Staff Writer Camila is a third-year journalism student and the administration reporter on the university desk. When she is not reporting for The Alligator, Camila is always listening to music and probably drinking honey milk tea.
La semana pasada, UF concluyó su investigación interna sobre conflictos de intereses y políticas de actividades externas, y ofreció recomendaciones de políticas para evitar futuros escándalos.
Although the report followed recommendations made by a task force created to reimagine UF’s conflict of interest policies, the proposed changes would still allow the university to bar professors from testifying in the future.
The task force’s final report recommendations stated UF could still deny testimony if it thought professors were engaging in too many outside activities that restrict them from duties at UF.
On its fifth meeting, the task force members unanimously voted in favor of passing the final report to Fuchs Monday afternoon.
First drafted in August, the resolution detailed UF faculty and staff’s dissatisfaction with the state’s and university administration’s COVID-19 policies. Faculty concerns have ranged from in-person teaching requirements without social distancing or masking and vaccination requirements to the school’s lack of flexibility to accommodate at-risk faculty.
Los miembros acordaron dividir la investigación en dos fases para presentar recomendaciones al presidente Fuchs antes de la fecha límite propuesta del 29 de noviembre.
President Fuchs’ Task Force on Outside Activities had its first two meetings last week following heavy scrutiny on UF’s decision to limit eight professors from testifying in lawsuits against the state.
The task force was appointed by President Kent Fuchs and Provost Joe Glover to investigate UF’s written policies on disclosure of outside activities and conflict of interest. The university’s policies came under scrutiny after they were used to bar professors from testifying against the state of Florida.
Marsha McGriff, UF’s new chief diversity officer, will build upon current and previous work, lead diversity, equity and inclusion strategic planning, build a culture of accountability and transparency on progress made, and engage with community leaders and student diversity groups.
If voted in favor, the COVID-19 no-confidence resolution would formalize the faculty and staff’s disappointment in both the state and university leadership’s COVID policies. The vote does not fire anyone in the administration.
Joseph McDugald (middle), 18, UF freshman, is arrested by the University Police Department for refusing to leave an RTS bus in front of the Marston Science Library on Monday, Oct. 26, 2021. He was booked at the Alachua County Jail and released on Tuesday afternoon.
Solutions by The State News
