Press Release

Education leaders are calling on the Florida Board of Governors (BOG) to “Save Sociology” and reconsider an amendment that would remove Principles of Sociology as a general education core course option for students. The proposal, which will be voted on at the BOG’s January 24th meeting, comes on the heels of the Florida State Board of Education’s decision to remove it as a core course offering in all Florida colleges.

An extensive survey conducted by faculty organizations in Texas, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina has revealed that faculty leaving those states are unwilling to come to Florida. There is no question that Florida’s future depends on a strong and flourishing higher education system.

UFF chapter at the University of South Florida and three individual faculty members who were laid off from the University of South Florida filed suit in federal court to challenge the SB 266 arbitration ban and to protect union contracts in Florida’s university system. Today, we continue our fight to protect our members and their families, all of whom work every day to make Florida a better place for all people of all beliefs and backgrounds.

Earlier today, the United Faculty of Florida filed suit in state court to challenge the arbitration ban in SB 266, which gives final decision-making authority to university presidents regarding personnel disputes. Without question, there is no justice in allowing the same university leaders who violate contractual agreements to serve as the final arbiters of whether they have acted fairly.

The United Faculty of Florida calls upon Board of Governors Chancellor Rodrigues to step back and allow the search process at Florida Atlantic University to continue unhindered or to immediately resign from his position.

Earlier today, Gov. DeSantis announced that the state of Florida has filed suit against the Biden administration to overturn the higher education accreditation process, not just in Florida but across the country. This afternoon, UFF put out this PRESS RELEASE, wherein we push back against the false claims made by Gov. DeSantis and his supporters. In this release, we defend the right of all higher education classrooms to be free from undue political influence, and we call out the authoritarian tactics of our state’s elected leaders.