FAU students could see tuition increase if 'differential tuition' proposal passes

By Scott Travis | South Florida Sun-Sentinel

November 20, 2008

Students at Florida Atlantic University could face a big tuition increase next year if the school gets permission to charge the same rate as the state's high-research universities.

FAU President Frank Brogan said at a meeting Wednesday that State Sen. Ken Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie, plans to introduce a bill that would give all 11 state universities the option of charging "differential tuition," which is a rate higher than what the state sets. Five have the authority. Brogan said all 11 presidents support the proposal.

"This is really gaining momentum," he said.

The money could be used for salary increases for faculty, said Nancy Blosser, chairwoman of the FAU Board of Trustees. The state's poor economy has resulted in millions of dollars in cuts in the past two years.

"I know you will join me in a commitment in Tallahassee to lobby as hard as we can to make sure differential tuition gets approved," she told her fellow trustees.

It's unclear how much students would pay if the legislation is approved. Tuition went up 15 percent last year at some schools that offered differential tuition. The bill hadn't been filed as of Wednesday, and Pruitt couldn't be reached for comment despite calls to his office.

Last session, the Legislature authorized all universities to raise tuition by 6 percent. Five schools were able to charge an additional 9 percent: the University of Florida, Florida State University, Florida International University, the University of Central Florida and the University of South Florida. These schools were selected because they had at least $100 million in research money. Juniors and seniors, as well as those with prepaid tuition plans, are exempt from the extra 9 percent charge.

A full-time freshman at FAU taking 15 hours a semester now pays $3,721, compared with $3,987 for a student at Florida State University. Those figures include mandatory fees, which vary by university. Ken Jessell, vice president for finance at FAU, said the differential tuition could generate an extra $800,000 if the state used the same criteria as last year.

Abe Cohen, president of FAU's student government, said he thinks students will support the measure.

"I feel students wouldn't mind paying a small percentage to increase their education and the value of their degree," he said.

Scott Travis can be reached at stravis@SunSentinel.com or 561-243-6637.