Board of Governors Comment 7/11/25: The Fox Accrediting the Henhouse

The fox is accrediting the hen house now. The packet says Chicken-Protection accreditor will quote “laser-focus on student outcomes”. Let’s laser focus on the data.

There are 2 overwhelming problems with these scores:

First, the data is stale. These stats are 10 to 14 months old. That’s just the data reporting, the leadership actions these stats measure have by now happened years ago.

Second, the value placed on 1-year improvement. Look at Statistic 5, retention. At New College, Corcoran drove it to deep historic lows in fall 2024. It wasn’t great before, because in one year it’s back to tied with the previous all-time low, Corcoran gets 10 points. This makes no sense.

Remember he was giving students free computers? Did that work? Are you really going to New College in September for a dog-and-pony show?

I’m going to say more in my comment at the Foundation after the main meeting. Thank you.

Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees Comment 6/27/25: Oversight

UPDATE 2 (6/30/25):

The last-minute switcheroo only swapped out the Budget and Finance Committee agenda item, not the “Full Board” agenda item. The committee agenda item is only a recommendation; the full board agenda item is the binding action of the Board of Trustees. Regardless of the timing or the motive for the last-minute FAU switcheroo.

This alone almost certainly invalidates the Board’s action. Which version did the Trustees vote for, or which did they think they were voting for?

Direct links below, but in one image:

Links:

Current Master Agenda (Last modified by Andrew LaPlant, Director, Board of Trustees & Board Liaison, 6/27/2025 9:52 AM)

Current Budget and Finance Committee Agenda Item (Last modified by Andrew LaPlant 6/27/2025 9:27 AM)

Current Full Board Agenda Item (Last modified by Andrew LaPlant 6/19/2025 9:04 PM)

No-longer-available Budget and Finance Committee Agenda Item (Last modified by Jayson Iroff, Vice President for Financial Affairs and CFO, 6/20/2025 5:16 PM)

UPDATE: Operating Budget modified at 9:27 AM before 10:00 AM meeting start time.

Above: Showing the two versions of the Operating Budget (Page 12) and the PDF Metadata showing modification at 9:27 AM., June 27
Left: Public notice of the meeting at 10 AM, June 27.

UPDATE 1 (6/28/25):

During the FAU Board of Trustees meeting, I noticed that the budget on the website was different from the budget I had downloaded a few days earlier. This was not mentioned during the meeting.

This is a $5 million discrepancy.

Modified June 20, 2025, 5:16 PM (original document).

Modified June 27, 2025, 9:27 AM (new document).

ORIGINAL COMMENT:

My name is Mike Sanderson, some of you may know me from my comments to the Board of Governors. I thank the members of board for taking time from your day to exercise oversight on behalf of the state and people of Florida. My comment concerns the FAU operating budget document, one of your key responsibilities to the state and people of Florida for oversight.

I want to focus on the most extraordinary issue, truly unprecedented, which is the retroactive changes to the athletics budget, made possible by the emergency rule change by the Board of Governors last week.

I want to comment on what this retroactive budget change to athletics actually is, and. I also have some questions about this, including a counterfactual because I don’t know which is true. Finally if I have time I’ll touch on a few general issues.

The retroactive Athletics budget changes are mostly shown by asterisks throughout.

So I pulled last year’s budget slides. At this meeting a year ago, you increased the Athletics budget from about $32 million to $35 million in this ending fiscal year ending now. less than 3 million difference and less than 10% increase.

Now you’re going to retroactively change the athletics budget for this past year to $40 million.

That means in 1 year you will have increased the athletics budget by $8 million or 25% increase to athletics, in one year. Nowhere are you seeing the numbers for the current fiscal year or the year before that. On Page 12, the main document, it actually says you’re decreasing your athletics spending. I don’t think this is an oversight, no pun intended.

This is an extremely misleading way to present this unprecedented change. I don’t know if Board members are also being misled, in which case you should be angry, or if this is just to mislead the public about what you are voting for.

I will note, the House settlement involves Back Pay, but for 10 years with a complex system. If FAU needs to commit funds for back pay, you should be seeing that laid out, you hear the word “Back Pay” that’s not telling you you need to pump $5 million in a rush.

