Will colleges across the state of Florida, including the University of Central Florida, be understaffed this year?
What you need to know:
What you need to know
Teachers union president predicts staffing shortages for UCF this year
He says Florida has become an unattractive state for instructors to work in because of politics
He argues that lawmakers have changed laws on diversity, equity, inclusion and tenure, scaring college professors.
The president of the UCF faculty union says it’s possible and believes many instructors will leave the state and colleges will struggle to find replacements.
Dr. Robert Cassanelloassociate professor of history and president of the faculty union at UCF, says Florida has become an unattractive place to work if you’re a college professor.
The United College of Florida The UFF is the professional organization and collective bargaining agent for all college and university faculty in Florida.
“I think the brain drain is real. I think people are leaving and they’re leaving in large numbers,” Cassanello said.
The associate professor admits what he thinks is anecdotal, but says the changes will come to universities across the state.
Cassanello says most instructors worry about being frank.
“I get the impression that people are not ready to talk. They are afraid of reprisals,” he said.
The union leader works directly with UCF instructors and says Florida’s policy is driving talented teachers away from the Sunshine State.
“Most of it is related to legislation passed by the Florida Legislature in the last 3 years,” Cassanello said.
He believes UCF will face a serious staffing shortage before the end of the year. He blames Tallahassee lawmakers and what he calls an attack on diversity, equity and inclusion and tenure.
“We can no longer ask for arbitration in discipline and punishment. So those two things have weakened the tenure to the point that the tenure is in name only in the state of Florida.”
UCF website reported about 16 current instructor vacancies at the time of this story.
Spectrum News 13 reached out to the University of Central Florida to see if they are officially experiencing some kind of teaching shortage.
They were looking at it but had no answer.
Cassanello believes the number of job offers will increase as we head into the school year.
