— ACADEMIC PATHWAYS: The legislation would strengthen the process of students earning two-year, or associate, degrees at state colleges and then moving on to universities to earn bachelor degrees. It would require each college to have an agreement with at least one state university that would allow students who earn associate degrees to move on to a specific school and program, if they meet the required academic standards.
— FACULTY AND GRAD STUDENTS: The bill would create funding pools that would help universities attract top-level faculty and reward outstanding graduate-school programs in fields like medicine, law and engineering. The Senate budget is expected to tentatively have $65 million for the “world class” scholars program and $50 million for graduate programs that meet “excellence” standards.
— STATE COLLEGE BOARD: Another Senate initiative (SB 374) would re-establish a State Board of Community Colleges to oversee the 28 state colleges. Florida previously had a community college board, but it was abolished in 2003 and its oversight duties were given to the State Board of Education, which also oversees the pre-kindergarten-through-high school system. The bill would also cap enrollment in baccalaureate-degree programs at the colleges, although it would allow the caps to be exceeded with legislative approval.
