Tuition Differential Fee

Colleges and Universities A-Z Florida State University
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<p>Prepaid Plan Policyholders Exempt From Tuition Differential Fee
Approved by 2007 Legislature</p>

<p>A new tuition differential fee, replacing the originally proposed academic enhancement fee, was passed by the 2007 Legislature.</p>

<p>Approved by a 28-10 vote in the Florida Senate and a 79-37 vote in the Florida House, the student fee legislation now awaits action by Gov. Charlie Crist.</p>

<p>If you now have a Florida Prepaid College Plan tuition contract, you will not have to pay the tuition differential fee when your child goes to college.</p>

<p>Under Senate Bill 1710 (CS/SB 1710), current Florida Prepaid College Plan contract holders and the Florida Prepaid College Board are exempt from paying the tuition differential fee now or at any time in the future.</p>

<p>Depending on the university, the tuition differential fee can be up to 30 to 40 percent of the regular tuition rate established by the Legislature. However the fee cannot raise overall tuition more than 15 percent per year.</p>

<p>The fee will be charged to students newly enrolled at University of Florida, Florida State University and University of South Florida as of July 1, 2007 – but, again, it will not be charged to anyone currently covered by a Florida College Prepaid Plan tuition contract.</p>

<p>The Florida Prepaid College Board is authorized to sell future contracts to new prepaid tuition purchasers to cover the tuition differential fee.</p>

<p>Further news coverage can be found at the following links:</p>

<p>May 3, 2007, Tallahassee Democrat: House approves tuition boost for FSU, UF
May 3, 2007, Gainesville Sun: Tuition increase gets OK
May 3, 2007, St. Petersburg Times: Legislature sends tuition increase to Gov. Crist
May 6, 2007, St. Petersburg Times: The governor is wary of a bill that would allow UF, FSU and USF to raise tuition</p>

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<p>This bill was recently sent to Gov. Crist. Let's see if he signs it or allows it to become law.</p>

<p>There is still a possibility it will become law.</p>

3

<p>The governor might go for this since the bright futures scholarship does not cover this fee so the state won't have to layout the cost. It does not impact any existing students or FL prepaid tuition plan owners so they can't complain. Future students will know up front about the additional expense and can weigh the cost/benefit.</p>

<p>The biggest beneficiary will be schools like UCF who will gain additional talented students who don't want to pay the fee. Hopefully the extra money will be used wisely to enhance the quality of the programs at the flagship schools.</p>

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<p>Cybermom, I don't think that is what is motivating him, I did some reading over the weekend and it seems like he is more motivated by the outrageous problems we have with the whole homeowners insurance crisis and the continued gouging at the local level over property taxes. In Lee county we got them to reduce taxes by double digits, but an independent auditor still says they end-up with a 89M surplus even after the reduction. Couple this with high energy and gas prices and he seems to be coming from the position this just isn't the year to lay additional financial debt on already many stretched families that are under too much financial stress already. </p>

<p>But I wouldn't perhaps read that into his veto which I think is coming that it won't be on the table for a future year. People will perhaps differ with his opinion, politics and conclusions, but I agree with his conclusion that Florida residents are under very severe financial stress this year and some to the breaking point, the timing just isn't there.</p>

<p>Also I found this quote in the Orlando paper from a Florida Legislator who voted against the measure. </p>

<p>"I love the universities and they do an important task, but I have found that given an open reign they will ask for more money and never say stop," Rep. Bob Allen said.</p>

<p>I believe there is a creditablity issue that will have to be a portion of whatever legislation may well pass whenever.</p>

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<p>Not to mention the enormous problems associated with being a physician in Florida and the cost of malpractice insurance. Here we have the MDs on one side and the JDs on the other...personally speaking a good MD is more valuable than a good JD. ;)</p>

<p>Lots of areas for legislative improvement in Florida.</p>

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<p>I have a question does it apply to the class of '11 or class of '12?</p>

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<p>Last we heard, if the fee passes, FSU had elected not to implement it for the class of '11. I think UF was planning on implementing the fee right away.</p>

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<p>I believe that's correct. Wetherell had not had time to prepare FSU students and families for the increase so FSU waits a year.</p>