MEMORANDUM

TO: MARTHA CANTER

FROM: XAVIER DOMINICIS

SUBJECT: RESEARCH ON THE CLOSURE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF

SOUTH FLORIDA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

DATE: 11/1/2020

Background Information

“Home to more than 2,200 students and 130 faculty members, the University of
South Florida College of Education values high-quality education and excellence
in research, teaching and learning” (USF).

The Pinellas Education Foundation detailed to the Tampa Bay Times that USF’s
College of Education has been important in preparing educators for children in the
surrounding counties (Solochek). Edwina Oliver, a principal at a Sarasota
elementary school says that the USF graduates come “ready, passionate, qualified
and energetic to work with students” (Solochek).

Explanation of the Problem

On October 14th, 2020 Provost Ralph Wilcox for the University of South Florida
announced during a faculty meeting the closure of the College of Education
(McCann). The closure of the College of Education will be gradual, allowing
current undergraduate students to finish their degrees (Kumar & Solochek). The
College of Education will become a graduate-only program as a part of the
College of Behavioral and Community Sciences (Alvim).

The closure has created several issues for USF and the community (Alvim). The
greater issue is that the community is hurt by the decrease in educated education
professionals in the education field (Alvim). Staff and instructors will likely be
laid off. The remaining students will suffer from fewer classes and fewer
professors, as the remaining professors leave their now at-risk job for other
positions (Manna-Rea).
Causes of the Problem

The problem has arisen as a result of budget shortfalls due to COVID-19

(Ojdanic). The university justifies this action, by pointing to the 63% decrease in
students seeking undergraduate education degrees at USF in the last 10 years
(Currall, Wilcox & Ponticell). “Officials said the change would save $6.8 million
over two years. But university officials sought to portray it more as a restructuring
to meet changing needs than a budget cut” (Kumar et al.). USF is estimated to be
receiving an 8.5% cut in state funding (Alvim). As a result, USF plans on cutting
$37.6 million this fiscal year with more cuts to come in the next fiscal year
(Ojdanic).

Impacted Population

The most directly impacted population as a result of this decision is the children.
Amanda Sabean an elementary education major tells the Crow’s Nest, she would
not be “nearly as prepared for full-time teaching” without the courses and the field
experiences she received (Ojdanic). The education field has had struggles, there is
a shortage of qualified applicants for teaching positions in the area (Solochek).
Pinellas school superintendent Mike Grego states there is a “real and significant
teacher shortage” (Solochek). Currently, a quarter of Pinellas schools hires come
from USF (Kumar et al.). 1,887 out of 5,000 educators in Pasco County are USF
graduates. USF College of Education is a program that benefits the community by
providing a needed pipeline of educated teachers to local schools (Solochek).

The closure of the USF College of Education is a failure to uphold the stated
mission of the school (USF). An excerpt of the mission statement states:

USF, in partnership with our communities, serves the people of Florida,

the nation, and the world by fostering intellectual inquiry and outcomes
that positively shape the future - regionally, nationally and globally. (USF)

This decision is a failure in upholding the school’s partnership with the

community, its goal of serving the people of Florida and its goal of fostering
intellectual inquiry and outcomes that positively shape the future of our region
(USF). This failure will hurt our community by deepening an education crisis
(Solochek). Ultimately, the school will suffer too, as the next generation of
students in our region will be underserved as result of this decision. Fewer
students will attend university because their educational foundation is lacking.
The next generation of students who do attend university will struggle more in
completing their degrees. This decision has a real impact to our community.

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 Works Cited

Alvim, Leda. “USF Eliminates Undergraduate Education Programs, Transitions College to a

Graduate School of Education.” The Oracle, University of South Florida, 15 Oct. 2020,

www.usforacle.com/2020/10/15/usf-eliminates-undergraduate-education-programs-

transitions-college-to-a-graduate-school-of-education/.

Currall, Steve, et al. “USF: We're Committed to Teacher Education, but Things Must Change:

Column.” Tampa Bay Times, Times Publishing Company, 27 Oct. 2020,

www.tampabay.com/opinion/2020/10/27/usf-were-committed-to-teacher-education-but-

things-must-change-column/.

Kumar, Divya, and Jeffrey S. Solochek. “USF Will Close Its College of Education Due to Budget

Cuts.” Tampa Bay Times, Times Publishing Company, 15 Oct. 2020,

www.tampabay.com/news/education/2020/10/15/usf-will-close-its-college-of-education-

due-to-budget-cuts-reports-say/.

Kumar, Divya, and Jeffrey S. Solochek. “'We Need Teachers.' USF, Districts at Odds over

College of Education Cuts.” Tampa Bay Times, Tampa Bay Company, 28 Oct. 2020,

www.tampabay.com/news/education/2020/10/27/we-need-teachers-usf-districts-at-odds-

over-college-of-education-cuts/.

Manna-Rea, Jorgelina. “College of Education Students Confused by Sudden Defunding of

Programs, Considering Transferring Universities.” The Oracle, University of South

Florida, 21 Oct. 2020, www.usforacle.com/2020/10/21/college-of-education-students-

confused-by-sudden-defunding-of-programs-considering-transferring-universities/.

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Manna-Rea, Jorgelina. “USF Students in Disbelief at the Elimination of the College of

Education.” The Oracle, University of South Florida, 16 Oct. 2020,

www.usforacle.com/2020/10/16/usf-students-in-disbelief-of-the-elimination-of-the-

college-of-education/.

McCann, Nancy. “USF to Close College of Education.” The Crow's Nest at USF St. Petersburg,

University of South Florida, 14 Oct. 2020, crowsneststpete.com/2020/10/14/usf-to-close-

college-of-education/.

Ojdanic, Sophie. “College of Education to Cut $6.8 Million, Transition to Graduate School.” The

Crow's Nest at USF St. Petersburg, University of South Florida, 30 Oct. 2020,

crowsneststpete.com/2020/10/15/college-of-education-to-cut-6-8-million-transition-to-

graduate-school/.

Ojdanic, Sophie. “Farewell to the College of Education.” The Crow's Nest at USF St. Petersburg,

University of South Florida, 30 Oct. 2020, crowsneststpete.com/2020/10/18/farewell-to-

the-college-of-education/.

Solochek, Jeffrey S. “Tampa Bay School Districts Turn up Pressure on USF to Keep Teaching

Programs.” Tampa Bay Times, Times Publishing Company, 30 Oct. 2020,

www.tampabay.com/news/education/2020/10/30/tampa-bay-school-districts-turn-up-

pressure-on-usf-to-keep-teaching-programs/.

USF. “College of Education’s Online Graduate Programs Climb 14 Points in U.S. News

Rankings.” College of Education, 2020, www.usf.edu/education/about-us/news/2020/us-

news-rankings-online-grad-programs-2020.aspx.

USF. “Mission and Goals.” About USF, University of South Florida, www.usf.edu/about-

usf/mission-vision.aspx.