Posts tagged Florida Legislature
Abare Elected As Head of ICUF Council of Presidents
Aug 1st
Flagler College president William T. Abare, Jr., Ed.D., has been elected as the chairman of the Council of Presidents of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be elected chairman of the Council of Presidents of ICUF, an association that includes 31 private, not-for-profit, educational institutions all based in Florida and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools,” said Abare. “My highest priority will be to ensure that the State Legislature continues to support the ICUF institutions by funding the Florida Resident Access Grant.”
As chairman, Abare will have the responsibility of chairing the meetings of the Council of Presidents; appointing standing committees of the COP; working with the President of ICUF in developing agendas for all COP meetings and the annual retreat of the COP; representing ICUF institutions at state, regional and national meetings; and advocating to the Florida Legislature on behalf of ICUF institutions state funding for student financial aid programs.
“Bill Abare is a recognized higher education leader in Florida and he always places the need for quality access for Florida’s students in the forefront of education policy discussions,” said Dr. Ed Moore, president of ICUF. “His fellow ICUF presidents choose Bill to lead our organization based on his talent, his passion and his heart. The ICUF organization is pleased he will be our chair during these interesting times in Florida.”
ICUF institutions serve more than 150,000 students at over 140 sites around Florida.
Flagler College is an independent, four-year, comprehensive baccalaureate college located in St. Augustine, Fla. The college offers 24 majors, 29 minors and two pre-professional programs, the largest majors being business, education and communication. Small by intent, Flagler College has an enrollment of about 2,500 students, as well as a satellite campus at Tallahassee Community College in Tallahassee, Fla. U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review regularly feature Flagler as a college that offers quality education at a relatively low cost; tuition is $23,690, including room and board. A relatively young institution (founded in 1968), Flagler College is also noted for the historic beauty of its campus. The main building is Ponce de Leon Hall, built in 1887 as a luxury resort by Henry Flagler, who co-founded the Standard Oil Company with John D. Rockefeller. For more on Flagler College, visit www.flagler.edu.
Source: Flagler College
State Grants Recognize Henry Flagler’s Legacy — Will Help Complete Restoration of Ponce De Leon Hall’s Solarium
Apr 24th
With the adoption of the state budget, Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature recognized the importance of Henry M. Flagler to the state of Florida. The budget included a grant of $350,000 awarded to Flagler College to benefit the former Hotel Ponce de Leon, now known as Ponce de Leon Hall and the centerpiece of the Flagler campus. The Ponce is a National Historical Landmark.
These funds will be used as part of the $2 million project, A Crowning Achievement: The Campaign for Restoration of the Solarium.
“Flagler College is grateful for the recognition and is pleased to be the recipient of these funds, which will assist in completing the restoration of the building for the 125th Anniversary celebration of the opening of the former resort hotel in 1888,” said Flagler President Dr. William T. Abare, Jr. “The celebration and dedication of the Solarium are scheduled to take place in 2013.”
The renovation of the Solarium and the fourth floor of Ponce de Leon Hall will complete the building’s full return to active use.
Historically, the Solarium served as an area where guests could gather for conversation, enjoy entertainment, or watch activities taking place in town or along the bay front. Rehabilitation of this room and the fourth floor will permit similar activities, as well as provide for an exceptional event venue. The Solarium remains as the last significant space to be restored in the former Hotel Ponce de Leon, and the room is quite different than any other.
The fundraising campaign began in 2009, and since that time the college has secured more than $1.5 million from private sources for the project. In honor of their lead gift, the Solarium will be renamed to recognize historic preservation supporters and philanthropists Allen and Delores Lastinger. Mrs. Lastinger is a member of the college’s Board of Trustees.
The Solarium project was selected from a recommended list of ranked Special Category projects in the Department of State budget. In addition, Flagler received first place rankings for a $50,000 small matching grant for the Solarium and a $25,000 exhibition grant as part of the 125th Anniversary program. Restoration work is expected to begin this summer with an anticipated completion date in January or February of 2013.
For more information contact: Brian Thompson, 904-819-6249, bthompson@flagler.edu
