1001.7065 Preeminent state research universities program.—
(1) STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM SHARED GOVERNANCE COLLABORATION.—A collaborative partnership is established between the Board of Governors and the Legislature to elevate the academic and research preeminence of Florida’s highest-performing state research universities in accordance with this section. The partnership stems from the State University System Governance Agreement executed on March 24, 2010, wherein the Board of Governors and leaders of the Legislature agreed to a framework for the collaborative exercise of their joint authority and shared responsibility for the State University System. The governance agreement confirmed the commitment of the Board of Governors and the Legislature to continue collaboration on accountability measures, the use of data, and recommendations derived from such data.
(2) ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH EXCELLENCE STANDARDS.—Effective July 1, 2013, the following academic and research excellence standards are established for the preeminent state research universities program:
(a) An average weighted grade point average of 4.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale and an average SAT score of 1800 or higher for fall semester incoming freshmen, as reported annually.
(b) A top-50 ranking on at least two well-known and highly respected national public university rankings, reflecting national preeminence, using most recent rankings.
(c) A freshman retention rate of 90 percent or higher for full-time, first-time-in-college students, as reported annually to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
(d) A 6-year graduation rate of 70 percent or higher for full-time, first-time-in-college students, as reported annually to the IPEDS.
(e) Six or more faculty members at the state university who are members of a national academy, as reported by the Center for Measuring University Performance in the Top American Research Universities (TARU) annual report.
(f) Total annual research expenditures, including federal research expenditures, of $200 million or more, as reported annually by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
(g) Total annual research expenditures in diversified nonmedical sciences of $150 million or more, based on data reported annually by the NSF.
(h) A top-100 university national ranking for research expenditures in five or more science, technology, engineering, or mathematics fields of study, as reported annually by the NSF.
(i) One hundred or more total patents awarded by the United States Patent and Trademark Office for the most recent 3-year period.
(j) Four hundred or more doctoral degrees awarded annually, as reported in the Board of Governors Annual Accountability Report.
(k) Two hundred or more postdoctoral appointees annually, as reported in the TARU annual report.
(l) An endowment of $500 million or more, as reported in the Board of Governors Annual Accountability Report.
(3) PREEMINENT STATE RESEARCH UNIVERSITY DESIGNATION.—The Board of Governors shall designate each state research university that meets at least 11 of the 12 academic and research excellence standards identified in subsection (2) a preeminent state research university.
(4) PREEMINENT STATE RESEARCH UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE FOR ONLINE LEARNING.—A state research university that, as of July 1, 2013, meets all 12 of the academic and research excellence standards identified in subsection (2), as verified by the Board of Governors, shall establish an institute for online learning. The institute shall establish a robust offering of high-quality, fully online baccalaureate degree programs at an affordable cost in accordance with this subsection.
(a) By August 1, 2013, the Board of Governors shall convene an advisory board to support the development of high-quality, fully online baccalaureate degree programs at the university.
(b) The advisory board shall:
1. Offer expert advice, as requested by the university, in the development and implementation of a business plan to expand the offering of high-quality, fully online baccalaureate degree programs.
2. Advise the Board of Governors on the release of funding to the university upon approval by the Board of Governors of the plan developed by the university.
3. Monitor, evaluate, and report on the implementation of the plan to the Board of Governors, the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(c) The advisory board shall be composed of the following five members:
1. The chair of the Board of Governors or the chair’s permanent designee.
2. A member with expertise in online learning, appointed by the Board of Governors.
3. A member with expertise in global marketing, appointed by the Governor.
4. A member with expertise in cloud virtualization, appointed by the President of the Senate.
5. A member with expertise in disruptive innovation, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(d) The president of the university shall be consulted on the advisory board member appointments.
(e) A majority of the advisory board shall constitute a quorum, elect the chair, and appoint an executive director.
(f) By September 1, 2013, the university shall submit to the advisory board a comprehensive plan to expand high-quality, fully online baccalaureate degree program offerings. The plan shall include:
1. Existing on-campus general education courses and baccalaureate degree programs that will be offered online.
2. New courses that will be developed and offered online.
3. Support services that will be offered to students enrolled in online baccalaureate degree programs.
4. A tuition and fee structure that meets the requirements in paragraph (k) for online courses, baccalaureate degree programs, and student support services.
5. A timeline for offering, marketing, and enrolling students in the online baccalaureate degree programs.
6. A budget for developing and marketing the online baccalaureate degree programs.
7. Detailed strategies for ensuring the success of students and the sustainability of the online baccalaureate degree programs.
Upon recommendation of the plan by the advisory board and approval by the Board of Governors, the Board of Governors shall award the university $10 million in nonrecurring funds and $5 million in recurring funds for fiscal year 2013-2014 and $5 million annually thereafter, subject to appropriation in the General Appropriations Act.
