Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, urged the State University System Board of Governors to reject the University of South Florida Polytechnic’s bid to become an independent university in a stern letter sent Tuesday.
“This is not the time to authorize an additional university anywhere in the state,” Fasano said in a letter to State University System Chancellor Frank Brogan, citing concern over a projected $2 billion shortfall and the quick timeline for approving the new university.
The idea to make USF Polytechnic independent from the University of South Florida system was only broached for the first time this summer.
The State University System Board of Governors is set to make a decision about whether to allow USF Polytechnic to become independent on Wednesday.
Fasano’s letter puts him at odds with Sen. JD Alexander, R-Lake Wales, the head of the powerful Senate budget committee and a big cheerleader for USF Polytechnic.
“Despite the push by a few individuals to create a separate university, it is my opinion this is being done for all the wrong reasons,” Fasano wrote.
