Dive Brief:
- The University of Florida will spend about $1 billion and hire about 100 new faculty over the next five years, under a plan just approved.
- The goal is for the school to achieve top 10 status nationally by investing in faculty; some of the money comes from a state program supporting that goal.
- Additional money will come from an $800 million fundraising drive.
Dive Insight:
School administrators are being strategic about how the money is spent and how it can move them toward a better national ranking. They have selected areas such as cybersecurity and food security as targets for the investment. Not all of the money will go toward salaries; some is earmarked for new science buildings and scholarships.