Under a new rating system for Florida’s state universities, schools must meet the state’s definition of an excellent school to earn state funding.
The benchmarks set by the Florida State University System’s Board of Governors will influence who gets into the school (Pell Grant students are favored) and what subjects students study (STEM degrees encouraged).
The new system is “designed to reward university excellence and improvement and maximize the return on investment for Florida students,” the Board of Governors said on Thursday.
Similar to the federal plan outlined by President Obama last August, the Florida model is intended to provide students with “a first-class education at an affordable cost, providing the best-possible opportunities for graduates to obtain and create good jobs and contribute to a successful Florida workforce,” the Board of Governors said.