Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has reportedly initiated a significant push to revamp the state’s higher education system through the Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE).
Recently, his office sent requests to various universities, including the University of North Florida and Santa Fe College, demanding detailed information on grants and research conducted over the past six years.
This effort aligns with broader cost-cutting measures aimed at eliminating wasteful spending in education.
The communications, confirmed by a spokesperson for DeSantis, require universities to provide records of every grant application and agreement, along with concise descriptions of each grant’s purpose.
Additionally, the requests seek information regarding the research tied to those grants, the duration of studies, funding specifics, and the authors’ details, including their names, roles, and salaries.
DeSantis, who previously banned state funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, is focused on targeting what he sees as unnecessary courses that do not improve job prospects for students.
He is particularly interested in reducing funding for programs deemed “ideological studies” that are not aligned with the state’s educational goals.
Critics like David Simmons, a professor at the University of South Florida, have voiced concerns about the extensive resources required to comply with these requests and questioned their necessity, noting that much of this information is already publicly accessible through databases such as Google Scholar.
Meanwhile, Nathaniel Southerland of Santa Fe College expressed confidence that the provided information would demonstrate their commitment to being fiscally responsible with taxpayer money.
Universities are required to submit their responses by April 18, with additional details due by April 30, as the DeSantis administration continues its review of cost efficiency in the state’s higher education system.
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