UNF Plans for Additional Cuts Field Conditions, Page 19
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA UNF gets country- fried, page 11 October www.unfspinnaker.com 15 Volume 32, Issue 11 2008 Wednesday Bright Futures burning out Senator wants to phase out statewide funding, Board of Governors discusses setting a cap BY JONATHAN MORALES NEWS EDITOR The Florida Board of Governors has been in discus- sion about setting a cap to the Bright Futures schol- arship program, with funds appropriated for need- based aid and science, technology, engineering and math majors. Tight budgets and stricter admission standards have been forcing university administrators through- out the state to look much farther for places to save money, university officials said. And with the escalating cost of the scholarship program, its future is in question. The Bright Futures program currently costs Florida nearly $400 million, and while one Florida senator has voiced for it to be phased out in the next $62,100,900 10 years, the program is expected to cost the state nearly $1 billion annually throughout the next de- cade. $35,870,900 Not only is the total cost unsustain- 24,400 able, but Bright Futures is partially respon- $9,900,000 4,800 sible for the under-funding of need-based fi- 17,200 $2,000 nancial aid, according to a Florida Board $2,500 $2,100 of Governors conference call. $2,400 $890,900 370 Currently, the Bright Futures program awards 60 percent of all state-funded financial aid, leaving only 23 percent to fund need-based scholarships. Traditionally, the program was designed to award recipients based on merit in academic performance, awarding up to 100 percent paid tuition and fees, but some said the program artificially lowers the cost of $78,190,900 tuition in Florida, which is the lowest in the nation.
[Show full text]