The voices of The Gator Nation can make a difference. Your voice can make a difference. The University of Florida needs YOU! Join the growing grassroots advocacy network called Gators for Higher Education that engages alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents and friends to serve as advocates for the University of Florida to ensure support from the state. With more than 300,000 UF alumni worldwide, the impact of YOUR voice is significant!
Become a member of Gators for Higher Education. We will provide you with the latest facts, figures and breaking news so you can be educated and effective!
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Go find out! Go get involved! Go make a difference! Go Gators!
Letter from President Machen
Dear Gator Nation,
The Florida Legislature begins its 2011 session on March 8, and once again we are facing a tight budget year. The University of Florida has already seen its state budget allocation cut by more than $150 million in the past three years, and it is more important than ever that elected officials hear our messages.
In that area, I need your help.
Our top priorities this year include funding for our base budget and preventing reductions in state employee benefits to allow UF the ability to attract and retain world-class faculty and be competitive with peer universities. We are also seeking money for economic development projects that can help create jobs and develop a new innovation economy for the state of Florida. The projects include the UF Research and Academic Center at Lake Nona in Orlando, the High Tech Corridor, and the Innovation Hub, an incubator for turning UF research into products.
We hope and anticipate that Gators for Higher Education will be just as helpful this spring as it has been in past legislative sessions. Last year, our 5,300 members had more than 40,000 communications, which certainly made a difference.
With a new administration in Tallahassee and new leadership in the House and Senate, it is vital for us to keep on top of issues affecting our University.
Your voice, your connection to your local lawmakers and your loyalty and love for UF can make a huge difference for this University.
Legislative committees are already meeting in Tallahassee to determine priorities and develop the budget, so we need your involvement now.
I look forward to working closely with you and the members of Gators for Higher Education this spring.
