Florida Senate - 2012 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 1752 Barcode 276536 LEGISLATIVE ACTION Senate . House Comm: RCS . 02/20/2012 . . . . ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Committee on Higher Education (Lynn) recommended the following: 1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment) 2 3 Delete everything after the enacting clause 4 and insert: 5 Section 1. Section 1001.7065, Florida Statutes, is created 6 to read: 7 1001.7065 State universities of academic and research 8 excellence and national preeminence.— 9 (1) This section may be cited as the “State Universities of 10 Academic and Research Excellence and National Preeminence Act.” 11 (2) A partnership initiative is established between the 12 Board of Governors and the Legislature to lift the academic and 13 research excellence and national preeminence of the highest 14 performing state research universities in accordance with this 15 section. The initiative derives from the State University System 16 Governance Agreement executed on March 24, 2010, wherein the 17 Board of Governors and leaders of the Legislature agreed to a 18 framework for the collaborative exercise of their joint 19 authority and shared responsibility for the State University 20 System. Specifically, the governance agreement confirmed the 21 commitment of the Board of Governors and the Legislature to 22 continue collaboration on accountability measures, the use of 23 data, and recommendations derived from such data. 24 (3) Beginning with the 2012-2013 academic year, a state 25 research university that the Board of Governors finds has 26 substantially met at least 11 of the following academic and 27 research excellence standards may establish resident and 28 nonresident student tuition and fees for undergraduate and 29 graduate courses and programs at differentiated and market 30 rates, notwithstanding ss. 1009.01 and 1009.24, as approved by 31 the university’s board of trustees and the Board of Governors: 32 (a) An average weighted grade point average of 3.8 or 33 higher on a 4.0 scale and an average SAT score of 1800 or higher 34 for incoming freshman during the fall term, as reported 35 annually. 36 (b) A top 50 ranking on at least two well-known and highly 37 respected national public university rankings reflecting 38 national preeminence while using the most recent data. 39 (c) A freshman retention rate of 90 percent or higher for 40 full-time, first-time-in-college students, as reported annually 41 to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). 42 (d) Six or more faculty members at the state university who 43 are members of a national academy, as reported annually by the 44 Center for Measuring University Performance for the Top American 45 Research Universities. 46 (e) Total annual research expenditures, including federal 47 research expenditures, of $200 million or more, as reported 48 annually, while using the most recent data. 49 (f) Total annual research expenditures in diversified 50 health sciences of $100 million or more, as reported annually by 51 the National Science Foundation (NSF). 52 (g) A top 100 public university national ranking for 53 research expenditures in five or more science, technology, 54 engineering, or mathematics fields of study, as reported 55 annually by the NSF. 56 (h) One hundred or more total patents awarded for the most 57 recent 3-year period, as reported annually to the IPEDS. 58 (i) Two hundred fifty or more doctoral degrees awarded, as 59 reported annually to the IPEDS. 60 (j) Two hundred or more post-doctoral appointees, as 61 reported annually. 62 (k) A national ranking in quality better than predicted by 63 available financial resources, as reported annually by U.S. News 64 and World Report. 65 (l) An endowment of $400 million or more, as reported 66 annually, while using the most recent data. 67 (m) Annual giving of $45 million or more, as reported 68 annually, while using the most recent data. 69 (n) Unallocated funds as a percentage of total budget of 70 12.5 percent or more, as reported annually to the Board of 71 Governors. 72 73 An increase to tuition or fees may occur no more than once each 74 academic year and must be implemented beginning with the fall 75 term. In addition, the Board of Governors may exercise its 76 governing authority to identify and grant additional authority 77 and flexibilities within its constitutional powers and 78 responsibilities as may be appropriate to achieve the goals of 79 this section. However, a qualified beneficiary having a prepaid 80 advance payment contract pursuant to s. 1009.98(2)(b) which was 81 in effect prior to the first year a state university receives 82 tuition and fee authority under this subsection, and that 83 remains in effect, is exempt from the payment of any increase to 84 tuition and fees assessed pursuant to the tuition and fee 85 authority. A qualified beneficiary having a prepaid advance 86 payment contract pursuant to s. 1009.98(2)(b) which is entered 87 into the first year a state university receives tuition and fee 88 authority under this subsection, or thereafter, is liable for 89 the difference between the highest rate of tuition and fees 90 covered by the advance payment contract and the tuition and fees 91 assessed by the state university of national preeminence which 92 the student attends. 93 (4) In order to provide a jointly shared educational 94 experience, and notwithstanding the provisions of part II of 95 chapter 1007 or any other law, rule, or regulation, a state 96 university that the Board of Governors finds has substantially 97 met at least 11 of the academic and research excellence 98 standards set forth in subsection (3) may require its incoming 99 first-time-in college students to take a 9-credit to 12-credit 100 set of courses specifically determined by the state university. 101 The state university may require that they be taken at the 102 specific state university involved and that credit for any such 103 required courses cannot be fulfilled through any acceleration, 104 transfer, or other similar mechanism. 105 (5) The Board of Governors shall oversee the implementation 106 of this section and may recommend to the Legislature for future 107 consideration additional state university programs of academic 108 and research excellence, or academic programs of national or 109 international preeminence, together with recommended 110 flexibilities designed to move those state universities or 111 programs to a higher preeminence in appropriate nationally 112 recognized rankings. 113 Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law. 114 115 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================ 116 And the title is amended as follows: 117 Delete everything before the enacting clause 118 and insert: 119 A bill to be entitled 120 An act relating to state universities of academic and 121 research excellence and national preeminence; creating 122 s. 1001.7065, F.S.; providing a short title; 123 establishing a partnership initiative between the 124 Board of Governors of the State University System and 125 the Legislature to lift the academic and research 126 excellence and national preeminence of the highest 127 performing state research universities; authorizing a 128 state research university that meets specified 129 criteria, and receives approval, to establish resident 130 and nonresident student tuition or fees at 131 differentiated and market rates; providing conditions 132 for increasing such tuition or fees; authorizing the 133 Board of Governors to exercise its governing 134 authority; providing an exemption from the payment of 135 increased tuition or fees for certain students; 136 authorizing a state research university that meets 137 specified criteria, and receives approval, to 138 establish a set of courses having specified credits 139 hours to provide a jointly shared educational 140 experience for all first-time-in-college students; 141 requiring implementation by the Board of Governors; 142 authorizing the Board of Governors to make 143 recommendations to the Legislature; providing an 144 effective date.