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Blue Ribbon Task Force on State Higher Education Reform
Wednesday, May 30
Teleconference Meeting Minutes
The meeting was called to order at 2:02 p.m. by Dale A. Brill, chair.
Opening remarks called attention to the recording of the teleconference for the purpose of
posting the audio file to the web site dedicated to the Task Force (www.FLHigherEd.org).
Members of the Task Force were asked to introduce themselves and offer personal remarks.
Dale Brill introduced each in order: Jeff Shuman of Harris Corporation, Frank Fuller of the
Senate President’s Office, The Honorable William “Bill” Proctor, The Honorable Marlene
O’Toole, Joe Caruncho and John Delaney.
Opening remarks identified the need to establish context for the challenges to be evaluated by
the Task Force. Frank Fuller suggested that projected revenues for the state and their expected
impact on the universities be examined. John Delaney suggested that universities do not
control the revenue portion of their budgets, and that a multi‐year funding commitment would
make strategic planning much easier. Currently, each university will not know their revenue
number until June 21, with the fiscal year beginning 10 days later.
Chair Brill then reviewed each of the six primary areas of focus for the Task Force as identified
in Section 2 of the Executive Order. He offered his analysis that Item 1 is a general process
element that should be among the first order of business in the next Task Force workshop.
Item 2 could be categorized with Item 4 as “governance” issues. Item 3 could be accomplished
as a result of a similar process element, specifically the outcome of matching the individual
universities positions against the Board of Governor’s recently published 2012‐2025 Strategic
Plan. Brill summarized Item 5 as an “accountability” focus and Item 6 as falling within the
domain of “tuition” setting and flexibility.
Task Force members agreed to organize themselves with subject matter leads organized as
suggested by the chair in three areas: (1) Governance: Joe Caruncho and Rep. Marlene O’Toole;
(2) Tuition: Rep. Proctor and John Delaney; and (3) Accountability: Frank Fuller and Jeff
Shuman. Chair Brill indicated that as “leads,” the respective Task Force members would be
responsible for ensuring the progress of their subject matter toward recommendations,
including identifying groups and resources to be introduced into the Task Force evaluation
process and primary responsibility for writing/editing the content for the final report.

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Chair Brill then asked for feedback on implementing a process that would have each Task Force
member identify the specific groups, data, reports or research that should be invited to
participate in the first in‐person meeting. He indicated that a simple Microsoft Word document
would be distributed with straight‐forward details to be completed, such as the name and
contact for desired organizations, and returned by the Task Force members by Monday, June 4.
The blank form and the completed forms would be posted to the File Sharing section of the
Task Force web site for public viewing. All agreed.
The agenda then called for the determination of future meeting dates working from the
proposed dates as posted on the Task Force web site. After conflicts were identified, the
revised schedule was established:
Monday, June 11 in Tallahassee (8:45 a.m.)
Monday, June 25 in Tallahassee (8:45 a.m.)
Thursday, July 26 in St. Petersburg (8:45 a.m.)
Friday, September 21 via webinar (9 a.m.)
Friday, October 12 via webinar (9 a.m.)
Chair Brill asked that the Task Force next consider the threshold of agreement necessary for a
recommendation to be included in the final report. After starting with the option of a 5‐2 super
majority, Frank Fuller suggested that unanimity from the Task Force would prove to be the
better approach as it signaled the strength of the consensus recommendation. The balance of
the Task Force members agreed and established 7 – 0 votes as necessary for a recommendation
to be forwarded.
Under “Other Business,” it was clarified that, while working in sub‐groups in the three areas of
focus, Task Force members remained “in the Sunshine” and would have to notice meetings and
conduct themselves accordingly. Chair Brill offered to assist with media advisories and other
compliance efforts.
There being no further business for the organizational meeting of the Blue Ribbon Task Force
on State Higher Education Reform, the meeting was adjourned at 2:47 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Dale A. Brill, Ph.D.
Chair