UF President Ben Sasse to announce university's new plans in Jacksonville

[jcjohnpaint]

As a professor at UNF, I changed nothing to support these mandates, even if it led to forced resignation. I don't know any faculty that supports this crap in or out of the classroom. Do know they are safe in our classes. I teach to the same standards as I did when I arrived; nothing will change.

[Ken_FSU]

As a professor at UNF, I changed nothing to support these mandates, even if it led to forced resignation. I don't know any faculty that supports this crap in or out of the classroom. Do know they are safe in our classes. I teach to the same standards as I did when I arrived; nothing will change.

Keep fighting the good fight!

Appreciate you looking out for our youth.

[fsu813]

Florida universities are gonna have bigger problems than where to locate when faculty and staff see emails like this start to go out.

Horrifying.

It's one thing hearing about the laws, but seeing them in action, really does read like a prelude to fascism.

https://www.reddit.com/r/jacksonville/comments/19ey81n/got_this_email_today_from_unf/

Am I wrong to think that the important values these various programs highlighted will be repackaged, more or less, to be less specific/niche to fit the restrictions, but still provide similar services?

[Charles Hunter]

Florida universities are gonna have bigger problems than where to locate when faculty and staff see emails like this start to go out.

Horrifying.

It's one thing hearing about the laws, but seeing them in action, really does read like a prelude to fascism.

https://www.reddit.com/r/jacksonville/comments/19ey81n/got_this_email_today_from_unf/

Am I wrong to think that the important values these various programs highlighted will be repackaged, more or less, to be less specific/niche to fit the restrictions, but still provide similar services?

We can hope so.

[thelakelander]

$75 million more for UF and a plan to open offices in JEA's new building off Pearl Street this fall:

https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/local/2024/03/12/florida-legislature-back-more-money-for-uf-grad-center-in-jacksonville/72940877007/

[marcuscnelson]

Oh, wow.

A timeline given to the Board of Trustees showed UF would open administrative offices in the fall at the JEA headquarters building on Pearl Street in downtown and also select the permanent campus site in that time frame.

The design and planning of a permanent campus would take place in mid-2025 and UF would begin classes on the fifth floor of the Pearl Street building in fall 2025.

Site selection this fall and first classes (at the temporary site) next year? So this is like… really happening? $150 million in state money is getting serious.

[iMarvin]

How much it would take to move the entire university? Just kidding, of course...

I think a permanent location near FSCJ makes the most sense.

[marcuscnelson]

UF’s plans in Jacksonville could expand to include a “Florida Semiconductor Institute”. Also UF wants another $50 million from the city and private donors in order to build the $300 million graduate campus.

https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/local/2024/03/21/university-of-florida-eyes-jacksonville-for-semiconductor-institute/73022635007/

Goals for the campus include 1,500 students by the fifth year, and potentially 10,000 students in 20 years.

[Jax_Developer]

Interesting considering there's zero semiconductor companies located in North Florida. Phoenix has several Fortune 500's within a 30 minute drive with more than $15B of investment from Semi companies. Their expansion actually makes sense. Perhaps the school is targeted towards manufacturing, which also has almost zero presence in North Florida, let alone the Southeast US.

What exactly is the plan? I read the article, but there's really no industry here like it states... I'm happy to see it happening nonetheless because I've always thought that Jax has the right set of elements for wafer production.

[Charles Hunter]

Surely those JTA AVs will need gobs of chips.

[Fallen Buckeye]

Interesting considering there's zero semiconductor companies located in North Florida. Phoenix has several Fortune 500's within a 30 minute drive with more than $15B of investment from Semi companies. Their expansion actually makes sense. Perhaps the school is targeted towards manufacturing, which also has almost zero presence in North Florida, let alone the Southeast US.

What exactly is the plan? I read the article, but there's really no industry here like it states... I'm happy to see it happening nonetheless because I've always thought that Jax has the right set of elements for wafer production.

The Nobel Laureate that invented the blue LED actually completed some of his research at UF, so there's some track record there. They're working on a big Intel campus outside of Columbus, too. I think that the uncertainty in Taiwan may be fueling a desire to decentralize production.

[jaxlongtimer]

Here is the ultimate UF connection to semiconductors... and AI: NVIDIA.  One of its 3 founders is a UF alum.

UF Announces $70 Million Artificial Intelligence Partnership with NVIDIA

UF will house the fastest AI supercomputer in higher education

The University of Florida has announced a public-private partnership with NVIDIA that will catapult UF’s research strength to address some of the world’s most formidable challenges, create unprecedented access to AI training and tools for underrepresented communities, and build momentum for transforming the future of the workforce.

The initiative is anchored by a $50 million gift — $25 million from UF alumnus Chris Malachowsky and $25 million in hardware, software, training and services from NVIDIA, the Silicon Valley-based technology company he cofounded and a world leader in AI and accelerated computing.

