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Florida Universities May Extend Cap On College Freshmen

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By ADAM EMERSON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 26, 2008

TAMPA - The leader of Florida's public university system on Thursday called for a continued freeze on the size of freshman classes, warning that continued economic woes would only erode educational quality otherwise.

Many university officials are fighting that idea, however, saying a cap on freshmen enrollment limits access to a higher education at schools that have room to grow.

The university system's Board of Governors voted last year to cap the number of freshmen statewide at about 38,500 - rejecting thousands of qualified applicants - saying they could preserve a diminishing supply of money for the students already enrolled.

Its chancellor, Mark Rosenberg, said that pot of money will only get smaller.

"This cap reflects your commitment to quality," Rosenberg told the board at its meeting at the University of South Florida. "More courses are taught by adjuncts and graduate assistants than ever before. We are growing concerned that accreditors might take concern."

Several board members, however, argued that a souring economy is driving thousands more to a higher education. Although they voted for the freeze last year, some said the cap is turning too many students away.

"I just think that, based on the current economic conditions, I'd rather have my students in a crowded class than not have one at all," said Ava Parker, the board's vice chairwoman.

The board agreed to put off a vote on lifting the cap until November's meeting. They also asked university presidents for input, but many already had expressed frustration with the freeze.

Board member Charles Edwards noted that Florida's smaller public universities have room to grow and have new buildings that often are unfilled.

Even if the Board of Governors wanted to remove the restrictions, it wouldn't open the doors widely at Florida's largest public universities.

The University of Florida, the state's largest at 51,000 students, long has capped freshman enrollment, even before the Board of Governors imposed its freeze. Florida State University cut its freshman class by more than 1,000 students this fall because it didn't have the space or the money to take even the same number of students.

The state's projected tax revenue appears to be worsening. Rosenberg said that if universities take more students while receiving less money from the state, the result will be a diluted education.

Rosenberg talked about dealing with a family whose son could find only online sections for the courses he needed this semester at Florida International University in Miami, and a daughter who wanted to major in dance at the same school, but chose something else because FIU cut dance because of budget reductions.

The family, he said, was his own.

Reporter Adam Emerson can be reached at (813) 259-8285 or aemerson@tampatrib.com.

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