Crist asks state agencies to cut by 10 percent, The News-Press (Ft. Myers)

October 16, 2008

TALLAHASSEE — As Gov. Charlie Crist begins working on the state’s spending plan, he’s asking agencies to include 10 percent cuts in their budget proposals.

Crist is hoping that’s not required when he presents his version of the budget in January, but his department officials have painted what it would look like if it were.

For the rest of the article, click here.

Legislator warns Floridians will face services and education cuts, Shorelines (Jacksonville)

By Christina Abel
October 13, 2008

Historically, Florida has been a low-tax state, and if it continues to be, residents will have to face budget cuts that will affect services and education.

That was the message state Rep. Bill Proctor, R-St. Augustine, gave Monday to the St. Johns County Civic Association Roundtable while discussing issues affecting the state and county.

For the rest of this story, click here.

It's time to fully fund education, St. Petersburg Times

October 13, 2008

As a high school teacher for Pasco County, I am very disappointed to hear our district, along with every other district in Florida, will experience further budget cuts.

I am being asked to do more with less; to live with the fear that my career may be cut short because I have been teaching only seven years and others in my school have been teaching far more; to live with my already small salary and not to see an increase in my wages; to live with the fear that my district may not even be able to afford my benefits.

To read the rest of this letter to the editor, click here.

The biz: Tought times hit college classrooms, St Petersburg Times

October 13, 2008

Amid the stock market rout and federal bailouts, it's not just geopolitical economics on the minds of two deans of area business schools. In interviews, both Tampa's USF College of Business dean Robert Forsythe and University of Tampa Sykes School of Business dean Frank Ghannadian both echoed two impacts here of the current financial turmoil. First, more students are struggling to pay their tuition and living expenses because of tighter credit conditions and — more painfully — the increasing likelihood that a mom or dad has lost their job recently. Forsythe mentions USF's recent "Don't Stop, Don't Drop" campaign to encourage students to talk to the university about financial pressures.

For the rest of this story, click here.

Florida economists push back recovery estimate, Forbes

October 10, 2008


The country's financial meltdown might stall Florida's economic recovery a year longer than state economists previously thought.

In July, state economists pushed their forecast for recovery back six months to the end of 2009, but on Friday said it could take even longer - possibly until the end of 2010.

To read the rest of this story, click here.

For a related story, click here.

USF now on hunt for more faculty, Tampa Tribune

By Adam Emerson
October 10, 2008

TAMPA - Students in crowded classrooms at the University of South Florida may see relief next fall now that the university has advertised dozens of jobs for new faculty members.

USF took out a full-page ad this week in the Chronicle of Higher Education seeking applicants for about 75 positions. There also are another 30 unadvertised vacant jobs in the medical school, university Provost Ralph Wilcox said Friday.

For the rest of this story, click here.

Amendment 8 holds dangers for community colleges, Herald Tribune

October 9, 2008


While attention has been given to other high-profile amendments on November's ballot, a lesser known amendment has the potential to raise local taxes and cause unintended consequences for community colleges -- Florida's point of entry to higher education for more than 800,000 students every year.

Amendment 8, known as the local option sales tax, would allow counties to increase their sales tax to supplement community college funding. (Taxpayers would have to vote for the tax.) The amendment was placed on the ballot by the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission with what I believe were good intentions to promote the valuable contributions of community colleges. However, the commission failed to recognize the amendment's potential drawbacks for the community college system.

For the rest of this op ed, click here.

For related stories, click here, here, here, here, and here.

Bridght Futures prospects look dim, Gainesville Sun

By Nathan Crabbe
October 8, 2008


The Bright Futures scholarship program should be phased out over the course of a decade, state Sen. Steve Oelrich said Wednesday to a University of Florida community group.

Most UF students use the program despite a lack of financial need, said Oelrich, a Cross Creek Republican who chairs the Senate Higher Education committee.

Nearly 95 percent of freshmen use the scholarships to pay for tuition, while the most recent statistics show the median income of all UF students' families is around $100,000.

For the rest of this story, click here.

For other stories on this topic, click here & here, for a related editorial, click here.

Dropout Rate: Education for Florida's Economy, The Ledger (Lakeland)

October 8, 2008

Gov. Charlie Crist is desperate to show that Florida is on the road to economic recovery. The other day he summoned reporters to his office to brag about a $541 million federal grant and a $571 million bond issue that will help develop affordable housing.

If Crist wants to really do something positive for economic development in Florida, here's an idea.

Do something to reduce this state's unacceptably high dropout rate. It's not only wasting young lives, but it's hurting our economy.

Last wear a report arrived from the Alliance for Excellent Education, a Washington-basedadvocacy group, urging elected officials to make high school reform a major issue this campaign year.

For the rest of this editorial, click here.

Florida's economy is in transition, needs bold leadership, Orlando Sentinel

By Mark Wilson
October 8, 2008

We at the Florida Chamber of Commerce are often asked: "Is Florida over?"

We say, no way.

But Florida is never going back to being a low-cost state. Florida is changing -- on that we can agree. We must acknowledge that Florida's economy is in transition.As Florida's economy changes, our population growth is still on pace to add 10 million residents by the year 2030. One thing is certain: Florida needs to plan better and grow smarter during the influx of the next 10 million people than we did when the last 10 million were arriving.

For the rest of this opinion piece, click here.

New report says Keiser University has $542 million positive annual economic impact on Florida's economy, Market Watch (WSJ)

October 8. 2008

ORLANDO, Fla., Oct 08, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Keiser University, a regionally-accredited, career-focused institution, has a $542 million positive impact on Florida's economy and helps meet the state's higher education and workforce needs, according to a report released today by a nationally-renowned economic consulting firm. Importantly, the report shows private, tax-paying post-secondary schools are a cost-effective solution for taxpayers and our state's need to develop world class talent.

