TAMPA - If UF officials had their way, they would have the ability to offer academic programs around the state - both in online and face-to-face formats.
The Board of Governors, the governing body of the state's universities, wishes to regulate such an activity.
"As with most regulations," said UF Provost Joe Glover, "the devil is in the details."
At a meeting Thursday at the University of South Florida, board members and presidents from several state universities sounded off on a proposed regulation that would address universities setting up academic programs outside their geographical regions and, more specifically, in another university's territory.
The proposed regions are based on the state's economic development regions, which are outlined by Enterprise Florida, Florida's official economic development organization.
UF's region consisting of 13 North Central Florida counties, including Alachua, Marion and Levy counties.
UF Trustee and Faculty Senate Chair Scott Nygren said in his view, the university's mission is to serve the state as a whole.
"Our region is Florida," he said.
The board agreed to let a task force, which includes Glover, work on the details.
The regulation was not up for approval, but the board voted to publicly notice the proposal, or open the regulation up for public comment prior to considering it for a vote.
UF officials, some other university presidents and even some board members balked at the move, worrying it would send a public message that the regulation was speeding to approval faster than it should, especially as much of the details may change by the final draft.
"We're going to create a lot of angst in the dialogue," said board member Tico Perez.
UF President Bernie Machen said there were many issues to iron out in the regulation's language before opening the proposal up to public comment.
"We have not had a chance, in the very complicated areas, to have a real dialogue," he said.
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences has had outposts in all of Florida's 67 counties for years - a situation UF officials believe would raise issues under a new regulation. And with UF's continued pursuit to expand its distance education programs, officials feel the regulation should properly address online classes.
Under the proposed regulation, a university looking to establish an academic program outside its region would have to seek approval from the local university's president in the outside region. In the case of a disagreement, concerns would be brought before the Board of Governors for mediation.
Frank Brogan, chancellor of the State University System, said the board's intent is not to stifle a university's ability to branch out.
"It's not meant to create a bureaucratic entanglement that will last forever," he said.
He also noted the state wishes to curb the duplication of efforts as a way to save resources. He cited UF's pharmacy program at St. Petersburg College as an example.
With a new pharmacy school established at nearby University of South Florida, Brogan questioned whether it was in the state's best interest to have these two programs in the same place.
"Is that good business?" he said.
It's no secret that the issue is a touchy one among the state's university presidents.
A panel of university presidents remained quiet, with eyes down, as board chairwoman Ava Parker asked them if they could communicate with each other on any upcoming projects that may cause some conflict - something Florida Atlantic University President Mary Jane Saunders asked for as a matter of courtesy while the regulation continues to be discussed.
"I'm looking around at everyone to make sure we're on the same page," she said. "And no one's looking, so that's suggesting that we're not on the same page."
