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MIAMI, Fla. (May 7, 2003)- On
a mission to save Florida’s
State University System from severe budget cuts, five leading
Florida State University System presidents will join forces at
the Signature
Flight Support terminal in Miami International Airport located
at 5700 Northwest 36 Street on Thurs., May 8, 2003 at 12:15 p.
m. in order to preserve higher education funding.
In an unprecedented state tour university
presidents: John Hitt, University of Central Florida; Charles
Young, University of Florida;
Judy Genshaft, University of South Florida; Thomas K. Wetherell,
Florida State University; Modesto A. Maidique; Florida International
University will participate in a “fly around” to major
cities in Florida addressing the current budget crisis.
“South Floridians interested in economic development and a better future
should be very concerned about the dire budget situation as it pertains to higher
education in Florida, ” said Modesto A. Maidique.
The Florida Legislature may very
well cut as much as $12.6 million out of FIU’s
budget during the impending special session. Currently, FIU receives about
45 percent of its operating budget from the State. This cut,
on top of prior budget
reductions and inequitable funding, will severely impact the 34,000 students
currently enrolled and those who may be planning to better their lives
by pursing a degree at FIU.
Some of the inevitable effects of
the cut include: reduced access/higher tuition, reduced services
and curtailed economic development. In other
words, students
are going to be asked to pay more and accept less in return: larger classes,
fewer student services, fewer
classes, and the loss of top faculty to other universities. Furthermore,
some qualified
students may have to be turned away because the Legislature is not funding
enrollment growth.
Opportunities at FIU, which has long
stood for access to an education and an avenue to the American
dream, may well be drying up.
For more information on the press
conference, please call Barbara Branas at FIU’s
Office of Media Relations, 305.348.2232 or 305.297.8033.
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