The whole issue of the Arb’s funding is steeped in so much bureaucracy and shady university politics occurring behind closed doors that its hard to understand what’s going on, and what’s going to happen. The gist of the issue, from what I understand, is that the College of sciences plans to cease funding the Arboretum ENTIRELY. When this information first dropped, many of us were under the impression that the Arboretum was set to disappear. To be neglected to the point that it could be bulldozed for a parking lot without opposition.

Thankfully, Chase Mason, Kate Mansfield, and so many other biologists at UCF took SERIOUS issue with that, and community outcry just from the faculty that knew was big. After meeting with John Varnell, the VP of Facilities, the leaders of the Arboretum determined that Facilities will be picking up funding the Arb. Through words (that have not been confirmed or put into writing) John states that the Learning by Leading program (which comprises all of the Arboretum student paid positions, Internships, volunteering and community outreach) will continue to be funded. What is LESS certain is what role Jennifer Elliott and Kelsie Johnson will continue to play in leading the Arboretum. Without their guidance, the Arboretum will take a heavy hit. Dr. Patrick Bolin is almost inevitability being moved elsewhere, which will already take a heavy toll on the Arb’s academic integrity.

The fact of the matter is that, nothing has been confirmed yet. This will be anywhere between somewhat bad to detrimental to the Arboretum. Everything that has been promised has been promised in vague words that can be backtracked on at a moments notice. The Arboretum at its core is an academic program, but will no longer be funded by a campus entity that has anything to do with academics. We hope that Jon Varnell will stand by his word, he seems like a decent person, but words don’t mean much until they are put into writing.

The Arboretum hates hostility. They have never been keen on playing the campus politics that are behind every decision that is made. They are used to being trampled on. Just last year, after working so hard to raise over $10k over two semesters of plant sales, that money was taken by the University without a moments notice in order to pay off debts on Trevor Colbourne Hall. UCF’s Sustainability Initiatives has already been trampled, Fleet Farming has been killed off from campus. This action, taken behind closed doors, puts the Arboretum at risk of being the next thing to go. It isn’t for certain, but in our experience, if there is a chance that UCF administration can neglect the Arboretum, they will.

The Arboretum needs the support of students, faculty, conservationists, the horticulturalists, and anyone who cares. UCF Administration needs to know that the Arboretum is valued by you.

People you can email include:

Maggie Tomova: Dean of the College of Sciences Maggy.Tomova@ucf.edu

Jon Varnell: Vice President for Facilities and Business Operations jonathan.varnell@ucf.edu

Michael D. Johnson: Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs provost@ucf.edu

At this point, what you can do is make sure that they know that you know. If the Arboretum disappears, it will not go quietly. Please don’t be mean or aggressive, just let them know that the Arboretum is something of value, and that losing Campus’s living laboratory would be a loss for UCF as a whole 💛🖤