FSCJ Students to Speak on the Direct Impact of Proposed Legislative Budget Cuts

WHAT: Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) students are hosting a press conference to discuss the drastic impact the proposed budget cuts will have on local and regional education. The students will be joined by Harvey Slentz, Attorney at Law and FSCJ Professor of Business Law and Employment Law. 

Students will share their concerns about FSCJ potentially losing approximately $3 million in funding if the proposed cuts are passed and how that may impact key support services for remedial education of underrepresented, first-generation and older adults who make up the majority of community college students.

As a college so intertwined with the community, these cuts would not only negatively impact incoming FSCJ students, they would also impact the public-private partnerships and services provided within the Northeast Florida community. 

Budget cuts of this magnitude would limit FSCJ’s ability to properly provide student support services and adequately respond to its local and regional needs with affordable workforce programs. Eliminations of College personnel and reductions in enrollment and course offerings directly contradict the open access mission of state institutions.

Roughly 800,000 students, including 65 percent of college-bound high school students, begin their pathway to universities through a state or community college. These students comprise 51 percent of the junior and senior university enrollments after earning an associate in arts degree. Add in the comprehensive workforce program certificates and associate in science degrees, and it is apparent FSCJ, and state colleges in general, provide a critical engine for workforce and economic development statewide. Yet, the Florida College System, considered universally as the best in the nation, and its 28 institutions will not share in the overall investment in Florida higher education legislators have proposed this year.

Join FSCJ students and faculty on Thursday to hear directly from them how this will affect the future of higher education in Florida. 

Individuals are also encouraged to write/email our local delegation and Governor Scott with their concerns and trepidations as the funding cuts are considered.

WHEN: Thursday, May 25, 2017 at 10:30 a.m.

WHERE:  Florida State College at Jacksonville-Downtown Campus, Fountain

101 W. State St., Jacksonville, FL 32202