Florida’s Higher Ed “Splintered System” has Roots in Jeb Bush-Era Abolishment of the Board of Regents | Scathing Purple Musings

Florida’s Higher Ed “Splintered System” has Roots in Jeb Bush-Era Abolishment of the Board of Regents | Scathing Purple Musings:

Florida’s Higher Ed “Splintered System” has Roots in Jeb Bush-Era Abolishment of the Board of Regents

by Bob Sikes

I made this post Sunday regarding former Florida university chancellor Charlie Reed’s highly critical speech of the state’s system. The St. Petersburg Times published his remarks. Reed called Florida’s system, “splintered.”

Fifteen years ago, I was part of the Business-Higher Education Partnership group that put out a landmark report on higher education in Florida called “The Emerging Catastrophe and How to Prevent It.” The report detailed an expected surge in enrollment and how the system was being underfunded at a critical time. It also called for more efficiency and less duplication to create a more effective system.

If I had to write that report today, I’d call it “A Splintered System.” There is no cohesive mission or