The Senate Higher Education Committee's plan calls for tougher standards for Bright Future

Panel wants to increase spending for universities

The Senate Higher Education Committee's plan calls for tougher standards for Bright Futures.

A $7 billion budget for the state's colleges and universities, which includes tougher standards for Bright Futures scholarships in coming years, was approved Friday by the Senate Higher Education Committee.

File photo

By Ron Word
Capitol correspondent

Published: Saturday, March 20, 2010 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, March 19, 2010 at 9:28 p.m.

TALLAHASSEE - A $7 billion budget for the state's colleges and universities, which includes tougher standards for Bright Futures scholarships in coming years, was approved Friday by the Senate Higher Education Committee.

The measure increases higher education funding over last year's budget of $6.7 billion. The draft budget does not break out individual universities and colleges. The House bill for higher education is about $340 million less than the Senate version.

The measure now goes to the Senate's Ways and Means Committee.

"This is a tough year," Sen. Evelyn Lynn told a crowd of higher education leaders and administrators. "You don't ever have enough money. You all need more. We wish it could be more."

Under the proposal, Bright Futures is being funded at $450.3 million, which is an increase of $31.4 million over the 2009-2010 amount of $418.9 million, to cover additional student enrollment.

The bill includes $6 million from the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund to cover a projected deficit this year in the Bright Futures funding.

About $73.9 million is provided from nonrecurring federal stabilization money for the popular scholarship program.

In the future, it will more difficult to receive a Bright Futures Scholarship because test-score requirements are being toughened.

Right now, to receive a scholarship, students must have an SAT score at 44 percent ranking to be a Medallion Scholar and the 87 percentile ranking to be an Academic Scholar. Increases in those standards will be phased in over the next four years.

"If we don't take these steps, there is no way we are going to have enough money to sustain this program," said Lynn, a Republican whose district includes part of Marion County. "We must control costs in Bright Futures."

Students and their parents also must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or the FAFSA, to receive a Bright Futures scholarship.

Other proposals in the bill include an increase to the State University System budget of $128 million to $3.54 billion, or 3.8 percent over the current year. It includes additional funding for the University of Central Florida and Florida International University medical schools.

The proposed bill also includes an increase of $121.7 million from $1.8 billion to $1.92 billion, or 6.8 percent over the current year, for the Florida College System, which governs the state's community colleges. Included in the increase is $50 million for enrollment growth.

Private colleges and universities will see a drop of $8.2 million to $107.6 million, a 7.1 percent decrease from the current year's amount of $114.8 million.

The proposed budget is made up of $3.37 billion in general revenue, an increase of $64.7 million over the current year; $738.4 million from the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund, a decrease of $37.8 million compared with this year; $246.2 million in Federal Educational Stabilization Funds, an increase of $16.8 million; $130.6 million from the Federal Discretionary Stabilization Funds, an increase of $32.9 million; and $2.2 billion in student tuition and fees, an increase of $186.8 million over this year.

TALLAHASSEE - A $7 billion budget for the state's colleges and universities, which includes tougher standards for Bright Futures scholarships in coming years, was approved Friday by the Senate Higher Education Committee.The measure increases higher education funding over last year's budget of $6.7 billion. The draft budget does not break out individual universities and colleges. The House bill for higher education is about $340 million less than the Senate version.The measure now goes to the Senate's Ways and Means Committee."This is a tough year," Sen. Evelyn Lynn told a crowd of higher education leaders and administrators. "You don't ever have enough money. You all need more. We wish it could be more."Under the proposal, Bright Futures is being funded at $450.3 million, which is an increase of $31.4 million over the 2009-2010 amount of $418.9 million, to cover additional student enrollment.The bill includes $6 million from the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund to cover a projected deficit this year in the Bright Futures funding.About $73.9 million is provided from nonrecurring federal stabilization money for the popular scholarship program.In the future, it will more difficult to receive a Bright Futures Scholarship because test-score requirements are being toughened.Right now, to receive a scholarship, students must have an SAT score at 44 percent ranking to be a Medallion Scholar and the 87 percentile ranking to be an Academic Scholar. Increases in those standards will be phased in over the next four years."If we don't take these steps, there is no way we are going to have enough money to sustain this program," said Lynn, a Republican whose district includes part of Marion County. "We must control costs in Bright Futures."Students and their parents also must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or the FAFSA, to receive a Bright Futures scholarship.Other proposals in the bill include an increase to the State University System budget of $128 million to $3.54 billion, or 3.8 percent over the current year. It includes additional funding for the University of Central Florida and Florida International University medical schools.The proposed bill also includes an increase of $121.7 million from $1.8 billion to $1.92 billion, or 6.8 percent over the current year, for the Florida College System, which governs the state's community colleges. Included in the increase is $50 million for enrollment growth.Private colleges and universities will see a drop of $8.2 million to $107.6 million, a 7.1 percent decrease from the current year's amount of $114.8 million.The proposed budget is made up of $3.37 billion in general revenue, an increase of $64.7 million over the current year; $738.4 million from the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund, a decrease of $37.8 million compared with this year; $246.2 million in Federal Educational Stabilization Funds, an increase of $16.8 million; $130.6 million from the Federal Discretionary Stabilization Funds, an increase of $32.9 million; and $2.2 billion in student tuition and fees, an increase of $186.8 million over this year.

Panel wants to increase spending for universities