The document contains recommendations from working groups on university funding, accountability, and governance. It recommends giving universities more autonomy over tuition rates while tying funding to performance metrics. It also suggests establishing flagship research universities and rewarding programs with high employment outcomes. Additional meetings are scheduled to further refine recommendations for submission to the governor.

1. TODAY’S OBJECTIVES
• Refine, improve, accept, table or reject proposed recommendations
developed to date through open dialogue.
• Identify gaps where additional work might produce further
recommendations.
• Establish next meeting date as needed for subsequent work.

2. Funding WORKING DRAFT
Recommendations
1. It is recommended that the state abandon the present tuition policy
which essentially locks all universities into a very narrow range of base
tuition rates.
2. It is recommended that the state forego the 15% rule, as it is
inconsistent with the above and following recommendations.
3. It is recommended that the Boards of Trustees be given considerably
more authority in determining tuition rates for their respective
universities, with the provision that the recommended rates must be
consistent with Board of Governors guidelines and with the universities
respective mission.

3. Funding WORKING DRAFT
Recommendations (cont’d)
4. It is recommended that in the development of annual budget requests
and the related tuition rates, Boards of Trustees must first attend to any
system metrics and prescribed standards that their respective
institutions have yet to attain.
5. It is recommended that universities having met system-wide metrics
and standards may submit requests for funding and related tuition
increases for outstanding academic programs and promising research
activities.

4. Funding WORKING DRAFT
Recommendations (continued)
6. It is recommended that university Boards of Trustees be given the
authority, consistent with the provisions of Recommendation III, to
prescribe differentiated tuition rates by academic division, class, and
discipline or any combination thereof.
7. It is recommended that, within a time prescribed by the Board of
Governors to be no later than 1 July 2016, the state’s foremost research
universities as designated by the Board of Governors be permitted to
adopt a base tuition rate equal to the average base rate of the
Association of American Universities and that the remaining
universities be permitted to attain the national tuition average by this
same date.

5. Accountability WORKING DRAFT
Recommendations
1. Establish and maintain an Eminent Degree Program (pick another
name; but, 6 digit code) designated as such by BOG based on the
following eligibility:
– 50% of eligibility criteria established by BOG50% of the eligibility criteria composed of
a degree employment rate of 70% or higher in jobs at or above the high skill, high wage,
high demand threshold.
– In addition, Eminent Degree Programs that keep tuition at or below CPI-U each year
would be eligible for a bonus 2X tuition increase ( university BOG approved tuition
increase MINUS CPI-U) state allocation (capped).

6. Accountability WORKING DRAFT
Recommendations (cont’d)
2. BOG would establish a threshold of X amount of Eminent Degree
Programs would automatically move the university to Eminent Florida
University status; annual eligibility for first 3 years; then average of
indicators to move away from episodic classification because of single
variable instability.

7. Accountability WORKING DRAFT
Recommendations (cont’d)
3. Participate in the Performance Funding allocation process
designed to meet high demand, high wage and high skill careers
existing in Florida’s’ broad economic landscape. The Performance
Funding awards to universities will be managed by Florida’s BOG
under the following guidelines;
A.) Legislative process will determine targeted Performance Funding
categories
B.) BOG will determine criteria for selecting award recipients with two
constants in the formula:
(1.) Minimum award 20% of allocation and
(2.) Continuous 2nd and 3rd year funding for initial award recipients
based solely on tuition increases of only CPI-U for year 2 and 3 in the
program.

8. Governance/Accountability WORKING
DRAFT Recommendations
1. The Board of Governors should continue to enhance its metrics-based
accountability framework to ensure maximum return-on-investment for
its students and the State of Florida. Specifically, BOG’s oversight of work
plans should include:
a. Universities should align their strategic plans with the Board of
Governors 2025 Strategic Plan for the State University System.
b. Ensure that each university identifies its top educational and
research priorities and shows how they support the state system
objectives through its unique mission, with a view toward
eliminating unnecessary duplication of degree programs.
c. The State University System should continue its growth of STEM
and other degree programs that support the State's greatest
economic needs.

