State University System
Education and General
2016-2017 Legislative Budget Request
Form I
University(s):
Issue Title:
Priority Number
Recurring Funds Requested:
Non-Recurring Funds Requested:
Total Funds Requested:
University of Florida
University of Florida: Preeminence
Funding Increase
1
$10,000,000
$10,000,000
Please check the issue type below:
Shared Services/System-Wide Issue
2015-2016 Non-Recurring Issue
New Issue for 2016-2017
I. Description – 1. Describe the service or program to be provided and how this
issue aligns with the goals and objectives of the strategic priorities and the
2015 Work Plan established by your institution (include whether this is a new
or expanded service/program). If expanded, what has been accomplished with
the current service/program? 2. Describe any projected impact on academic
programs, student enrollments, and student services
Background: In 2013, the Legislature created section 1001.7065, F.S., establishing
a partnership between the Board of Governors and the Legislature to elevate the
academic and research preeminence of Florida’s highest-performing state
research universities. Twelve Academic and Research Excellence Standards were
established in law. The Board of Governors is required to designate any
university meeting 11 of the 12 standards a Preeminent State Research
University. As of July 1, 2013 the University of Florida and Florida State
University met the requirements of the law and received such designation. That
year each university received a $15M appropriation to begin implementing a
strategic plan for elevating academic and research preeminence when compared
to major research universities across the country. In 2014, the legislature
increased the appropriation for each university to $20M, and in 2015, the
2016-2017 LBR
Legislature added $5M, of which approximately $1.5M was designated as
recurring funds.
In 2013, the University of Florida matched the $15M state appropriation with
another $15M from private funds. In addition, the university has partnered with
the UF Foundation in its efforts to raise additional private funds over the next
several years to support key university programs and endeavors, thereby,
complementing the state’s investment. When looking at rankings of the Public
AAU Institutions, the University of Florida is among the Top Ten on 22
important benchmarks. UF is behind primarily related to the number of faculty
and faculty resources and support.
In preparing its strategic plan, the university sought input from deans, directors,
Senior VP’s, VP’s for Research, and a committee of 11 Distinguished Professors.
To date the university has hired more than 90 nationally-recognized faculty in
strategically-targeted areas. Many of these faculty have ties to teams of
researchers, with externally-generated research grants. These new hires brought
those teams with them, and this has had the immediate impact of leveraging the
state’s investment.
The University of Florida Preeminence Strategic Plan creates more than two
dozen interdisciplinary focus areas spanning, health, agriculture, computing, &
education to include:
Data Analytics; Law; Cybersecurity; Genomic Medicine; Drug Discovery
and Development; Food Security, Safety and Distribution systems;
Historical and Environmental Archaeology; Latin American
Development; Materials Innovation; Mathematical Modeling of Diseases;
Metabolomics; Mucosal Immunology; One Health; Interventions; STEM
Translational Communication Research; African Studies; Autonomous
Systems; Creative Writing; Burkholdaria Bacteria; Online Learning;
Renewable Energy & Storage; Skeletal Muscle Biology; Smart Polymer
Nanomedicines; Social Network Analysis; Neuroscience and the Brain,
Optimizing Early Childhood; Plant Genomics.
With increased funding, the University plans to continue its efforts to recruit
nationally-acclaimed faculty while also investing in its junior faculty (Assistant
Professors), the next generation, which will advance and sustain UF’s Excellence
into the future.
2016-2017 LBR
UF will invest the requested $10M in the recruitment of additional faculty in
targeted areas to raise the national stature and impact of the university and to
further strengthen efforts in research, tech transfer and economic development.
In allocating the first $20M appropriated by the legislature, UF emphasized the
hire of senior-level faculty with accomplished records of research, grant support,
and student mentorship. This was done to achieve maximum impact through
hiring in as short a time as possible. With the new funds, the university will
accomplish two goals. First, it will bolster several of the strategic areas in which
there is insufficient critical mass of faculty. For example, UF invested $3.8M of
the initial $20M into Informatics (Data Analytics) across the entire university.
New faculty positions were placed in the Health Science Center, Engineering,
Agriculture, and several other colleges. While this is a sizable investment, it does
not ensure critical mass in all of the research areas important to Data Analytics.
These range from bioinformatics to medical records, to applications in almost
every engineering discipline, to important new uses in physics, chemistry,
statistics, and the applied social sciences.
It is also important that the university continue to invest in areas that the
National Science Foundation has identified as its important cross-disciplinary
thrusts.
These include (1) understanding how the human brain works, (2)
resilience in nature and in the man-made world, and, of particular
importance to Florida, resilience of coastlines and their communities, and
(3) the interdependence of food, energy, and water.
The second goal is to ensure the next generation of faculty who will advance and
sustain UF's excellence into the future. In particular, it is important that the
university replenish its ranks of promising junior faculty (assistant professors).
These are people who will build their careers at UF and whose achievements will
blossom over the next decade and sustain the push to excellence in the long run.
The bulk of the $10M will be invested into new faculty hires. Assuming a mix of
junior and senior hires, these funds should enable UF to engage about 50
additional faculty.
