I am not belittling the operational strains on classroom instruction and academic advising. Our faculty are asked to take on ever greater responsibility. At the same time, however, these students provide additional growth funding to permit the hiring of faculty in critical disciplinary and interdisciplinary areas. The academy continues to be revitalized. Contrast this with universities where new hires have been nonexistent for years and departing faculty are not replaced.
Few things stimulate a department and a college like new faculty.
We have been able to attract faculty of the highest caliber to this college, and the results are becoming ever more clear. Many good things are going on in CLAS at this time. Our external research funding is at record levels. Private giving is also at an all time high, as UF prepares for the official Kickoff of the new capital campaign later this month. We have many new academic initiatives in the CLAS departments, too many to even mention here.