March 11, 2010. In wielding the budget axe this spring, Florida lawmakers are vowing to treat the state’s public universities and colleges “just like other agencies.” They need to hear from YOU that investing in a knowledge-based economy means a stronger economy.

(March 9, 2010)

Dear Colleague:

The choice over funding higher education in Florida is now sharply defined. It came into focus on March 4 when students rallied in Tallahassee.  They want funding to retain faculty to offer the courses students need to complete programs and graduate on time. They see this as the most efficient use of their resources during a recession and also preparation for a better job in the future.

Students also called on legislators to build on the emerging consensus that Florida needs a knowledge-based economy, centered in universities and colleges, to create jobs and prepare a qualified workforce to fill them. They want jobs that will challenge them. They ask legislators to join the effort to transform Florida’s economy through development of higher education.

In the news reports we see a sharp contrast between students on the Capitol steps, urging Florida to invest in higher education, and legislative leaders inside who are announcing cuts. Legislators even made a point of saying that they are planning budget cuts everywhere and will treat higher education “just like other agencies.”

If faculty and students are to make a difference, they need to call offices of legislative leaders now and leave a message for them to invest in higher education.  Make the point in one or two sentences.  (For talking points for legislators, see below or visit www.unitedfacultyofflorida.org.)

Tom Auxter, President

Contact information for legislative leaders

Senate President Jeff Atwater    Office (850) 487-5100

House Speaker Larry Cretul      Office (850) 488-1450

Senate Higher Education Appropriations:

Senator Steve Oelrich  (R)      Office   (850) 487-5020

Senator Lee Constantine (R)     Office   (850) 487-5050

Senator Evelyn Lynn  (R)        Office   (850) 487-5033

Senator Chris Smith (D)         Office   (850) 487-5112

Senator Dave Aronberg (D)       Office   (850) 487-5356

Senator Larcenia Bullard         (D)    Office   (850) 487-5127

House Higher Education Appropriations:

Proctor, William L. (R) Office       (850) 488-2977
McKeel, Seth (R) Office     (850) 488-9890
Brisé, Ronald A. (D) Office  (850) 488-4233
Burgin, Rachel V. (R) Office (850) 488-9910
Culp, Faye B. (R) Office     (850) 488-2770
Dorworth, Chris (R) Office   (850) 488-5843
Drake, Brad (R) Office                 (850) 488-4726
Garcia, Luis R. (D) Office   (850) 488-9930
Jones, Mia L. (D) Office     (850) 488-6893
Kelly, Kurt (R) Office                 (850) 488-0335
O’Toole, H. Marlene (R) Office       (850) 488-5991
Patterson, Pat (R) Office              (850) 488-9873
Reed, Betty (D) Office                           (850) 488-5432
Thompson, Geraldine F. (D) Office    (850) 488-0760

United Faculty of Florida

Invest in Higher Education: Talking Points for Legislators

1.       Investing in higher education is the fastest and strongest way to leave a recession.  When people are unemployed, they need access to higher education to upgrade credentials and expand skills. When they enroll in academic or vocational programs, they use their time constructively during a recession, generate revenue for the state through federal student loans and work-study jobs, and are ready for a better job when the economy recovers. Without higher education courses and programs available, the unemployed are idle, rely on costly social programs to make ends meet, are more likely to require intervention from law enforcement, and emerge from a recession less able to find work and pay taxes.

2.      Investing in higher education is also the best way to build a strong state economy in the long run — one that produces revenue for all the needs of the state and insulates it from the worst effects of future recessions. Across the nation, the states with the strongest economies are states that invested heavily in higher education over the years — a direct result of educating students for the challenges they face.  North Carolina is an example of how much it is possible to improve a state economy by investing in higher education.*

3.      A knowledge-based approach is the key to building a strong, diversified, and healthy state economy that can generate the revenue needed to improve the quality of life.  A knowledge-based economy would be the last to enter a recession — not first like Florida is now with its heavy reliance on tourism and population growth.  A diversified and resilient knowledge-based economy would be the first to leave a recession — not the last like Florida is now when growth is impossible, and tourists are not spending money.

• *Statistical evidence can be found in the SREB Fact Book 2009, published by the Southern Regional Education Board, the accrediting agency for schools, colleges, and universities in the Southeast. Visit www.sreb.org and click SREB Publications.

4.      A knowledge-based economy is the only state economy offering solutions to meet demands on resources.  States throw away money and raise prices for everyone with the inefficient use of vital resources like energy and water. The economy of the future will design, use, and market efficiencies, save on the cost of resources, and see a better quality of life.  In other words, states save on resource costs and also generate new revenue with changes coming from a knowledge-based economy.

5.      Preparing a workforce through education in a knowledge-based economy is the way to retrofit an entire state for the most efficient use of resources.  All states need an educated and trained workforce to retrofit environments that are wasteful in the use of energy and water. Public universities and colleges prepare students (through degree and certification programs) for entry into the economy with credentials suitable for the task of retrofitting the state. We need to invest now in higher education to reap the benefits of an educated and fully-employable workforce that is up to the task.

6.      Now is the time to invest in Florida’s future!  There is support now at both national and state levels to make the change to a knowledge-based economy. Federal stimulus money is available for state projects, and state education officials are calling for and preparing for the transition.  All we need to make it happen now is for legislators to do their part in funding the investment in higher education.