There are substantial capital costs in hiring new faculty, particularly in the
sciences and engineering. These costs normally revolve around laboratory space.
Since the process to identify and hire promising new faculty typically takes 9 to
2016-2017 LBR
12 months, UF will invest the first year's allocation of $10M into the renovation of
laboratory space and core equipment.
Over time, the economic return on this investment will be enormous. Most of
these funds will be invested in faculty who will advance the state of scientific
and technical knowledge, spinning off new discoveries, intellectual property,
patents, licenses, and new companies. In addition, these faculty will largely fund
their own research enterprises through external grants and contracts, bringing
millions of dollars into the state economy.
Other support costs associated with this project will be borne by UF, its
fundraising arm, and external granting agencies. In particular, funds will be
raised and secured for additional laboratory expenses, graduate students, and
postdoctoral associates.
II. Return on Investment - Describe the outcome(s) anticipated, dashboard
indicator(s) to be improved, or return on investment. Be specific. For
example, if this issue focuses on improving retention rates, indicate the
current retention rate and the expected increase in the retention rate.
Similarly, if it focuses on expanding access to academic programs or student
services, indicate the current and expected outcomes.
The University of Florida and the State of Florida will reap the following returns
on investment from this LBR, in particular, and all of the preeminence funding,
in general:
 By bolstering critical research areas with additional faculty, the external
grant and contract portfolio will increase substantially past the current
annual funding level of $700M. These grants and contracts fund faculty
research, development, and tech transfer enterprises, as well as faculty,
staff, research assistant, and postdoctoral fellow salaries.
 This funding will ultimately result in increased patents and licenses and
the spinoff of new technologies and companies, thereby boosting
economic development within the state.
 Since most of the hiring will be in STEM areas, it aligns with State and
BOG goals.
 It will accelerate UF’s evolution to become one of the nation’s top public
research universities. As a result, UF will be a formidable research and
development engine, one of the nation’s finest public universities to
educate its citizens, and a remarkable public asset for the State to attract
national and international attention.
2016-2017 LBR
III. Facilities (If this issue requires an expansion or construction of a facility, please
complete the following table.):
Facility Project Title
1.
Fiscal
Year
Amount
Requested
Priority
Number
NA
2.
2016-2017 LBR
2016-2017 Legislative Budget Request
Education and General
Position and Fiscal Summary
Operating Budget Form II
(to be completed for each issue)
University:
Issue Title:
University of Florida
Preeminence Funding Increase
RECURRING
Positions
Faculty
Other (A&P/USPS)
Total
NONRECURRING
TOTAL
50.00
0.00
50.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
------------------------------------50.00
0.00
50.00
========== ========== ==========
Salary Rate (for all positions noted above)
Faculty
$8,000,000
$0
$8,000,000
Other (A&P/USPS)
$0
$0
$0
------------------------------------Total
$8,000,000
$0
$8,000,000
========== ========== ==========
Salaries and Benefits
Other Personal Services
Expenses
Operating Capital Outlay
Electronic Data Processing
Special Category (Specific)
Total All Categories
$10,000,000
$0
$10,000,000
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
------------------------------------$10,000,000
$0
$10,000,000
========== ========== ==========
State University System
Education and General
2016-2017 Legislative Budget Request
Form I
University(s):
Issue Title:
University of Florida
Online Depository of General
Education Course Material
3
Priority Number
Recurring Funds Requested:
Non-Recurring Funds Requested:
Total Funds Requested:
Please check the issue type below:
$440,000
$520,000
$960,000
Shared Services/System-Wide Issue
2015-2016 Non-Recurring Issue
New Issue for 2016-2017
I.
Description – 1. Describe the service or program to be provided and how this
issue aligns with the goals and objectives of the strategic priorities and the
2015 Work Plan established by your institution (include whether this is a new or
expanded service/program). If expanded, what has been accomplished with the
current service/program? 2. Describe any projected impact on academic
programs, student enrollments, and student services.
The Importance of the Depository
In the 2015-2016 academic year a new state undergraduate core curriculum
consisting of 30 hours of General Education courses will be implemented. All
incoming undergraduate students into the State’s postsecondary education system
who have not completed an A.A. degree from a Florida public school will be
required to complete the General Education Core.
The goal of the Depository is to provide free-of-charge, high-quality online
General Education course material to all Universities and Colleges in Florida.
The receiving institutions will be able to use this material to offer fully online
courses to their enrolled students, or may elect to educate residential students in
a “flipped classroom” by supplementing their residential courses with online
material. The University of Florida will provide the material, but the receiving
institution will be responsible for teaching students enrolled at their institution.
2016-2017 LBR
The Depository will include online versions of all courses present in the Stateapproved General Education Core. Currently, UF has completed the online
development of 33 of the 45 courses in the Core. These courses were developed for
use in UF Online and have been extensively vetted using the UF Standards and
Markers of Excellence. In addition, all have been taught at least once in UF Online
and a faculty advisory committee has evaluated the content of each course. The
material will be housed on UF servers, which will allow the courses to be easily
updated and improved as new content and technologies become available. A
number of Universities and Colleges have a selection of General Education
courses in an online format. A committee of faculty, with extensive expertise in
online course development and teaching, will vet these courses for inclusion in the
Depository.
