The Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida have announced to Historic City News in St Augustine that Flagler College president William T. Abare, Jr., Ed.D., has been elected as the chairman of the organization’s Council of Presidents.
In addition to presiding over Council meetings, appointing standing committees, developing agendas for Council meetings and the annual retreat; as chair, Abare will travel representing the member institutions at state, regional and national meetings.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be elected chairman of the Council of Presidents,” Abare told reporters. “The Independent Colleges and Universities is an association that includes 31 private, not-for-profit, educational institutions all based in Florida and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.”
Abare’s responsibilities also include advocating state funding for student financial aid programs to the Florida Legislature on behalf of member institutions.
“My highest priority will be to ensure that the State Legislature continues to support funding of the Florida Resident Access Grant for students attending Florida’s independent colleges and universities.”
More than 150,000 students at over 140 sites around the state are served by member institutions of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida.
“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 the organization.
Saying that Abare was chosen based on “his talent, his passion and his heart,” Moore wrote in a press release that the association is pleased Abare will be our chair “during these interesting times in Florida”.