FLORIDA UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

Florida university system leaders OK block-tuition option

A state board gave universities the choice of offering a flat tuition rate or charging by the credit.

BY KATHLEEN HAUGHNEY

THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

GAINESVILLE -- Florida university system leaders put in place a system Thursday that would allow universities to offer a flat tuition rate and pile additional fees onto a student's semester bill.

The Florida Board of Governors, during a meeting at the University of Florida, approved the framework for universities to offer block tuition, meaning that universities could offer a flat tuition rate for a certain range of credits, rather than the current system that charges students on a per credit basis.

UF INTERESTED

Individual universities still need to apply to the board for approval to charge tuition in that fashion. Thus far, only the University of Florida has expressed interest in implementing block tuition.

Florida International University has not shown any interest in implementing block tuition.

``We don't know who will,'' said board member Tico Perez. ``We don't know if anyone will.''

The idea behind the change is that students could pay to be a full-time student, which is typically about 15 credits. However, students could opt to take more credits under that flat rate. It could potentially move more students through their college education in less time.

``So if the student is aggressive, they can take 16, 17, 18 credits at the same price,'' Perez said.

Several universities are also now in the position to charge additional fees to Florida students. During the 2010 legislative session, the Florida Legislature authorized the Board of Governors to approve new fees for students or increase the caps on already existing charges.

Six of the state's universities proposed new fees immediately last spring, but the board opted to delay implementation in order to develop policies for the universities when they propose additional fees.

NEW RULE

Under the new regulation, a university committee that includes students can recommend fee increases in health, athletic and service areas for university system. They can only be increased once per fiscal year and must be implemented in the fall. All of the increases require approval from the Board of Governors.

As of last spring, Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, New College of Florida, University of North Florida, University of South Florida and University of West Florida had all developed plans for new student fees, though those would likely have to be revisited, given the board's new policies.

Any university that plans on requesting block tuition or increasing fees will present its plans to the board's budget and finance committee in February.

Miami Herald staff writer Michael Vasquez contributed to this report.

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