February 7, 2025
MEDIA ADVISORY | For Immediate Release
Contact: Tania Cepero Lopez, Acting President, UFF-FIU, president@uff-fiu.org
United Faculty of Florida-Florida International University (UFF-FIU) is alarmed by the Governor-led appointment of a new interim FIU president. This is only the latest instance of the Governor’s dictatorial overreach, which is being actively rebuked even by members of his own party in the Legislature. We reject it as well.
As we heard from students, faculty, and members of the Board of Trustees, our FIU is a beacon of hope and an engine of opportunity for our community. Since its founding, FIU has experienced a meteoric rise in rankings and national prestige made possible by our students, our faculty, and through decades of leadership by presidents who were experienced in higher education administration. Historically, FIU’s presidents have been renowned experts in their fields and have been selected through a rigorous search and screening process which included the involvement of the university community, as established by university bylaws. We want to be clear: the Governor does not have the authority to appoint an FIU president.
We believe FIU’s Office of the President should be occupied by an experienced higher education professional who is selected through a rigorous, merit-based process, not a beneficiary of the Governor’s nepotism. UFF-FIU rejects all forms of corrupt cronyism which threatens the freedom to learn on our campuses. We ask the FIU Board of Trustees to do what is best for our students and our community: reject the Governor’s interference in the process to select the next permanent president of our FIU and conduct a competitive, community-engaged search.
In solidarity and strength,
UFF-FIU