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Florida’s public universities are reshaping their general education course rosters to comply with a state law aimed at targeting “woke ideology” in higher education, according to a report.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced state funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs at Florida’s public universities in May 2023 as part of an attack on “woke” influence on education. Signed SB 266, which bans all.
But the law also gives the Florida State University System’s Board of Governors more authority over class roster decisions for the 12 state universities under its jurisdiction, Politico reported.
“The board shall periodically review the mission of each member university and update or modify it as necessary,” SB 266 reads. “Once the mission review is complete, the board shall review existing academic programs for alignment with the mission.”
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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has repeatedly targeted “woke” education. (Photo by Joe Radle/Getty Images)
Under the law, the board is tasked with conducting a comprehensive course review.
“Core general education courses must not include curriculum that distorts important historical events or teaches identity politics,” or “Systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the American system.” And it should not be based on the theory that it was created to maintain “social, political, and economic inequality.”
DeSantis Deputy Press Secretary Julia Friedland told Fox News Digital that under Gov. DeSantis’ leadership, Florida’s higher education system will continue to pursue the university’s classic mission of “pursuing truth and educating students as citizens of this republic.” He said that he is refocusing on “nurturing children.”
“Course on Humanities Perspectives on Gender and Sexuality”[sic]“And magic, sorcery and religion” are not fulfilling the mission of higher education, she added.
According to a report from Politico, hundreds of courses that previously counted towards graduation requirements will become electives.
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A state university in Florida has proposed removing a course focused on race and gender inequality from its general education roster. (Fox News Digital)
For example, the University of Florida has eliminated courses such as “Humanities Perspectives on Gender and Sexuality” and “Social Geography,” as well as “Social Issues,” which examines social issues such as race, gender inequality, and crime. Politico reported that he is proposing to do so. .
At Florida Atlantic University, honors classes such as “Magic, Sorcery, and Religion” and “History of Food and Eating” will be removed from the general education roster.
Executive vice president and provost Mark Rieger told Florida Gulf Coast University trustees in June that course changes could “positively impact student success,” according to minutes. “Offering fewer courses with better resources is better than offering more courses.”
Universities that do not remove general education courses in violation of the law or recommendations from the Board of Regents could lose state education funding.
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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced in May 2023 after the state Legislature passed SB 266, which would ban all state funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs at Florida’s public universities. signed the bill. (Mark Wallheiser/Getty Images)
“You can’t just take taxpayer money and do whatever you want and think it’s somehow okay,” DeSantis said when he signed SB 266 in 2023.
Critics of the move say it is a violation of academic freedom, but Florida State University System President Ray Rodriques told Politico he disagrees with that view.
“Not being able to offer this course at the university is a violation of academic freedom,” Rodriguez said. “No one is saying that in any of these scenarios. What we are saying is that we are defining what general education is.”
“We define it based on what state law says, and we comply with that,” he added. “And I think the court has held that what is designated as the general education curriculum is up to Congress to fund it.”
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Fox News Digital reached out to DeSantis and the board for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
