Fledgling public medical schools in Orlando and Miami will require tens of millions more in taxpayer dollars than originally projected, a ballooning price tag that comes as Florida lawmakers prepare to slash spending because of dwindling state revenues.
When university system leaders last year approved new medical schools for the University of Central Florida and Florida International University, they did so knowing the cost would be high: A total of $500-million over the first 12 years to get the programs going, and then $20-million a year per school after that.
But Thursday, UCF and FIU administrators told the Board of Governors they will need an additional $65-million through 2015 to meet accreditors' new standards for smaller classes and better technologies.
To see the BOG's press release about a new task force to review medical education, click here.
Get inside the world of Florida education with St. Petersburg Times staff writer Jeffrey S. Solochek and the rest of the Times education reporting team. We'll bring you up-to-date information about the latest education trends, fads and news and dig deep into Tampa Bay area school issues.
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