Future of Florida International University

[Hia-leah JDM]

That'll be awesome.

[BornInTheGrove]

Wow... i actually have been thinking about this, for about the past year or so. I was thinking it would be cool to turn the area closest to FIU in sweetwater into housing for students... and there could be like, a pedestrian bridge the could cross over into FIU, so as to not have to deal with the traffic on 8th street.

I've even taken it a step further. I've envisioned like, a people mover inside FIU. Would be easier for people to get around for classes. But, this would only be viable once all the new additions FIU has in mind are completed, if ever.

[PeterSmith]

When FIU was founded, Charles Perry, the first president, had the option of purchasing much of the land north of 8th street in Sweetwater. There were some people already living there, but not nearly what it is today. Obviously, he declined the option. Looking out from atop the old airport control tower over what then was nothing but open space for acres and acres, Perry couldn't imagine that FIU would ever grow to require more space than what comprises the current campus. Forty years later and hindsight is 20/20.

Last I heard, the Sweetwater college town masterplan was dead, but rumors fly around FIU like no where else, so it's hard to say. I don't think it really matters all that much though. The plan wouldn't be able to get off the ground until more students move on campus anyway, and once more students move on campus, Sweetwater will be redeveloped, masterplan or no masterplan.

As for Mitch Maidique, I still don't understand how he does it. The university has a history of not paying professors on time, not paying their FPL bill, etc. and yet FIU still chugs along. Personally, the guy's a douche, but it'll be interesting whether FIU history remembers him as the man who "made" the university or the man who ruined it. If I had to guess, I'd predict the former.

[kevinkagy]

Originally Posted by PeterSmith

When FIU was founded, Charles Perry, the first president, had the option of purchasing much of the land north of 8th street in Sweetwater. There were some people already living there, but not nearly what it is today. Obviously, he declined the option. Looking out from atop the old airport control tower over what then was nothing but open space for acres and acres, Perry couldn't imagine that FIU would ever grow to require more space than what comprises the current campus. Forty years later and hindsight is 20/20.

Last I heard, the Sweetwater college town masterplan was dead, but rumors fly around FIU like no where else, so it's hard to say. I don't think it really matters all that much though. The plan wouldn't be able to get off the ground until more students move on campus anyway, and once more students move on campus, Sweetwater will be redeveloped, masterplan or no masterplan.

As for Mitch Maidique, I still don't understand how he does it. The university has a history of not paying professors on time, not paying their FPL bill, etc. and yet FIU still chugs along. Personally, the guy's a douche, but it'll be interesting whether FIU history remembers him as the man who "made" the university or the man who ruined it. If I had to guess, I'd predict the former.

I would definitely say Maidique will be known as the man who "made the university" considering he's been president since 1986, the longest ever in Florida's history. I don't understand how people can say he's been a bad president, when he's done so much for the university. He's brought Engineering, Law, Architecture, Medicine, D-I football, a new stadium, dorms, etc. I think he's done a lot for the university, and he's really dedicated to continue to raise the university.

[AddictedToSpace]

I see what he has done for FIU to say he has been a good president for the university. What I haven't heard is what he has done to be called a douche bag.

[PeterSmith]

Not to drag this conversation off course, cause we could talk about Maidique all day, but just a few examples of why he might be called a bad president include:

He continually is at odds with the faculty senate over how far his power extends. He suspended the salaries of the faculty for several months in spring 2005, as well as several other times before then and since for shorter periods of time. In 2006, the faculty senate gave Maidique a vote of no confidence because the school was on the verge of bankruptcy and couldn't pay it's professors. In response, Maidique nearly doubled his own salary to $700,000 per year.

Maidique has also always been at odds with the university's mission. FIU was founded because there wasn't a public university in South Florida that catered to the general public. In the university's effort to gain prestige, it has completely forgotten its mission. FIU now has one of the lowest acceptance rates in the nation. Maidique is a business man, and he runs FIU like a corporation, which in many ways it is, but as tuition goes up and enrollment is restricted, FIU is less able to fulfill its mission. In 2003, Maidique proposed the idea of turning FIU into a private school because he thought it could make more money and gain prestige as one, which it probably would have, but I don't even know how you go about turning a state university into a private school. Anyway, after he ran into some competition in the presidential elections that year, he dropped the idea it seems.

Maidique is also on a slippery slope when it comes to the operation of FIU's research centers. FIU operates a number of research centers that sit within the various academic departments and produce the majority of the university's research. Maidique has proposed shutting down half of them over the next five years, which would effectively bring the number of federal research dollars that the university gets to a fraction of what it is today. I still haven't heard a solid answer as to why he made this proposal, but the rumors tend to focus on office politics and a disdain for the heads of the research centers.

One final anecdote - we'll never know exactly what happened, but the med school would have started in fall 2008 had a major donor not retracted his donation of $30 million to the school on account of something Maidique did or said - although it has never been made public exactly what occurred between Maidique and the donor.

Sorry for all the anti-Modesto examples, but I just wanted to make clear that there are enough instances out there that his legacy could swing either way. From my experiences at FIU, it seems as though all things look clean on the surface, but underneath the university is in absolute chaos. But, I guess like any president, Maidique has his shares of great and not-so-great qualities. If you're interested in hearing more about Maidique's dark side, the Miami Herald ran an article last year about Maidique's squandering of university funds. Maybe I'll see if I can find it.

[kevinkagy]

Originally Posted by PeterSmith

Not to drag this conversation off course, cause we could talk about Maidique all day, but just a few examples of why he might be called a bad president include:

He continually is at odds with the faculty senate over how far his power extends. He suspended the salaries of the faculty for several months in spring 2005, as well as several other times before then and since for shorter periods of time. In 2006, the faculty senate gave Maidique a vote of no confidence because the school was on the verge of bankruptcy and couldn't pay it's professors. In response, Maidique nearly doubled his own salary to $700,000 per year.

