Crist signs State College System bill

Florida has a new State College System.

Gov. Charlie Crist today signed into law a bill allowing Florida community colleges to become "state colleges" – hybrid institutions that will have the ability to grant more 4-year degrees and will likely use St. Petersburg College as a model.

The plan was pushed by legislative leaders stressing the need for greater access to higher education. It won strong support from both parties in both chambers. And it was not opposed by officials with the State University System. The new law also creates a Florida College System Task Force and a State College Pilot Project (which includes St. Pete College) to recommend how community colleges can best make the transition.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

Comments

Alright David. I don't know who you are and why you think education should be reserved for elites. But in my opinion, and the obvious answer, is that the more kids we get educated the better it is for our society and for our country. Education is a privilege, but if a student wants a higher education sometimes that is not enough. Sometimes outside influences , mainly money issues, affect a kids ability to get into a university. As it is the budget for our public universities has been drastically cut and this is keeping thousands of extremely QUALIFIED students out of our public institutions. These kids, and anyone willing to try, deserve a chance a college education so they can better themselves and the situation they live in. Most of the time these kids come from low income families that simply can't afford college and to pull themselves out of these unfortunate conditions they need the help of a community college of these new "state colleges" to make a decent life for themselves. We will always have enough manual labor, and I GUARANTEE you that any professor in his right mind would tell you that we don't have ENOUGH schools and enough classes at the university level. When your son or daughter doesn't get into college because you pampered them and taught them they're better than everyone else and they don't have the work ethic of these underprivileged kids maybe you'll be grateful for the community colleges and state colleges. Until then, David, think before you speak.

[David]

What exactly is this supposed to do? Allow more non-qualified students to gain college entrance? Talk to the professors at USF, UF, FSU, UCF, FAU, etc...I am sure they will tell you they have more students in classes that do not belong in any of these institutions, or any other for that matter. Teach these kids the importance of education, put them to work in the manual labor, and see how long it takes them to make any money, and/or how long it takes them to appreciate the mistake of not being serious about their academics in high school!