State universities get boost in funding for top faculty

TALLAHASSEE — Florida universities will share $151 million next year that will allow them to recruit top-level researchers and improve professional and graduate schools.

The Legislature, in the budget it approved Sunday, increased funding for the World Class Faculty and Scholar Program by $20 million to $91 million and the State University Professional and Graduate Degree Excellence Program by $10 million to $60 million.

At the same time, Gov. Rick Scott signed legislation (SB 4) that will make the world-class faculty and professional-degree programs a permanent part of the funding formula for the 12 state universities.

Funding for the faculty program is meant for recruitment and retention of top professors and researchers. The money also can be used to increase the commercialization of university research, support undergraduate research and pay for postdoctoral fellowships.

With the increase, funding for the schools is expected to total: University of Florida, $16.8 million; Florida State University, $15 million; University of Central Florida, $14.6 million; University of South Florida, $13.45 million; Florida International University, $9.3 million; Florida Atlantic University, $5.7 million; University of North Florida, $4.1 million; Florida Gulf Coast University, $3.2 million; New College of Florida, $2.7 million; Florida A&M University, $2.6 million; University of West Florida, $2.6 million; and Florida Polytechnic, $860,000.

The professional degree program is meant to boost the quality of Florida’s medical, law and graduate business schools. The money can be used to hire faculty, recruit students, increase research and “other strategic endeavors to elevate the national and global prominence” of the schools.

With the increase, funding for the schools is expected to total: UF, $16.7 million; Florida State, $11.3 million; Florida International, $10.9 million; USF, $6.9 million; UCF, $5.2 million; FAU, $2.7 million; FAMU, $2.3 million; UNF, $1.8 million; Florida Gulf Coast, $1.6 million; and the University of West Florida, $750,000.