Proposal for a New Funding Model

Charles E. Young, President

This short letter is to inform you about the proposal for a new funding model for UF and FSU which you may have read about in Saturday’s Sun. The President of FSU and I have proposed a pilot five-year higher education services contract model. In effect, if it were to be accepted by the Legislature, the Governor, and our Boards of Trustees, UF and FSU would become State-Related Universities.

* Our funds from General Revenue and Lottery and appropriate Trust Funds would be negotiated at a level appropriate to our current mission and workload, including funds for construction and maintenance of related facilities. This base would include restoration of funding to the levels included in the 20001/02 appropriations.

* Annual incremental funding would be negotiated at a certain level for enrollment, credit hour production, mission responsibilities, cost-of-living and educational expense indices, and other appropriate measures.

* The annual review with the legislature would focus on a set of performance measures appropriate to the University’s mission.

* The funds provided by the contract would be used in the most effective way to meet the responsibilities under the contract as determined by the BOT.

* There would be no changes in the tenure, working conditions of faculty and staff, or in insurance or other benefits.

You can see the proposal that was presented Friday by me and by FSU President T.K. Wetherell at http://www.ufl.com. You will also find there a list of bullets that outline the rationale and answer the question of why UF and FSU?

My staff and I have given this subject very careful consideration, as have our counterparts at FSU. We are confident the two Universities and the State of Florida will enjoy significant advantages under this state-related proposal. If the response to this proposal indicates a likelihood of serious consideration by the Legislature, we will hold significant and substantive discussion of its consequences with our Board of Trustees, representatives of the Senate, and administrative leaders.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Young
President