Along with an additional $20 million investment from UF, the initiative will create an AI-centric data center that houses the world’s fastest AI supercomputer in higher education. Working closely with NVIDIA, UF will boost the capabilities of its existing supercomputer, HiPerGator, with the recently announced NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD™ architecture. This will give faculty and students within and beyond UF the tools to apply AI across a multitude of areas to improve lives, bolster industry, and create economic growth across the state....

https://www.uff.ufl.edu/your-impact/uf-announces-70-million-artificial-intelligence-partnership-nvidia/

[Jax_Developer]

Thanks for sharing Jax! Had no idea. Still somewhat curious to me as to why. They don't manufacture any of their own chips, which is where Jacksonville has the ability to enter the game. Nvidia isn't unique in that way, but nonetheless, removes the most likely role that Jax could play with the semi industry.

Buckeye, yes the CHIPS act is one of the largest government funded private investment bills. The main locations for these Fabs are: Phoenix, Texas (Austin area), and the Northeast (NY, NH). Unless Phoenix is able to attract talent from Taiwan, the ability for even the largest & most advanced fabs in the US to boule & manufacture the most advanced chips, is extremely unlikely. The skilled labor involved in advanced semis is more complex than any manufacturing process in the world.

The US is at least 5 years, maybe 10, behind Taiwan in this regard, and any projects slated to begin now are long 20-30 year plans to catch up. The labor component is so crucial. UF needs to attract top tier talent. I know the perfect local guy for this but he's retired!

[Fallen Buckeye]

Buckeye, yes the CHIPS act is one of the largest government funded private investment bills. The main locations for these Fabs are: Phoenix, Texas (Austin area), and the Northeast (NY, NH). Unless Phoenix is able to attract talent from Taiwan, the ability for even the largest & most advanced fabs in the US to boule & manufacture the most advanced chips, is extremely unlikely. The skilled labor involved in advanced semis is more complex than any manufacturing process in the world.

The US is at least 5 years, maybe 10, behind Taiwan in this regard, and any projects slated to begin now are long 20-30 year plans to catch up. The labor component is so crucial. UF needs to attract top tier talent. I know the perfect local guy for this but he's retired!

Taiwan's largest chipmaker, TSMC, has actually been working on a Phoenix plant, too. Although I understand that there have been delays recently.

One thing north Florida also has going for it is water access. Chip production is water intensive from my understanding. The chip makers in Arizona have to go to great lengths to recycle water because of the complex water rights situation. Definitely less of an issue here than some of the western states. It's a long-term play, but who knows?

[Jax_Developer]

Buckeye, yes the CHIPS act is one of the largest government funded private investment bills. The main locations for these Fabs are: Phoenix, Texas (Austin area), and the Northeast (NY, NH). Unless Phoenix is able to attract talent from Taiwan, the ability for even the largest & most advanced fabs in the US to boule & manufacture the most advanced chips, is extremely unlikely. The skilled labor involved in advanced semis is more complex than any manufacturing process in the world.

The US is at least 5 years, maybe 10, behind Taiwan in this regard, and any projects slated to begin now are long 20-30 year plans to catch up. The labor component is so crucial. UF needs to attract top tier talent. I know the perfect local guy for this but he's retired!

Taiwan's largest chipmaker, TSMC, has actually been working on a Phoenix plant, too. Although I understand that there have been delays recently.

One thing north Florida also has going for it is water access. Chip production is water intensive from my understanding. The chip makers in Arizona have to go to great lengths to recycle water because of the complex water rights situation. Definitely less of an issue here than some of the western states. It's a long-term play, but who knows?

Right, TSMC is delayed due to skilled labor shortages. Intel too. Intel's plant is the first mega plant to open and it is at a fraction of capacity. Micron in NY has a 10+ year scale up, mainly due to labor. Although Taiwanese companies are opening up shops in the US, that doesn't mean they are moving their most advanced manufacturing over. Labor included in that. It's somewhat of a national defense issue. So these US plants are really 'going' to facilitate larger nm chips than whatever is cutting edge at that time. Hence why the push towards semi education in PHX has been such a focus. It is a very dire and evident need. That same need isn't as evident here is my only point.

I have had a conversation in the past about trying to get semi manufacturing in Florida. The issue is labor talent here as well. It's very much a chicken & egg conversation. The only issue being that we have no companies at all here. Semiconductor businesses have had satellite offices in PHX for decades. It takes a ton of start up capital to get the ball rolling. To me, it's a risky play that could pay off. Time will tell.

Also something to mention is that other countries are well aware of this production issue as well, and the competition in this market will be extreme in the next decade. The industry is set up for big business, with economies being realized in mega factories (aka Taiwan rn).

As for the water, they are recycling the same water over & over again through purification. Agreed though that we have lots of it! Ultimately, the labor pool is their largest variable cost and the fabs are centered around keeping that as low as possible.