Overview
- The Board of Governors approved an immediate pause across the 12-campus State University System that applies only to new hires, with current H-1B employees allowed to continue and renew.
- During the freeze, the chancellor’s office will review H-1B use, costs and impacts, including the effect of a new $100,000 federal fee on certain petitions.
- Emergency exceptions may be granted within 72 hours for health, safety or access needs, though officials said no specific requests have been made.
- Universities with medical schools host the largest numbers of H-1B staff, including 253 at the University of Florida in FY2025, with more than 600 across Florida public universities.
- Faculty representative Kimberly Dunn and student member Carson Dale voted no, warning of recruitment harm, and the step follows a similar freeze ordered for Texas public universities.