Community-college funding a no-brainer; Gov. Rick Scott, rethink cuts

It goes without saying that the health and vitality of a local economy is rooted in the success of its higher education institutions. Economic development can only succeed if business, education, and government work together to diversify a community dependent on tourism with technology and STEM skills.

For this to occur, education must be the driving force. It is within academia that we will discover the next Florida-bred Twitter (or Yahoo! in its heyday). To do this, we need to lean on our colleges and universities to foster a culture of creativity that breeds start-ups and trains a workforce that could help attract new industries to our state.

Knowing that higher education is crucial to our state’s economic growth, the recent decisions to reduce funding for cash-strapped state colleges by $30.2 million to help wealthier universities improve rankings is shortsighted. Colleges and universities should not be at odds with one another over funding. We should resolutely denounce the bill and work to influence a veto of the budget.

The proposed appropriations bill has nothing to do with decreased reserves; the state is currently experiencing a surplus. Nor does the bill seek to elevate the university system to prestige. U.S. News & World Report recently said Florida was the top state in the nation for higher education.

This has everything to do with compromising our higher education system and shortchanging our opportunities to foster entrepreneurship and attract new industries that can support economic development.

Slashing $30.2 million from our 28 state and community colleges will undercut the progress we have made to diversify and solidify our local economy. These cuts will affect certificate programs and associate in science degrees which serve as the lynchpin for the workforce engine of our community.

Institutions such as Broward College have dedicated their existence to aligning curriculum with workforce needs, creating incubators and accelerators to cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit, and supplying universities with well-educated AA-degree graduates eager to continue their education (in fact, 51 percent of university juniors and seniors started at a state or community college. From aviation to technology, they have helped train and educate the next generation of entrepreneurs and the skilled employees needed to convince industries to invest in Florida.

What will happen to our booming businesses when their stream of highly trained employees slows to a trickle?

Not to mention, the proposed budget will impact students who can’t afford university tuition, can’t study full-time, who are first in their family to pursue higher education, or those who need extra TLC to overcome cultural or language barriers. Students who, with a little help, could become successful entrepreneurs securing millions in venture capital for our state or hirable engineers who convince a company to relocate to Florida.

How can colleges continue to encourage these potential economic rainmakers without funding for tutoring, advising, appropriate faculty-to-student ratios, and academic success programs?

Florida colleges are routinely recognized nationally, and have received more recognitions by the prestigious Aspen Institute than any other state or community college system in the nation. Broward College, together with finalists Indian River Community College and Miami-Dade College, and winners Valencia College and Santa Fe College have brought prestige to the state precisely because they support state development initiatives.

Our state deserves a higher education system that equally funds its colleges as it does its universities. Colleges are indispensable to economic and community success. Universities need colleges to prepare students for transfer, businesses need colleges to train a highly-skilled workforce, and communities need the economic support colleges provide.

Why, then, wouldn’t we want the best for our economic stability, our communities, and our collective future?

I urge you to ask Gov. Rick Scott for a budget that is fair, equitable and reflects the needs of the communities represented by our elected officials. Join me in demanding that our representatives create a budget that is in the best interest of our state.

Jeremy Ring is a former Florida state senator, (D) 29th District. Ring boasts extensive experience in the business sector, having served as a Yahoo! executive.