The BOG formerly denied performance-based funding (PBF) money to the three universities that finished in the “Bottom 3” of the PBF metrics each year no matter how much they improved. It scrapped the policy after State Rep. Ramon Alexander, D-Tallahassee, and House Majority Leader Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero got bipartisan support in the House in 2018 for their proposal to change the law to bar the denial of PBF funds to the “Bottom 3.”
FAMU was denied new state investment PBF funds in 2015-2016, 2017-2018, and 2018-2019 because of the “Bottom 3” policy.
Alexander said that he was glad to see the “Bottom 3” policy go away. But he added that the work to make PBF fair still isn’t done.
The Florida House of Representatives Higher Education and Career Readiness Subcommittee discussed PBF with BOG Chancellor Marshall Criser, III at a meeting on January 24th.
“Preeminent” money gives UF, FSU, and USF an unfair advantage in competing against schools that don’t
The University of Florida and Florida State University have been receiving millions in PBF money that is designated only for “preeminent institutions.” The University of South Florida recently qualified for “preeminent” money, too. Alexander said that it’s unfair for schools that don’t receive “preeminent” money to be required to compete against the institutions that do when it comes to PBF investment dollars.
All universities, regardless of whether or not they are designated as “preeminent,” compete each year for the PBF investment dollars that are based on metrics the BOG sets.
“The problem that I have, and I will say this publicly because I represent Florida State University as well and Florida State is an amazing institution, I agree with the philosophy of preeminent institutions,” Alexander said at the meeting. “I believe that if we’re going to compete on a national level then we have to make sure that the University of Florida, Florida State University, and now the University of South Florida have the dollars and the research capacity to be the best.”
But Alexander said he that thinks that the rest of the public universities are being set up to fail when they have to compete for PBF investment funds against the schools that already getting a big boost from the “preeminent” money.
“Why are we comparing the other institutions and why are penalizing them in a system that’s designed for them to lose? Because if I keep giving the University of Florida, Florida State University, and the University of South Florida guaranteed money, which I believe they should receive, and they’re continuing to improve, then I think what he have to do is come up with an individual institution continuous improvement model where we set metrics for the institutions to be judged and graded based on their capacity and their ability.”
The University of Central Florida also receives extra money due its status as an “Emerging Preeminent” institution.
Criser gave Alexander a rambling response that didn't directly address the issue.
Alexander previously talked about this problem during a Virtual Town Hall Meeting he held on Facebook Live back in 2017.
“Every year, with these funding disparities, they expect all these other institutions to compete at the same level with the Preeminent and the Emerging Preeminent institutions,” Alexander said.
He added: “It is completely asinine to think that the University of North Florida can compete with the University of Florida especially when you look at the disparities in funding.”
The legislature will consider making more changes to PBF during the 2019 session.