Florida bill would end diversity programs, ban majors, shift power at universities [View all]
Florida bill would end diversity programs, ban majors, shift power at universities
Tampa Bay Times, 2/23/2023
A bill filed this week in the Florida House would turn many of Gov. Ron DeSantis wide-ranging ideas on higher education into law by limiting diversity efforts, vastly expanding the powers of university boards and altering course offerings.
House Bill 999, filed by Rep. Alex Andrade, R-Pensacola, proposes leaving all faculty hiring to boards of trustees, allowing a faculty members tenure to be reviewed at any time, and removing majors or minors in subjects like critical race theory and gender studies. It would also prohibit spending on activities that promote diversity, equity and inclusion and create new general education requirements.
DeSantis administration has been alluding to legislation like this for weeks. In early January, his budget office required all universities to detail what they spend on diversity, equity and inclusion programs. And on Jan. 31, the governor held a news conference announcing a sweeping package of changes that mirror those in Andrades bill.
...
General education courses, the bill says, may not suppress or distort significant historical events or include a curriculum that teaches identity politics, such as Critical Race Theory, or defines American history as contrary to the creation of a new nation based on universal principles stated in the Declaration of Independence. It spells out communications, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and math courses that may count as general education credits.
https://www.tampabay.com/news/education/2023/02/23/florida-bill-would-end-diversity-programs-ban-majors-shift-power-universities/
No paywall:
https://archive.ph/8AWrK