Drew Wilson
Kent Fuchs’ term as University of Florida President has been extended.
The extension was approved by the State University System Board of Governors on Wednesday. The 17-member panel voted unanimously to keep Fuchs in the role.
Fuchs took over as UF President on Jan. 1, 2015. He came to the university from Cornell University, where he served as Provost from 2009 through 2014.
During his tenure, Fuchs has presided over a rise in the university’s academic rankings.
When he took office, the university’s goal was to become a top 10 public university. UF was the No. 7 public university nationwide in U.S. News and World Report’s 2019 college rankings. Among all universities, public and private, UF ranked 34th.
Additionally, a recent study found UF had a $17 billion impact on Florida’s economy during the 2017-18 fiscal year.
“During his first five years of service to UF, President Fuchs has represented our university at the state and national levels and has led UF to many remarkable accomplishments,” UF Board of Trustees Chair Mori Hosseini said in a letter to SUS Board of Governors.
“The UF Board of Trustees believes that President Fuchs’ continued leadership is critical to the overall success of UF, with a focus on our students’ success, as we work toward becoming a top five public university.”
Fuchs’ extension does not have an end date. Rather, he will continue serving as UF President on an “at-will basis.”