The Depository will allow State Universities and Colleges to provide students with
increased access to higher education. The Depository will allow institutions to offer
online courses that they do not have the resources to develop themselves. These
online courses will allow students that do not have easy access to campus or who
are unable to attend during scheduled course times to enroll and begin their
postsecondary education at an institution in the State. The use of a common, high
quality source of material for General Education courses will ensure that all
students in the State begin their higher education with a consistently outstanding
educational foundation.
II.
Return on Investment - Describe the outcome(s) anticipated, dashboard
indicator(s) to be improved, or return on investment. Be specific. For
example, if this issue focuses on improving retention rates, indicate the
current retention rate and the expected increase in the retention rate.
Similarly, if it focuses on expanding access to academic programs or student
services, indicate the current and expected outcomes.
Return on Investment and Impact
The online Depository will provide an efficient and cost-effective mechanism to
deliver General Education course material to all Universities and Colleges in
Florida. This Depository will eliminate the need for multiple versions of the same
course material at multiple institutions around the state. For example, in our
experience developing courses for UF Online, each course requires an initial
~$35,000 in development funds. The proposed Depository will contain all 45
State-approved General Education Core courses (funding for the development of
only 12 courses is requested since all others are already part of UF Online). The
adoption of the State-approved General Education Core by one College/University
could save the State up to $1,400,000. Adoption of the proposed Depository by all
State Colleges and Universities could save the State up to $56,000,000. Additional
savings would be generated by the ability to update course content centrally thus
2016-2017 LBR
eliminating the need for each University and College to individually produce
updated course material.
The availability of all 45 State-approved General Education Core courses will
greatly enrich the education of all students in the State since many Colleges and
Universities do not have the resources to develop all course options even for
residential students. Universities and Colleges that have already developed
content for some portions of the General Education Core can use the Depository
to supplement their current material and/or to fill gaps in their current course
offerings. The goal of the Depository is not to standardize how faculty deliver
course content. Instead, the Depository will provide high quality material that
each faculty member can customize to suit his or her teaching philosophy.
Eliminating the often time-consuming and expensive development of online
course material will allow faculty to focus on providing high quality
postsecondary education to citizens of the State.
Alignment with UF's strategic priorities
As a preeminent University in the State, UF is committed to providing fully online
four-year undergraduate degrees through UF Online. The Depository will serve as
the home for all General Education courses for UF Online. These courses will
benefit from their continued improvement using the latest innovations in higher
education. In addition, courses in the Depository will be used to enrich the
educational experience of residential UF students through the incorporation of
depository material into the residential classroom.
III.
Facilities (If this issue requires an expansion or construction of a facility,
please complete the following table.):
NA
1.
2.
Fiscal
Year
Facility Project Title
Amount
Requested
Priority
Number
2016-2017 LBR
2016-2017 Legislative Budget Request
Education and General
Position and Fiscal Summary
Operating Budget Form II
(to be completed for each issue)
University:
Issue Title:
University of Florida
Online Depository of General
Education Course Material
NONRECURRING RECURRING
TOTAL
Positions
Faculty
Other (A&P/USPS)
Total
0.00
3.00
------------3.00
==========
0.00
0.00
0.00
3.00
------------------------0.00
3.00
========== ==========
Salary Rate (for all positions noted above)
Faculty
$0
$0
$0
$240,000
$0
$240,000
Other (A&P/USPS)
------------------------------------ Total
$240,000
$0
$240,000
========== ========== ==========
Salaries and Benefits
Other Personal Services
Expenses
Operating Capital Outlay
Electronic Data Processing
Special Category (Specific)
database maintenance
course development
Total All Categories
$340,000
$0
$340,000
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$100,000
$100,000
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$100,000
$0
$100,000
$0
$420,000
$420,000
$0
$0
$0
------------------------------------$440,000
$520,000
$960,000
========== ========== ==========
2016-2017 LBR
State University System
Education and General
2016-2017 Legislative Budget Request
Form I
University(s):
Issue Title:
Priority Number
Recurring Funds Requested:
Non-Recurring Funds Requested:
Total Funds Requested:
University of Florida – Institute of
Food and Agricultural Sciences
(IFAS)
IFAS Research and Extension
Workload
1
$3,500,000
$3,500,000
Please check the issue type below:
Shared Services/System-Wide Issue
2015-2016 Non-Recurring Issue
New Issue for 2016-2017
I. Description – 1. Describe the service or program to be provided and how this
issue aligns with the goals and objectives of the strategic priorities and the
2015 Work Plan established by your institution (include whether this is a new
or expanded service/program). If expanded, what has been accomplished with
the current service/program? 2. Describe any projected impact on academic
programs, student enrollments, and student services.
IFAS is requesting an increase in the workload funding at a 2.27% level to meet
demand for our services. The Board of Governors (BOG) asked IFAS to develop a
cost to continue funding formula or model that would respond to increased
research and extension workload demand. This model was presented to and
adopted by the BOG in 2004.
