GOVERNOR CRIST SIGNS BILL TO INCREASE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HIGHER EDUCATION
June 12, 2008
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NICEVILLE — Governor Charlie Crist today signed Senate Bill 1716, relating to post-secondary education while visiting Okaloosa-Walton College in Niceville. The legislation establishes the Florida College System and allows, under certain conditions, all 28 community colleges to offer four-year bachelor’s degrees in more academic areas than previously allowed. Tuition costs for the degrees are required to be lower than those earned at Florida’s state universities.
“Education opens doors to economic opportunity and security, and increasing access to affordable higher education will strengthen Florida’s workforce,” Governor Crist said. “By creating the Florida College System, we are providing Floridians more opportunities to earn a wide variety of four-year degrees.”
The legislation also establishes the Florida College System Task Force, to be appointed by the Florida Commissioner of Education. The task force will develop recommendations for transitioning Florida’s community colleges to four-year colleges and for establishing funding for state colleges.
Governor Crist was joined for the bill signing ceremony by Senate President Ken Pruitt, Senator Steve Oelrich, Speaker Designate Ray Sansom, Community College Chancellor Will Holcombe and James Richburg, president of Okaloosa-Walton College.
“We are appreciative of Gov. Crist’s interest in this important legislation,” said Speaker-Designate Sansom. “As a result of this new law, nine community colleges including Okaloosa-Walton will be eligible to expand more easily the number of bachelor’s degree programs they offer. This means more students in Florida will be able to access higher education degrees, especially in academic areas where the demand for educated workers is exceeding the supply. We expect these programs to be more affordable and cost-effective than those at the state university level—and that’s another benefit to both the taxpayers and the students.”
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