Tying to apply the block-tuition system it to a 12-university system with more than 400,000 students involves many nuances and complications, the university presidents said.
“I support block tuition as long as it doesn’t hurt part-time students and as long as it doesn’t hurt working students,” said Mark Rosenberg, president of Florida International University.
FIU — with 55,000 students, the second-largest school in the system — classifies 41 percent of its student body as part-time. And Rosenberg estimated 85 percent of his students are working part-time or full-time.
He said those students may not be able to take advantage of a block tuition plan, which would drive down costs for students who load up on credit hours.
“In essence, they will not be able to benefit from the block tuition because they have to work,” Rosenberg said.
And, like the other presidents, Rosenberg is worried about the financial consequences of a tuition plan that allows students to take more classes than they pay for.