The model uses extension delivery methods to measure increases in workload by
both extension and research faculty in the form of workload delivery units. The
model uses non-traditional teaching methods (such as field consultations, office
consultations, telephone and email requests, group workshops, and printed
materials) and converts these contacts to the equivalent of student FTEs. These
delivery methods are converted by multiplying by a factor to account for level of
effort and then divided by 40 which is the number used to convert student credit
hours to FTEs.
2016-2017 LBR
The total IFAS research and extension budget (General Revenue) is divided by
this number to determine the value of a workload delivery unit. Using this
method IFAS served the equivalent of over 110,400 “students” on a rolling threeyear average.
The Workload funding supports goal 37 of UF’s Strategic Workplan.
Goal 37 University of Florida Strategic Plan: Strengthen the IFAS statewide
network of extension, research and academic programs to continue to be relevant
and to provide science-based solutions to Florida’s citizens. As Florida’s
population rises the demand and costs of delivering science-based extension
information increases. Public demand for research and extension programs
continues to change and expand as new forces shape and reshape Florida’s food
and natural resource industries (agriculture, forestry, recreational fishing,
aquaculture, landscape management, horticulture and nutritional/health, etc.)
The IFAS research and extension budget is unique within the State University
System in that it is mission driven based upon clientele and stakeholder needs. It
is also the only SUS entity that does not have an annual workload demand
formula similar to enrollment increases.
II. Return on Investment - Describe the outcome(s) anticipated, dashboard
indicator(s) to be improved, or return on investment. Be specific. For
example, if this issue focuses on improving retention rates, indicate the
current retention rate and the expected increase in the retention rate.
Similarly, if it focuses on expanding access to academic programs or student
services, indicate the current and expected outcomes.
According to the USDA, every dollar invested in U.S. agricultural research
returns $10 in benefits from increased productivity by agricultural producers and
lower prices for consumers. The Extension service ensures that the latest and
greatest technology gets to the people who will utilize and benefit from it as well
as maintaining a communication loop between producers, industry and scientists
to insure that research remains relevant.
IFAS Extension and Research covers a wide and diverse set of issues with one
common theme – Jobs, Economy and Return on Investment. Whether we are
providing: Workforce training – increasing income by as much as 32%,
developing and training agriculture producers on farming best management
practices saving costs on water and fertilizer usage and reducing the impact to
the environment, creating new industries such as blueberries (industry didn’t
exist in Florida 12 years ago) now a nearly $70 million industry. This is just a
tiny slice of examples of IFAS projects demonstrating return on investment. One
more important note is that IFAS is a federal, state, county partnership so we
match our base funding provided by the state through other sources.
2016-2017 LBR
III. Facilities (If this issue requires an expansion or construction of a facility, please
complete the following table.):
Facility Project Title
1.
Fiscal
Year
Amount
Requested
Priority
Number
NA
2.
2016-2017 LBR
2016-2017 Legislative Budget Request
Education and General
Position and Fiscal Summary
Operating Budget Form II
(to be completed for each issue)
University:
Issue Title:
University of Florida IFAS
IFAS Workload Increase
RECURRING
Positions
Faculty
Other (A&P/USPS)
Total
NONRECURRING
TOTAL
15.00
0.00
15.00
15.00
0.00
15.00
------------------------------------30.00
0.00
30.00
========== ========== ==========
Salary Rate (for all positions noted above)
Faculty
$1,275,000
$0
$1,275,000
Other (A&P/USPS)
$825,000
$0
$825,000
------------------------------------Total
$2,100,000
$0
$2,100,000
========== ========== ==========
Salaries and Benefits
Other Personal Services
Expenses
Operating Capital Outlay
Electronic Data Processing
Special Category (Specific)
Total All Categories
$2,786,250
$0
$2,786,250
$0
$0
$0
$713,750
$0
$713,750
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
------------------------------------$3,500,000
$0
$3,500,000
========== ========== ==========
State University System
Education and General
2016-2017 Legislative Budget Request
Form I
University(s):
Issue Title:
Priority Number
Recurring Funds Requested:
Non-Recurring Funds Requested:
Total Funds Requested:
University of Florida – Institute of
Food and Agricultural Sciences
(IFAS)
Information Technology, Training
and Support
3
$1,565,600
$ 285,000
$1,850,000
Please check the issue type below:
Shared Services/System-Wide Issue
2015-2016 Non-Recurring Issue
New Issue for 2016-2017
I. Description – 1. Describe the service or program to be provided and how this issue
aligns with the goals and objectives of the strategic priorities and the 2015 Work
Plan established by your institution (include whether this is a new or expanded
service/program). If expanded, what has been accomplished with the current
service/program? 2. Describe any projected impact on academic programs,
student enrollments, and student services.
UF/IFAS Extension Service uses a wide range of methods to deliver educational
information as well as the latest knowledge and technology developed by
UF/IFAS Research to the public. The delivery methods include online
certification, web visits, video conferencing, field consultations, email and phone,
etc., which tracts with the University of Florida’s dedication to online learning
and personalized and adaptive learning, as stated in their Work Plan.
