<p>Just heard that the differential tuition bill (allows FSU, UF to raise tuition by up to 40% and USF by up to 30%) WILL become law.</p>
<p>Gov Crist will allow the bill to become law without his signature. Any increase will not take place at FSU, per President Wetherell, for 1 year at least to give students appropriate notice and time to prepare.</p>
<p>TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Charlie Crist said Wednesday he would allow a controversial bill to pass into law that creates a tiered-tuition hike for incoming undergraduates at Florida's flagship public universities.</p>
<p>The governor met Wednesday with university presidents from around the state and said afterward he was reversing course and would allow the higher tuition "differential" bill to become law with the understanding that the schools wouldn't impose it for another year.</p>
<p>The bill allows an extra 40 percent tuition hike for incoming students at Florida State University and the University of Florida, and a 30 percent fee increase at the University of South Florida.</p>
<p>The $20 million-plus in extra revenues the three schools would each collect through 2010 would allow them to address overcrowding in bachelor's degree programs, they said.</p>
<p>Crist had asked the Legislature in January not to raise university tuition rates, citing the belt-tightening Florida families were facing. He vetoed a 5 percent tuition increase lawmakers tucked in the budget, and indicated last month that he would also block the 40 percent hike.</p>
<p>"The notion of burdening our students and parents with higher tuition fees is not something I'm enamored to at all," Crist said after the regular lawmaking session ended in May.</p>
<p>Since then, university presidents have launched an all-out lobbying blitz on Crist that he has called amazing.</p>
<p>After the governor vetoed the 5 percent tuition hike, Florida State announced it would impose a cap on student enrollment, and Crist said Wednesday he was hoping to avoid those kinds of steps by allowing the tiered-tuition levels for the state's top research schools.</p>
<p>"I understand our universities are continuing to grow and need to, and access is incredibly important to them, as it is to me," the governor said.</p>
<p>"But I also requested to give us a shot to work through the budgetary process as well, instead of necessarily having to look to tuition."</p>
<p>Crist said the presidents "would agree not to impose any of it until the fall of '08."</p>
<p>A Florida State graduate, Crist also said he'd prefer for the school not to impose a cap on enrollment.</p>
<p>So basically we're paying extra to fund their programs and pay FSU faculty more money. Sweet. How much will the difference account for after Bright Futures factors in?</p>
<p>You may not agree with me, but having looked at the in state tuition in other states around the country - we don't really have anything to complain about. I'll be paying the LESS for my daughter's first semester at FSU that I paid for 2 classes at UConn as an in state student a little over 3 years ago.</p>
<p>so there wont be a reduction in applicants accepted?</p>
<p>I haven't heard anything about reducing enrollment yet in connection with this law. I suspect it's important to note that the "reduction" or "freeze" would probably come from not allowing an increase in freshman numbers.</p>
<p>The effect would still probably be the same - higher standards for applicants. Figure that unless you've got a special circumstance, you'll need at least a 1210 SAT to have any comfort of admission to FSU in the Fall. If you have less than that you may be offered admission in the Summer or not at all.</p>
<p>The message for applicants I believe would be:</p>
<ol>
<li> Take as many Honors or better still AP courses as you can.</li>
<li> Prepare well for the SAT/ACT and retake if your score is less than the average for Fall.</li>
<li> If your goal is Honors, score at least a 1300 or there's probably little chance.</li>
<li> Apply early.</li>
</ol>
<p>Dear Secretary Browning:</p>
<p>By the authority vested in me as Governor of Florida, under the provisions of Article III, Section 8, of the Constitution of Florida, I do hereby transmit Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1710, with my signature, enacted during the 109th Session of the Legislature of Florida, since statehood in 1845, during the Regular Session of 2007 and entitled:</p>
<p>An act relating to academic fees</p>
<p>This bill allows three universities - Florida State University, University of Florida, and the University of South Florida - to increase resident undergraduate tuition by as much as 15% per year. The mission of our public universities must have at its heart the guarantee of accessibility and affordability to our citizens. Along with accessibility, however, we must also strive for excellence.</p>
<p>I vetoed a five percent tuition increase in May. I am keenly aware that many Floridians are struggling to pay higher costs for fuel, taxes, and insurance. The five percent tuition increase would simply have added to this burden.</p>
<p>Today, I met with the presidents of the eleven universities in the State University System. They unanimously support the ability of Florida State University, University of Florida, and University of South Florida to raise tuition. I am convinced that the state university presidents' support for this bill reflects a valid concern with the resources available to provide students with a high quality education, faculty and support services.</p>
<p>I have agreed to sign this legislation into law for these three universities in reliance upon a pledge by the presidents of Florida State University, University of Florida, and University of South Florida to delay any increase of tuition until Fall 2008. In the meantime, the eleven state university presidents and I agree to work together with the Legislature to find ways to fund state universities that mitigate, if not eliminate, the need for increased tuition revenues. This partnership will be a powerful force working to improve the quality and status of the State University System. Our students and fellow Floridians deserve nothing less. The delay will also allow the relief afforded by the Florida Legislature's good work to reduce property insurance and property taxes to stimulate our economy and return more of our citizens' hard earned dollars to them.</p>
<p>I hereby sign into law, Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1710.</p>
<p>Sincerely, Charlie Crist</p>
<p>The Promise Is Kept to Families with Prepaid Plans</p>
<p>The promise made when you purchased a Florida Prepaid College Plan that you locked in today’s tuition plan prices for tomorrow’s college education was kept by Governor Charlie Crist and the 2007 Legislature.</p>
<p>Governor Crist on June 27 signed into law a tuition differential fee approved by the Legislature, but the law exempts families that currently have a Prepaid Plan contract from paying the fee now or in the future.</p>
<p>Crist said he was taking this action with the understanding that universities would wait until fall 2008 before implementing the new fee.</p>
<p>Newly enrolled students at University of Florida, Florida State University and University of South Florida will be charged the tuition differential fee authorized in Senate Bill 1710. During legislative deliberations, many families with Prepaid Plans contacted their legislators to express concerns about the state of Florida standing behind its Prepaid Plan guarantee. Lawmakers responded by amending SB 1710 to exempt current Prepaid Plan customers from paying the tuition differential fee.</p>
<p>The tuition differential fee may be as much as 40 percent of regular tuition at the University of Florida and Florida State University and up to 30 percent at University of South Florida, though overall tuition at these universities can increase no more than 15 percent a year. The additional revenue generated by the new fee will be used to hire faculty and academic advisors.</p>
<p>Governor Crist earlier vetoed a separate 5 percent tuition increase slated to take effect in the 2007-08 academic year.</p>
<p>Current Prepaid Plan families should feel secure. Governor Crist and the Legislature have kept the Prepaid Plan promise.</p>
<p>But then again Toninole, isn't income much higher on average in the Northeast than it is in FL? Tuition costs are all relative in the end.</p>
<p>You have a point, Ladistar, but I believe Florida schools tend to have lower prices than nearly every other school in the country despite cost of living.</p>