Academic Freedom in Peril in Florida: 'Bracing for Its Demise'
In a recent survey conducted by the Georgia branch of the American Association of University Professors, over 2,900 professors from 12 states, including Florida, shared their concerns about the impact of the political climate on their careers.
The survey, headed by Conference President Matthew Boedy, focused on political interference in academia, such as tenure limits and political vetting of course materials. One of the key findings was that Florida professors are leaving their institutions due to issues surrounding tenure, academic freedom, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and the overall political climate.
The state Legislature passed the Stop WOKE Act in 2022, which allows the state to forbid college professors from criticizing the governor or teaching concepts surrounding race, racism, and privilege. This legislation has raised concerns among professors about their academic freedom and the ability to teach critical topics.
One professor shared that they left a "BIG FL state school in Orlando" because the school "did not defend academic freedom" and did not provide a pay raise for the 2023-2024 school year. Another expressed concern about being censored from teaching about Jewishness due to state data mining of course materials.
The survey also revealed that more than 80% of professors at Florida public institutions do not recommend graduate work in Florida. This sentiment is likely influenced by the ongoing political and policy pressures, as professors appear to be adopting a cautious approach to their career outlooks and job applications.
In response to these concerns, the state has implemented post-tenure review, which puts tenured professors under review every five years to determine their "productivity." If deemed unsatisfactory, a professor can be terminated. As a result, 64 professors who did not meet expectations must show improvement during the next year, or face termination. More severe, 10 faculty members statewide had "unsatisfactory" performance and were terminated.
Despite these challenges, Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis claims that the state's universities are "bringing in huge amounts of talent" and that the implementation of post-tenure review is allowing academia to focus on its classical mission of pursuing truth and preparing students to be citizens of this republic.
However, the survey results suggest that the political climate in Florida is having a significant impact on the academic community. Over 80% of professors surveyed said they would not recommend a graduate student or out-of-state faculty seek employment in Florida. Moreover, more than two-thirds of respondents said the effect has been a reduction in applications to join their departments or institutions.
The survey also found that across all states, a majority of respondents were deeply dissatisfied with the state of higher education, and 48.9% have noticed a decrease in the number of applicants for professor jobs. Popular destinations for these professors include California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, and New York.
Education policy expert Matthew Boedy, an associate professor at the University of North Georgia, conducted the survey to understand the impacts of attacks on higher education and to show that these attacks have real impacts. Boedy's survey results underscore the need for a balanced approach to education policy that supports both academic freedom and the pursuit of truth.
References:
- Florida's Political Interventions in Education
- National and State-level Confidence in Higher Education
- Despite Governor Ron DeSantis' claims, the survey results indicate that the political climate in Florida is negatively impacting the academic community, with over 80% of professors surveyed advising against seeking employment in Florida.
- In light of concerns about political interferences such as tenure limits, academic freedom issues, and the Stop WOKE Act, many professors are considering education and self-development opportunities in states like California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, and New York. The financial implications of this shift could have a significant impact on the overall education landscape.
