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MIAMI, Fla. (Nov 24, 2003)
-- More than 80 percent of Floridians oppose cutting the budgets
of public universities, even when faced with lower-than-expected
state revenues, according to a poll released today by the State University
Presidents
Association.
Conducted by the Florida Center for
Public Policy at the University of North Florida, the poll found
strong support for higher education and widespread
concern among residents that inadequate state funding could jeopardize the
quality of
programs and access to universities. The survey showed that universities
have greater public support than public safety and transportation
when it comes
to spending taxpayers’ dollars.
“Floridians clearly understand that a college degree is the key to a better
life,” said FIU President Modesto A. Maidique. “And everyone wants
access to a better future.”
The survey found that nearly 70 percent
of Floridians are somewhat or very concerned that their child
or another member of their family will not have
access to higher
education in the next 20 years. Likewise, about 54 percent said it would
not be possible for state government to reduce the amount of money that
universities receive without lowering the quality of education.
The Florida Center’s Public Opinion Research Laboratory contacted more
than 1,000 Floridians in October for the survey, which has a margin of error
of plus or minus 3 percent with a 95 percent confidence level.
“We need to give credit to the citizens of Florida who clearly recognize
that failing to properly fund higher education in our state could have disastrous
effects on its future,” said John Hitt, chair of the State University Presidents
Association and president of the University of Central Florida. “Florida's
11 public universities provide an educated work force, research that benefits
the public and a strong economic impact on Florida.”
More than six out of 10 residents
supported the state spending at least as much as the U.S. per-student
average on higher education.
Per-student
funding
in Florida
is 16 percent lower than it was four years ago and less than what
it was in the 1980s. In 2002, Florida’s adjusted per student
spending was $5,169 for universities compared with a national per
student average of $6,262. Last year,
the State University System budget was cut by $40 million, student
growth was not funded and new construction projects were severely
curtailed.
UNF President John Delaney said the
survey illustrates the importance Floridians place on higher
education.
“I believe it sends a strong
message to the Legislature that voters believe an adequately
funded public university system is vital to Florida’s future,” he
said.
Despite recent budget cuts, the survey
found that 73 percent of Floridians rate the quality of the state’s universities as good or excellent. Nearly 68
percent say the state’s public universities offer a good
value for the money.
Six of 10 Floridians supported more
spending on public colleges and universities. By contrast only
47 percent advocated more
spending on public safety
such as police and prisons and only 42 percent advocated more
spending on roads
and
highways. The only area that received stronger support for more
spending
was primary and
secondary schools which was supported by 77 percent of respondents.
The survey found that three-quarters
of the state’s residents believe universities
are very important to creating a well-trained workforce in Florida
while nearly 85 percent said they were very important to enhancing
research and technology.
The majority of residents polled also said universities were
very important to enhancing the quality of life, bringing federal
grants and contracts into the
state, keeping young people in Florida and creating a sense of
pride in the state.
The statewide poll is part of the
Quality & Access information campaign launched
by Florida’s 11 public universities earlier this month. The campaign is
designed to raise the general public’s awareness of the funding challenges
faced by Florida’s universities.
The full results of the poll can
be found on the campaign’s web site at
www.qualityandacess.org or on the web site of the Florida Center
at www.unf.edu./thefloridacenter.
The Public Opinion Research
Lab at the Florida Center serves
as a resource for public policymakers, faculty researchers, government
agencies,
non-profit agencies,
businesses and students at Florida’s universities.
Click
Here to download the Q&A Survey
Results (MS Word 264 KB).
CONTACT:
Maydel Santana-Bravo
Florida International University
305-348-1555
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