Maidique has also always been at odds with the university's mission. FIU was founded because there wasn't a public university in South Florida that catered to the general public. In the university's effort to gain prestige, it has completely forgotten its mission. FIU now has one of the lowest acceptance rates in the nation. Maidique is a business man, and he runs FIU like a corporation, which in many ways it is, but as tuition goes up and enrollment is restricted, FIU is less able to fulfill its mission. In 2003, Maidique proposed the idea of turning FIU into a private school because he thought it could make more money and gain prestige as one, which it probably would have, but I don't even know how you go about turning a state university into a private school. Anyway, after he ran into some competition in the presidential elections that year, he dropped the idea it seems.

Maidique is also on a slippery slope when it comes to the operation of FIU's research centers. FIU operates a number of research centers that sit within the various academic departments and produce the majority of the university's research. Maidique has proposed shutting down half of them over the next five years, which would effectively bring the number of federal research dollars that the university gets to a fraction of what it is today. I still haven't heard a solid answer as to why he made this proposal, but the rumors tend to focus on office politics and a disdain for the heads of the research centers.

One final anecdote - we'll never know exactly what happened, but the med school would have started in fall 2008 had a major donor not retracted his donation of $30 million to the school on account of something Maidique did or said - although it has never been made public exactly what occurred between Maidique and the donor.

Sorry for all the anti-Modesto examples, but I just wanted to make clear that there are enough instances out there that his legacy could swing either way. From my experiences at FIU, it seems as though all things look clean on the surface, but underneath the university is in absolute chaos. But, I guess like any president, Maidique has his shares of great and not-so-great qualities. If you're interested in hearing more about Maidique's dark side, the Miami Herald ran an article last year about Maidique's squandering of university funds. Maybe I'll see if I can find it.

Okay, I don't want to get into an argument on this, but I'm going to set some things straight. I don't know where you've gotten all your information, but I'll take it. However, you said Maidique's salary is over $700,000, it's actually $561,000, (http://media.www.beaconnewspaper.com...-3201353.shtml). He's the fourth best paid university president in Florida, he's not the first, but the fourth, and considering he's been around for such a long time, those raises add up.

On the top of admissions, the way FIU is running now, is a lot better than the way its old mission was, of serving the general public. It still serves the general public, and whoever it wants, as long as you have the credentials to get in, hence the raised admissions standards and lowered acceptance rates. That's a good thing for the university, because it attracts better students, better faculty, and it raises the university overall. It's Miami-Dade College's job to serve the local community, not FIU's.

[spellbound]

I'm not interested in running Madique's name through the mud here but suffice it to say I know some people who worked with him at a very high level and had little good to say about him. As I said before this could simply be a result of personality conflicts but it does seem to be a continuing theme that extends far beyond those people I know. He's also done some things that would seem to be questionable ethically that are a matter of public record.

The bottom line, though, is how FIU is performing academically and how qualified the faculty is as a whole. They have clearly made gains in both areas (with a long way to go). Whether Madique has done a great job there or has simply been along for the ride is open to interpretation, imo, but as long as the institution is making progress---and they are---that's always most important.

(I could get into specific things about him but don't feel this is the appropriate place to do so)

[Roark]

Originally Posted by Architek

Honestly with the budget cuts that all florida schools are facing I honestly don't understand how the heck FIU is doing all of this,

Leadership.

[brickell]

Leadership that alienated the $20M ($40M with matching funds) that would have gone a long way towards easing the funding for the medical school.

[MIAballinboi]

rendering of the med building
http://media.collegepublisher.com/me...s/3exau4bt.jpg

[Arkon]

wow, looks amazing...

anyone have a bigger photo?

[kevinkagy]

Originally Posted by brickell

Leadership that alienated the $20M ($40M with matching funds) that would have gone a long way towards easing the funding for the medical school.

Actually, the latest articles on the College of Medicine showed that Herbert Wertheim (the man behind the donation) is back, and has apologized, and said he plans on making another donation to the College of Medicine. Whether it'll be $20 million again, I don't know, but atleast he's willing to donate again.

[BornInTheGrove]

speaking of Maidique, i bumped into him today in GC right at the main entrance. Totally outta nowhere. I've been going to FIU since fall of 04... this is the first time i ever see him.

[BornInTheGrove]

btw, congrats brickell on your 1000th post

[spellbound]

Originally Posted by BornInTheGrove

btw, congrats brickell on your 1000th post

And damn good posts at that! Here's to the next 1000.

[Architek]

not to bring back the argument from before but I remember an article written a while ago which criticized FIU and there presidents spending record, private jets, fleet of cars etc not saying others don't do it, but honestly I believe FIU has the lowest endowment out of any big school in florida, that should be a major concern for the university.

[MIAballinboi]

funny borninthegrove,

this is my 2nd semester at fiu and i bumped into him once last semester and once this semester, same spot, the walkway between gold garage and PC.

its so funny to see people's reactions, like "is that really him" there was a girl talkin on her cell phone and i heard her telling the person "guess who just walked by me, the president of fiu"

lol, another funny note is that the president and provost have a special parking spot up front in the gold, and theres a sign over each one saying, "Restricted Parking, unauthorized vehicles will be fined and towed immediately, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week"

[kevinkagy]

Construction photos of FIU Stadium:



http://www.fiusports.com/PhotoAlbum....ID=&ZID=987751

http://www.fiusports.com/PhotoAlbum....0&PALBID=16820

[spellbound]

Good pics...can't see any reason whatsoever that facility isn't perfectly suitable for a MLS franchise. Why is anybody with the city arguing otherwise?