Bill > S0002

This bill, titled the "Florida Excellence in Higher Education Act of 2017," proposes several key changes to higher education in Florida: It revises the performance-based metrics and standards used to award Florida College System institutions with performance-based incentives and to designate institutions as "Distinguished Florida College System Institutions." It requires certain metrics to include graduation rates and access benchmarks. The bill creates two new programs - the "World Class Faculty and Scholar Program" to support efforts to recruit and retain exemplary faculty and research scholars, and the "State University Professional and Graduate Degree Excellence Program" to enhance the quality and prominence of state university professional and graduate programs in medicine, law, and business. It requires each Florida Community College System institution to execute at least one "2+2" Targeted Pathway articulation agreement with a state university by the 2018-2019 academic year, providing students a guaranteed pathway to a state university. The bill also makes various other changes related to tuition, fees, scholarships, and facility funding for Florida's public universities and colleges.

Budget and Finance, Education

Appropriations (Senate), Education (Senate)

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2017/2