SACS: New Poly university could be unaccredited for six long years

Posted Mar 6, 2012 by Lindsay Peterson

Updated Mar 6, 2012 at 06:48 PM

It’s clear now there will be a new university in Polk County separate from USF – unless Gov. Rick Scott vetoes it.

Something else is clear with a letter from the accrediting agency SACS to USF President Judy Genshaft.

It could take six years for the new institution to gain accreditation – meaning that for up to six years, it’s going to have to figure out how to attract students and teachers who don’t mind being part of an unaccredited university.

If the Legislature, however, had stayed with the Board of Governors’ plan for USF to gradually build up the USF Polytechnic campus, Polk could have gained an independent and accredited university in as little as two years – and in the interim the students would still be covered by USF’s accreditation.

Accreditation is huge.

The new university students “would not be eligible for financial aid,” SACS president Belle Wheelan wrote to Genshaft.

“In addition, because the process is lengthy and because an applicant institution may not undertake a substantive change during the process, the institution would have to place on hold any significantly different programs or other changes it might wish to make until it gained accreditation.”

So it will essentially have to operate at an introductory level during these unaccredited years.

By far, she wrote, the quickest path to full fledged, accredited independence would be for USF Polytechnic to stay under USF while it grows. She noted it had already taken big steps toward accreditation.

But that’s not going happen now, because Sen. JD Alexander thought USF was taking too long.

Ironic, isn’t it.

You can read the letter here.

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Braised Pig Tails, Smoked Sizzling Oysters And A Droolius Burger [This Week’s Weekend Eats]

Posted Mar 5, 2012 by Jeff Houck

Updated Mar 5, 2012 at 04:56 PM

Joan Nova is a frequent contributor to Weekend Eats each Monday.

A few weeks back, her photo of a compote made of winter fruits and served with a side of pancake muffins won the week’s contest for a free prize

And now her photo of Seafood Mofongo from last weekend has won this week’s contest.

See what I did there?

It’s simple math.

Joan + food + photo + e-mail = [possible prize]

Which is my less than subtle and slightly snotty way of saying, “WE ENCOURAGE YOU EVERY MONDAY TO SEND IN PHOTOS TO WEEKEND EATS!”

Subtle enough? Good.

What does Joan win this week?

“How to Cook Everything: The Basics,” by Mark Bittman. It doesn’t come out until March 19. but Joan gets it early. Why? BECAUSE THAT’S HOW WE ROLL!

The competition was fierce this week. Heck, it’s fierce every week. Other contributions include:

@RobinRipley - Roasted baby beet salad with goat cheese and homemade oat wheat bread toasts

@Nel_Bringsjord - Chile rellenos at Haciendas in Clearwater! Best in town! Only I make them as good but way too much work!

@SaintPetersblog - Tried the new @WoodFiredTampa in the ‘burg: Great vibe, smart cheese plate, but the pizza? Ehh.

@FindEatDrink - “Dung-Po” Braised Pork Belly. The recipe came from an Aussie website. Slow-cooked, sweet, rich and tender.

@karenmcallister - Strawberry Shortcake @FLStrawberryFst . Yum!

@otmdish - Testing new dry rub: Griled Strip Steak (with mushrooms of course) 1st beef in months.

A new development: Each week’s winners will now be displayed in the new Weekend Eats Pinterest gallery.

It’s very prestigious. and all of about 5 hours old. BECAUSE THAT’S HOW WE ROLL!

Sorry, I can’t stop saying that.

Here’s this week’s Gallery of Noms. Click on each photo to get a description:

 

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USF Poly student speaks out on being dissed in Tallahassee

Posted Mar 5, 2012 by Lindsay Peterson

Updated Mar 5, 2012 at 05:29 PM

USF Polytechnic students are still feeling the sting of being rebuked by several Florida senators three weeks ago, when they boarded buses in the dark for the five-hour trip to Tallahassee.

One by one, those who waited until the very end of the Senate Budget Committee meeting stood to speak. They questioned proposed tuition hikes, USF cuts and plans to shut down USF Poly to create a new university in Polk.

Some senators thanked them for the concern, but others, including Evelyn Lynn and JD Alexander dismissed their complaints, implying they didn’t understand the situation well enough to have a right to an opinion.

One of those students, Damon Dennis, USF Poly’s student government president, had his say in the Lakeland Ledger over the weekend.

Focusing on the question of Poly’s independence, Dennis wrote that few in the legislature have shown any interest in what the roughly 1,300 students on campus think about their campus being shut down - even though it will “turn our lives upside down.”

“We are told that it is possible for students to finish out their degrees here in Lakeland, but at a different location. However, no such location has been allocated or accounted for….”

“Students are distraught over the fact that they are being rudely disregarded and forced to be collateral damage in this game of personal agendas. However, this will not stop us from doing everything we can to save our school, education and future.”

You can read Dennis’ op-ed piece here.

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State cuts could devastate new pharmacy college at critical time

Posted Mar 1, 2012 by Lindsay Peterson

Updated Mar 1, 2012 at 12:53 PM

The dean of USF’s College of Pharmacy told USF’s board of trustees today that this is the worst time possible for the state to be messing with funding for the new college.

Accreditation officials will soon be visiting the new program and “I know for a fact that they are paying attention,” said Dean Kevin Sneed.

Also, the college has already lost at least one faculty recruit.

The Senate relented last week on a plan to eliminate the college’s $6 million budget. The money is part of the USF Polytechnic budget, which would be eliminated to create a brand new university in Polk County under a Senate plan.

Senators agreed to restore $3 million, but that’s not enough to support the program, Sneed said.

Faculty and staff salaries alone are $4.2 million a year.

At a fragile time in the college’s growth, this is a potentially devastating blow to the college, Sneed said.

The House and Senate are still trying to bang out a final state budget, and USF keeps pushing to get the other $3 million back.

Without it the college would take a huge step backward, after doubling the number of students to more than 100 next year, Sneed said.

It would be “unprecedented,” he said.

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USF Pharm students protest cuts; invite public to see what’s at stake

Posted Feb 29, 2012 by Lindsay Peterson

Updated Feb 29, 2012 at 11:54 AM

USF Pharmacy College students have invited the public to visit the college today to see and hear what’s at stake in the budget negotiations now going on in Tallahassee.

A Senate plan would have cut the college’s $6 million funding. They got back $3 million in a compromise worked out last week, but budget negotiations have been rocky and there’s no telling what will happen next.

The students and Pharmacy College Dean Kevin Sneed are gathering at 1:30 at the college, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, near the Shimberg Health Sciences Library across the street from James A Haley Veterans’ Hospital.

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