TALLAHASSEE — State university presidents seem to have decided that if they can’t beat Gov. Rick Scott on tuition, they might as well join him.
Those presidents pledged today that they wouldn’t seek tuition hikes next year if they received an equivalent amount in performance-based funding. At a Capitol press conference, they highlighted the economic impact of universities in making the case that new state funding was desperately needed.
“The point of this is we need new resources,” UF President Bernie Machen said. “After five years of cuts, the state system is crying out for new resources. Students realize it and the universities are certainly asking for it.”
Universities will take part in a student-led campaign, “Aim Higher,” in trying to convince the governor and lawmakers. UF Student Government President T.J. Villamil, who developed the idea of such a campaign, said that rallies at every state university campus and social media will be used in the effort.
“I think people are very energized for the first time and we’re all on board together,” he said. “We’re presenting a unified front, which I think is the most important thing.”
Scott has repeatedly spoken against tuition hikes, even as state university funding was slashed $300 million this year, and vetoed a bill that have let UF seek unlimited increases. He’ll get increasing influence on tuition in the coming year with new appointments to the university system’s governing body, the Board of Governors.
The state’s 12 universities are seeking $118 million in additional funding in the next academic year, the same amount they would have received if they made 15 percent tuition hikes. The funding would be tied to the performance of universities, another one of Scott’s goals.
UPDATE: More on this story can be found here.