Here's the first counter counterfactual question, because the fiscal year is over, and what I don’t know is, has that $5 million already been spent? or committed? Because if that money has already been spent or committed, and there’s a $5 million deficit, that’s extremely concerning and you should be told that. But that $5 million wasn’t already spent, why are you doing this?

And what was that $5 million in Clear wire money being spent on already? Money is fungible, and if it was paying for things that will now be picked up by taxpayers or other donors, it’s just a shell game. If the university has a $5 million revenue stream that’ s flexible about how you can spend it, maybe you should be making that decision deliberately.

Generally, this entire document is not a budget, it’s a brochure. IT’s a powerpoint pitch deck.

I don’t have time to discuss the financial aid budget, but look at the definition of Financial Aid on Page 62, and then on page 31 and 32. “The ending fund balance represents a timing difference between the receipt of the funds and disbursement to students.”


The choices made in this document won’t make the board or the public informed about how the money is actually being spent. I looked at your athletics department financial audit you saw at your last meeting, I ask at the least, that you reject the retroactive injection of money until the administration presents clearly athletic budgets at that level of detail for this past year and the coming year, and how the money is being spent. Thank you.

Comment 6/23/25: Francis Marion

The American Revolution’s best-known hero has always been George Washington, future president, but one of the Revolution’s most significant commanders has become less known over time: Francis Marion, the “Swamp Fox.”

Following the wild success of the Disney TV series “Davy Crockett,” Francis Marion’s story was later adapted by Disney into an inspirational story of America:

As I will discuss another time, my great-great-grandparents were some of the earliest settlers of Florida, coming from coastal South Carolina and Georgia, and my great-great-grandparents were married in Orange County, Florida in 1972. Through this great-great-grandmother, I know my forbearers supplied the army of Francis Marion — and how I know that is significant.

But first, who was Francis Marion? The memes are not excellent but they exist:

The historical-sign version, however, is excellent:

Brigadier General of S.C. Militia during the American Revolution, Francis Marion, was one of the partisan leaders who kept the war alive during the British occupation of the state. His elusive disappearances after surprise attacks against superior forces harassed and demoralized the enemy, earning for him the name, "Swamp Fox."

Marion never commanded an army or fought in a major engagement, but his tactics were classic guerrilla warfare. The term “guerrilla warfare” wouldn’t be invented until the Napoleonic occupation of Spain in the early 1800s — the “little war.”

To say that Marion was the father of guerrilla warfare goes too far, though he was a master of it. The tactics of avoiding pitched battles and instead wearing out the enemy goes back to the Second Punic War in the 200s B.C. — after Roman defeats by Hannibal at Trebia, Lake Trasimene and Cannae, the Romans adopted the strategy proposed by Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus, ”the Cunctator,” which translates as “the Delayer.”

The term to this day is “Fabian tactics.” Modern history is full of successful applications of Fabian tactics: Napoleon was defeated in Spain, and most famously, Russia. Since I lean into the “New College Snowflakes” branding, it’s worth noting: Snowflakes did not defeat Napoleon. Napoleon was defeated in Russia because he underestimated the will of the Russian people to resist.

Fighting the Meme War

See this past history of Napoleon-Corcoran-NCF dank memes at instagram.com/ncfsnowflakes

The American Revolution is one of the best applications of Fabian tactics in history, and it’s most perfectly encapsulated in the reputation of Francis Marion — but also practiced by the regular Continental Army lead by George Washington.

Washington of course was a student of the classics. Washington knew the tactics of Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus by name.

How do I know a distant forbearer supplied the militia of Francis Marion? Because of the long paper trail trying to get reimbursed for it. The South Carolina state archives has digitized the records: Julius Driggers “swore that he delivered to a party of Gen. Marion’s Brigade a Heifer of two years old adjudged to weight two hundred pounds that he did actually serve thirty eight days in the said Brigade as a private…. Sworn before me 1 Jan 1784.”

Image of revolutionary war sworn statement. swore that he delivered to a party of Gen. Marion’s Brigade a Heifer of two years old adjudged to weight two hundred pounds that he did actually serve thirty eight days.”

