Florida State University officials want to use a new designation to help the school increase its profile. FSU and the University of Florida are so-called “preeminent” schools, making them eligible for more state funding.
FSU President Eric Barron told the state university oversight board Wednesday that he wants to use the money to hire high-profile faculty members in the areas of science and technology.
“We see the important and emphasis on STEM to the state, and we know, because of the strengths we have, that we can go a long way. We’re not going to give up the strengths we have in other areas,” he said.
Some Florida Board of Governors members question whether FSU is focusing too much on STEM at the expense of other programs. The legislature created the “preeminent” designation to reward schools that achieve certain benchmarks.
