Governor Rick Scott is urging Florida’s public university presidents to hold off on increasing tuition. Scott vetoed an overall 3-percent tuition hike as part of the budget, but there are questions as to whether universities can implement a smaller cost-of-living increase mandated in state law.
Scott has met twice already with Florida State University President Eric Barron, first by phone and then earlier this week in person. He’s also made calls to other university presidents as well as sent letters to them in opposition to a tuition increase. But whether the schools will heed the governor’s call is up to their respective boards.
Florida State and Florida A&M Universities have scheduled Board of Trustee meetings this week. FAMU will meet Thursday and is expected to include the 1.7-percent cost-of-living increase in its budget for the upcoming fiscal year. FSU’s board will meet Friday and Barron says the group is keeping its options open.
Governor Rick Scott remains opposed to any tuition hikes. The schools can request up to a 15 percent increase from the state board which oversees them, but Scott has made several new appointments to the Board of Governors, with many of his appointees opposed to tuition hikes.
