.<\/p>\n
USF officials have said a special state law prevents them from having sufficient control and oversight over USF Polytechnic.<\/p>\n