The document reads, starting at the first indented line “sworn [under oath?] that he delivered to a party of Gen. Marion’s Brigade a Heifer of two years old adjudged to weight two hundred pounds that he did actually serve thirty eight days in the said Brigade as a private…. Sworn before me 1 Jan 1784.”

Later formalized in a certificate IOU:

American liberty and independence was secured by the willingness of patriots to serve for love of country. But an army marches on its stomach. The willingness of the post=Revolutionary governments to honor its promises played a key role in solidifying our system of government.

Board of Governors Public Comment 6/18/2025: Scrutiny

BOARD_OF_GOVERNORS_QUESTIONS_AND_EVIDENCE.PDF

SEE THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS PALM BEACH QUESTIONS AS A SLIDESHOW

Bonus: Letter to Budget Committee Chair Levine Re: Emergency

Bonus: Public Comment to Florida Poly Re: Accountability plan.

Two weeks ago I asked for scrutiny and you delivered. The question is why you don’t give scrutiny to other presidential selections?

I have submitted evidence and questions about the role of a group called the Palm Beach Freedom Institute. Also on Mike Sand dot com.

In demanding Ono be rejected, the 'Palm Beach Freedom Institute' X account invoking the "Palm Beach Donor Class." and spewed personal insults, rage, and threats, including directed by name at Vice C1hair Levine, The group then claimed credit with mocking cruelty.

The account didn't deny being run by its chairman, Bob Allen, the Palm Beach-based yacht lawyer and New College alum from the 1970s behind the takeover.

Look what was said by Bob Allen under his own name,, regarding Governor DeSantis about being UF president, and by the Freedom Institute said about DeSantis, including regarding the Mayor of Jacksonville.

Bob Allen sold a false narrative about New College, and UF brings into focus how he sold it. And why.

Board of Governors Public Comment 5/15/25: Oversight

My name is Mike Sanderson. Thank you for taking time out of your day for the BOG and to listen my comment.

Accounting for funds is among the most fundamental responsibilities of the Board of Governors — under the 2010 governance agreement, under the Florida constitution, under statue. The BOG Inspector General has oversight of the entire State University System. The idea in this Work Plan that the 3 highest priorities are all within the BOG office is totally inconsistent with fulfilling the constitutional responsibilities of oversight.

Among the roles is overseeing the system of Audit and Compliance Executives. By special exception, two Universities can have one person fulfill both the roles Chief Audit Executives and Chief Compliance Officers: New College and Florida Poly. It is, in engineering terms, a Single point of Failure.

I remind you again, the new College single point of failure had a “work plan” that had 200 hours auditing Athletic Scholarships for Title 9 compliance, even though Corcoran indignantly denied to this board he has athletic scholarships, and on paper it doesn’t.

I want to stress I’m not against Athletics, Congratulations to UF on again being national champions in men’s basketball; everyone at New College is proud of Olympic Sailing team USA Sarah Newberry Moore; the student center at New College has a case of intramural trophies.

However, After 2 months I got my PRR for the NCF Operating Budget Data in April. I have posted the original document and the decoded doc with the post of this comment on Mike Sand and the analysis visualization on tableau. There’s millions of dollars that doesn’t show up as intercollegiate athletics in reports.

And while Universities can send E&G funds on Women’s Sports for title IX, there’s a code for that and it shows up in the budget summery. Corcoran isn’t using it. He’s coded it as Student Service Administration and General Administration.

Estimated Revenue and Receipts is even more interesting. New College has its own Revenue Type, presumably for historical reasons. How can revenue type be both trust funds and local funds? Regardless, all revenue is clearly accounted for except the New College Local Funds.

By the way, the operating budget summary shows the three years before 2023 New College spent 9 million on “General Administration”. In Corcoran’s first year it went to $27 million on General Administration.

Falsification of documents by a public service is criminal. Doing so for personal gain is a felony. Corcoran is the former Speaker of the House. He knows what he’s doing.

On top of basic budget requirements, the budget proviso called for accounting for the funds spent on New College, and those numbers are completely different. The legislature passed gave that proviso requirement to the BOG and you delegated it to the Chancellor, Chancellor, I am not accusing you of intentional wrongdoing but there’s the appearance you might punish Corcoran more harshly because you’re embarrassed you believed him and had your staff pass his false numbers through to the Legislature. That complaint is at the BOG General OFfice Level.

