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Routes to education goal challenged

By DONNA WINCHESTER
Published December 8, 2005

Make it possible for more students to be able to attend college in Florida. That's the mission of a task force that met on Wednesday in Tallahassee.

But it was clear not everyone agrees on the best method. Members of the Higher Education Access Task Force listened to school officials who perceived in the recommendations a dilution of their ability to govern their institutions' futures.

Others were concerned that universities are being asked to bear more responsibility for change than community colleges.

Among the recommendations discussed were the creation of more need-based scholarships and a requirement for universities to raise tuition to absorb additional costs for students with Florida prepaid tuition contracts.

University of West Florida president John Cavanaugh, speaking on behalf of the presidents of the state's 11 universities, questioned the thoroughness of the discussion as well as the sources of information that underlie some of the proposals.

University of North Florida president John A. Delaney sent a letter asking if the recommendations took into consideration the statewide strategic plan adopted by the Florida Board of Governors, the group that oversees state universities.

The task force has been meeting monthly since summer to discuss ways to increase access to the state's universities and community colleges.

The recommendations will be presented to the State Board of Education and the Florida Board of Governors. They eventually will go to Gov. Jeb Bush and the Florida Legislature.

Calling the recommendations discussed on Tuesday "a work in progress," task force co-chairwoman and Board of Governors chairwoman Carolyn Roberts said the group should have a revised copy within two weeks.

[Last modified December 8, 2005, 00:49:13]