Through no fault of our own, higher education and the world writ large were metaphorically without vision and clarity of sight for the initial few months of the COVID-19 global health crisis as we all tried to stand up protocols, processes, and systems to better identify how our institutions could continue forward safely -- supporting both our…

Wing (2010) says computational thinking (CT) is the "new literacy of the 21st century" (p. 3), but yet computational thinking does not have a widely accepted definition making it difficult to know what are its associated skills. Understanding what these skills are is important to be able to teach this new literacy. Various populations…

This report results from a partnership between the State of Florida and College Measures. It focuses on the median first-year earnings of recent graduates and completers from Florida's public postsecondary educational institutions: SUS, FCS, and DTCs. The report documents the variation in first-year earnings for completers who earned degrees or…

A policy analysis of Florida's 10-factor Performance-Based Funding system for state universities. The focus of the article is on the system of performance metrics developed by the state Board of Governors and their impact on institutions and their missions. The paper also discusses problems and issues with the metrics, their ongoing evolution, and…

The invention of Hispanic-serving Institutions (HSIs) in the 1980s was grounded in the theory that institutions enrolling a large concentration of Latino students would adapt their institutional practices to serve these students better. Specifically, critical mass theory suggests once a definable group reaches a certain size within an…

In this fifth brief in "Excelencia" in Education's series on Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) the focus is on the methods and strategies that are producing successful results in a growing sector of colleges and universities we call, "Emerging" Hispanic-Serving Institutions. These Emerging HSIs are institutions that…

This article suggests that previous bans on race-based affirmative action have done serious damage to black enrollments at the U.S.'s "flagship" public universities. In some cases, black enrollments have rebounded somewhat, but enrollments are still far below the level that prevailed prior to the bans. Only Texas, with its 10 Percent…

This article is an account of winning the battle for collective bargaining in the state university system of Florida. (Author)

This report analyzes the administration of student financial aid programs in Florida's state universities and community colleges. The analysis was conducted by reviewing documents, receiving public testimony, conferring with state-level agencies and institutions, surveying directors of financial aid offices, and surveying students. An introductory…

The results of an evaluation of the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS) are discussed. Surveys were conducted with the institutional liaison officers to SCNS, as well as with faculty members and department chairs. The uniform course numbering system is designed to enhance articulation, particularly the efficient movement of students…

A view is presented concerning the Florida Sunshine Law as it applies to the issue of personnel recruitment in higher education administration at state-sponsored institutions. Consideration is given to the literature and personal experience with candidates for a state university administrative position and the associated search committee members.…

Florida's new standards for college admission are outlined and support and criticism from the academic and general community are discussed. Among the issues are unevenness of pre-collegiate academic experience, increased barriers to minority group access and success, and the ability of the new standards to assure equivalent undergraduate…

Florida is becoming a favored environment for the college fund raiser. Fund-raising statistics suggest that Florida relies on donors who are not their alumni, and an increasing number are older citizens who have moved to the state or who spend the winter months there. (MLW)

Discusses what has happened to black enrollment at flagship state universities and graduate schools in five states in which race-neutral admissions have been mandated by law (Washington, Georgia, Texas, Florida, and California). Suggests that under a nationwide ban on affirmative action, black students would be largely eliminated from top…

The new requirement that Florida state college sophomores pass a four-part academic skills test before qualifying for an associate's degree or continuing as juniors is outlined, the recent history of the new regulation is discussed, and the skills tested in the program are listed. (MSE)