USF Surprised, Troubled by Proposed Bill That Cuts Campuses Independence -TIM FANNING & MARK SCHREINER, WUSF

Tucked away in a higher education bill moving through the Florida House is a modification that would phase out separate accreditation at two University of South Florida campuses. If adopted, USF St. Petersburg and USF Sarasota-Manatee would lose the hard-earned independence the campuses gained nearly a decade ago. The bill, HB 423, passed through the Post-Secondary Education Subcommittee Wednesday and will go next to a House Appropriations Committee. The move caught many on the St. Petersburg campus by surprise and left them concerned about the campuses long sought-after freedom. Dr. V. Mark Durand, who led St. Petersburg’s accreditation team a decade ago, was troubled that faculty, students and staff were not consulted. http://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/post/usf-surprised-troubled-proposed-bill-cuts-campuses-independence