I'm in no way associated with UF, but I don't think the answer for why this is proposed is too difficult.
Take this:
CISE, the only department at UF engaged in Computer Software research, will become
a teaching only department, and inevitably, its ranking, reputation and enrollment
will plummet.
Take this:
and add this:http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120331/ARTICLES/1203399...
Can you say "diploma mill"? Good; I knew you could.