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OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS

TALLAHASSEE

The legislative conference process has taken place in Tallahassee and we now have a better idea of what cuts we will be subject to in the 2012-13 fiscal year.

The State University System operating budget was slashed by $300 million. In the past, every university took a proportional cut; this year, factors such as carryfoward funds and enrollment projections were weighed. This resulted in the conference process recommending a $24.3 million cut to the FIU budget.

This reduction represents 15 percent to our base budget; this is a lower percentage than for most other SUS institutions. We are thanksful to our legislators for their commitment to limiting the magnitude of the cuts.

We did receive authorization for 15 percent differential tuition increase, which would mean $12 million to help mitigate the $24.3 million cut.

From what we can determine at this point, there is also a reduction to the employer-paid contribution to our employees on the Optional Retirement Program. The state's contribution to an employee's retirement would go from 7.43 percent to approximately 5.15 percent.

We received no Public Education Capital Outlay funds for 2012-13.

On the positive side, we are pleased that the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine received full funding this year--$946,000. This is critical because full accreditation is intimately tied to appropriate funding.

Also, on March 6th, Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford ruled unconstitutional last year's requirement that three percent of state employee salaries be deducted to replace reduced state contributions to the ORP and FRS retirement programs. She ordered the state to stop the deductions immediately. This ruling will likely be appealed.

At the beginning of the financial crisis, we made some painful adjustments that involved the closing of programs and the elimination of positions. Due in large part to careful fiscal planning and tuition increases, we have been able to sustain our university, conitnue to offer access to deserving students, and even invest in some strategic areas.

The university's administration is working very closely with many around the university to model different scenarios that could help mitigate this cut. We will share that information with you as soon as we have more certainty.

WASHINGTON

As Congress reconvened earlier this year, faculty members visited to educate and advocate policy makers on how FIU research endeavors to provide national defense solutions, help our veterans and hold promise for transportation solutions in South Florida. Additionally, as measures to link student financial aid to institutional eligibility are being considered, we are engaged to protect these important investments for our students and South Florida.

Already, Congress and the President have enacted a federal budget that maintains the Pell Grant maximum at $5,550 for the 2012-12 academic year, yet with individual eligibility changes that will affect students currently receiving grants.

These amendments include limiting Pell grants to a total of 12 semesters, not 18, as in the past. Additionally, students currently receiving less than 10% of the maximum grant ($5,550) will lose eligibility. Finally, the threshold maximum family income that would automatically qualify a student for the maximum grant from has been reduced from $30,000 to $23,000

It is projected that these changes would result in over 1,110 students losing Pell Grant eligibility entirely and an additional 1,500 FIU recipients will see their grants reduced. Currently, over 17,000 FIU students receive Pell Grants, over 48% of our undergraduate student population, 78% of those are also first generation in college. A more complete profileis included here.

FIU Researchers visit DC to Advance Defense Research Priorities as Congress Reconvenes

Dr. Kenneth Furton, Dean of the College Arts & Sciences, Dr. Joe Leigh Simpson, Executive Associate Dean of the Wertheim College of Medicine, Dr. Ranu Jung, Chair of Biomedical Engineering and Dr. Jose Almirall, Director of the International Forensics Research Institute held a briefing for Congressional staffers from the Florida Delegation and the Armed Services Committee on their defense related initiatives. These cutting-edge solutions being worked on at FIU include biosensors to detect unknown toxicants in theatre; ground-breaking neuro-prosthetic technologies; and evolving military forensic capabilities.

In addition, the group met with senior officials from the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to further awareness of their work and demonstrate the FIU’s capabilities in these fields as an upper-tier research institution. Also this week, Dean Furton and Dr. Almirall were also able to meet with staff of the Senate Judiciary Committee to support legislation sponsored by Senator Pat Leahy of Vermont advancing standards in forensic sciences. As one of only four research universities with a robust research portfolio in forensics, the Senate staff found their insight valuable and have asked for further formal commentary from FIU.

Earlier this month, Vice President Steve Sauls visited to promote FIU’s collaborative transportation initiatives with the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development. It is expected that FIU will compete in an upcoming round of Transportation Innovation grants (TIGER) that would enable greater connectivity to our neighbor, the City of Sweetwater, and position FIU as a major connecting point for transit options in South Florida. See his video here for his thoughts on our progress.