<p>Two Florida universities may soon be allowed to raise tuition to market rates. Florida universities need to meet 11 criteria to enter. FSU and UF are currently the only schools to meet all 11. USF meets 7, UCF meets 3.</p>
<p>The reference is a Sarasota Herald-Tribune article in today's paper edition.</p>
<p>I have to admit that this concerns me a bit. They are already able to raise tuition by 15 percent per year. How much more do they want to raise it beyond that and how quickly? I know they also want to raise tuition for STEM majors. As a current Computer Science major with a couple of years to go, I am worried that I am going to be hit by a sudden dramatic increase in tuition before I finish.</p>
<p>Sad to hear that a bill like this is making its way through the wonderful legislature we have in this state. </p>
<p>The only good news is that if this makes it through, I think Rick Scott would veto it. He’s one of those people that seems extremely against raising costs for just about anything college related. Note that I said seems to be that way.</p>
<p>I think this bill makes it past Scott’s desk and through the Board of Governors. It has energy enough to overcome whatever reluctance there is because it is a way for all Florida universities to improve, not just a favored few.</p>
<p>I don’t think students will be hit with sticker shock, in that this legal device is very market driven. I suspect it will be phased in over time, so that current students will be protected from unplanned for increases in tuition expense.</p>
<p>Future students and their parents, however, need to prepare. My guess would be a five-year phase in starting from the date the bill becomes law and is empowered by the BoG.</p>
<p>For those counting, there are 14 total requirements available to be met of which any 11 are required. If a school meets 11, they earn the tuition flexibility. Right now no university has all 14 - UF has 13/14 and FSU has 12/14. Since FSU does not have a teaching hospital (to date, this could change) it will be difficult for FSU to meet all 14, with the theoretical best for FSU now at 13/14. A few more patents and FSU earns 13/14.</p>
<p>What do “patents” mean? And what is a “teaching hospital”? Just wondering what FSU is missing :o</p>
<p>A patent is an official registration with the US government for an invention of some kind. For example, a scientist at FSU might achieve a major breakthrough and patent a medicine. </p>
<p>Some medical schools have their own on-campus hospital. Others just place their students in local hospitals. There is a perception that having a teaching hospital is critical, but Harvard doesn’t have their own teaching hospital and an MD from Harvard is hardly second-rate.</p>
<p>As long as they phase it in slowly, I’m alright with it. I don’t mind paying a little bit more for quality, but if they suddenly boost my tuition by 30+ percent, I’m going to be in trouble.</p>
<p>I think you’ll be ok, SC.</p>
<p>patent - [Patent</a> - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent]Patent”>Patent - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>teaching hospital - [Teaching</a> hospital - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teaching_hospital]Teaching”>Teaching hospital - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>FSU Med is affiliated with [many</a> hospitals for instruction of medical students](<a href=“http://med.fsu.edu/index.cfm?page=comAboutUs.educationalProgram]many”>Educational Program | College of Medicine), not one single hospital, used for teaching, as in the case of [UF</a> Med.](<a href=“http://www.health.ufl.edu/]UF”>http://www.health.ufl.edu/)</p>
<p>Here is the text for HB 7129:</p>
<p><a href=“http://flhouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h7129__.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=7129&Session=2012[/url]”>http://flhouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h7129__.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=7129&Session=2012</a></p>
<p>I don’t see anything in there regarding existing students. Again, I don’t mind paying a little more for quality, but I hope they don’t get too carried away with this.</p>
<p>It looks like this is going to pass:</p>
<p>[Lawmakers</a> vote to raise college tuition](<a href=“http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/state/lawmakers-vote-to-raise-college-tuition-02292012]Lawmakers”>http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/state/lawmakers-vote-to-raise-college-tuition-02292012)</p>
<p>From the article:</p>
<p>'Scott would not say Wednesday if he would veto that bill if it reaches his desk. But he repeated his position that he is not in favor of tuition hikes this year.</p>
<p>“Every part of government needs to do the same thing Florida families have had to do, they have had to tighten their belts,” Scott said.'</p>
<p>MY INTERPRETATION: If he was going to veto it, he would have said so. His statement leaves some wiggle room. I HOPE that means that if it passes, they don’t make any immediate dramatic changes and phase it in over a few years, as P2N suggests.</p>
<p>The Pre-eminent Universities Act hasn’t become law yet, but if it does it could mean even higher tuition at FSU beginning this coming fall semester for the 2012-2013 academic year for new AND current students. There is no ceiling on how high tuition can be raised; the sky is the limit.</p>
<hr>
<p>“B. Private Sector Impact:
Students enrolled at the University of Florida and Florida State University would pay higher tuition and fees than students at other state universities. The bill authorizes the increases to begin in academic year 2012-2013, which would affect students currently enrolled. There is no limit on the amount of the increase, because the universities that meet the criteria in the bill are exempt from the statutes that limit the amounts of tuition and fees.”</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2012/1752/Analyses/qbQ7b13/w0tIo5IXu8PwiXkeLhk=|11/Public/Bills/1700-1799/1752/Analysis/2012s1752.pre.bhi.PDF[/url]”>http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2012/1752/Analyses/qbQ7b13/w0tIo5IXu8PwiXkeLhk=|11/Public/Bills/1700-1799/1752/Analysis/2012s1752.pre.bhi.PDF</a></p>
<p>The Pre-eminent Universities Act will be debated on the House chamber floor today beginning at 10:00am.</p>
<p>That wording sounds ominous.</p>
<p>On the other hand, according to Bernie Machen, “any tuition increases at UF would be phased in, with freshmen initially paying the highest rates, and the goal would be to eventually bring tuition to the national average.”</p>
<p>[Bill</a> filed to allow University of Florida to raise tuition more than other state schools | Gatorsports.com](<a href=“http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20120216/ARTICLES/120219620]Bill”>http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20120216/ARTICLES/120219620)</p>
<p>I hope President Barron feels the same way–not that I want freshmen to get clobbered by tuition increases–but, at least they are in a position to decide in advance what they are going to do before they are already enrolled. If you are already a couple of years into it, you’re basically trapped.</p>
<p>The bill is flying right through the legislature with no resistance. State funding for universities hasn’t been finalized yet, but no doubt expect big cuts for the universities and tuition increases for students. I’ve resigned myself to expecting to have to pay more and more for college.