The Technology Development and Enhancement budget request will enhance a
technology-based process of communicating using electronic assets and
accompanying software designed for use anytime, anywhere, utilizing the latest
technologies to advance agricultural production and food technology.
Mobile collaboration will extend the capabilities of UF/IFAS upgraded video
conferencing systems beyond the conference room for use with hand-held
mobile devices that combine the use of video, audio and on-screen drawing
2016-2017 LBR
capabilities broadcasting in real-time over secure networks, independent of
location. This technology will also be combined with traditional webinar
technology to enhance online non-formal education program offering.
This will enable clientele to participate in new virtual online non-formal
education components, workforce training, certifications and continuing
education units (CEUs) in BMP and IPM Certification, Pesticide Certification,
Master Gardener Training, Extension Energy and Windstorm Mitigation,
Disaster Preparation, Water Issues and others.
Also, UF/IFAS Mobile Webs and Apps allow for clientele to get UF/IFAS related
information and services anytime, anywhere on their mobile device. UF/IFAS
has 11 Web and Mobile apps developed including: DDIS, EDIS, Agro Climate,
FAWN, sIPests, Subscribe, Forages of Florida, NPDN Citrus Diseases, NPDN
Citrus Pests, FFL Plants Guide and Directory.
Currently Mobile Web Apps requests from departments and clientele exceed the
capacity to develop new Mobile Web applications. Additional funding is
required to develop and maintain 25 new Mobile Web applications annually,
allowing for UF/IFAS to meet the requests and needs of their clientele.
The top initiative in the 2013-14 UF Work Plan is to become a “top ten public
research university”. One of the Key Initiatives of the 2014-15 UF Work Plan is
to bring access to high quality online undergraduate degrees. UF/IFAS plans to
build on its already substantial record in distance education programs. With
additional resources, we can advance that goal while taking it a step further to
include distance education for the public as well as undergrads.
Shared Resources

UF/IFAS has and continues to apply for grants to support bandwidth
costs and development of mobile applications

County Commissioners currently provide Bandwidth for our Extension
faculty and some pay for our faculty to use mobile devices we will be
asking more of the counties to do the same.

For the online education certifications clientele will pay a small
service/maintenance fee for each certification or CEU
II. Return on Investment - Describe the outcome(s) anticipated, dashboard
indicator(s) to be improved, or return on investment. Be specific. For example, if
this issue focuses on improving retention rates, indicate the current retention rate
and the expected increase in the retention rate. Similarly, if it focuses on
expanding access to academic programs or student services, indicate the current
and expected outcomes.
2016-2017 LBR
One example of Return on Investment –The development of the Florida
Automated Weather Network (FAWN), and the Mobile Application developed
to communicate with FAWN was instrumental in helping farmers save between
7.6 and 38 billion gallons of water and from $4 million to $19 million per year
(depending on the number and severity of frost/freeze weather events that
require additional irrigation to prevent cold damage to crops).
Our Workforce Training also relies heavily on this technology. UF/IFAS
provides training for thousands of Florida’s workers. In addition to helping to
improve their skills and expanding their job opportunities, we can track the
average increase in wages for each job type.
Finally, a surcharge or subscription for utilizing our data for applicable mobile
applications is being researched. This could help offset the cost of updating and
maintaining the apps.
III. Facilities (If this issue requires an expansion or construction of a facility, please
complete the following table.):
Facility Project Title
1.
Fiscal
Year
Amount
Requested
Priority
Number
NA
2.
2016-2017 LBR
2016-2017 Legislative Budget Request
Education and General
Position and Fiscal Summary
Operating Budget Form II
(to be completed for each issue)
University:
Issue Title:
University of Florida IFAS
Information Technology,
Training and Support
RECURRING
Positions
Faculty
Other (A&P/USPS)
Total
NONRECURRING
TOTAL
0.00
0.00
0.00
10.00
0.00
10.00
------------------------------------10.00
0.00
10.00
========== ========== ==========
Salary Rate (for all positions noted above)
Faculty
$0
$0
$0
Other (A&P/USPS)
$700,000
$0
$700,000
------------------------------------Total
$700,000
$0
$700,000
========== ========== ==========
Salaries and Benefits
Other Personal Services
Expenses
Operating Capital Outlay
Electronic Data Processing
Special Category (Specific)
Total All Categories
$938,000
$0
$938,000
$215,000
$0
$215,000
$412,600
$285,000
$697,600
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
------------------------------------$1,565,600
$285,000
$1,850,600
========== ========== ==========
State University System
Education and General
2016-2017 Legislative Budget Request
Form I
University(s):
Issue Title:
Priority Number
Recurring Funds Requested:
Non-Recurring Funds Requested:
Total Funds Requested:
University of Florida – Institute of
Food and Agricultural Sciences
(IFAS)
Beef Teaching Unit Renovation
2
$2.6 million
$2.6 million
Please check the issue type below:
Shared Services/System-Wide Issue
2015-2016 Non-Recurring Issue
New Issue for 2016-2017
I. Description – 1. Describe the service or program to be provided and how this
issue aligns with the goals and objectives of the strategic priorities and the
2015 Work Plan established by your institution (include whether this is a new
or expanded service/program). If expanded, what has been accomplished with
the current service/program? 2. Describe any projected impact on academic
programs, student enrollments, and student services
In the 2015-16 budget, IFAS received 1M of a 3.6M request to renovate the
Beef Teaching Unit located on the Gainesville campus. The initial funding
will be used to begin construction of the 225’ X 100’ Beef Teaching Unit MultiPurpose Building. This building will house:
‐ Classroom for 45 with tables or 70 as auditorium
‐ Restroom facilities
‐ Repro / Specimen Prep room
‐ Office for Unit Manager / Instructor
‐ Multipurpose building with living/kitchen area to house undergraduate
or graduate students
‐ 100’ X 150’ cattle working area with receiving/sorting pens, sweep tub,
crowd alley, hydraulic chute, calf table
2016-2017 LBR
‐
Bleacher seating for 200 to facilitate teaching and extension programming
The additional 2.6M is needed to complete construction and add equipment to
the Multi-Purpose Building. The balance of requested funds will be utilized to
complete renovation of the Beef Teaching Unit:
Replace all fencing along 23rd terrace and Williston Road and around the
feedlot.
