October 6, 2007

Florida Governor Reverses Course Again on Tuition

For the second time in several months, Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida has changed his mind on charging higher tuition at the state’s public colleges and universities. On Friday, Governor Crist said he would accept a 5-percent tuition increase beginning January 1 that has been proposed by state legislators.

In May, Mr. Crist had vetoed a 5-percent tuition increase and rejected a separate plan to allow three of the state’s top research universities to raise tuition by as much as 40 percent over the next several years under a differential-tuition bill.

But with the state needing to cut $1-billion from its budget, the governor agreed to allow the differential-tuition bill to become law in June. With the budget picture showing no signs of improving, now Mr. Crist also favors the 5-percent tuition increase. —Jeffrey Selingo

Comments

1. Hey Florida’s Universities need the money in the most urgent kind of way. They are some of the most underfunded institutions in all of higher education. Also remember that the Tuition Differential has exemptions for low-income families as well.

   — Joe Jimmis    Oct 7, 09:48 AM    #

2. What’s so unusual about a politician waiting to see which way the wind blows? And this is called “leadership.”

   — C. Aaron McNeece    Oct 8, 07:37 AM    #

3. “What’s so unusual about a politician waiting to see which way the wind blows?”

   Nothing. Unless, of course, you’re John Kerry. He was a “flip-flopper.” Bush, Crist, and other Republicans are elite flippers extraordinaire, but that only makes them “responsive” and good. Progressive flippers are bad.

   — darrell in dallas    Oct 8, 01:45 PM    #

4. From a distant perspective (California), it has always seemed to me that Florida’s universities are far more interested in athletics (especially football) than academics anyway. Even the second-tier institutions seem to feel this way (e.g., U. Central Florida is now in the top 5 football teams, I believe.)

   — Rob    Oct 8, 02:18 PM    #

5. And THESE are the people who control tuition in higher education. Most states now contribute less than 15% of the costs of higher education, but want 100% of the control. It makes no sense.

   — Al    Oct 8, 02:40 PM    #

6. Rob, it’s Southern Florida, and your point is irrelevant nonetheless. The fact that USF has a top 5 football team after years of being a doormat is no indication whatsoever that FL is “far more interested in athletics.” That’s beside the fact that no empirical evidence justifies the conclusion that investment in a university (with tuition and endowment $) and investment in sports (with ticket and alumni $) are mutually exclusive.

   — DLS    Oct 8, 06:07 PM    #

7. DLS... it’s SOUTH Florida, not Southern Florida.

   USF’s football team was never a doormat… only 2 losing seasons in its 11 year history.

   — USF    Oct 25, 10:41 PM    #

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