I’m not going to worry about money right now; I’ll figure out how to pay for everything after Spring Break and March Basketball Madness! </p>
<pre><code>>>>>—GO–SEMINOLES—;;;;>
</code></pre>
<p>[Market-rate</a> tuition bill moved to third reading in the House | Education articles blog on schools in Florida & Tampa Bay: the Gradebook | Tampa Bay Times](<a href=“http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/content/market-rate-tuition-bill-moved-third-reading-house]Market-rate”>http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/content/market-rate-tuition-bill-moved-third-reading-house)</p>
<p>I really wish they would give us more details on how they plan on rolling this out. The language in the bill basically gives them a blank check, which is scary. They could theoretically raise tuition by 40+ percent in one year.</p>
<p>Bernie Machen provides details on how UF would handle this:</p>
<p>“Going straight to the market rate would mean an increase of about 40 percent. Machen said to be fair, he’d rather wait until Fall 2013 to allow families considering UF to plan for the cost.”</p>
<p>[Machen</a> addresses tuition hikes, faculty self-insurance - The Independent Florida Alligator: Campus](<a href=“http://www.alligator.org/news/campus/article_d3dcb6e8-6f26-11e1-aae8-001871e3ce6c.html]Machen”>Machen addresses tuition hikes, faculty self-insurance - The Independent Florida Alligator)</p>
<p>While the one year reprieve is a good thing, the big question is “do sophomores and up also get hit with the increase?” It doesn’t seem like this would be fair since they will have graduated by the time any improvements are seen.</p>
<p>A one year suspension would be a wise decision. I was calculating up everything for next year, and if the 40% more happened, I’d likely be unable to afford FSU, and it would really suck if I’d have to stop literally three classes short of finishing my dual degree.</p>
<p>Dr. Barron talked about the Preeminent University Bill recently at a Town Hall meeting for faculty and staff. The Preeminent Univ Bill discussion begins at 21:27 in attached video link–discussion specific to how much tuition will be increased begins at 31:52. [The</a> Florida State University - Town Hall Meeting and Legislative Update](<a href=“http://learningforlife.fsu.edu/townhall/]The”>http://learningforlife.fsu.edu/townhall/)</p>
<p>Dr. Barron mentions that the tuition won’t be a “percentage” increase but rather a dollar amount based on critical need. Barron can’t just pull an amount out of the air for a tuition increase–he has to present to and get approved by FSU trustees and also the Board of Governors any tuition increase. Barron has to tell them exactly, in detail, what the money will be used for. Machen at UF will have to do the same process; Machen can’t ask and expect a 40% preeminent increase just to get to the national average, that won’t cut it–I don’t know what he’s smoking.</p>
<p>The governor could still veto this legislation. He’s got 'til Mar 29 to sign, veto, or do nothing which would automatically make Preeminent Univ legislation law.</p>
<p>Barron in his recent comments makes a point about some portion of any tuition increase being used to bolster financial aid for needy students and to minimize impact of any tuition increase. I don’t think Barron was specific about timeframe for implementing any increase, but I doubt FSU is going to allow needy students to be abandonded or unable to complete degrees for any new financial hardships resulting from this new tuition increase.</p>
<p>Sorry to sound so ignorant, but I guess I just don’t know- but doesn’t the Bright Futures Scholarship cover most, if not all, of a student’s tuition?</p>
<p>Also, if you purchased a Florida Prepaid Plan before 2007 it will cover tuition in full. </p>
<p>So- if the tuition is hiked because of this new bill aren’t students who have the prepaid and/or BF covered?</p>