‐ Install concrete feedlot bunks on pads.
‐ Replace damaged teaching barn to house existing pens, classroom, and
restrooms.
Purchase equipment to manage the feeding of cattle
‐ 3 each 25T Grain bins, mixer wagon, tractor, skid steer loader and
dumping feed trailer
‐
The Beef Teaching Unit is an 80 acre farm that includes a commercial style
100+head feedyard and a 35-50 head cow herd. The unit serves the
undergraduate student population in the Department of Animal Sciences. The
department averages 500+ undergraduates, all of whom receive instruction at the
unit.
The BTU also supports extension programs that target youth and adults
interested in the beef cattle industry. It supports In-service training for
agriculture teachers, extension agents, ranchers, and 4-H volunteer leaders. The
unit houses extensive facilities, agronomic resources, and cattle inventory to
provide current industry information and management practices.
The south unit teaching and multipurpose site was condemned six years ago due
to a massive termite infestation that was discovered after a storm demolished
part of the structure. The building had aged to the point that repair was
impractical. Additionally, the structure did not meet building codes and its
single unit apartment was deemed unsafe for occupation.
Live-in students serve as 24/7 attendants to keep trespassers out and cattle in. If
cattle were to escape, there could be loss due to destruction of property as well as
potential injury or death to the animal(s) or people if a traffic accident occurred.
On farm students also serve as a labor force to provide for cattle care and facility
maintenance. These students receive additional learning opportunities which
prepare them for internships and careers in the industry.
The teaching barn at the north end of the farm houses a second site for
simultaneous instruction and programming. It is over 40 years old and the steel
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integrity has deteriorated to the point that it is becoming unsafe. The barn will be
replaced and a classroom and restrooms added. Currently there are no functional
restrooms at the Beef Teaching Unit.
Projected impact on academic programs, student enrollments, and student
services – This renovation will enable us to increase student enrollment by 15%
and add three additional classes immediately upon completion. Currently, we
have to turn students away due to lack of space. But we are also losing some of
the best students to schools in Georgia, Auburn and Texas as our facilities are no
comparison to most other states. With these updated facilities, we will surpass
those numbers shortly thereafter.
II. Return on Investment - Describe the outcome(s) anticipated, dashboard
indicator(s) to be improved, or return on investment. Be specific. For
example, if this issue focuses on improving retention rates, indicate the
current retention rate and the expected increase in the retention rate.
Similarly, if it focuses on expanding access to academic programs or student
services, indicate the current and expected outcomes.
Improved facilities will enable UF/IFAS to recruit top undergraduate students
and grow the Animal Sciences program. It will further enable Master’s and
Doctoral candidates to pursue research at the unit. Although the BTU is
considered a teaching unit, it hosts active research programs on a year round
basis. Having a graduate student(s) in the complex will better facilitate the
management of protocols. The opportunity for some students to live at the BTU
is a significant recruiting incentive.
Extension education is currently limited at the unit as there are no restrooms or
classrooms. Improved facilities will expand IFAS’ ability to disseminate scientific
information to producers and allow for In-service training to extension
specialists, teachers and volunteer leaders.
III. Facilities (If this issue requires an expansion or construction of a facility, please
complete the following table.):
Facility Project Title
1.
Beef Teaching Unit
Renovation
Fiscal
Year
2016
Amount
Requested
Priority
Number
2.6 million
2.
