UF got a special shout out from Gov. Rick Scott in his $74.2 billion state budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year.
In a press conference Thursday in Tallahassee, Scott said the budget proposes about $3.8 billion to Florida universities.
He said $15 million of that would be dedicated to helping UF become a national top-10 public university as ranked by the U.S. News and World Report, a goal referenced last month when Scott and UF Board of Trustees Chair David Brown requested Bernie Machen stay UF’s president.
That $15 million would go toward hiring new faculty, according to a UF press release, which would reduce the student-faculty ratio and attract scientists.
“Gov. Scott has clearly placed his trust and confidence in the University of Florida and its ability to be a top-flight institution, and we welcome this news,” Machen said in the release.
Scott also said the budget would continue to “hold the line on tuition in order to make college more affordable.”
“I don’t think tuition should be going up,” he said.
The budget, which will now go to the Florida Legislature for consideration, includes $100 million for four universities to construct STEM-focused buildings.
UF would seek the funding to create a new chemistry building, according to the release.
In addition, Florida’s universities would receive $167 million in performance funding, which Scott said would help schools meet the needs of students and parents.
“We’re doing the right thing for education,” Scott said.
Contact Julia Glum at jglum@alligator.org.