9. Governance/Accountability WORKING
DRAFT Recommendations
d. The BOG metrics should include the achievement of meaningful research:
Research focused on impacting local/state challenges and opportunities
Research focused on driving economic development:
Attracting business sectors to Florida
Retaining talented graduates in Florida
e. BOG should recognize and reward development by universities of meaningful
alliances with the private sector that:
Enhance ‘business-ready” learning
Create post-graduate employment for students engaged in such alliances
Leverage private sector resources to subsidize higher ed
f. BOG should continue to incorporate nationally-validated metrics, including peer
metrics and private sector studies re efficiencies to ensure return on investment,
including the efficient use of facilities capacity.
g. BOG should incorporate expansion of online degree opportunities to align with
technology and increase access to higher education in an efficient and cost-effective
manner.

10. Governance/Funding WORKING DRAFT
Recommendations (cont’d)
2. The Legislature should provide lump-sum funding to the Board of
Governors so it can effectively tie university funding to the SUS long
term strategic plan and university workplans and reward improved
performance on key metrics determined to serve the SUS strategic
plan.
a. Legislature would consult with BOG in evaluating and accepting BOG funding request based
upon its adherence with the agreed-upon strategic plan, instead of reviewing and acting upon
12 separate funding requests of individual universities (which essentially undercuts BOG’s
ability to implement the SUS strategic plan).
b. Lump-sum funding should be based upon a proactive determination of the appropriate
level of funding per student, and the appropriate ratio between state (taxpayer) funding and
tuition (student), without regard to financial aid levels that are used to downplay the impact
of tuition increases. Such funding level should then become a priority for legislative funding.
c. Lump sum funding should also include guaranteed funding of BOG administration to ensure
that the BOG has the independence and resources to fulfill its constitutional mission.

11. Governance WORKING DRAFT
Recommendations (cont’d)
2. SUS and Florida College System should meet annually for the purpose
of agreeing on long term components of their respective higher ed
strategic plans to ensure consistency of mission and purpose across
sectors of higher education, especially in light of 2+2 program
graduates.

12. Additions for Consideration

13. Accountability WORKING DRAFT
Recommendations (cont’d)
1. In order to demonstrate accountability, efficiencies and return on
investment, the BOG 2012-2025 Strategic Plan should specify
implications of achieving strategic outcomes toward providing specific
institutional goals :
– Articulate ranking targets/outcomes on national basis if current strategic
priorities, particularly STEM degree achievement, are reached.
• For example, the BOG plan calls for increasing the percentage of bachelor’s degrees in STEM
degrees from 18% of the total to 25% percent in 2025. What advancement in national ranking
will such an increase manifest? Is this ranking consistent with the Governor’s call for national
leadership in STEM achievement?
– Articulate the translation of system-wide goals to institutional goals to
illustrate contribution expectations and performance of each institution.
• For example, the system-wide goal under “Excellence: A2: Freshmen in Top 10% of Graduating
High School Class” translates as having 19,349 first-time freshman (assuming enrollment rates
remain constant) come from the Top 10% of their high school classes. Inputs such as the
number of students graduating in the Top 10% available from Florida High Schools (17,930) and
nationally (354,918) can be applied against current achievement expectations per SUS
institution for specific contribution goals. As suggested in other areas, achievement of these
targets can be incorporated into funding formulas.

14. Accountability WORKING DRAFT
Recommendations (cont’d)
2. Pilot additional outcome measures as inputs to BOG accountability report
by 2017:
a. Performance on standardized end-of-college learning outcome exams.
b. Return on state’s investment based on degree completions (by field) in job
placement and wages.
c. Indirect expenditures as a percentage of total expenditures.

15. Next Meeting Dates & Process
• Friday, October 19 9:30 a.m. – Noon
• Tuesday, October 23 9:30 a.m. – Noon
Process:
• Any additional materials to be submitted for Task Force consideration are
due by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 16.
• Working draft materials for Friday, October 19 teleconference will be
distributed by noon on Wednesday, October 17.
• Edits made to working draft during Friday, October 19 teleconference will
be distributed by 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 21.
• Edits made to working draft during Tuesday, October 23 teleconference
will be distributed by 11 a.m. on Thursday, October 25.
• Final edits due by 8 a.m. on Monday, October 29.
• Final document submitted to Governor Scott by midnight, October 30.