2016-2017 LBR
2016-2017 Legislative Budget Request
Education and General
Position and Fiscal Summary
Operating Budget Form II
(to be completed for each issue)
University:
Issue Title:
University of FLorida IFAS
Beef Teaching Unit Rennovation
RECURRING
Positions
Faculty
Other (A&P/USPS)
NONRECURRING
TOTAL
0.00
0.00
------------0.00
==========
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
------------------------0.00
0.00
========== ==========
Salary Rate (for all positions noted above)
Faculty
$0
Other (A&P/USPS)
$0
------------Total
$0
==========
$0
$0
$0
$0
------------------------$0
$0
========== ==========
Total
Salaries and Benefits
Other Personal Services
Expenses
Operating Capital Outlay
Electronic Data Processing
Special Category (Specific)
Total All Categories
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
------------$0
==========
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
------------------------$0
$0
========== ==========
State University System
Education and General
2016-2017 Legislative Budget Request
Form I
University(s):
Issue Title:
Priority Number
Recurring Funds Requested:
Non-Recurring Funds Requested:
Total Funds Requested:
University of Florida
Translational Research in
Neurodegenerative Disease
1
$1,500,000
$1,500,000
Please check the issue type below:
Shared Services/System-Wide Issue
2015-2016 Non-Recurring Issue
New Issue for 2016-2017
I. Description – 1. Describe the service or program to be provided and how this
issue aligns with the goals and objectives of the strategic priorities and the 2015
Work Plan established by your institution (include whether this is a new or
expanded service/program). If expanded, what has been accomplished with the
current service/program? 2. Describe any projected impact on academic
programs, student enrollments, and student services.
The Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease (CTRND) at
the University of Florida (UF) is a high-impact program of scientific discovery
aimed at translating basic discoveries in neurodegenerative disease into
therapies that benefit patients. Our major focus is on Alzheimer's and
Parkinson's disease. These State funds have in the past and will continue to
support the development of major programmatic initiatives at the UF CTRND
and within the state including but not limited to i) a NIH funded Alzheimer's
Disease Research Centers (ADRC) at UF (in collaboration with Mt. Sinai Medical
Center, Miami) that has been recently awarded to UF from the National Institute
on Aging ii) an NIH funded Morris Udall Parkinson's Disease Center of
Excellence iii) other programmatic grants (P01s) related to the study of
Neurodegenerative disorders and iv) translational U01 awards thatmove novel
therapies for neurodegenerative disorders from the bench to bedside. In addition
2016-2017 LBR
these funds will enable us to engage in collaborative statewide activities to build
an Alzheimer's disease research network that will benefit patients and increase
the competitiveness of investigators at UF and throughout the state at the
national level.
II. Return on Investment - Describe the outcome(s) anticipated, dashboard
indicator(s) to be improved, or return on investment. Be specific. For example, if
this issue focuses on improving retention rates, indicate the current retention rate
and the expected increase in the retention rate. Similarly, if it focuses on
expanding access to academic programs or student services, indicate the current
and expected outcomes.
Florida is an epicenter of the Alzheimer's disease epidemic with -10% of all cases
of Alzheimer's disease in the country. The total economic toll of Alzheimer's in
the state is estimated to be $20 billion dollars a year - more than either heart
disease or cancer. As age is the major demographic risk factor, with its large
population of elderly Florida, the toll that Alzheimer's will wreak both socially
and economically is only going to increase over the coming decades. Our only
hope to reduce these costs is research that will ultimately lead to therapies that
modify the disease course or perhaps more immediately research that will enable
us to better handle patients with dementia within health care systems.
The CTRND, which is now in its 6th year, has recruited a core of 12 new faculty
who study Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. We have
developed a portfolio of extramural funding of, ~$7.5M/ yr, which has increased
nearly 50% from last year. We remain poised to steadily increase this funding
over the next few years, and these funds from the State will be essential for
maintaining that trajectory.
The funds from the State have been a huge factor in our success and future
funds will be used to leverage the ADRC such that we will become the
preeminent center in the Southeast for neurodegenerative research and
translation to improved clinical outcomes. In collaboration with Mt.
Sinai Medical Center in Miami we have successfully competed for a NIH
funded P50 Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. The official
announcement for award of this grant will be made shortly. Notably this
award also involves faculty at FAU, FIU and U of Miami. We hope that
the infrastructure provided by the ADRC will also increase funding in AD
to those institutions.
ADRCs serve a role much like national cancer center designations. The ADRC
creates infrastructure that supports clinical care for patients with Alzheimer's
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Disease, but also serve as hubs of translational science that are necessary to
advance the science in order to reach our shared goal of preventing or treating
Alzheimer's Disease. They are essential to increasing enrollment from industry
sponsored clinical trials, and also for ensuring that advances in the science and
care of Alzheimer's disease are efficiently and rapidly disseminated to the wider
community. By enhancing clinical trial capacity in Alzheimer's disease, we
project that we will enroll an additional 200 clinical trial participants per year in
the state of Florida resulting in an additional $2 million per year. This increase
will ramp up over the course of the grant. The vast majority of these funds for
clinical trials would be from the pharmaceutical industry. Notably, the head of
Alzheimer's disease research at a major pharmaceutical company views Florida
with its huge number of elderly as an underdeveloped opportunity for enrolling
the large number of elderly subjects needed to advance promising Alzheimer's
drugs.
