Florida Governor Approves Tuition Hikes

Earlier this year while Tallahassee lawmakers considered college tuition increases, families were requesting state legislators to consider alternatives. Throwing more money at educational imperfections may not always yield the sought-after results.

Eleven state universities and colleges will be affected by the tuition increases. According to a Miami Herald article, tuition increases were supported by important business groups. These business groups want better educated graduates from our state colleges, but they gave no commitment to support higher business taxes.

All eleven colleges and universities will impose an eight percent hike. But Governor Crist has said that he would sign a separate bill allowing universities, (not colleges), another seven percent increase. Florida currently has one of the lowest in-state tuitions with $3800. This is well below the national average of $6,585, and out of state students pay over $20,000 per year.

The tuition increase will pay for additional programs and energize current staff and curriculum. A highly desirable "A" list faculty will position Florida colleges and universities to become a destination of choice among the nation's preferred students. In turn, there will be fewer places for some Florida students who will be priced out of the education equation.

Some legislators say that Florida's education system is average at best. Improvement begins long before the students are college bound. Beginning educational improvements and modifications at the elementary stage and continue enhancing and advancing those challenges and innovations through high school, will place Florida's children as some of the brightest and best educated in the nation. There would be no need to make costly changes at the college level. "A" listers will be begging to get into the Florida college system. In other words, if a four story structure has first floor structural flaws, do not repair the forth floor. The errors need corrections quickly or the structure will forever be flawed.

Most families are surviving global recession, busted industry, unemployment, cut backs, gas hostages, and mysterious stimulus packages. Many express concerns and difficulties in understanding these issues. " We the people" are in survival mode, less spending, less driving, no vacations, and lifestyle conservation. But these families do not want their children denied an education, especially when some say elected officials are the greatest abusers of tax payer monies. Who needs to have tea in Japan to improve relations? The Japanese, a gracious people, would understand governments tightening the belt. Politely explain that you and your family and entourage will not be traveling this season.

Opponents challenge the need for "A" lists professors and accepting the brightest and best students from other states and countries. Professors may rarely make a classroom appearance. He/she has assistants that plan curriculum, teach, assign, correct and grade work. The professor is working on his/her legacy. Teachers are not teaching and those studying under them are not learning, but we continue to turn out teachers who lack qualifications to teach first or twelfth grade. And higher priced professors working on private agendas will not change or improve Florida's academic woes until we start from the first story and correctly build up. From the Miami Herald articles and Orlando Channel 13 Brighthouse News information, businesses are not happy with the under graduate's lack of performance skills and families fear tuition costs being out of reach for their children; the situation is sad and the corrections painful.

Credits:
Miami Herald, Miami
Herald-Times, Tallahassee
News 13, Brighthouse, Orlando