As state lawmakers continue looking into the state of online higher education Florida’s public university system is working to put forth its own plan. Following the recommendations of a consulting firm, a committee of the Board of Governors is looking into designating one school to take the lead on online programs.
In the past House Speaker Will Weatherford has floated the idea of an online public university, but after a report priced that option at around $70 million dollars, Weatherford backed off that idea. He still says the state needs to continue to pushing for more online learning options.
The report, done by The Parthenon Group, posed another option for Florida: designating one institution to take the lead on online programs for the state’s 12 public universities, and the strategic planning committee of the Florida Board of Governors is looking into it.
The committee says it would be better to try and coordinate the more than 30-thousand online programs already offered by the state’s universities.
The proposal goes before the full Board of Governors on Feb. 21.
