GAINESVILLE — The University of Florida dedicated substantial funds for travel expenses of high-earning Republican appointees of ex-President Ben Sasse, who were allowed to telecommute from other states and visited the campus periodically, as per newly disclosed documents.
The revelations contribute to the growing scrutiny over the university president’s excessive use of public finances until Sasse’s abrupt departure recently. Over half of the $211,824 tallied expenses for six of his top UF employees working remotely during a span of 17 months went towards airfare or train tickets, with an additional spend of nearly $50,000 on hotel stays.
The expenditure covered all travel related to their work, extending beyond merely commuting to and from UF from their residences in states including Nebraska, Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. The university released over 1,500 detailed expense records for these staff members, following a filing under the Florida public records law dated July 30.
A significant portion of the travel costs were specifically accounted for campus visits. However, some entries merely listed expenses for “trip” without further elaboration on the destinations.
In the documentation provided by UF, it was unclear if the accommodations were budget hotels or luxurious suites, with room rates ranging from $150 to $300 per night. Details regarding the eateries or dining companions for the meals were also not specified.
Sasse stepped down. Donors and top officials say he was forced out.
Expenses listed included a nearly $3,300 airline ticket to San Francisco for a three-day trip in January, $450.26 for a dinner during a three-day campus visit in April, $90.90 for an April lunch, $266 for renting a car for a day in October, and $1.78 for a 4-mile personal car journey in September. It was not specified who within UF authorized these expenditures.
The rules at the university cap meal and travel expenses for professors and administrative staff—$19 is the limit for dinner and $11 for lunch, with car mileage reimbursed at 44.5 cents per mile. While these limits can be exceeded for events involving donors or potential donors, the university recommends keeping expenses as close to these caps as feasible.
Sasse, the former Republican senator from Nebraska, recently addressed claims on social media, stating “it’s not true” regarding allegations of financial misconduct within the president’s office. His statement was in response to an article published by the Independent Florida Alligator, which claimed that Sasse had allocated millions to employ former Senate staff and other Republican officials.
“Public institutions have a core responsibility to ensure fiscal responsibility not only because our alumni, donors, and taxpayers expect it, but also because it is fundamental to our operations,” Sasse stated, affirming the ongoing fiscal integrity.
During the initial phase of his presidency at the University of Florida, Sasse expressed to faculty members in private meetings the challenges related to hiring exceptional talents due to Gainesville’s geographical and climatic drawbacks, colloquially known as “the swamp.” He suggested increasing remote teaching opportunities, establishing additional campuses beyond Gainesville, and leveraging technology to bypass traditional educational constraints that require physical presence.
Despite being a vibrant university town, Gainesville faces several limitations including minimal entertainment venues, a small airport that lacks multiple direct flights, higher than average violent crime rates, and steep utilities costs. It is also situated about an hour and a half from the nearest Florida beaches.
A spokesman for Governor Ron DeSantis, Bryan Griffin, mentioned that earlier this month, the governor’s office contacted the State University System and its Board of Governors, who manage Florida’s public universities, to investigate how Ben Sasse used state funds. Additionally, the state’s chief financial officer, Jimmy Patronis, recommended the same organization to probe into Sasse’s expenditures and offered audit assistance from his office.
As a response to concerns about these expenditures, the University of Florida has declared that any expenses made through the president’s office will now undergo a biannual review and a detailed report will be presented to the university’s Board of Trustees.
Following Sasse’s departure, UF also noted that it has ceased employment for four out of six staff members who had their travel documents reviewed, with another staff member resigning voluntarily.
Penny Schwinn, a senior appointee of Sasse and former Republican commissioner of education for Tennessee, was terminated from her role as vice president for K-12 education. Despite working remotely from Tennessee, Schwinn was earning a salary of $367,500. Upon her dismissal effective July 31, she received a severance equivalent to three months’ salary, approximately $92,000.
Taylor Sliva, who formerly served as Sasse’s press secretary in the Senate, held the position of assistant vice president of presidential communications and public affairs with a salary of $255,000. Sliva also received $15,000 for relocating to Gainesville. Like Schwinn, he was provided a severance of about $64,000, representing three months’ salary, when he was let go effective August 5. Property records show Sliva was renting a three-bedroom home in Gainesville while maintaining ownership of a residence in Nebraska.
Sasse, aged 52, cited a recent diagnosis of epilepsy and ongoing health challenges faced by his wife, Melissa, including memory issues following an aneurysm and strokes in 2007, as reasons for his resignation. He expressed a desire to dedicate more time to his family, including his college-age daughters and a 13-year-old son.
Hired 17 months prior, Sasse received a base salary of $1 million along with the opportunity for a performance bonus of up to $150,000 each year, with a contract ensuring his position until at least February 2028. His resignation required a six-month notification unless waived by the chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mori Hosseini.
Sasse mentioned his family would stay in Gainesville, and he plans to serve as president emeritus and continue teaching as a professor at the university. While serving as president, the Sasse family resided in a gated mansion valued in the millions, situated adjacent to the university’s law school.
State considers investigation into former UF President Ben Sasse’s spending
Sasse is set to vacate the mansion by September 30. Following his resignation, the University of Florida will keep paying him a base salary of just over $1 million until February 2028, also covering medical, dental, life, and disability insurance as per an addendum to the contract made on July 18, the day he announced his resignation.
The salary agreement for Sasse extending up to 2028 aligns closely with the compensation that the University of Florida (UF) provided to its former president, Kent Fuchs, who stepped down in 2023 after an eight-year tenure. Fuchs, also an engineering professor, has consented to act as the interim president until July 31 of the following year. During his interim presidency, UF will compensate him with a base salary of $1 million along with a potential bonus of up to 15 percent, and additionally, establish a $5 million endowed professorship in his honor within the engineering faculty.
Subsequent to Sasse’s resignation, UF reinstated Joseph Glover to the role of provost, the university’s chief academic officer. Prior to this, Glover had left UF to take up the provost position at the University of Arizona in April. His renewed terms at UF include a salary of $672,000 and a recruitment incentive of $50,000.
This story was brought to you by Fresh Take Florida, a journalistic outlet from the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications. The journalist can be contacted at vivienneserret@ufl.edu.