UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA FACULTY 
SEEKS ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP TO 
MATCH ATHLETIC LEADERSHIP

May 8, 2000

In the 1990's the University of Florida achieved national prominence in multiple sports because of excellent leadership in these disciplines. During this time the University recruited a high-caliber football coach, Steve Spurrier, who quickly attracted and developed a team that went on to win a national championship. Becky Burleigh, recognized as having developed the best women's soccer team in the United States, was also recruited by the University of Florida. Lon Kruger was hired as men's basketball coach, and shortly thereafter led the team to its first Final Four appearance. To replace Kruger, the University of Florida recruited Billy Donovan, a top level basketball coach who, in only a few years, built a team which competed for the national championship. Superb leadership and excellence in their chosen sports lead to these successes.

The University of Florida Faculty recognizes and appreciates the efforts and energy expended to recruit these leaders on the sporting field. Likewise the Faculty would like to extend this insistence on excellent leadership to the University of Florida President's search.

The State of Florida is in the process of recruiting an appropriate replacement for former President John Lombardi who stepped down last August. After two of the original six candidates removed their names from consideration the Faculty Senate voted 44-7 to request Florida's Chancellor and Board of Regents extend the search for our next leader. This Resolution passed by the Senate was signed individually by several hundred faculty members.

This Resolution signals determination on the part of the faculty to uphold its responsibilities to both the people of Florida and the University of Florida to seek excellence in leadership in every part of the University, including the President's office.

The University of Florida has more than 43,000 students, 23 colleges and schools and 100 research, service and education centers. As one of the nation's most comprehensive universities, the Gainesville campus contains Medical, Law, Veterinary, Dental, Pharmacy, Business and Architecture colleges within walking distance of each other. Funded research in 1998 exceeded $280 million. Last year the University of Florida attracted 165 Merit Scholars, making it seventh among all U.S. institutions of higher education. Only the most qualified of the State of Florida's high school seniors earn admittance to the University of Florida.

Over the past two decades the University of Florida has made tremendous strides, but the Faculty realizes that everyone involved with the institution must aspire to ever higher goals, to expect more from themselves and from their leadership. It is in this spirit of commitment to nationally recognized improvement, on behalf of the citizens of Florida, that the Faculty has sought to extend the search for its new president.

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