Bernie Machen is no Britney Spears, but they share a sentiment: Gimme More.
The UF president recently announced funding requests to the Florida Legislature, which will dole out about $1.2 billion in surplus funds in May. UF receives $15 million annually in preeminence funding, but the university is asking for at least $125 million extra.
“The purpose of the preeminence funding is to hire faculty,” UF spokesman Steve Orlando wrote in an email. “We still have needs for construction, pay raises and programs, particularly after years of budget cuts.”
Among Machen’s requests are $15 million for a new chemistry building, $10 million to turn Newell Hall into a study center and $60 million for deferred maintenance on structures around campus.
However, Machen wrote in an email to UF advocacy group Gators for Higher Education, “our highest priority is securing the funds for raises for our excellent faculty and staff.”
All state employees received a 3 percent raise last year, and UF workers got a 5 percent raise on top of that, Orlando said.
Machen also wants $25 million to add a 96,000-square foot Engineering Innovation Nexus Building and to revamp an existing hall, Orlando said. The Innovation Nexus building could boost the number of engineering graduates UF produces as well as support research.
Some of the 2014 legislative priorities were on last year’s list, as well. In 2013, UF got $16.7 million for maintenance and $15 million for the chemistry building.
Along with the funding proposals is $28.2 million in private donations waiting for a match in state funding. The on-pause Alec Courtelis Facilities Matching Program pledges state money equaling any private contributions to a university for building projects.
Gov. Rick Scott will approve or veto Machen’s requests in about a month.
However, Orlando said, it’ll be difficult to get everything UF asked for.
[A version of this story ran on page 5 on 3/21/2014 under the headline "Machen requests more funding from Florida legislature"]
