SB 4, now dubbed the “Florida Excellence in Higher Education Act” is also a top priority for Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, in his last year as leader of the Senate. In a statement, he said that students and their families “deserve financial security and peace of mind throughout their academic journey.”
Need-based aid programs also benefit from the proposed legislation, such as a doubling of state-matching for the tuitions of first generation college students. Last year, the program gave out an average of $1,270 for 8,361 students. Last year, 15,442 students qualified for grants but could not receive them due to a lack of sufficient funds. The hope is to now cover more of them.
The bill will also require state universities to move towards a block tuition system. Here, students would pay a flat rate per semester rather than a certain amount per credit hour. The idea is that this would create incentives for students to take more classes per semester and graduate faster.
In addition, 60% four-year graduation rates must be obtained by universities seeking to be labeled “pre-eminent”. The measure would be phased in over the next year.
