Norman wants guarantee USF cuts will be limited

State Sen. Jim Norman has a plan to restore millions that budget cutting Sen. JD Alexander proposes to take from USF's budget, but it would mean shifting money from one of Alexander's top projects – a new university in Polk County.

A day after meeting with University of South Florida officials to talk about the proposed cuts, Alexander made it clear on Tuesday he was pushing forward with his plan to replace Lakeland's USF Polytechnic with the new school.

He said he'd talked to Southern Association of Colleges and Schools officials on the key issue of accreditation and was told the first step toward his plan – accreditation for USF Poly – could happen as soon as July.

After that, he said, a "fiduciary board" separate from USF would be appointed to oversee the new "Florida Polytechnic University" and begin moving toward independent accreditation.

He said he had seen Norman's proposed budget amendments but wouldn't say what he thought of them or how they would affect the new university plan.

USF spokesman Michael Hoad said USF doesn't oppose Alexander's plan and never has. The problem is that it shuts down USF Polytechnic and shifts its students, faculty and staff to USF. It also cuts funding for USF's College of Pharmacy.

Norman filed two amendments on Tuesday that would take money from what was set aside for the new university to cover these costs, about $22 million.

He also proposes to restore a portion of what USF would lose in a separate Senate plan to cut $400 million from all 11 state universities. He said USF's cut was disproportionate and filed an amendment that would take about $45 million, which is 25 percent of its state funding and close to what several other universities would lose.

His amendments will come before the full Senate on Thursday.

"At the end of the day, I still have all the confidence in the world that we'll win," Norman said. "Because we're in the right."

Several Tampa area lawmakers have already signed onto his plan, he said, including Sen. Arthenia Joyner, a Tampa Democrat, and Sen. Jack Latvala, a St. Petersburg Republican.

Norman said he's also been talking to House leaders, including Speaker-designate Will Weatherford, a Wesley Chapel Republican. Before the end of the session this month the Senate plan has to be merged with the House plan, which includes more moderate cuts to the universities.

The proposal for hefty cuts give Alexander more to bargain with when he sits down with House leaders in the final budget negotiations.

While not commenting on Norman's amendments on Tuesday, Alexander said he was working with USF to reach an equitable agreement and waiting for details on a few things, such as the pharmacy college and Poly faculty costs.

He referred to what he called a "teach out" period during which current Poly students would finish up their studies. He said he was trying to sort out costs for faculty members who would stay with USF after that or move to the new university.

He said he wanted to make the transition "seamless," but one unanswered question is whether current USF Poly students will be able to finish up in Lakeland or have to go to Tampa.

Many work full time and fear the Tampa campus won't be able to accommodate their need for night classes. Some say they can't get to Tampa at all.

This plan breaks from a process outlined in November by the state university Board of Governors.

It voted to gradually turn USF Poly into an independent university, requiring it to first meet several criteria, including campus accreditation, enrolling more students and constructing new buildings.

But Alexander said the process wasn't moving fast enough.

He blamed USF, saying it was dragging its feet, and it appeared that the budget cut announced last week was a form of punishment.

The meeting on Monday between Alexander and Genshaft, the first in months, was an attempt to ease the hostilities. It appeared to succeed, with both acting calm and cordial afterward and saying they had made progress.

But Alexander said on Tuesday that Polk needs an independent university board, separate from USF, as soon as possible.

"There's no one to speak for the future of Poly today."

He said he had no interest in playing a role of any kind with the new university.

After leaving the Legislature under term limits this year, "I have lots to do, a lot of responsibilities outside my Legislative work."