Senate Sends STEM Program Tuition Bill to Rick Scott

Gov. Rick Scott, who has stated opposition to increasing university tuition, has a bill headed to his desk that would allow Florida State University and the University of Florida to ask for more than the 15 percent cap now in place.

The Senate on Thursday approved SB 1752, which would allow the schools to ask the state Board of Governors for higher tuition on students enrolled into science, technology, engineering and math programs state lawmakers hope will produce more graduates to help build the economy.

The bill is part of a comprehensive education overhaul of the states education system crafted by William Bill Proctor, R-St. Augustine, after heattended workshops with university leaders on the need to expand the research fields.
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Gov. Rick Scott has targeted higher education reform for the 2012 session, drawing on data from the Agency for Workforce Innovation. He has estimated Florida will need at least 120,000 workers in the STEM fields through 2018. House Speaker Dean Cannon echoed the call during his address to the House to open the 2012 session.

In workshops in January, Bernie Machen, University of Florida president, and Eric Barron, Florida State University president, told legislators the hike would help cover the cost for the additional faculty needed to provide more STEM courses without increasing the costs for students in other fields.