Scholarship program in legislators' looking glass, Pensacola News Journal

By Stepehn D. Price
November 27, 2008

The popular Bright Futures Scholarship Program could face legislative scrutiny next spring in the midst of a third straight year of state budget cuts.

Lawmakers have been slow to change Bright Futures, even defeating a bill earlier this year that would have increased Bright Futures grants to science, math and technology students, while decreasing awards to other fields

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Officials say tuition hikes may not cover budget cuts, Independent Florida Alligator

By Thomas Steward
November 25, 2008

In response to Florida’s bleak budget forecast released by state economists Friday, UF Chief Financial Officer Matt Fajack said tuition increases would probably not cover state cuts to UF’s 2009–2010 budget.

Economists projected about $1.4 billion less in revenues in 2008–2009 than projected in August, bringing the state’s total budget deficit to about $2 billion

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Cheaper not better: Universities need tuition-raising authority, Tallahassee Democrat

November 23, 2008

Florida has to do something. It can no longer continue to charge the lowest tuition and required fees among the nation's public universities and be able to brag about the quality of education our young people are receiving.

It is regrettable — as are so many other instances where the unreality of getting something for nothing rears its ugly head — but Gov. Charlie Crist's unexpected call Thursday to allow universities to raise their tuition is essential.

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Next Critis: Higher Education, Huffington Post

By Howard Schweber
November 24, 2008

The financial firms were first, now it's the automakers. We hear estimates of anywhere from 1 million to 3 million jobs at stake, and other industries are lined up to make their own claims about their importance to the long-term health of the economy. President-elect Obama has responded forcefully, unveiling a plan to put up to 2.5 million workers on the federal payroll by January of 2011, putting them to work on infrastructure and energy-related projects. These are terrific steps - the appointment of Timothy Geithner as Treasury Secretary is another - but in the course of these discussion it's time we focused on yet a different danger that is involved in this general economic crisis. I am referring to the danger to America's system and tradition of higher education.

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Crist's bold tuition plan will enhance education, Tampa Tribune

November 24, 2008

Gov. Charlie Crist was just a few months into his new administration when the subject of Florida's universities elicited two strong responses from him: Crist thought it was ludicrous that Florida students were having a hard time getting into public universities, and he was soundly against raising tuition.

But the governor promised two things as he started his new administration. First, he was going to take a hard look at the status and future of higher education in Florida. And second, he was going to listen to what people had to say about tuition.

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Newcomers face old challenges, Naples Daily News

By Michael Peltier
November 23, 2008

Get ready to pay a little more for some things and expect a little less from others. That could be the catch phrase for the state Capitol last week as two new lawmakers were sworn in to new jobs.

Naples Republicans Tom Grady and Garrett Richter hadn’t had time to unpack before the talk of Tallahassee turned to possible budget cuts, fee increases, higher tuition and a looming $2.1 billion debt that needs to be paid by the end of June.

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State universities' leader gives own view on health of system, Miami Herald

By Nirvi Shah
November 23, 2008

Mark Rosenberg has led the Florida university system since 2005, a time marked by budget cuts, turf wars and tuition hikes -- including a bump of 15 percent that Gov. Charlie Crist proposed this past week.

The 59-year-old father of two college-age students (yes, they attend state schools) is stepping down as chancellor in February to return to Florida International University, where he previously served as provost, vice president and acting president.

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