It now goes for the BOG Chair to consult with the Board of Trustees Chair. Chair Jenks is a securities lawyer, if you want to sue someone for not fulfilling their fiduciary duty you can hire her.

Please reminder her she’s not the College’s defense counsel, and Chair Lamb, regardless of the phrasing, you have the constitutional fiduciary responsibility to account for spending and while you have to consult with Chair Jenks on her decision, you or member of the BOG can by your role, ask for at least a preliminary investigations, especially if experienced with budget and finance.

I know this is not welcome, but if you don’t take action on brazen accounting falsification, the chaos and rot will spread to other institutions,, in ways that are predictable and unexpected.

I guarantee it.

5/15/25 Complaint NCF Original Documents

Board of Governor Comment February 20, 2025: Points for Honesty

First thank you to the governors for taking time to serve in this important role for the state of Florida, and thank you for the opportunity to comment, I will try to get under time and my full comment is at mikesand dot com.

First I want to mention the history, before talking about what I know of Ms. Nunez, and finally the implications for governance.

In the year 2000 I was a student at New College of USF when under the old Board of Regents, USF was searching for a new president. That was the search that brought Judy Genshaft from SUBY Albany.

There was a state senator from St Pete who had wanted to be USF president, and when he wasn't a finalist, he proposed emanating the Board of Regents, which happened. It was in 2002 that Senator Bob Graham, May he rest in peace, proposed the amendment that created this board. It’s specifically to prevent politicians from corruptly making themselves presidents of the universities.

—

As an aside I want to echo Chair Lamb's comments about USF as a former USF student, its elevation is remarkable. Describe USF today and Someone 20 years ago would think you're talking about USC.

—

Something has clearly worked in the last 20 years, and some politicians did get presidencies and it worked out.

As for Ms. Nunez, I'll say this, points for honestly. She just says she wants to be president of FIU and it happens. She says she doesn’t want to live in Tallahassee anymore. A special meeting, even though there’s a permanent president in place until November. Better brazenly violate the law then cook up some emergency to justify it.

Nunez didn't feel the need to spin up some narrative to justify it. FIU has "lost their way" or “lost their mission.” That’s what she said about New College. Since Ms. Nunez also said she wants Florida to extend its footprint into advanced manufacturing, research and technological development, I will refer Ms. Nunez to my comment from January about Florida’s existing legacy in advanced manufacturing and technological breakthroughs, not just in Florida but by Florida natives.

And that brings it to the last point. A president selected this way isn’t accountable to the University community and we shouldn’t pretend. If we are moving to a model where the President is the head of state and there’s a second-in-commend who does the work, that’s a valid model. But our system puts power in the President, who are now objectively not qualified to make many of those decisions. And there’s no checks on an endless number of interim appointments, or any requirement the people they hire have qualifications.

Corcoran just confidently bluffs and this board says “number of students go up, no further questions." The legislature even put a specific proviso it wants this Board to provide quarterly status updates on what happened to the things Corcoran spent the $15 million on, and it was delegated to the Chancellor, who is having the vice-chancellor forward Corcoran’s omissions and misrepresentations of the financial disaster on the ground.

This board exists so that we can have Genshafts and Thrashers, not Corcorans and Sasses., and it’s set up for Genshafts and Thrashers, not Corcorans and Sasses. Thank you.

NCF Board of Trustees Comment, February 13, 2025: Dog Food

On Corcoran’s evaluation, I’m reminded of a joke with two business guys talking. First guy says, “my new dog food company’s going out of business”

Second guy says, “But you had such a great product launch! You had all the influencers posting! You had that amazing Super Bowl ad! Why’s the dog food company going out of business?”

First guy responds, “The dogs won’t eat it.”

You’re not evaluating a vision from 2 years ago. You’re evaluating what Richard Corcoran has done.

So speaking of business, and business plans: Board of Governors. Is anyone today going to explain what Governor Silagy alleged on the budget committee two weeks ago? That this board approved illegal spending? I was there, there were gasps from the audience of administrators. The clip is linked on Mike Sand dot com.

It doesn’t matter. Last I heard, applications are down, but good news is accepted applications are down even more. Nothing matters when the dogs won’t eat the dog food.