Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Date

2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Department

Education

Committee Chair

Dan Collier

Committee Member

Meg Evans

Committee Member

Todd Zoblosky

Abstract

This qualitative dissertation examines the impact of recent political actions in Florida on higher education, specifically exploring how these developments have influenced tenured, public university professors' teaching practices, student interactions, and research agendas. Guided by the theoretical framework of social constructionism and employing narrative inquiry as the methodological approach, the study captures the lived experiences of six tenured faculty members at public universities across the state. The findings indicate that Florida’s political actions of Governor Ron DeSantis and a Republican-led legislature may have led to changes in the academic landscape. Professors report self-censorship in the classroom, limited discussions of controversial topics, research and a climate of fear of political repercussions. Faculty members have left or are considering leaving Florida’s public institutions, while others are leaving the academe. The perceived limitations on academic freedom, new post-tenure review processes, and the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives may have caused faculty to change the way they teach, interact with students, and conduct research. The study concludes with practical recommendations for university administrators and faculty to navigate the evolving political environment, such as increased collaboration with legal counsel and proactive retention strategies. It also outlines the limitations of the study, including a small sample size and exclusive focus on tenured public university faculty, and proposes directions for future research. These include comparative studies with private institutions and analyses of faculty turnover and student perspectives. As increased political involvement in higher education spreads to other states, this study offers insights into how faculty and administration may work together to reduce concerns.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to ProQuest.

Notes

Open Access

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