Education groups compete for piece of the stimulus package, CQ Today Online

December 24, 2008
By Lydia Gensheimer

Teachers groups and school administrators, citing state budget shortfalls that are strangling local school districts, are continuing an end-of-the-year lobbying push to ensure education funding is part of the 2009 stimulus package.

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), sent a letter Tuesday to members of Congress and President-elect Barack Obama in which she detailed the AFT’s priorities for inclusion in the package. Weingarten said the legislation should provide fiscal relief to states, investment in infrastructure and measures to increase college access. Weingarten also called for a $3 billion temporary fund for school districts to pay for activities already authorized under the No Child Left Behind Act (PL 107-110) or the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA - PL 105-17).

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Florida nursing schools cut budgets, Nurse.com

By Debra Anscome Wood
September 8, 2008

At the same time Florida faces a nursing shortage that could cripple the healthcare system in coming years, the flagging economy has resulted in decreased tax revenues, leading the state legislature to ask public universities to slash budgets. "It doesn't bode well," says Divina Grossman, RN, PhD, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Florida International University in Miami. "This is a time when we should begin increasing our capacity."

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Interest in FAU rises along with reputation, Palm Beach Post

By Kimberly Miller
August 21, 2008


BOCA RATON — Florida Atlantic University is attracting more students than ever from other counties - a testament, officials said, to the school's rising profile among the state's 11 public universities.

Nearly 3,300 students from outside FAU's traditional recruitment zone of Broward and Palm Beach counties applied for fall admission to the school. That's a 43 percent increase over last year's applications from the same areas.

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Cost-cutting moves at FAU extend to used cooking oil, Palm Beach Post

By Kimberly Miller
August 7, 2008


At Florida Atlantic University, the budget crunch has even hit Cap'n Crunch.

In an effort to deal with skyrocketing prices on everyday items, FAU officials this fall are replacing the giant scoops used by students to fill their cereal bowls with single-serving dispensers. Students still can fill up more than once, but the hope is it will reduce food waste.

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FAU might increase out-of-state enrollment to boost revenue, Sun-Sentinel

By Scott Travis
August 3, 2008

Florida Atlantic University could be in for a windfall if it can transform itself from a state commuter school to a more nationally recognized university.

The Boca Raton university is discussing ways to attract more out-of-state students. Currently, they make up nearly 7 percent of the 26,000 FAU students. FAU officials say state law allows them to go as high as 10 percent.

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Cuts keep coming at Florida Atlantic University, Sun-Sentinel

June 25, 2008

BOCA RATON — Florida Atlantic University has spent the last year trimming its budget, and the pain may not be over.

The FAU Board of Trustees approved a $249 million operating budget for 2008-09 during a conference call Wednesday.

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FAU exercised great care in budget-cutting process, Treasure Coast Palm

Letter to the editor
June 23, 2008

Florida Atlantic University is facing the tightest budget year in its 44-year history. The university has had to absorb a record-high $18.6 million in state-funding cutbacks over a two-year period, necessitating a detailed review of all expenditures. Very difficult decisions had to be made about identifying areas in which budget reductions should be made.

President Frank Brogan chose to take a collaborative approach to this process, appointing a university-wide task force to examine all aspects of FAU's operations. In accordance with the university's strategic plan, the focus of the task force was on preserving the institution's core function — the delivery of top-quality higher-education services to its 26,000 degree-seeking students. The proposed budget for the 2008-09 academic year achieves that goal while instituting departmental cuts university-wide, from the president's office on down.

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Hikes in tuition, health fees may be part of slimmer FAU budget, Boca Raton News

By Dale M. King
June 15, 2008

A slimmer operating budget for fiscal 2008-2009 will be presented to the Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees for approval at its June 25 meeting.

The spending package, discussed at a meeting of FAU’s Audit and Finance Committee Wednesday, includes possible hikes in tuition and health fees and may present a year of no pay hikes for staff. FAU spokeswoman Kristine McGrath said the state legislature has approved no money for employee pay hikes.

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USF Wait List Reaches Record Length, Tampa Tribune

By Adam Emerson
June 8, 2008

In its most competitive admissions season ever, the University of South Florida placed a record 1,300 prospective freshmen on a wait list for next fall.

Most don't have to wait anymore, however. The university recently denied admission to nearly two-thirds.

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For related articles, see FAU becomes a tougher college to get into

FAU poised to cut $9.6 million from budget, Boca Raton News

By Dale M. King
June 1, 2008

Following in the footsteps of the state, county and local communities, Florida Atlantic University is poised to slash its fiscal 2008-2009 budget by some $9.6 million to meet reductions imposed by the state.

Members of the Board of Trustees discussed the cutbacks at a meeting Wednesday. A final vote will be taken at a meeting June 25.

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FAU salaries frozen again amid looming budget cuts, Palm Beach Post

By Kimberly Miller
May 28, 2008

JUPITER — Florida Atlantic University faculty and staff will receive no salary increases for the second year in a row as state budget reductions force a $9.6 million cut from school coffers.

The budget cuts, which were discussed by FAU trustees Wednesday, are also expected to mean a loss of 120 jobs, larger class sizes, and the elimination of degree programs from some campuses.

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