As center grants, ADRCs spin research and clinical trial activity. After 5 years,
one can expect an additional >$2.5 million per year of research grant support
(commercial, public sector, private philanthropy /foundations).
These ADRCs serve as hubs for both established STEM employees as well as
training centers for those interested in STEM jobs. ADRCs will result in medical
tourism, as they represent a sign of clinical and scientific excellence to the outside
world. ADRCs also provide a basis for many private-public partnerships in the
battle to cure Alzheimer's disease - infrastructure developed for the ADRCs
would also be used to compete for other programmatic grants that provide a
similar level of extramural funding.
With the UF Center for Movement disorder and Neuro-restoration we will
continue to compete for an NIH funded P50 Morris Udall Parkinson's Disease
Research Center of Excellence. We have submitted two applications in recent
years and were competitive, but missed the funding line. These centers are
similar to ADRC and serve as hubs for Parkinson's research. By helping us to
address issues raised in previous reviews we believe that we can successfully
compete for the Udall center award. Again like the ADRC the total award is
~$1.5M/ year for five years and once obtained are much more easily renewed for
another 5 years.
Other POl and UOl grants. The CTRND has recruited over 10 faculty to the
University and we have engaged over 30 other faculty to participate in our
research efforts. The primary faculty publish >50 high impact manuscripts a
year. As our work is thematically related and we work extremely well together
we are well positioned to successfully compete for programmatic NIH funding
through the P01 mechanisms. This mechanism is distinct from the P50
mechanisms as these are investigator-initiated awards. We are currently
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developing 2 P01 grants related to AD, PD, stroke, ALS and neuro-inflammation.
We believe that we can successfully compete for these awards over the next 3
years. Again each grant is funded for 5 years at ~$1.5M/yr. U01 awards are
designed to move a therapeutic lead from the bench to patients. We have two
novel therapeutic approaches to AD that are likely to far enough advance to
compete for U01 awards within the next two years. These grants typically
provide $1-1.SM/ year for five years of funding, and importantly if successful
will lead to licensing of technologies.
Collectively, from a purely financial ROI we have been able to use the previous
state allocations ($1.25M in 2013-14 and 2014-15) to garner grants worth over
$20M. These grants have created an additional 15-20 STEM FTE positions.
These funds also have other intangible ROI. First and foremost is the unmet
medical need. There are no disease modifying therapies for Alzheimer's disease
or for that matter any other neurodegenerative disease that we study and our
mission is to contribute to the development of such therapies. If we are
successful, then we will have made an impact on the field and helped those who
suffer from these disorders. We insure that we protect our inventions so that we
can license the technologies for additional ROI.
From a UF preeminence perspective, we believe that these funds have and
will continue to dramatically increase the visibility of UF nationally and
internationally. By obtaining an ADRC and hopefully in the future an
Udall Parkinson’s center we would be one of the few institutions to have
both of these awards (others include John Hopkins, Columbia, Mayo
Clinic).
Further these NIH funds would push the Neuroscience program into one
the 10 and possibly top 5 NIH funded programs in the country.
There is currently optimism that the NIH will increase funding for Alzheimer’s
disease by ~$300,000,000 this year. Already, NIA has announced pay lines for
AD research will be ~60-70% higher than for other grants. Our growing team of
outstanding Alzheimer’s disease researchers will thus be well positioned to
enhance funding as the likelihood of success for obtaining grants from the NIH
that relate to AD is dramatically increased.
Finally, we have recruited two outstanding clinical AD investigators to UF. With
their arrival and our ADRC grant we can envision future recruitment of faculty
in this area to provide the critical mass and intellectual capital to become one of
the preeminent centers for Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative research in
2016-2017 LBR
the world.Again State funds will provide critical support for our future
efforts in this area.
III. Facilities (If this issue requires an expansion or construction of a facility, please
complete the following table.):
Facility Project Title
1.
Fiscal
Year
Amount
Requested
Priority
Number
NA
2.
2016-2017 LBR
2016-2017 Legislative Budget Request
Education and General
Position and Fiscal Summary
Operating Budget Form II
(to be completed for each issue)
University:
Issue Title:
University of Florida
Translational Research in
Neurodegenerative Disease
RECURRING
Positions
Faculty
Other (A&P/USPS)
Total
NONRECURRING
TOTAL
3.00
0.00
3.00
3.00
0.00
3.00
------------------------------------6.00
0.00
6.00
========== ========== ==========
Salary Rate (for all positions noted above)
Faculty
$234,742
$0
$234,742
Other (A&P/USPS)
$113,809
$0
$113,809
------------------------------------Total
$348,551
$0
$348,551
========== ========== ==========
Salaries and Benefits
Other Personal Services
Expenses
Operating Capital Outlay
Electronic Data Processing
Special Category (Specific)
Total All Categories
$450,000
$0
$450,000
$100,000
$0
$100,000
$625,000
$0
$625,000
$200,000
$0
$200,000
$125,000
$0
$125,000
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
------------------------------------$1,500,000
$0
$1,500,000
========== ========== ==========