Sen. Bob Graham (D-Fla.) was at AFT headquarters Oct. 2 to make the case for a new university governance system in Florida--one that preserves a statewide authority for higher education while offering flexibility and accountability at the campus level.

Recent changes in governance, spearheaded by Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, have pulverized and politicized the statewide framework for higher education and turned the 11-university system into a dog-eat-dog competition for resources, Graham warned at a press conference. Floridians, will have an opportunity this fall to put the system back on course by approving Amendment 11, a proposed constitutional amendment that would create a statewide governing board to oversee operations.

This type of major reform, Graham said, is desperately needed in the wake of a major new report from the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education showing that Florida's higher education system lags behind other states in key areas. The report, "Measuring Up 2002," gives the state particularly low marks in college affordability and in offering higher education opportunities to a broad range of students.

"Unfortunately for Florida, this is a pretty bleak assessment," Graham told reporters. The deficiencies cited in the report "have immediate and forceful implications and demand immediate and forceful correction," particularly the creation of the type of state authority detailed in Amendment 11 that can press for higher education assistance to low-income students.

Recent polls show that Floridians understand the issue and support Amendment 11 by almost a 3-1 margin. AFT affiliates across the state are rallying behind the ballot initiative. [Mike Rose, Barbara McKenna]

 [October 3, 2002]