UCF, other colleges get funding boost in Senate budget plan
TALLAHASSEE — A day after the House released a plan to slash university budgets by $164 million, the Senate released a brighter outlook for the colleges, including a $312.7 million increase in operating funds.
The infusion is part of Senate President Joe Negron’s mission to improve the rankings of Florida universities among the nation’s public colleges.
The plan sets up a clash with the House, which unveiled its budget proposal Monday. House leaders are more concerned about they consider wasteful spending by university foundations and believe the $800 million colleges have in reserves should be used to make up the cuts.
“I intend to make the best case possible to the House because that’s the only way we’re going to continue to elevate our universities,” said Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, chairman of the Senate higher education budget committee.
Part of the increase is $75 million for universities to hire elite faculty, mainly in advanced research areas that can help the schools climb rankings of public universities. UCF would receive $12 million of those funds under the proposal.
UCF would also receive $10 million as part of the Emerging Preeminence program, which goes toward research faculty and lab equipment, a $5 million increase over the current year. The House version would eliminate funding for the program altogether.
The Senate plan also boosts scholarship and financial assistance programs by $320 million. The Bright Futures program would receive the majority of that increase, about $180 million, boosting overall funding for the merit-based scholarship to $397 million.
The increase will pay for 100 percent of tuition, summer classes and a $300 stipend for books, things the current Bright Futures program doesn’t pay for. By contrast, the House budget cuts Bright Futures by $11.6 million.
To help pay for the spending increases, the Senate cuts $55 million from programs offering developmental and remedial classes at colleges for incoming students.