Board of Trustees

The university's Board of Trustees criticized a push to postpone Stuart Bell’s confirmation, saying it caused “collateral damage” that was “frustrating” and “disappointing.”

Board chair Alan Levine wrote a letter saying Stuart Bell would not be confirmed until “governance issues” at the University of Florida are reviewed.

The unanimous vote is the latest step in a process that still needs approval by the State University System Board of Governors, which rejected the school's previous choice in 2025.

In addition to selecting the former UF and Ohio State coach, the governor reappointed Mark Bauerlein and Debra Jenks to the board of the Sarasota school. Appointments require state Senate confirmation.

Donald Landry, whose term is set to begin Sept. 1, must be confirmed by the state university system’s Board of Governors next month.

Former University of West Florida President Dr. Judy Bense and two other representing the UWF community spoke out Thursday against three UWF Board of Trustees appointees during their first confirmation hearing.

Scott Yenor, who was appointed to the UWF Board of Trustees by Gov. Ron DeSantis has resigned.

Scott Yenor has faced a backlash because of what Fine and other Jewish lawmakers have alleged were anti-Semitic comments. Also, he has faced criticism for comments about women.

The board elected leadership that cements a conservative majority, raising questions about the influence of Gov. Ron DeSantis' higher education agenda and the board's ties to the local community.

An undisclosed number of the original hunger strikers at USF remain after some of them were hospitalized last week. New members also joined last week.

The five-year compensation package puts him on par with the state's highest-paid college president, at the University of Florida. UF has over 55,000 students. Less than 700 attend New College.

Broward College President Gregory Haile signed a letter of resignation this week. But at an emergency meeting on Thursday, the school's Board of Trustees voted to continue talks with Haile to try to convince him to stay.