Dear Panthers,
Last Friday, I joined a meeting with psychology faculty at the invitation of the CoPLA Dean. The purpose was to address questions around our continued efforts to align with evolving state and federal DEI regulations. As always, we are navigating these changes with a clear commitment to full legal compliance and academic excellence—our top priorities.
Unfortunately, that private meeting was illegally recorded and shared with the O’Keefe Media Group, which is known for distributing selectively edited and deceptive video content. The video has since been published and misrepresents my comments—offered in a spirit of empathy and clarity for our faculty—as somehow indicating noncompliance. That is simply false.
In response to this, Florida Tech is taking appropriate legal action. The videos that have been shared do not tell the whole story, nor do they accurately reflect my true sentiments or intentions.
When Governor DeSantis called for the removal of DEI initiatives from Florida’s public institutions of higher education, Florida Tech responded proactively and in good faith, consistent with our commitment to lawful compliance and educational excellence.
The facts are as follows:
- Florida Tech has been proactively aligned with Governor DeSantis’s directives regarding DEI and is taking all necessary steps to demonstrate compliance.
- Florida Tech remains firmly committed to its mission and values with an unwavering focus on our students’ education and success.
Sometimes, difficult moments find their way into our path—unexpected, unfortunate, even unfair. This is one of those times, and I regret and accept responsibility for my word choice. But at Florida Tech, we face challenges head-on. Moments like this have a way of sharpening our sense of purpose. They remind us why we do the work we do, and why it’s so important to keep moving forward together—with clarity, with strength, and with integrity.
Let me be clear: education is, and will always be, our focus—not the noise, not the distractions. Our responsibility is to our students. That’s where we are investing our energy, and that’s where it belongs.
Sincerely,
John Nicklow, Ph.D.
President
