Keywords

Anti-Woke Higher Education Legislation: Florida's Senate Bill 266: Florida's Stop Woke Act: Sociology of Education: Epistemology of Ignorance: Critical Race Theory

Abstract

This study examines the experiences of UCF instructors regarding the implementation of Florida’s Senate Bill 266, which was signed into law in 2023. SB266 prohibits the inclusion of systemic topics in general education, prohibits state funds for DEI programs in state universities, introduces a 5-year post-tenure review, and assigns final hiring authority to the president of the university. This study utilized qualitative results from fill-in text questions (n = 238) in a survey with UCF instructors who had taught a course in the year before recruitment. This study investigated instructors’ understanding and experiences with the bill and administrative communications regarding its implementation. Finally, I explore which changes, if any, instructors made to curriculum in response to the bill’s introduction. The vast majority (84%) of instructors surveyed expressed general opposition to SB266. Primarily, surveyed instructors expressed concern about the bill’s effect on the credibility and quality of educational institutions in Florida. Instructors were also quite critical of university administration’s communications efforts, and many of them adjusted their teaching and curricula out of concerns of running afoul of the bill. The findings raise concerns for the future of academic freedom and the integrity of higher education in Florida.

Thesis Completion Year

2024

Thesis Completion Semester

Fall

Thesis Chair

Michael, Armato

College

College of Sciences

Department

Sociology

Thesis Discipline

Sociology

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus Access

None

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

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Rights Statement

In Copyright