TAKE ACTION against secret searches for deans, provosts, presidents

The House Education Committee will hear HB 351 on Thursday, April 6, 2017, at 8:00 am. This bill—sponsored by Representative Bob Rommel (R) Naples —will create an exemption from public record and public meeting requirements for information associated with the applicant recruitment process and discussions associated with the applicant search for president, vice president, provost, or dean of any state university or FCS institution.

What Can You Do
Please call committee members at their district or Tallahassee office today and ask them to vote NO on HB 351. Calling is more effective than e-mails, but any contact is needed now. Do not use university or college computers or phones to make such requests.

Talking Points

• Secrecy is not in the best interest of our universities and colleges, especially when it comes to choosing the leadership.
• The people of the state of Florida—especially students and their parents—deserve the right to know how their tax dollars are being spent and how major decisions that affect these public institutions are made.
• Barbara Petersen, President of the First Amendment Foundation: “To shield the selection process from public oversight and accountability is, we believe, bad public policy.” (2015)
• The UFF Senate has unanimously opposed such legislation.