(g) Beginning in January 2014, the university shall offer high-quality, fully online baccalaureate degree programs that:
1. Accept full-time, first-time-in-college students.
2. Have the same rigorous admissions criteria as equivalent on-campus degree programs.
3. Offer curriculum of equivalent rigor to on-campus degree programs.
4. Offer rolling enrollment or multiple opportunities for enrollment throughout the year.
5. Do not require any on-campus courses. However, for courses or programs that require clinical training or laboratories that cannot be delivered online, the university shall offer convenient locational options to the student, which may include, but are not limited to, the option to complete such requirements at a summer-in-residence on the university campus. The university may provide a network of sites at convenient locations and contract with commercial testing centers or identify other secure testing services for the purpose of proctoring assessments or testing.
6. Apply the university’s existing policy for accepting credits for both freshman applicants and transfer applicants.
(h) The university may offer a fully online Master’s in Business Administration degree program and other master’s degree programs.
(i) The university may develop and offer degree programs and courses that are competency based as appropriate for the quality and success of the program.
(j) The university shall periodically expand its offering of online baccalaureate degree programs to meet student and market demands.
(k) The university shall establish a tuition structure for its online institute in accordance with this paragraph, notwithstanding any other provision of law.
1. For students classified as residents for tuition purposes, tuition for an online baccalaureate degree program shall be set at no more than 75 percent of the tuition rate as specified in the General Appropriations Act pursuant to s. 1009.24(4) and 75 percent of the tuition differential pursuant to s. 1009.24(16). No distance learning fee, fee for campus facilities, or fee for on-campus services may be assessed, except that online students shall pay the university’s technology fee, financial aid fee, and Capital Improvement Trust Fund fee. The revenues generated from the Capital Improvement Trust Fund fee shall be dedicated to the university’s institute for online learning.
2. For students classified as nonresidents for tuition purposes, tuition may be set at market rates in accordance with the business plan.
3. Tuition for an online degree program shall include all costs associated with instruction, materials, and enrollment, excluding costs associated with the provision of textbooks pursuant to s. 1004.085 and physical laboratory supplies.
4. Subject to the limitations in subparagraph 1., tuition may be differentiated by degree program as appropriate to the instructional and other costs of the program in accordance with the business plan. Pricing must incorporate innovative approaches that incentivize persistence and completion, including, but not limited to, a fee for assessment, a bundled or all-inclusive rate, and sliding scale features.
5. The university must accept advance payment contracts and student financial aid.
6. Fifty percent of the net revenues generated from the online institute of the university shall be used to enhance and enrich the online institute offerings, and 50 percent of the net revenues generated from the online institute shall be used to enhance and enrich the university’s campus state-of-the-art research programs and facilities.
7. The institute may charge additional local user fees pursuant to s. 1009.24(14) upon the approval of the Board of Governors.
8. The institute shall submit a proposal to the president of the university authorizing additional user fees for the provision of voluntary student participation in activities and additional student services.
(5) PREEMINENT STATE RESEARCH UNIVERSITY SUPPORT.—A state research university that, as of July 1, 2013, meets all 12 of the academic and research excellence standards identified in subsection (2), as verified by the Board of Governors, shall submit to the Board of Governors a 5-year benchmark plan with target rankings on key performance metrics for national excellence. Upon approval by the Board of Governors, and upon the university’s meeting the benchmark plan goals annually, the Board of Governors shall award the university an amount specified in the General Appropriations Act to be provided annually throughout the 5-year period. Funding for this purpose is contingent upon specific appropriation in the General Appropriations Act.
(6) PREEMINENT STATE RESEARCH UNIVERSITY ENHANCEMENT INITIATIVE.—A state research university that, as of July 1, 2013, meets 11 of the 12 academic and research excellence standards identified in subsection (2), as verified by the Board of Governors, shall submit to the Board of Governors a 5-year benchmark plan with target rankings on key performance metrics for national excellence. Upon the university’s meeting the benchmark plan goals annually, the Board of Governors shall award the university an amount specified in the General Appropriations Act to be provided annually throughout the 5-year period for the purpose of recruiting National Academy Members, expediting the provision of a master’s degree in cloud virtualization, and instituting an entrepreneurs-in-residence program throughout its campus. Funding for this purpose is contingent upon specific appropriation in the General Appropriations Act.
(7) PREEMINENT STATE RESEARCH UNIVERSITY SPECIAL COURSE REQUIREMENT AUTHORITY.—In order to provide a jointly shared educational experience, a university that is designated a preeminent state research university may require its incoming first-time-in-college students to take a 9-to-12-credit set of unique courses specifically determined by the university and published on the university’s website. The university may stipulate that credit for such courses may not be earned through any acceleration mechanism pursuant to s. 1007.27 or s. 1007.271 or any other transfer credit. All accelerated credits earned up to the limits specified in ss. 1007.27 and 1007.271 shall be applied toward graduation at the student’s request.
(8) PREEMINENT STATE RESEARCH UNIVERSITY FLEXIBILITY AUTHORITY.—The Board of Governors is encouraged to identify and grant all reasonable, feasible authority and flexibility to ensure that a designated preeminent state research university is free from unnecessary restrictions.
(9) PROGRAMS OF EXCELLENCE THROUGHOUT THE STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.—The Board of Governors is encouraged to establish standards and measures whereby individual programs in state universities that objectively reflect national excellence can be identified and make recommendations to the Legislature as to how any such programs could be enhanced and promoted.
History.—s. 46, ch. 2013-27.
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