Florida bill would tie money to college standards - Lindsay Peterson, Tampa Tribune

A battle over money and a new university dominated higher education debate this legislative session, but in the background, with little fuss, lawmakers approved another bill that could fundamentally change how every state university operates. The bill identifies more than two dozen measurements, such as graduation rates and research success, and sets the stage for using this new yardstick to dole out state money to universities in the future. The bill also requires the state to prepare an "economic security report" showing the earning power of each degree and certificate awarded by a Florida university or college. State university officials like it. University system Chancellor Frank Brogan wrote a letter to the House sponsor, Bill Proctor, thanking him for his "unwavering and informed" support of the state universities. Proctor is a Republican from St. Augustine and chancellor of Flagler State College.