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The Committee on Higher Education (Oelrich) recommended the

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following amendment:

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     Senate Amendment (with title amendment)

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     Between line(s) 26 and 27,

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insert:

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     Section 1.  Section 1001.60, Florida Statutes, is created to

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read:

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     1001.60 Florida College System.--

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     (1) PURPOSES. In order to maximize open access for

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students, respond to community needs for postsecondary academic

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education and career degree education, and provide associate and

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baccalaureate degrees that will best meet the state's employment

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needs, the Legislature hereby establishes a system of governance

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for the Florida college system.

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     (2)      FLORIDA COLLEGE SYSTEM. There shall be a single

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Florida college system comprised of two-year and four-year public

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postsecondary educational institutions that grant academic

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degrees at the undergraduate level as provided by law. An

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institution within the Florida college system may not offer

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graduate degree programs.

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     (a) The programs and services offered by institutions in

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the Florida college system in providing associate and

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baccalaureate degrees shall be delivered in a cost-effective

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manner that demonstrates substantial savings to the student and

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to the state over the cost of providing the degree at a state

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university.

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     (b)1. An institution in the Florida college system may drop

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the term "community" from the name of the institution if it has

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been authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees pursuant to ss.

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1004.73 or 1007.33 or if it has received approval from the State

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Board of Education pursuant to this paragraph.

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     2. With the approval of an institution's local board of

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trustees, any institution in the Florida college system may

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request approval from the State Board of Education to drop the

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term "community" from the institution's name. The State Board of

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Education may approve the request if the institution enters into

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an agreement with the State Board of Education to do the

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following:

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     a. Maintain as the institution's primary mission

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responsibility for responding to community needs for

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postsecondary academic education and career degree education as

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prescribed in s. 1004.65(6).

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     b. Maintain an open-door admissions policy for associate

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level degree programs and workforce education programs.

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     c. Continue to provide outreach to underserved populations.

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     d. Continue to provide remedial education.

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     e. Comply with all provisions of the statewide articulation

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agreement that relate to 2-year and 4-year public degree-granting

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institutions as adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant

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to s. 1007.23.

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     (3) LOCAL BOARDS OF TRUSTEES. Each institution within the

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Florida college system shall be governed by a local board of

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trustees as provided in s. 1001.64. The membership of each local

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board of trustees shall be as provided in s. 1001.61.

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================ T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================

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And the title is amended as follows:

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     On line 4, after the semicolon,

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insert:

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creating s. 1001.60, F.S., relating to the Florida College

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System; providing system purposes; defining the system as

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comprised of 2-year and 4-year public postsecondary

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institutions that grant academic degrees at the

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undergraduate level; providing limitations; authorizing a

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name change under certain conditions; providing for local

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boards of trustees; providing membership for the boards;

3/19/2008  8:22:00 AM     HE.HE.05286