nvm - I’m mixing this up with Bright Futures I think.
Pretty sure Bright Futures is for tuition only, which would be paid at 100% plus $300/semester for books. It currently pays about half tuition.
@suzy100 - I think the OOS Benacquisto for NMF is also moving forward.
It does say that explicitly in the article @madredos
Now to see if S18 is interested…
Could still get a line item veto from our governor I understand. But let’s hope not.
I’m a rising sophomore and just finished my freshman year at UF. I’m currently an Academic scholar, so the state pays 50% of my tuition. I read in an article published last week that current BF Academic level scholars won’t be grandfathered in, however the PDF of the bill (I believe the Excellence in Higher Education Act) available on the Florida legislature website is vague…“beginning in the fall 2017 semester.” I’m just wondering if that means full tuition+stipend for first-year students “beginning in the fall 2017 semester” or full tuition+stipend for ALL Academic-level scholars, regardless of year, beginning then, when the bill takes effect. I don’t know why they couldn’t retroactively apply this to sophomores, juniors, and seniors, because if not I will have just missed it by a year.
Edited, link to article: http://floridapoliticalreview.com/2017/04/could-bright-futures-become-even-brighte/ @Tigershark43 This may help.
Lots of great measures being taken (or going to be taken) in order to bring/keep great students in FL. Good news for UF!
@lcgusa Last year’s budget had about $217 million for Bright Futures, It looks like they are adding $180 million to the plan. It sure looks like it’s retroactive, unless they are changing the grade/test requirements (which would increase the number of folks awarded the award). Keep in mind that the lowest level isn’t changing, it’s only the highest level “academic level scholars” (that’s doubling to full tuition).
We’ll have to wait and see.
OOS Benacquisto Scholarship is just crazy…crazy…
I will have to read the bill’s language to see if OOS students get in-state tuition (making it a full COA scholarship), or, if it’s similar to the way it’s handled at in-state private universities, were it’s a $21K a year scholarship (cost of full COA at a in-state public university).
I’m academic level. I have a good GPA and had a 4.7 and 2200+ coming into UF, so I think I will be okay if they were to make the requirements more rigorous. I just hope that 180 million is for the other 50% of tuition the state will pay for top level BF (which I have) and the book stipend for the ~46,000 Academic level scholars in the state. Using rough estimates, that 180 million addendum would be enough for another 3,000 per Academic Bright Futures scholar (again, this is just a rough estimate) plus 600 a year for textbooks. Multiply both those figures by 46,000 and it comes in at around 166 million, when 180 million was allocated.
@Gator88NE According to this article, “The Excellence in Higher Education Act would not be retroactive — meaning that current Florida university students will not be grandfathered into the new program.” http://floridapoliticalreview.com/2017/04/could-bright-futures-become-even-brighte/
So, I’m just wondering if only incoming freshmen (class of 2021) will reap the benefits of this law?
When does the Florida legislative session end? I’m just curious when we will know for sure if Benacquisto will be offered to OOS students.
May 5th, but they could run late.
Has anyone read the bill or know how to find out if it is retroactive??
Thanks!
Here’s the language. It’s really up to interpretation.
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2017/2/BillText/e1/PDF#page=22
It sure isn’t specific. A student who is enrolled is eligible beginning fall 17…wow I wonder.
I read it as any FAS will be eligible when the program starts fall 17…but that may be wishful thinking. What is your opinion if you don’t mind my asking?
I sent an email to the senator from my area, she wasn’t available by phone right now. Perhaps someone else’s senator will pick up their phone. I will post if I hear back. Fingers crossed!
@ufmomfriend, I read that the same way as you. FAS who is enrolled in 2017 should get it beginning in the fall of 2017.
It’s my understanding that the Benacquisto funding comes directly from the state, not the schools. Do any other states set aside state funding (i.e. taxpayer dollars) specifically for out-of-state merit awards to college students? I believe that other universities that offer merit awards pay for these awards from university funds (a portion of which may or may not come from the state). In a state where the public schools for PK-12 ranks 46th nationally, I’d rather my tax dollars go toward funding the lower school programs than giving it away to out-of-state NMFs. The UCs no longer give OOS need-based aid, much less a full ride for merit.
Perhaps my post #52 should have used the term grandfathered instead of retroactive…sorry for any confusion.
I think I wouldn’t have questioned it but for this article http://floridapoliticalreview.com/2017/04/could-bright-futures-become-even-brighte/
that explicitly states current students will not be grandfathered. I just hope the article is wrong.
@ufmomfriend I read that article last week and that’s what got me worrying. So I read the PDF of the act and came across that ambiguously-placed phrase, “beginning in fall 2017.” Students who enter the university in fall 2017? Or all FAS students, regardless of cohort year, in fall 2017?