Save Ufadp

[jdsffa]

The University of Florida Academic diving program is in jeopardy of being cut in the next round of budget cuts. The program has class all the way through instructor. We need everyone's help. You can show you support for the program at this facebook group http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/gr...6152476&ref=nf
All the information is on that site including addresses and email for the people in charge of the cuts. This program certifies as many as 500 divers a year of which several go on to cavern and cave training. If you have question fell free to email or pm me and I will give you all the information you like.

John Spann

[OFG-1]

Good luck, they killed off FSU's program a couple of years ago.

[Puttzer]

The University of Florida Academic diving program is in jeopardy of being cut in the next round of budget cuts. The program has class all the way through instructor. We need everyone's help. You can show you support for the program at this facebook group http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/gr...6152476&ref=nf
All the information is on that site including addresses and email for the people in charge of the cuts. This program certifies as many as 500 divers a year of which several go on to cavern and cave training. If you have question fell free to email or pm me and I will give you all the information you like.

John Spann

Well...... excuse me but I'd rather see a tight state budget used for academics and not scuba diving lessons. Diving lessions can be handled by the private sector, who probably need the income.

[Me]

At the university here, the accredited classes were discontinued years ago and showed back up in the "enrichment" sector at the university. No more college credit given. A local dive ship teaches the classes.

[FW]

Ufadp? Looks like one of Jeano's MI words

[techdvr]

When I was at Virginia Tech, we had a student scuba club that taught classes up through divemaster. The club was founded a long time ago, and had a couple of open water instructors that worked at the university. The club is able to get discounted rates to use the universities pool for classes, teach classes for a lot cheaper than on the civilian market, and through the use of cheap membership dues, they are able to provide free air fills and maintain gear for rent well below average rates from a dive shop. If you contacted one of their club officers or club advisors, they could give you some advice on how to set it up.

Here is their website:
http://www.scuba.org.vt.edu/

[jdsffa]

Well...... excuse me but I'd rather see a tight state budget used for academics and not scuba diving lessons. Diving lessions can be handled by the private sector, who probably need the income.

The diving program at the University is a self supportive program through lab fees paided by students, and we actually generate money for the university through course fees. The Program also has 15 part time instructors and 1 full time director who would lose their jobs if the program is terminated.

[Benthic]

The diving program at the University is a self supportive program through lab fees paided by students, and we actually generate money for the university through course fees. The Program also has 15 part time instructors and 1 full time director who would lose their jobs if the program is terminated.

If the program actually generates money, then why would they cut it? I'd recommend that you verify that. If you do in fact generate income for the university then you have a perception problem (someone out there thinks you cost them money) and that's what you need to work to change.

Brian

[Me]

Continuing with Brian's observation.....

Lab fees are usually a general fund. In other words, all "labs" draw from the lab fee fund. Therefore, the fees you are paying are going to keep various labs throughout the university operating. Here at the University of Cincinnati, every student pays lab fees. As every student has access to one lab or another whether they choose to use or not. (Example of an open lab....computers spread around the university for student use, from the library to computer based classes)

On the same note, if there is a full time director, it's highly unlikely the lab fees cover the full time director's pay, insurance, FICA, unemployment, etc. Or for that matter, the expense of the instructors who may or may not be classified as adjunct?

[WEPIV]

From what John said, and as I understand it, the program does pay for itself and has a pretty good history dating back to the early 1970s.
I think what the main problem is -- again based on what I've heard -- is they have a dean who apparently could care less about scuba and the program and he perceives it as an easy mark to go after.
I hope that if word gets out about the scuba program and what the facts really are then the dean will not have a leg to stand on in terms of wanting to get rid of it all.
Besides everything else about it, students (as far as I know) are still required to take some form of physical education as undergraduates and if nothing else the scuba program fits wonderfully (especially in a state like Florida) for that. Think of how many students get scuba certified each year before heading off to spring and summer break?
I think the various students and instructors of this great program should go on the offensive and get the word out through local media outlets so the dean will have to face the facts....