UF's Board of Trustees will meet today for the first of two days of meetings at Emerson Alumni Hall to do one thing.
They are going to talk about you.
Your tuition. Your classes. Your university.
And as we wonder how the university will grapple with the governor's budget vetoes, Bernie Machen's strategic discussion Friday morning should give us some more specifics.
Trustees often find it puzzling that few students take an active interest in these meetings. This is the place where university regulations, tuition hikes and changes to academic programs are discussed. Some trustees have openly spoken about their desire to engage more students directly, outside of the Student Body President Ben Meyers, who gets to sit on the board.
These meetings are free and open to the public.
Even if attending the meetings is out of the question (classes, work and hangovers can obviously get in the way), reaching out to your state-appointed leaders is a good way to make your voice heard. Even giving Meyers your thoughts wouldn't be a bad idea.
The whole reason why UF exists is because of its mission to educate. So you, the students, the professors and the administrators, are the stakeholders.
So from 12:30 p.m. to about 5 p.m. today and starting at 9:30 a.m. Friday, see if you can stop by to witness the discussion about the future of your university.
The meeting agenda is online at trustees.ufl.edu.
