In recent years, a growing number of liberal-leaning professors have been leaving Florida's renowned public universities, citing the political climate and policies of Governor Ron DeSantis as driving factors. The departures have raised concerns about the impact on scholars and students, while university officials maintain that turnover rates remain below the national average.

According to a report by The New York Times, multiple academics from various fields have left or given notice to leave their coveted tenured positions at Florida public universities, with many opting to head to more politically progressive states. Though the number of departing professors is still relatively small, it highlights a trend that some perceive as the result of Governor DeSantis' efforts to reshape higher education according to his conservative principles.

Among the departures is Neil H. Buchanan, a prominent economist and tax law scholar who left the University of Florida to teach in Toronto after just four years in the state. In a recent column on a legal commentary website, he accused Florida of displaying "open hostility to professors and to higher education more generally." He is joined by numerous other academics who have cited DeSantis and his policies as reasons for their departures.

The University of Florida, however, maintains that its turnover rate remains below the national average, and hiring has outpaced departures. Similar figures have been released by Florida State University and the University of South Florida. Sarah D. Lynne, chair-elect of the University of Florida's Faculty Senate, stated that most people who leave do so for reasons unrelated to politics, emphasizing the state's attractive qualities and the presence of outstanding students.

Despite these assertions, data from several schools show an upward trend in departure rates. The University of Florida, for example, experienced an increase in overall turnover from 7% in 2021 to 9.3% in 2023, according to released figures. A Faculty Senate report at the University of Florida highlighted the challenges faced by the school's arts and liberal arts departments, which have struggled to hire or retain faculty, including those from diverse backgrounds.

The political climate in Florida has also impacted recruitment efforts. Danaya C. Wright, a law professor at the University of Florida and current chair of the Faculty Senate, noted that more candidates have been withdrawing applications or expressing disinterest due to the state's reputation. This sentiment was echoed by Janet Kistner, vice president for faculty development at Florida State University, who stated that faculty turnover has increased recently due to the political climate, with 37 professors leaving in the past year compared to an average of 23 over the past five years.

Some departing professors have specifically mentioned the state's policies on gender, sexuality, and transgender rights as factors contributing to their decisions to leave. The passage of a law limiting discussions on gender and sexuality in elementary schools, though not explicitly aimed at universities, has created an environment that many find concerning. Gay professors have highlighted state sanctions aimed at transgender employees and students, as well as restrictions on transgender medical procedures, as additional reasons for their departures.

The impact of these departures is significant, especially within the University of Florida's law school, which has seen a faculty turnover rate of 30% this year. According to Maryam Jamshidi, a former professor who now teaches at the University of Colorado Boulder, the ability for students to record professors in the classroom has led many liberal-leaning faculty members to fear that their lectures could be used against them in a politically charged manner.

Governor DeSantis, however, has dismissed the departures as a positive development, stating that professors who engage in practices he perceives as discrimination or partisan activism are better off leaving. This sentiment has drawn criticism from those who argue that the state risks losing valuable academic talent.

As faculty departures continue to increase, concerns persist about the long-term consequences for Florida's higher education system. The state's ability to attract and retain top-tier scholars may be compromised if the perceived politicization of higher education intensifies. It remains to be seen how this exodus will shape the academic landscape in Florida and whether efforts to reshape higher education to fit conservative principles will prevail.