The Florida Senate

240.710  Digital Media Education Coordination Group.--

(1)  The Board of Regents shall create a Digital Media Education Coordination Group composed of representatives of the universities within the State University System that shall work in conjunction with the Department of Education, the State Board of Community Colleges, and the Articulation Coordinating Committee on the development of a plan to enhance Florida's ability to meet the current and future workforce needs of the digital media industry. The following purposes of the group shall be included in its plan development process:

(a)  Coordination of the use of existing academic programs and research and faculty resources to promote the development of a digital media industry in this state.

(b)  Address strategies to improve opportunities for interdisciplinary study and research within the emerging field of digital media through the development of tracts in existing degree programs, new interdisciplinary degree programs, and interdisciplinary research centers.

(c)  Address the sharing of resources among universities in such a way as to allow a student to take courses from multiple departments or multiple educational institutions in pursuit of competency, certification, and degrees in digital information and media technology.

(2)  Where practical, private accredited institutions of higher learning in this state should be encouraged to participate.

(3)  In addition to the elements of the plan governed by the purposes described in subsection (1), the plan shall include, to the maximum extent practical, the coordination of educational resources to be provided by distance learning and shall facilitate to the maximum extent possible articulation and transfer of credits between community colleges and the state universities. The plan shall address student enrollment in affected programs with emphasis on enrollment beginning as early as fall term, 2001.

(4)  The Digital Media Education Coordination Group shall submit its plan to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives no later than January 1, 2001.

History.--s. 153, ch. 2000-165.