Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the reappointment of James W. “Bill” Heavener to the UF Board of Trustees Wednesday. DeSantis’ appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
The reappointment comes amidst an ongoing California federal court case, which accused Heavener of defrauding the government by inflating numbers of post-graduate employment at two colleges he manages, the Los Angeles Film School and Full Sail University in Winter Park.
The case, filed in 2024, alleges the institutions paid employers to hire graduates for short term jobs. By doing so, the colleges reached the 70% post graduation employment rate needed to qualify for additional federal funding, according to court documents.
Heavener has continued to serve on the UF Board of Trustees since 2013 and is the CEO of The Heavener Company. In 2007, Heavener made a seven-million dollar donation towards Gator athletics. He also donated an undisclosed amount for Heavener Hall in the Warrington College of Business.
The university announced in 2019 it would name its football training facility after him.
At the time charges against Heavener were filed, he declined to comment on the case. His lawyer made a motion to dismiss the case due to what he believed to be a lack of evidence. His lawyer also cited the two complainants previously signing settlement agreements and pointed out the complaint didn’t fall into the False Claims Act statute of limitations.
Along with being a member of the Board of Trustees, Heavener is a member of the Tim Tebow Foundation Board of Directors, the UF Alumni Association Board of Directors and the UF Foundation Board of Directors.
Contact Nevaeh at nbakerharris@alligator.org. Follow her on X @nbakerharris.
