How Can We Improve the Quality and Accessibility of Education in the Florida Public University System?

How Did We Get to This Topic?  Concerned about existing number of engineering grads vs. demand  Concerned about quality of engineering programs at Florida universities.  The group was tasked to take a broader view, instead of focusing on engineering.

Rankings  State Population  Highest Ranking Public University  Resident Undergraduate Tuition  Money Spent per Student  Student to Faculty Ratio  Starting Salaries in Job Market 4 th 50 th 49 th 34 th 36 th

Problems  Low Tuition  Florida Prepaid Tuition Program –Largest Program in US –Limits Tuition Increases to 6.8% per year –Only State Still Writing Contracts  Merit-Based Aid vs. Need-Based Aid –Bright Futures Scholarships Tuition is Capped Can Qualify with SAT Score Less Than Florida Avg. 71% of Recipients Do Not Need Financial Assistance  State Subsidies –$1.8 Billion to Public Universities –$35 Million to Private Universities

Problems  On average, only 20% of Florida’s students earn a 4-year degree within 4-years at a public university, by the sixth year this becomes 50%.  Faculty salaries are low, class sizes are high, and facilities need to be expanded.  Unreasonably High Non-Resident Graduate and Professional Degree Tuition Rates

Solutions  The Florida Council of 100 recommends a 15% annual tuition increase over 5-years.  Renegotiate the prepay program.  Increase requirements to qualify for Bright Future scholarships so money can be diverted to need based aid.  Do not set Bright Future scholarships as a percentage of tuition, but as a fixed dollar amount.  Devolution of authority to set tuition