{"id":18923,"date":"2013-06-06T12:32:51","date_gmt":"2013-06-06T16:32:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/?p=18923"},"modified":"2013-06-06T12:32:54","modified_gmt":"2013-06-06T16:32:54","slug":"report-florida-universities-improve-grad-rates-while-keeping-costs-down","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/2013\/06\/06\/report-florida-universities-improve-grad-rates-while-keeping-costs-down\/","title":{"rendered":"Report: Florida Universities Improve Grad Rates While Keeping Costs Down"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Florida gets high marks in a national report for keeping university costs down while improving graduation rates.<\/p><\/div>\n

A new report finds Florida’s public university system is a good model in affordability for the rest of the country.<\/p>\n

Florida Rising: An Assessment of Public Universities in the Sunshine State<\/em><\/a> analyzed cost, administrative and academic spending, curriculum, and graduation rates at Florida’s 11 universities.<\/p>\n

(Florida Polytechnic University \u2013 the 12th in the system \u2013 doesn’t begin classes until August 2014.)<\/p>\n

The American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) and The James Madison Institute are the groups behind the assessment.<\/p>\n

\u201cOverall, Florida public universities are on a prudent and successful course during these difficult economic times,” researchers wrote. “Significant challenges and difficult decisions over priorities remain. It is clear, however, that Florida has high potential to be a model for other states.\u201d<\/p>\n

While state funding for the system fell from $2.6 billion to $1.7 billion between 2007 and 2012, the report finds a six-year graduation rate of 66 percent \u2013 putting Florida in the top ten nationally.<\/p>\n

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“This report validates the Board of Governors’ priorities of improving student success, enhancing online learning, and balancing access, quality and affordability,\u201d said State University System Chancellor Frank Brogan.<\/p>\n

The findings bolster Gov. Rick Scott’s plea for universities to hold tuition steady\u00a0without even a bump for inflation<\/a>. Scott vetoed a 3 percent tuition hike<\/a> approved by the Florida Legislature.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe story of Florida\u2019s public universities has particular importance for higher education in other states,\u201d researchers said. \u201cIf successful, Florida\u2019s proactive initiatives to maximize both access and academic quality will represent a key example for other states to follow and a new benchmark for cost-effectiveness in higher education.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Florida gets high marks for\u00a0cost, transparency and accountability, researchers found room for improvement.<\/p>\n

ACTA offers these recommendations for university governing boards:<\/p>\n