Florida Board of Governors

The board met late Wednesday night on the University of Central Florida campus in Orlando.

The Florida Board of Governors released draft regulations outlining how it would limit spending on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at the state's colleges and universities.

State Sen. Ray Rodrigues will take the helm of Florida’s state university system, as the Board of Governors on Wednesday unanimously approved the Estero Republican as the successor to outgoing Chancellor Marshall Criser.

The Legislature approved a fund that includes funds for nursing programs at state colleges and nursing education at career and technical centers.

The state is asking a federal judge to shield former Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran from testifying in a battle about a 2021 law requiring surveys of “intellectual freedom and viewpoint diversity” on college and university campuses.

Marshall Criser has served as chancellor of Florida’s university system since 2014. He plans to leave the post at the end of the year.

The governor tapped the former state education commissioner to serve on the state university system’s Board of Governors. The board oversees Florida’s state universities and is responsible for adopting regulations designed to carry out laws related to higher education.

The next president of Florida International University will step in at a time when the school has been growing and climbing in national rankings. Some hope the next leader will break barriers.

The heads of some Florida universities are reminding students and faculty that campus leaders’ “hands are tied” when it comes to taking steps to try to curb the spread of COVID-19 and are trying to work around limitations as the academic year is underway. However, it appears unlikely that university presidents will get increased authority to move forward with stricter COVID-19 policies.

The waivers will likely be offered on a first-come-first-serve basis, and to be eligible, students must meet certain academic requirements.