Polk State’s focus: From students to numbers
I retired from Polk State College in 2024 after 13 years as a full-time professor. When I started in 2011, the administration had one goal: Provide “a world-class education at an affordable price.”
Leaders encouraged faculty to attend conferences and share information. Deans emailed about new trends and research. Meetings emphasized inter-departmental teamwork to fully support each student.
Above all, administrators prioritized academic integrity. Professors were advised to maintain high standards and resist “dumbing down” material or inflating grades.
Priorities changed with new leadership in 2017. Meetings now centered on numbers: enrollment, retention, graduation. A revolving series of deans rarely communicated with faculty. Professors were told there were no funds for faculty conference travel, even as new, six-figure administrators proliferated.
Worst, academic integrity disintegrated. Professors were attacked for low pass rates and told to “redesign” intro courses so students couldn’t fail. The ultimate absurdity: moving graduation to five days before final grades were due so failing students could “cosplay” graduating and the college could report a higher number who “walked” at commencement.
The college’s board must work to re-establish the values of mutual respect and academic integrity that long made Polk State a vital community resource. I hope they will.
Rafaela Ellis, Lakeland
Abandoning voter registration at Pride in the Park
Months ago, arrangements were made with the Polk County Supervisor of Elections to provide voter registration services at the Pride in the Park event in Lakeland’s Munn Park.
Traditionally, Polk Pride organizers furnish a free space for the SOE to utilize, which was once again the case this year. Multiple follow-up communications ensued thereafter to provide details and to reconfirm a staffed voter registration booth would be made available to the 10,000-plus festival goers.
Much to the chagrin of organizers and attendees, an SOE executive decision was made to nix the tax-payer funded public agency’s agreement to provide their promoted community outreach service. To add insult to injury, the cancellation notice was delivered less than 24 hours before the event thus sabotaging both the opportunity to market the vacant space and to fully enact a Plan B.
The excuse given by the caller from the SOE for their absence was that they were “expecting trouble.” Mind you, the only trouble encountered in the 10-year history of the festival has been the surrounding businesses’ challenge to keep up with sales.
True, I may have been born this way, but rest assured I wasn’t born last night.
David Jones, Lakeland
American leadership in technology is on the line
The price America will pay in the future for Trump’s war on immigrants and international students depends on how long it lasts.
Those that make it to American universities are some of the brightest students in the world. In the past many stayed in America and contributed to advancements in space, medicine and science. They are the major reason why America is the leader in space, science and medicine in the world today.
They and their future generations have and will contribute, becoming AI coders, robotics engineers, doctors, etc. Just look at the list of doctors in America. When you lose your innovation, you lose your manufacturing.
Countries don’t buy American planes because they were manufactured in America. They buy American planes because of their cutting-edge technology. Nobody wants yesterday’s technology.
Let’s vet international students who wish to come and stay. Eliminate barriers and make them welcome. This way, America wins and remains the world’s leader in space, science and medicine. If America doesn’t, other countries including China, Japan and Germany will.
They will be the world’s leaders in technology. They will manufacture and sell the most advanced technological products due to contributions of international students America rejects.
Victor Chandler, Eagle Lake
Support Trump’s effort to fix the country
President Trump is working hard to return our country to a strong military superpower with a balanced federal budget and secured national borders while ending illegal immigration and restoring our energy independence.
American taxpaying citizens connected the dots and recognized former President Biden’s administration allowed thousands of immigrants to enter our country illegally through unsecured open borders. Many of these had committed horrible crimes and undermined our national security. As a result, the voters returned President Trump to the White House.
President Trump’s administration inherited many problems. The border, crime, inflation, education, debt and the possibility of war to name a few.
Today, American citizens are witnessing the challenges the president and his administration are facing as they work to achieve Trump’s campaign promises. Challenges that are highlighted everyday by the media: riots in L.A. and other cities, a large national debt, deportation of illegals, Obama/Biden appointed judges blocking legislation and political dishevel in both political parties.
It takes a team. Let’s unite and stand with our president to help his MAGA dream come true. It is common sense to lower our debt by cutting wasteful government spending. Remember, America is one nation under God!
Walt Back, Lakeland
Support for LA protesters
I want to offer my deepest thanks to the protesters in Los Angeles. Your courage and determination are more than acts of resistance — they are acts of patriotism.
You are standing on the front lines to defend our democracy from the creeping threat of fascism. Your protest is a powerful reminder that we must not remain silent in the face of injustice.
History teaches us what happens when good people do nothing. In 1930s Germany, silence and compliance paved the road to tragedy. If more had risen up, perhaps millions could have been saved.
This time, we must not look away. We must act. You are showing us how. First they came for the immigrants and I did not speak out because I was not an immigrant. Then they came for the gays and I did not speak out because I was not gay. Then they came for African Americans and I did not speak out because I was not an African American. Then they came for the journalists and I did not speak out because I was not a journalist. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.
Dorothy Lemmey, Lakeland
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This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Polk State’s focus: From students to numbers | Voice of the People (June 22, 2025)
Reporting by Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
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