May 8, 2000

Jeb Bush, Governor State of Florida

Dear Governor Bush:

The Advisory Council of Faculty Senates (ACFS), representing the faculty senates within the State University System, expresses its grave concern about the recent legislation affecting the future of the Board of Regents. In following the course of HB 2263, ACFS members have tried to understand these events within the unique political environment in which the specific recommendations were made. We appreciate your leadership in assuring that the current bill did not enact any immediate changes in the Board of Regents and that there will be three years in which to address the legislative recommendations.

We look forward to your continued leadership on this issue in assuring that there is full and open discussion on the future of the Board of Regents. We believe that a strong university system requires coordinated governance and we have heard no compelling arguments to create independent boards. Upon review of the minutes of the Commissioner's Blue Commission on Education Governance (www.firn.edu/doe/edgovernance/), it is unclear how the "majority recommendations" and "minority recommendations" were so determined. Clearly, a number of the Commission members did not believe that the constitutional amendment concerning education governance dictated abolition of the BOR.

We support the concerns already expressed by the Council of Presidents and Chancellor Herbert and hope that this matter will receive the thorough and reasoned review that it deserves by the future leaders of the Florida Legislature. The ACFS welcomes the opportunity for further input in that regard.

Sincerely,

Richard D. Tucker, Ph.D. 
Professor of Psychology and President, 
Advisory Council of Faculty Senates

Cc: Dr. Adam Herbert Mr. Thomas Petway III Commissioner Charles Gallagher

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