Community colleges and universities can raise fees at their discretion. Foy plans to push for a measure to let students have a say in student fee increases for new buildings. Some college administrators are seeking more financial aid for part-time students by making them eligible for the Florida Student Assistance Grant. The state s primary student aid program is available only to full-time students. If lawmakers agree to open the program to part-time students those taking 12 credit hours or less it could affect more than half of students at public universities.
Books are ridiculously expensive.
The Florida Student Association is calling for textbooks to be exempt from sales tax. Foy said sometimes a student will buy a textbook one year, but can t resell it the following year because a new edition has been printed. Lawmakers are expected to grapple again with the increased cost of Bright Futures scholarships awarded to high school students who meet certain grade-point averages and college entrance exam scores. Some policymakers say too many students are taking advantage of the scholarships which cover all or up to 75 percent of tuition costs because it s too easy to qualify. Raising eligibility requirements is unfair to students in low-income areas who struggle to keep in step with other students, some lawmakers argue.