Gov. Rick Scott discussed his budgeting plans for UF and toured the university’s Nanoscale Research Facility during a press conference Monday morning.
State senators, UF officials and students filled the facility lobby as they listened to Scott declare his support of making UF one of the top 10 public universities in the nation.
Scott said he plans to give UF about $15 million annually for the next five years.
“At the end of that timeframe, we will have a top 10 university,” he said.
Although the budget plan still needs legislative approval, Scott said investing in UF will create more jobs throughout the state.
UF President Bernie Machen said Scott’s support for UF displays his commitment to education.
“He recognizes the inextricable link between education and economic development,” he said.
Cammy Abernathy, dean of the College of Engineering, said investments like the bonus have allowed her college to be among the best in the country and will make Florida “the home of the next great high-tech hub.”
UF spokeswoman Janine Sikes said if the budget is approved, the university plans to match the $15 million.
UF Student Body President Tj Villamil said the majority of the money will be spent on hiring more faculty members.
“We will reduce the faculty-to-student ratio because that is one of the only metrics that we are not with our peers on,” he said. “That is the one thing we are lacking in.”
Villamil, 23, said he believes the bonus will help make UF a top 10 school.
“I think we already are on the caliber of the top 10,” he said. “But we need the financial resources to really push us over the edge.”
Machen said UF will have to meet requirements for the next five years to receive the annual bonus.
“The governor has made it very clear that performance counts, and we like to play in a ballgame where performance really does matter,” he said.
Machen added the governor’s interest in making UF a top 10 school was the reason he stayed president.
“It was an unbelievable moment,” he said. “I could not pass it up.”
Among other budget plans, Scott said he wants to disperse $3.8 billion for public universities and $1.1 billion for state colleges.
Although Scott selected UF for the $15 million bonus, he said he would work with any state university that wanted to be in the top 10 nationally.
Scott said he made tough budgeting choices during the past two years, and now, he added, was time to make “smart” choices.
“This is just the beginning,” he said.
Gov. Rick Scott speaks to a UF senior during his tour of the university’s Nanoscale Research Facility. Scott plans to give UF about $15 million annually for the next five years.
