Florida's Tenured Professors Depart Amid DeSantis' Conservative Education Reforms

The state's political climate and policies have led to an increase in turnover at public universities, with many professors heading to Democratic-led states.

• Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' conservative education reforms have led to an exodus of tenured professors from the state's public colleges and universities.
• Many of the departing professors are liberal-leaning and have cited the political climate and policies as the reason for their departures.
• Data from the University of Florida shows that overall turnover at the institution increased from 7% in 2021 to 9.3% in 2023.
• Some professors have noted that the state's reputation has deterred potential job candidates from considering positions in Florida.
• Despite the departures, some faculty members argue that politics is not the defining reason for leaving and that Florida is not unique in the politicization of higher education.

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