The report by the Washington Economics Group (WEG), a premier economic and consulting firm headed by former U.S. Undersecretary of Commerce, Dr. J. Antonio "Tony" Villamil, provides a comparative analysis study of the costs of instructional programs at community colleges and public universities relative to Keiser University for similar programs. Commissioned by Keiser, the report also concludes that private, career-focused post-secondary educational institutions should be included in Florida's Higher Education Blueprint.

To read the rest of this story, click here.

University of Central Florida celebrates 40 years of growth, Orlando Sentinel

By Luis Zaragoza
October 7, 2008

He was a political-science major with a lot on his plate: The first student-body president at the school, then known as Florida Technological University , a resident adviser in one of the dorms and an Army reservist.

People remember him as a good-humored go-getter who tried to foster school spirit on a still-developing campus.

For the rest of this story, click here.

Study says community college students face obstacles, Tampa Tribune

By Adam Emerson
October 6, 2008

As Florida's public universities reject more applicants and drive them to community colleges, a Harvard researcher said that students who start at two-year schools are more likely to face obstacles on their way to a diploma.

In a report for the National Bureau of Economic Research, Harvard education Professor Bridget Terry Long writes that students who start at two-year colleges are "significantly less likely" to get a bachelor's degree in six years than students who start at four year schools.

For the rest of this article, click here.

Video Gambling Risky Way to Pay, Tampa Tribune

By H. Roy Kaplan
October 4, 2008

As the economy has weakened and citizens have become weary of increased taxes, more pressure is being put on state governments to find "painless" alternatives to fund education, which accounts for the largest category of state expenditures.

The bulk of funds for education comes from local and state sources - property taxes, bonds, special tax appropriations and, since the latter part of the 20th century, gambling .

While Florida spends $22 billion, or about a third of its budget, on education, it ranks 38th among the states in per pupil expenditures and is 49th in the number of students who graduate from high school in four years.

For the rest of this article, click here.

Report: Donovan officially signs contract with Florida, TSN

Gainesville, FL (Sports Network) - Billy Donovan reportedly signed his six- year, $21 million contract Friday, after agreeing to the extension 16 months ago following a bizarre set of events where Donovan was briefly the coach of the NBA's Orlando Magic.

Florida basketball spokesman Fred Demarest confirmed the signing to the Orlando Sentinel, with the contract set to pay Donovan $3.5 million per year through the 2012-13 season. He was paid by those terms last season despite never actually signing the deal, according to Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley.

For the rest of this story, click here.

State considers lifting enrollment cap, Gainesville Sun

By Nathan Crabbe
September 30, 2008


State universities won’t solve problems with access to higher education simply by admitting more students, according to a report released Tuesday by an advocacy group for minority students.

Higher education leaders are considering lifting a freeze on freshman enrollment at state universities. ENLACE Florida’s report instead promotes improving graduation rates and expanding options for four-year degrees at community colleges.

To read the rest of this story, click here.

For a related story, click here.

Colleges May Give More Weight to Writing Scores, Tampa Tribune

By Adam Emerson
September 28, 2008

If Florida's college-bound students haven't thought much about the SAT writing test, they had better start soon: the University of South Florida and others are paying more attention to their scores.

Although the emphasis has been on the critical reading and math portions of the test, USF, Florida State University and the University of Florida this year are considering writing results to help determine how ready a student is for college-level work.

For the rest of this story, click here.

A 'paramount' responsibility, Gainesville Sun

September 29, 2008


There's been an interesting running debate on our letters page these past several weeks about, of all things, our collective obligation to educate each other's children.

On one side are a handful of writers who advocate the libertarian view.

To wit: If you want to have kids, then pay for their schooling yourself. Don't expect to dip into my wallet, especially if I chose to remain childless.

On the other side are those who take the egalitarian view.

To wit: As a society we collectively benefit from an educated citizenry, so we must all help pay.

It's made for interesting reading. But in point of fact, that argument has long been settled here in Florida.

For the rest of this editorial, click here.

USF St Petersburg professor wins $1.02 million grant, Tampa Bay Business Journal

September 29, 2008

Lyman Dukes, associate professor of special education at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, has received a $1.02 million state grant for a program assisting students with disabilities.

Dukes will lead Project 10: The Transition Education Network, a program designed to assist special education personnel throughout the state to prepare disabled students to shift from school to adult life.

For the rest of this story, click here.

Florida Colleges are Good Value, News Chief (Winter Haven)

September 28, 2008

Florida colleges have long rated highly when it comes to good value for education.
In the new U.S. News & World Report college ratings, the University of Florida ranked No. 48 in the list of best national universities, the highest state university ranked from the Southeastern Conference ...

The University of Georgia ranked No. 58, Florida State is at No. 102.
In the list of the top 50 public national universities, Georgia Tech is No. 7, Florida is No. 17, Georgia is No. 20 and Florida State is No. 50.

For the rest of this editorial, click here.

Chancellor's Exit Means Tough Search for State, Tampa Tribune

By Adam Emerson
September 28, 2008

A lot was at stake last spring: The leader of Florida's public universities warned top lawmakers that his schools were weakened by budget cuts and that a planned move by the Legislature to overhaul his system of higher education would erode its credibility.

Those lawmakers snubbed him and ended their meeting together by telling him he was "dismissed."

For the rest of this story, click here.

For a related story, click here.