Whereas Florida has the lowest in-state tuition in the nation, virtually the lowest FTE support (tuition plus state funds) in the nation (an amount which declined 27.7% in inflation-adjusted terms from 2001-2006);
whereas the faculty of the SUS are paid less than their peers nationwide and the University of North Florida faculty are among the lowest paid faculty in the SUS and will receive no state-funded raises this year;
whereas enrollment growth has been consistently underfunded by the state and was underfunded again this year; whereas, the state of Florida has the second-worst student to tenure-track faculty ratio in the nation (29.7 students per tenure track faculty member);
whereas Governor Crist vetoed a 5% tuition increase desperately needed to hire quality faculty, pay faculty competitive salaries, provide resources and facilities for our students;
whereas we believe that a quality higher education system is the key to a prosperous future for the state of Florida;
therefore be it resolved that we express no confidence in the Governor's higher education policy.
